Roadrunner on the Roof

While in Tucson yesterday, a roadrunner flew up on the roof of the guesthouse and ran 

back and forth for a bit.  We don't have roadrunners on the roof everyday!  Was fun to watch.

Bobcats

As Papa and I sat at the breakfast table, two baby bobcats jumped over the fence, into the back yard of the Tucson house.  They were coming to get a drink.  Papa grabbed my camera and 

I took photos through the window.  Soon, their young mother joined them.  

Last Day of Visit

Sunday was Whitney, Toby, and Greta's last day of this visit on the ranch.  After breakfast of pancakes, we colored horses, played outside, then went down the hill.  We hiked up the creek to find lots of volcanic rocks, which Toby was quite intrigued with.  We went to the corral.  Whitney and Toby brushed down Oscar, and Whitney rode Oscar and Doc with Papa.  Greta rode Doc a bit, then she and Toby played in the creek.  The creek morphed from "the creep" to "the creek," as Greta learned a new word.  We had a picnic lunch.  Carly, Colter, Madilyn, Colter Lee, and Traven joined us for an early dinner.  The kids played and the boys went down to feed the horses with Papa.  Greta had fun with Madilyn in the backyard, jumping from rock to rock.  Another good day.

Fun on Ranch Transport

Saturday was a day filled with riding.  Greta rode down the hill on Bob with Papa to feed the horses.  Greta and Toby blew lots of bubbles as we got ready to go down the hill again.  We rode to the corral in the Jeep.  Toby, Greta, Whitney, and Papa rode Pablo.  Papa took Toby and Greta for a ride on Fergie, to move several rolls of pipe and later, we all rode Bob up and down the mountain.  The wind picked up in the afternoon, and we flew kites.  A good day!

Rocks, Sand, Goats, and Cats

After breakfast, Greta and Toby played with the dollhouse that Great Papa built close to 20 years ago.  They went down the hill with Papa, to feed the horses.  Then Madilyn, Colter Lee, and Traven arrived by 9.  We looked for crystal rocks, filling a box.  We went to the corral and some rode Oscar, while others chased and caught a lizard.  We played in the creek sand by the Rock House. 

After lunch, eight of us rode in the Jeep to Colter and Carly's house.  Greta chased the baby goat, catching her a few times.  She and Toby jumped on the trampoline with Madilyn, Colter Lee, and Traven.  Greta chased the cats.  All this running and jumping made tired kids and grandparents!  

 

Greta and Toby at the Ranch

I picked up Whitney, Toby and Greta from the Tucson airport.  We drove straight to the ranch, where Papa was waiting for us, ready to introduce Greta and Toby to Oscar, Pablo, and Do.  Toby and Greta helped Papa feed the horses.  Greta rode with Papa up the hill in the Jeep.  After dinner, Papa read bedtime stories.  It was a good day!

Ripping in Water Line

Saturday was a busy day on the ranch, with over 4000' of new water line ripped in with the dozer.  Madilyn, Colter Lee, and Traven were on hand all day to supervise.  They are patient kids!

Herds of Deer

We have had temperatures in the high 70's over the past several days.  Papa has worked on water projects several days.  With such beautiful days, I hiked over to check on progress each day.  I came across several small herds of deer.  They seemed curious and reluctant to move, but as I got closer, they always ran. 

Current Ranch Projects

There are several projects in the works, across the ranch.  We're in the process of having over seven miles of old fence replaced.  The fence crew has been staying in the Bunk House since August.  They have about 3/4 mile to finish.  Last weekend, Papa, Colter, Colter's Dad, and Granddad replaced about 2.5 miles of old water line, using a dozer to rip in the new line.  On Thursday, Papa met well repair guys, who pulled the pump in the Bear Creek well, rewired it for solar power, then reset it.  The pump was at 600' deep, so it was no small project.  While Papa was at Bear Creek, Colter, his Dad and Granddad moved an old steel water tank from Rattlesnake Canyon to the ridge above, about a half mile.  Today, Papa will be working with them, to rip in another 5000'+ of new water line to a drinker in the Buck Knob pasture.  All of these projects require more work, plumbing, adding drinkers, installing new solar arrays, and more.