Tons of Mulch

Today was beautiful - cloudless at dawn, cloudy mid-day, and now cloudless again. But beautiful does not create rain or snow, which we need. The kits have enjoyed the day thoroughly - going out this morning and all afternoon. I'll have to round them up soon. Rosie and Remy were grand for their walk, and so was Miss Lucy. I mailed an out-of-print book to my cousin Sarah in Kansas, and also mailed copies of old US Census' to Carolyn. I've been reading Christmas Mourning - it is so good. >Tuesday and today I noticed several 18-wheelers loaded with wheat straw headed up Boulder Canyon. I just realized that is what the county and state is using for mulch to cover the burned areas of the FourMile Canyon fire from last September. They are mixing the straw with dirt and water and dropping it via helicopter on burned ridges and draws, in hopes of controlling erosion run-off when we get our spring rains. Otherwise, there will be mud-slides on top of the burn devastation. ... And speaking of burns, the Crystal fire is still less than 50% contained; but officials believe (and hope) that the worst is over. >Premiere Pegasus was the betting favorite in this weekend's Santa Anita Derby. He has been scratched due to a hairline fracture of his left fore cannon bone. That leaves 10 other entries in the race. ... Jockey John Velaquez will ride Uncle Mo in Saturday's Wood Memorial at Acqueduct; then he hops on a plane to ride Life at Ten (in her debut race of 2011) in an allowance race at Gulfstream on Sunday. ... The Illinois Derby will also be run this weekend.