Git along little prairiedoggies.

DATELINE: Santa Fe. If you think of them as nothing more than glorified squirrels or stinky rodents, then yer prolly not from around here, where prairie dogs are recognized as linguists, philosophers, and denizens of the earth who must be rescued from colonies that HUMANS thoughtlessly plow and destroy in order to build mere structures. Whatever you may think, know this: when eight new intercollegiate teams begin next fall at the College of Santa Fe, the men's and women's tennis, golf and soccer, men's baseball and women's softball teams will be called....The Prairie Dogs.

Prairie dog coterie www.nps.gov

Prairie Dog Rapture by Anthony Falbo

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site.

We passed eye-catching farm vistas, such as these lonely hay bales on Rt. 109, as we drove from Santa Fe to Bent's Old Fort near La Junta, Colorado.

Coyote morning.

A visitor appeared across the road this a.m.

Hello, little friend.

Here comes the hayride.

The hayride, or strawbale-for-seats-on-a-pretty-wagonride, was unexpectedly picturesque. Beautiful Clydesdales, flying red ribbons in the blue sky, the not-so-distant soaring ranges and an old-fashioned irrigation system that keeps the grass green, a rare sight in these parts.

"The pond was beautiful. I looked at it and saw geese and one duck. I like the reflections that I see on the water."

The Eldorado Dog Park...

...a new favorite place for The Best Fetcher on Earth.