The view yesterday from our front porch.

When we describe where we live, everyone assumes it is idyllic.  Don’t get us wrong, we love living here, but there are things that you have to learn to live with.  Unpaved roads.  Mud and rock slides.  Electricity that works MOST of the time.  And a lack of broadband internet.  Cable modems and DSL are simply not options.  Satellite internet is the only possible broadband option.

Our first satellite internet choice.

If you google satellite internet, you discover there are only a few options for home users (i.e., avoiding spending a few thousand dollars a month).  Our first satellite internet provider was fine when it worked, but it took three attempts to get it installed (the first two times, the installer never showed up).  And then, after a couple of years of service, the equipment broke down and we were told it would take 6 weeks for a repair person to show up.  We cancelled the service.

Can you hear me now?

Since then, we have been working with laptop cell phone technology.  The company we picked is the ONLY cell phone provider who’s signal actually reaches the house.  Some of the time, it is actually a 3G signal.  Not a lot, but some.

Deja vu all over again.

So yesterday, we had a new satellite internet provider installed.  This blog is being written on that signal.  May the signal last!

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Over the last several weeks, we have had several readers ask if there was a way to subscribe to this blog.  Using a tool like Google Reader, you only need to put the home address in, and the automatic feed will work.  But we have also added a “Feedburner” email alert at the top of the right column of this blog.  Simply enter your email address, and you will get an email from us every day letting you know what is new.  Try it out – top right column.

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Like our communication theme today?  Well, the last part of communication is talking to other pet blogs.  Today is Pet Blogger Hop day.  Review the list below, go exploring for other blogs, and hop around the web.  Oh, and make sure you join as well.

Yesterday, we showed you the beauty of June. Today, we show you the challenge - as we went to visit our favorite tree.

Do you see what our challenge was in getting to the tree? And hanging out under it?

We think the hu-dad needs to crank up the tractor and cut some grass in this field.

Before one of us gets lost out here. Just saying.

P.S. – Daily rain like we get in June is great for making things grow – sometimes a little too well.  Many people do not realize how much precipitation this area receives.  Some of the southern facing slopes in Haywood (our county) and Transylvania (our neighbor) Counties receive over 100 inches (254 cm) of rain a year.  Daily rain this time of year is just a fact of life.  The alternative – wildfires – is simply not what we want.

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P.S. – For some reason, the link to the code is not showing.  Simply copy the following into your html code for the post  - <script src=”http://www.linkytools.com/basic_linky_include.aspx?id=30994″ type=”text/javascript”></script> to get everyone’s links to show.

Our favorite tree is covered in buds - leaves will be opening soon.

Kari asked last week why this is our favorite tree.  Well, it sits in the middle of an open field in a very Norman Rockwell style, with long range views of the mountains in one direction, Cataloochee Ranch in another direction and Cataloochee Ski in yet another direction.  So, from any vantage point in the field, the views are just gorgeous.  Plus the tree is so old, so tall, so full – it is just a work of art as only nature can do.  And, in the summer, we can all spread out in its shade because it casts such a huge shadow.  For all of those reasons, it is our favorite tree.

Back to the signs of spring . . .

The long range view from our tree looking east - a beautiful clear spring day before the haze of summer hits.

Cataloochee Ski is scheduled to close next Sunday, April 11.

Though with a 23"-96" (58 - 244 cm) base, conditions are still good as this snow boarder shows.

At the thousand acre Cataloochee Ranch, the horses have been released to the summer fields.

Which makes Natasha happy, who loves seeing her "Big Dog" friends.

Though traffic rules on the ranch are always clear - horses and cows have the right of way.

Spring also brings the start of wildfire season. Though this one is well away from Chez Herd (we saw it hiking), the Forest Service is reporting 23 active fires in our area and we have a week of dry weather predicted.

Note – the last fire to get on to any of our land was the Pinnacle Ridge Fire in 2008. You can read about it here.

The surest sign of spring is all around us at Chez Herd - molting Siberian - as demonstrated by Rusty.

Go ahead and confess. Who is trying to reach through the screen and pluck some fur?