Today at the Ranch

We are expecting guests at the ranch, February 27-March 11.  Claire and her family will be returning from Jordan in mid February, arriving in Arizona on February 23.  Audrey and her family are planning to come to the ranch the first weekend of March.  I'm trying to cook some things ahead and am freezing casseroles, muffins, cookie dough, and more.  Papa cooked two batches of meat this morning and I finished them off as supper nachos and party pizzas, which I packed in the freezer. 

Papa and I enjoyed a nice walk this afternoon, to the Buck Knob pasture and back.  The horses were at the Rock House corral and saw us walking, so they came up the road to meet us by the gate to our house.  They like to be in the middle of things. Papa walked back down to the corral with them later to feed and pump water.

For dinner, I made romaine, pear, walnut, and parmesan salad, and mini pizzas on English muffins - smeared with pesto, and layered with pepperoni, sliced grape tomatoes, mozzarella, and parmesan.  Papa and I had a good day. 

New Patio Complete

Well, almost complete!  A small adjustment will be made to the drain, but otherwise, 

I'm pleased with the new patio.

New Patio Under Construction

I have been in Tucson for a few days, as one of our back patios has been demolished and a new patio is taking shape.  The tree in the middle of the patio had cracked the old patio in too many places.  The demolition was a little more involved than we had hoped, but after two days of jackhammering, out with the old!  They have brought in sand and brick have been delivered. The new patio will have a much larger well around the tree with brick laid in sand. 

Generosity of Bloomberg

I read an article in the NYTimes about Michael Bloomberg's latest gift to Johns Hopkins University, of $350,000,000.  In total, he has given $1.1 billion to Johns Hopkins over the past 40 years. 

While Audrey was at JHU, Mr. Bloomberg was on campus numerous times, walking about, looking at projects.  He was the keynote speaker at her graduation in May 2003.  Neither Papa or I will forget it.  It was a rainy afternoon, with everyone given a rain poncho as we entered the stadium.  It was a happy day for most.  Mr. Bloomberg spoke of coming to JHU as a mediocre student and leaving a very different person.  He was smart and worked hard.  Clearly he has been successful.  His generosity is overwhelming and inspiring.  

Happy Birthday Audrey!

Happy to be mother of little Lauren, wife of Dan, 

and working in a business she enjoys. Life is good!

Happy 31st Birthday, Audrey!

Shopping and More Shopping

I am in Tucson for a few days to shop.  Papa and I keep a running list of things we need at the ranch.  From paper towels, to flour and sugar, to D batteries and muffin tins, I'm making progress.  I also got my hair trimmed and made a few shopping stops for things not on the list.  I'm having fun!

Carrot Soup

I made a big pot of Carrot Soup a couple of days ago.  I use Aunt Rhea's recipe and it is anything but ordinary.  Try it!

Carrot Soup
Serves 6-8
6 tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
1 garlic clove, sliced
1 1/2 lbs. carrots, peeled and sliced
3 tomatoes, chopped
1 baking potato, peeled and sliced
1/4 cup fresh parsley or basil
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
1/2 teaspoon curry
1/2 teaspoon cumin
4 cups chicken stock
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

In large saucepan, melt 4 tablespoons butter.  Add onion and garlic.  Cover and cook over low heat until softened but not browned.

Add carrots, tomatoes, potato, basil, cumin, curry, salt and pepper, chicken stocks, and remaining 2 tablespoons butter.  Bring it all to a boil, reduce heat and simmer covered about 45 minutes or until all vegetables are tender.

Puree soup in blender or food processor.  Return soup to pan and add lemon juice, heating through.  Serve with fresh croutons or a dollop of sour cream or plain yogurt and a little fresh parsley.  YUM!

Bird Watching at Whitewater Draw

Papa and I spent time at Whitewater Draw Wildlife Area yesterday afternoon.  We drove about 2.5 hours south of the ranch to find an incredible place that neither of us had ever visited before.  There were 20,000-40,000 birds in the shallow water of Whitewater Draw.  Sandhill cranes made up the majority of the birds.  They are migratory birds, with thousands spending winters in the Sulphur Springs Valley.  They are 2.5'-4' tall, with a wingspan of 5'-7'.   We also saw ducks, egrets, and more.

Changing a Tire

Changing a tire doesn't seem like such a big deal, but one of Fergie's tires has given Papa a hard time for many months.  After two trips into town to get the tire repaired, Papa realized the new inner tube had a leak.  He decided to give up and buy a new tire.  He ordered a new tire and it arrived in December.  Papa picked up the new tire and realized when he got back to the ranch that it had the wrong treads.  Back to square one!

Papa ordered another new tire and picked it up last week.  The hardest part for Papa is getting the new tire on the rim.  Not easy by himself (with my wimpy help).  Papa worked five hours yesterday to get the tire on the rim and got it on about 5 pm!  Now we're hoping it will hold air!

Horse Buddies

Oscar, Pablo, and Hank spend all day every day together.  They are buddies!  We often use binoculars to look for them from our living room.  Without fail, if we see one of the horses, the other two will be nearby. If Papa is within sight, they are sure to find him.

Most Beautiful Campus in America

I learned today that Florida Southern College, my alma mater (1979), has been named for a second consecutive year, the Most Beautiful Campus in America, by Princeton Review.

Over the years I was at FSC, I was the girl that walked around Lake Hollingsworth every afternoon (3 miles).  I went to FSC because of the weather and a good mix of study options.  I thought FSC was beautiful every day I was there.  It has the largest concentration of Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in the world.  Annie Pfieffer Chapel always took my breath away.  Campus buildings were joined by stunning covered walkways.  The campus sits on a beautiful lake, framed by old oaks dripping with Spanish moss and cabbage palms. The Princeton Review got it right! 

Low Choppers

Over the past few days, we've had a chopper flying low over the ranch at different times of the day and night.  A couple of nights ago, a chopper flew toward our house and got so low, the house was shaking.  He then made a 360 degree turn and left.  We felt as if we were being invaded!

Yesterday as we were at the end of our hike, we heard a chopper flying low again, and we searched the sky to find it.  It was flying between us and the mountain and was hard to see.  The highest point of the mountain is 7423', and the chopper was at least 1000' lower!

Breaking Ice

With the very cold temperatures of the past week, comes ice on the drinkers and broken water valves.  Papa and I bundled up and hiked this afternoon.  He broke ice on several drinkers and checked float valves.  Pablo was happy Papa came along!

Inside Stuff While It's Cold Outside

We have had the longest string of "colder than normal" days on record, in southern Arizona.  Last night the low was 14!  Yesterday, the high was 31!  I can't bear to go outside to walk, so I've been walking on my treadmill and spending at least a half hour a day on my stationary bike.  I've been planning our girls weekend for April, in Princeton, NJ.  Papa and I decided to use some frequent flyer miles and we're planning a trip to Portugal and Madeira in late April.  Today, I'm cooking!  I am making carrot cake muffins, hummingbird muffins, and chicken enchiladas.  All will be stored in the freezer in anticipation of Claire's family visit to the ranch in late February.  I will try to tackle a sewing project that's been on the shelf for months.  There's plenty of inside stuff to do!

Winter Sunset

We have had very cold weather the past few days, with lows in the 20's.  There have been occasional snow flurries.  The clouds are full of precipitation.  The clouds were beautiful at sunset last night, with colors of pink, orange, and purple. 

Colter Lee, Traven, and Madilyn

Colter and Carly's children are special to Papa and me.  They are exceptionally well behaved.  Each of them has a happy disposition, is well mannered, and easily entertained.  They love the ranch, riding their horses, and roping.  They are generous with hugs.  They always leave us with smiles.

Winter Roundup, Day 2

Day 2 of Winchester Ranch winter roundup was filled with preg checking all the cows and culling those that were open or past their prime (toothless).  Colter Lee and Traven rode over with me, to take lunch to the cowboys.  Just as we arrived Colter's Dad and Granddad were chasing Frosty in the corral.  Frosty was the first calf born in our first herd on Winchester Ranch.  Frosty is distinctive as she appears "frosted" with white hair over her red coat.  After lunch and decisions made about cows to sell, the herd was moved into another pasture.  Everything worked like clockwork! 

 

Winter Roundup

A dozen cowboys and one cowgirl met at Colter's barn at 7 this morning.  They drove trailers of horses to the far west end of ranch, the Patterson pasture.  The morning started cold but warmed up under a crystal clear sky and by noon they had about 200 cows and calves in the Patterson corral.  I brought a hot lunch.  After eating, the cowboys separated into groups to go round up the rest of the herd.  A good day!

Old Barbed Wire

Much of the barbed wire on the ranch is at least 100 years old.  Some of the oldest wire is in the Rock House corral and it's still holding the hand hewn posts together.  Over time, more and more wire was added to the corral, so there are seven or eight strands in places.  The barbed wire is rusty and still doing it's job!

Preparing for Winter Roundup

Papa and I prepare quite differently for our winter ranch roundup.  Over the past few days, Papa has bought extra hay for the horses, filled up the gas cans, and put new shoes on Oscar and Pablo.  I have made grocery lists, made cookie dough for the freezer, and spent this morning with Papa in the kitchen helping me cook.  Papa will help with the roundup while I prepare lunches for the cowboys on Monday - Wednesday of this coming week.  We hope it will be a safe and productive roundup!

My lunch menus:
Rigatoni Bolognese
Panzanella Salad
Hot Rolls with Honey
Lemon Bars

Barbecue Pork
Baked Beans
Smashed Potatoes
Carrot Salad with Raisins and Walnuts
Pecan Bars

Cowboy Chili
Cornbread with Cheddar and Chilies
Cooked Apples
Oatmeal Cookies and Peanut Butter Cookies

Say's Phoebe

They are grayish brown above, darkest on head, wings, and tail; breast and throat are pale grayish brown; belly and undertail coverts tawny.  Fairly common in dry, open areas, canyons, cliffs; perches on bushes, boulders, fences, all per Birds of North America.  I saw this Say's Phoebe on my hike.

32nd Anniversary

Today is our 32nd Anniversary!  It's harder to think of ourselves as 55 and 66 years old than it is to imagine that we've been married for 32 years!  So many wonderful memories have been made through the years.  We are fortunate to be in good health and have positive attitudes.  

We take care of each other.  It's been a good 32 years!

Become A Lake

An aging master grew tired of his apprentice's complaints.  One morning, he sent him to get some salt.  When the apprentice returned, the master told him to mix a handful of salt in a glass of water and then drink it.
"How does it taste?" the master asked.
"Bitter," said the apprentice.

The master chuckled and then asked the young man to take the same handful of salt and put it in the lake.  The two walked in silence to the nearby lake and once the apprentice swirled his handful of salt in the water, the old man said, "now drink from the lake."

As the water dripped down the young man's chin, the master asked, "how does it taste?"
"Fresh," remarked the apprentice. 
"Do you taste the salt? asked the master.
"No," said the young man.

At this the master sat beside this serious young man, and explained softly, "The pain of life is pure salt; no more, no less.  The amount of pain in life remains exactly the same.  However, the amount of bitterness we taste depends on the container we put the pain in.  So when you are in pain, the only thing you can do is enlarge your sense of things.  Stop being a glass.  Become a lake."

Taking off Shoes

Papa changes Oscar, Pablo, and Hank's shoes every ten weeks or so.  A few days ago, he took off their shoes, to give some time for their hoofs to soften before he trims them and puts on a new pair of shoes.  Fortunately, the horses are mostly cooperative.  They stand still while Papa rakes out their hoofs and takes the nails out.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!  

From the snow covered Santa Catalina Mountains in Tucson 

(our backyard view), 

Love, Lulu and Papa