Helping Dad Check Water

Colter usually checks on water by himself, but sometimes he has help.  Yesterday was one of those days.  Madilyn, Colter Lee, and Traven rode across the ranch with Colter.  They stopped by our house for a few minutes.  It was a treat for Papa and me.

Cows in the Lead

I hiked this morning just as the sun was coming over the mountain.  As I got just inside the Buck Knob pasture gate, about 25 heifers looked up and decided to get ahead of me.  They stayed in the lead all the way to the drinker.  After getting a drink, they lined up as if to say, "see you later."

Ring Around the Rosie

I played Ring Around the Rosie over and over with my girls and their daughters at our Girls Weekend in April, in Princeton.  Since then, Emerson, Lauren, and Greta have enjoyed playing 

with their Moms and even their dolls.  Ring Around the Rosie is a simple little song that 

brings such joy and smiles to little ones (and Lulu too!).

Wreck in the Kitchen

As Papa and I were watching White Collar last night, there was suddenly a crashing sound from our cabinets.  Cups and bowls, glasses and plates were falling onto the concrete floor in millions of shards!  What a mess!  It seems that a bracket inside the cabinet broke.  The result was a 30 gallon trash can full of broken dishes, things I've had over 20 years!  My green Frankoma coffee cups, antique and no longer produced, were the biggest loss. 

Papa Riding this Morning

Papa rode in the Buck Knob pasture this morning.  I hiked down with my walkie talkie.  After Colter saw bear tracks in the Buck Knob pasture this spring, I try to always be armed with my walkie talkie!  Papa and I crossed paths and Pablo likes to get in his "look at me" time.  Pablo is a beautiful horse!

Sewing Project

I spent much of the day making pillows for my Mom.  I used fabrics that coordinated well 

and hopefully, they will be pretty in her home.  I love shopping for fabric and I have a closet full!  

I enjoy making pillow gifts for others.

New Bridle

Papa made a new bridle for Oscar and tried it on for the first time yesterday.  It fit and is very nice.  Oscar and Pablo are lucky horses.  Papa takes very good care of them.

Late Afternoon Light

Papa goes down to the Rock House corral every afternoon between 5 and 6 to feed the horses.  Some afternoons, I walk down the hill and hitch a ride back.  The late afternoon light is beautiful, shading the foothills of the mountains. 

Visitors

I heard children's voices this morning.  I went from window to window, looking outside all around and didn't see anyone.  Then I stepped outside and saw Colter Lee, Madilyn, and their friend, Courtney, as they were dismounting their horses.  They rode over to visit!  I served a snack and we chatted a bit before they got back on their horses and went home.  A pleasant morning surprise!

Hummingbirds

Hummingbirds come to our backyard every morning during summer.  They feast on red yucca blooms for an hour or so, and then take off until the next morning. The speed of hummingbird wings flapping is amazing.

Morning Hike

Papa and I hike almost every day.  We ask each other, "do you want to go up or down?"  We went "up" this morning and came upon several cows.  They started running downhill away from us pretty quickly, gathering more cows along the way.  There were four calves among the cows.  There are a few more calves yet to be born this season. 

Super Moon

 Papa and I sat outside early last evening and watched the super moon rise over the Winchester Mountains.  I got up at 5 this morning to watch the moon set over the Rincon Mountains.  We are blessed to have these incredible views!

Full Moon

My Birthday Week

I turned 56 on Tuesday.  I've been celebrating my birthday all week!  I have enjoyed calls, emails, and cards from family and friends.  Papa and I went to Tucson for three days and enjoyed several meals out.  We hung new drapes in the Tucson house.  I had my hair trimmed and I went to the Red Door Spa for a mani/pedi, courtesy of Whitney.  I received several gifts, a quilt from my Mom, mugs from Emerson and Colby, and a new camera from Papa.  We made a 10 year commitment to the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson.  Life at 56 is very good!  So happy to be alive and well!

Yucca in the Agave Garden

I planted a single yucca in my agave garden about five years ago.  The yucca has its first bloom this summer!  I've been watching it for two weeks and the blossoms are mostly open now.

Rainbow

We had a sprinkle of rain on Saturday afternoon.  The sun was shining from the west as the clouds were overhead for a short time.  The rainbow that followed was beautiful.

Happy Father's Day, Papa

Starting Fires

Papa and I left home at 7 this morning and drove to the west end of the ranch, the Patterson corral.  We got right to work as soon as we arrived and started three fires, to burn old fence posts, a desert rat nest, and tree limbs.  The bulls came down from the hills to watch us.  We worked until 1 and got home by 2:30.  A busy day and there's a cleaned up corral to show for it!

First Clouds of Summer

We haven't had rain on the ranch since February, when we had just a few drops.  Today, we had the first clouds of summer.  We smelled rain but it never made it to the ranch.  Still, we are grateful to see the clouds.  We are hopeful for rain soon!

Beading

Madilyn came over to spend this afternoon with me.  I pulled out Claire and Whitney's bead box from a summer when they were in college, along with their leftover beading supplies.  Madilyn and I designed a couple of necklaces and earrings together.  While she threaded the beads, I used the tools to put on clasps.  Madilyn was very happy to take home her new beaded jewelry.

Mini Roundup

Colter checks on the cows and calves almost every day, often riding for up to 12 hours at a time.  Papa met him at 6 this morning, along with Tayrell, and they did a mini roundup, so they could preg check several cows that had not yet had their calves.  All in a day's work on Winchester Ranch. 

Hot Pink Blooms

Papa and I hiked early this morning and these hot pink cactus blooms had just opened. 

Prickly Pear Blossom

A delicate blossom that opened yesterday on a prickly pear growing by our house.

Flowers and Calf Birth

Papa and I hiked this morning to get close to an agave in full bloom.  Along the way there were other flowers blooming, egg shaped rocks, and other finds.  I loved the flowers, teaming with insects and bees.  

Just after lunch, I looked out and noticed a cow two ridges over.  She appeared uncomfortable, so I got the binoculars and noticed a little calf within a couple feet of her.  I checked an hour later and she was still in the same area with the calf laying in the grass with buzzards all around.  Papa jumped on Bob and rode over to get closer.  After a few minutes the mother cow charged at the birds and they took off.  We continued watching and the baby calf stood up and nursed.  Then mother cow and baby calf walked up the to the top of the ridge and out of sight.  All was well.

Grammar's 76th Birthday

Today, June 4, is my Mom's 76 birthday.  She is known as Grammar by our girls and grandchildren.  Whitney sent Papa and me a list of questions about our childhood a few days ago.  One of the questions was, "What are one or two of your memories of being with your Mom when growing up?"

My answer:  "I always loved pretty clothes and Mom made most of them.  When the Sears catalogue came out three times/year, spring, summer, and Christmas, I remember going through the catalogue and choosing sweaters to buy.  Mom and I would go shopping to buy fabric and she would make skirts and slacks to match my sweaters.  When I was in high school, Mom made a red patent maxi coat for me.  I was voted Best Dressed in my senior year of high school, mostly because Mom made so many clothes for me! 

We had a big garden every summer.  At the end of summer, I remember sitting on the front porch with Mom and and bushel baskets of green beans, snapping the ends and breaking them into pieces, and shucking bushel baskets of corn that Mom would cut off the cob on the big chopping block in our kitchen, for canning."

So many happy memories made through the years with my Mom.  This is a recent photo of Mom with me and the girls.  Happy Birthday, Grammar!

Papa's Morning Rides

Over the past month, Papa has been riding most mornings to check on the cows and new calves.  He sometimes rides again in the afternoons, alternating between Oscar and Pablo.  Afternoons have been getting warmer, so his morning rides are especially nice... clear, fragrant, and cool. 

Perfumed Air

Every June, the lechuguilla across the ranch blooms and perfumes the air.  Papa went outside this morning at 6 to ride, and came back in the house to tell me to quickly go outside.  The air was filled with the perfume of lechuguilla.  I love June on the ranch!