Tower

Our tower is an integral part of our home compound.  It is 36' high, with steel interior posts, corrugated metal interior walls, and a rock exterior.  A 2600 gallon water tank is on the first floor plus it's Bob's garage (our ATV).  The second floor is used for storage and a workout room.  The third floor has a round room with glass windows all around, surrounded by an observation walkway. These are views inside and outside our tower. 

Full Moon

We've awakened the past mornings to a full moon setting over the Catalinas.  Beautiful!

Hike to Indian Site

I packed a picnic this morning before Papa and I set off for the Indian site nearest our house.  It was a beautiful clear day, with temps in the low 70's.  Perfect hiking weather!  We hiked up the hill, then down across the canyon to the Indian site.  There are clear red marks on the walls of the site.  There was also a pile of fresh bear scat.  Clearly, we are not the only ones that enjoy hiking to this site!  We enjoyed our picnic and wondered what was going on in the same place 200 - 600 years ago.

Fergie

Our tractor, Fergie, has met with bad luck recently.  Papa has had issues with her tires for years, but one of the big back tires had a gash that got bigger and bigger.  Over the course of two weeks, Papa got the tire off Fergie, then spent a day getting it into the horse trailer.  He drove it in to town and had it repaired.  Colter helped him get the tire back on Fergie a few days later.  He used Fergie a few hours and whoosh!  The tire popped again!  Colter's brother, Tayrell helped him get the tire off the second time and he drove back into town for a second repair. 

On the first day out after the second tire repair, a steel part broke so Papa couldn't lift the back blade.  He's back to taking the part into town for repair.  Poor Fergie!  Poor Papa!  Lots of time spent driving back and forth to town, getting parts off and on, and in the meantime, roadwork is waiting.

Daily Deer Sightings

It seems that over the past month we've seen deer every day.  Since the cattle have been moved away from the pastures near our home, deer have been coming to the drinker in the canyon for a drink every evening.  As I was hiking up the hill from the Rock House yesterday, I spotted four deer. 

The deer turned and ran back down the hill, across the creek, and up the next ridge, with more deer joining them.  

More Elf Work

I spent two days this week in Tucson, pulling together all the pieces for Christmas crafts.  I made a sample of each craft and packaged all the pieces necessary to make more.  My Christmas crafts are ribbon chains, button ornaments, felt beads, candy cane mice, dot garlands, and magazine trees.  Mine didn't look as good as these photos, but they're still cute!

    

Elves

Papa and I have been "elves" over the past few days.  We have been busy in October, as we want to get Claire's package in the mail by the first week of November to allow plenty travel time to Amman.  Papa has been busy in his workshop.  One of our projects has been wooden Christmas trees.  Papa cut them out, using a jigsaw.  I sanded and stained them.  Papa is making cutting boards.  There are more projects in the pipeline for elves, Papa and Lulu!

Ever Changing Colors of Winchester Ranch

Fall is upon us.  The temperature was 58 at 6 this morning.  Fall flowers are blooming.  Summer blooms are spent and their seeds are setting. I love the colors and seasons of Winchester Ranch!

Papa Back in the Saddle

On August 22, Papa broke his ankle and toe while riding Oscar.  His ankle and toe are much improved but not completely healed.  Eight weeks later... and Papa rode Oscar and Pablo this morning.  He moved a stray cow from one pasture to another close to home.  Papa was happy to be back in the saddle!

Christmas Wrapping Paper

Yes, it is quite early to be thinking of wrapping paper.  However, I spent time this morning, making my own wrapping paper.  I bought rolls of white and brown craft paper.  I rolled them out across the floor, got out my watercolors, and went to work.  X O X O and Christmas trees.  Voila! 

Big Sky

As we traveled over the past month, Papa and I were often reminded of the best things about our life on the ranch.  Without question, we are very fortunate to have big views of the mountains and the sky.  The big sky views are particularly special as they have no significant human interference.  They are au naturel and oh, so beautiful!

Butterflies

As I hiked this morning, I came across a bright yellow bush, teaming with butterflies. 

Early Christmas Shopping

I came to Tucson yesterday and have shopped and shopped!  I'm trying to get some early Christmas shopping done, as most of our gifts have to be mailed.  For the little ones, I'm putting together "12 Days of Christmas" gifts and experiences packages.  I'm making samples of craft projects and sending recipes for "cookie baking" and other holiday experiences.  I hope they like their packages!  I'm having fun putting them together.

Carpet of Yellow Flowers

While hiking this morning, Papa and I looked back at our house, with a carpet of yellow flowers in front.  The yellow flowers aren't everywhere, so it's a treat to see them off our porch and from the south of the house.  It has been a beautiful day, temperature in the 60's with a light breeze.

10 Things Children Will Always Remember

This has been a week of reminiscing after losing Aunt Rhea on Monday.  I've gone through old photos and have smiled remembering all the trips to visit her and Uncle Wayne, as I was growing up, with my children, and in the years since Papa and I have been empty nesters.  I came across a website, the36thavenue.com with "10 Things Children Will Always Remember."   I agree with so many of her thoughts and have copied some here.  

From the36thavenue.com:  I am sharing with you today 10 things that I will never forget.

I had a wonderful childhood not because of the things we had but because we had each other.  This post is about creating sweet moments that our children will always remember.

1

READ TO THEM

2

LISTEN TO THEM

3

HUG THEM

The important part is not to miss the times when affection is needed.  Let’s give our children the gift to grow up saying…  My parents always knew when I needed a hug.

4

Have Family Traditions!

5

Share a meal!

The best treat a child will have is the memory of sharing a meal.

This is the perfect time to talk, plan, rest, eat, work together and clean up together.  Let’s give our children the gift of growing up saying…  In my family we ate together!

6

You are my favorite!

It is super important for every child to feel special in an individual way.

7

Celebrate!

8

Play!

Find something that your family will enjoy. 
Board games, hiking, fishing, camping, biking, reading, watching a movie, any activity that provides a quality family fun time will unite our children while making memories that they will never forget. Let’s give our children the gift of growing up saying…

In my family we spent time together, we had fun together, we played together.

9

REMEMBER!

Our children lives are made of little moments.

Those moments many times are highlighted by events,

school assemblies, birthdays, rehearsals, sport competitions, parent teacher conferences.

Those moments are special to them mostly because they feel and believe that they are special to us.

When we remember those moments, when we show up, when we take with pride those pictures,

and wave with excitement, when our children see that we remember, they seem to never forget.

Let’s give our children the gift of growing up saying…

My parents were always there for me.

10

LOVE THEM!

My grandpa told me once that love is made of love. 

We cannot say we love someone and then ignore them.  We cannot say that we love someone and then neglect them.  When we love we say it.  When we love we show it.  When we love we build up those around us, we don’t destroy them.  When we love a child, we build their character, we wish and hope for the best.  We thank them, we pray for them,

because LOVE is made of LOVE.

  

In conclusion…

Memories are not free, however they don’t cost money but time and that is what makes them so valuable.  It is for us to make each moment count, no matter our circumstances, our past, or how much or how little we have.  We can create a place called home where every child is entitled to a beautiful childhood.  So let’s imagine a moment and create a memory!

Hike on Road

Papa drove into Willcox early this morning, to have a tractor tire repaired.  That tire had a hole in it for a couple of years and the hole got much worse this week, while he was grading the road. 

While Papa was in town, I hiked along the road, toward our entry gate.  The air was crisp today, in the mid 60's.  The sky was clear.  Little yellow flowers are blooming everywhere and butterflies have found them!  It was a beautiful day!

Glad to be Home Dinner

We invited Carly, Colter, and their children for dinner, to celebrate our return to the ranch, after our travels to Alaska and Canada.  We are having a simple dinner:  Panzanella, Spaghetti with Meatballs, and Baked Chocolate Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream.  We are anxious to hear from Colter about what happened on the ranch while we were away.  We've already heard from his grandfather, Larry, that a bear got into a drinker in the Patterson pasture several times and broke the float valve, resulting in thousands of gallons of water lost over and over.  We thank God for Colter!

Golden Grasses of Fall

I hiked between 5 and 6 this evening.  The sun was shining it's last hour of the day, lighting up the grasses that have now turned golden all over the ranch.  We think of these golden grasses as next spring's feed for the cows.