Happy New Year!

I took these photos earlier this week, at sunset in Saguaro National Park West.  The saguaros are so majestic, its hard to believe they are real.  Wishing you a happy New Year from the Sonoran Desert!

 

 

 

Family for the Holidays

We enjoyed every moment of Christmas 2014, with Whitney and her family, and Mary joining us.

Playing on the Ranch

We've been busy over the past few days, riding horses, riding in the Ranger and the truck, gathering sticks to build a fire to roast marshmallows, hiking, eating, and roping goats with Colter Lee, Traven, and Madilyn.  We've had fun with Greta and Toby, Whitney and Corey!

White Christmas

With Whitney's family arriving late on December 24, we decided to act as if December 25 was Christmas Eve.  After arriving back on the ranch, we had a big lunch and settled in.  After naps, we had a light dinner, with a pot of chocolate fondue for our traditional Christmas Eve dessert. 

We woke up this morning to a white Christmas!  We had light snow during the night, and it covered the mountains and as far as we could see.  It was beautiful!  After opening gifts and having Papa's pancakes for breakfast, we went out to play and hike in the snow.  Whitney, Toby, Papa and I went down to the corral, so Whitney and Toby could ride the horses.  Oscar and Pablo were well behaved.  Was fun for all of us!

  

 

Our Surprise Gift

Carly and Colter surprised us when we returned to the ranch today, with a new steel "Winchester Ranch" sign, hanging over our ranch gate.  Thank you for this Christmas gift, Carly and Colter!

Merry Christmas

Celebrating Christmas

We celebrated Christmas with Carly, Colter, Madilyn, Colter Lee, and Traven this evening.  Everyone but Colter arrived by 6.  Colter came along about a half hour later, after a long day on the ranch.  We enjoyed dinner together and they opened their gifts, while we watched slideshows of 2014 Branding and family photos.  We enjoyed every moment, including the chocolate cake!

 

Our Decorated Tree

This Christmas tree is a bit lopsided.  We started decorating yesterday morning.  Papa went out to his workshop, while I continued hanging ornaments on the tree.  Suddenly, it started listing.  I tried to grab it, but alas, it fell over and crunched several of our sand dollar ornaments that we've had for at least 28 years!  We got it back up and screwed down. While hanging the ornaments, we talked of memories of Christmases past.  There are so many happy memories hanging on our Christmas tree!

Cutting our Christmas Tree

After two days of light rain this week, the road dried enough so we could get our tree yesterday afternoon.  Papa got all the tools together... a piece of metal, string, wire, rope, and a saw.  We rode up the mountain in the Ranger and set off to find our tree!  After a bit of wandering about, we found our tree! Papa cut it down.  We wrapped it with string onto the metal, then he dragged it back to the Ranger, and we headed down the mountain.

Roadrunner

A roadrunner was on the porch for some time this morning.  He seemed to be checking things out, as he ran back and forth.  I took photos from inside and was careful he didn't notice me. 

Rain Clouds

As of today, we have had close to 16" of rain on the ranch in 2014.  This is the second highest rain total we've had in 11 years, and we haven't had rain in December in five years!  Besides the moisture in the ground, we enjoy watching the clouds in the sky.

Girls Basketball

Papa and I have been volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club in Tucson for over a year.  

Several of the girls we've gotten to know, play basketball.  We went to one of their games 

on Monday night.  We had a good time and their team won!

French Chocolate Bark

On Sunday afternoon, I made a batch of Ina Garten's recipe for French Chocolate Bark 

for neighbor Christmas gifts.  So easy and so good!

8 oz. good semisweet chocolate chips or bar

8 oz. good bittersweet chocolate chips or bar

1 cup whole roasted, salted cashews

1 cup chopped dried apricots

1/2 cup dried cranberries or cherries

1/4 cup golden raisins

1.  Melt the 2 chocolates in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.

2.  Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and draw a 9 by 10-inch rectangle on the paper.

3.  Pour the melted chocolate over the paper and spread to form a rectangle, using the outline. Sprinkle the cashews, apricots, cranberries, and raisins over the chocolate. Set aside for 2 hours until firm. Cut the bark in 1" by 3" pieces.  Store in a cool place and serve at room temperature.

First Dusting of Snow

We woke up to the season's first dusting of snow on Muskhog Peak.  Beautiful! 

Low Clouds

Much of the ranch was covered in low clouds today.  We got .30" of rain over several hours.  Papa let the horses into the house yard.  We love rare low clouds and rainy days on our desert ranch.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies

I've made these cookies every year at Christmas time for as long as I can remember, 

well over 30 years!  They are always good and easy to make.

Peanut Butter Kiss Cookies
makes 2 to 3 dozen

1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup softened butter (1 stick)
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup light or dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar
3 dozen chocolate kisses

1.  Beat butter, peanut butter, 1/2 cup sugar and brown sugar until creamy.  Beat in egg and vanilla.
2.  Stir in flour, baking soda and salt; gradually adding to creamed mixture. 
3.  Place the 1/4 cup sugar in a small bowl.  Roll dough into 1" balls, then roll in sugar to coat.
4.  Place balls 2" apart on greased baking sheets.  Bake at 350 for 10 minutes.
5.  While cookies are baking, take wrappers off chocolate kisses.  Remove cookies from oven and quickly top each with a chocolate kiss, pressing down a bit.
6.  Bake for 2 to 3 more minutes or until lightly browned.  Transfer to racks and let cool completely.  Store in airtight containers.

Twelve Days of Christmas

Over the past few years, I've prepared 12 Days of Christmas bags for our grandchildren.  This year's 12 Days crafts and activities include:

• pipe cleaner stars
• decorating napkins using holiday stamps
• jingle bell ponytail holders or doorbells
• sugar cookies with M and M trees
• gumdrop snowmen
• coloring Christmas scenes to use as wrapping paper
• singing Christmas carols with the family
• reading 'Twas the Night Before Christmas with the family
• making Christmas cards for friends, using holiday stamps
• pipe cleaner icicle ornaments
• button ornaments

The bags also include 12 pairs of socks for each grandchild.  I wrapped 96 pairs of socks!  I hope Emily, Sarah, Toby, Greta, Emerson, Colby, Lauren, and Taylor enjoy their 12 Days of Christmas!

Cottonwood in Fall

We have a few cottonwood trees on the ranch, one in the canyon closest to the house.  Its leaves are yellow to green, with some of the leaves already falling.  It is providing beautiful fall color!