MONSOON HAS OFFICIALLY STARTED

As of about an hour ago, no more sprinkles and threats, we got about 20 minutes of really hard rain, the type you can't go out in and stay on your feet.  I guess it's over, the birds have come back to the feeders.  Now we have to wait for the wash to go down, so the donkeys will come across for supper.  Most of them will not wade thru water 1/2 inch deep, although John just came in and said Don came across like no big deal.  He is the exception, believe me, so we'll be feeding late tonight.....!!!  It usually takes about an hour for the wash to go down.

This was right after it quit raining, the wash was already running and rising.  Gigi, hiding in the trees and about half the herd are on the other side, basically trapped, until the water goes down. 

This is one of the 2 fences that run across the wash and get taken out if the wash runs bank to bank.  When that happens panic sets in, this one just lets the donkeys over on Burroland, so no big deal.  But the other one on the east side opens out into "wild" country.  The idea of a bunch of donkeys heading out like Loki Joe did this spring, on 8,000 acres isn't a pleasant thought......LOL

 We had a little "guest" on the courtyard last night.  Three of the cats were focused on the patio screen door.  John went out and this little guy had come thru the gate and was trying to continue his walk by attempting to climb the wall.

Gila Monsters are one of the 2 poisonous lizards in this part of the world, and they are pretty cranky and can give you a nasty bite.  We think this is one we've seen on the property a couple of times over the years.

John got a broom and started trying to get him to the gate.  He hissed and lunged at the broom the whole way, but finally figured out where freedom was and off he went.

Heard from Diane, who has been fostering one of our donkeys for about 3 years as a companion for her jenny and her old riding gelding, Hank.  A couple of days ago, they were getting lightening and thunder, Diane went out to get them into the barn.  I think she said Hank had been in the barn and went out, calling for the girls.  They had all turned around headed for the barn with Hank in the lead, when he was struck by lightening and killed instantly.  Diane said he was about 3 feet from a metal post, they don't know if it hit the post and went thru his feet or just hit him.  John said because they have no trees or anything tall out there, it might have hit Hank because he was taller than anything else in the area.  That would be a horrible shock, even though he was 31 years old he was healthy and had been with Diane for 21 years.