Nearby Fire

A lightning strike started a fire in the Galiuro Mountains on June 17.  The Galiuro Mountains are just to the northwest of the Winchester Mountains.  They are the nearest mountain range to us.  As of this morning, the fire has burned over 11,000 acres and is 5% contained.  The wind is blowing to the north and west, so we have not been affected by the smoke.  The fire is about 12-14 miles from the west end of our ranch. 

Desert Willow Tree

After building the house on the ranch, we planted a desert willow tree next to the garage.  It has   thrived and attracts bumble bees and hummingbirds, so there is always a buzz on the patio.  

 

Roof Completed

The roof on our house and guesthouse in Tucson was completed today.  It looks terrific! 

A New Roof

When we bought our house in Tucson in 2008, we knew we needed to replace the roof.  The roof was original to the house, put on in 1979.  Six years later...we finally got bids and the roofing crew began work at 6:30 Monday morning.  The project is in full tilt, with a dumpster in front of the garage.  The roofing was delivered to the roof via a conveyor belt.  The roofing crew works long hard days.  They made several repairs to the rafters and roof deck.  They are hopeful to finish on Wednesday.

Flat Tires

Flat tires seem to come in multiples.  Over the past three weeks, I've had four flat tires.  On Friday, Papa noticed my Hummer in the garage, had a flat.  He put on the spare tire, which meant I didn't have a good spare, to go to Tucson on Sunday afternoon.  We had guests for a late lunch, so I didn't leave the ranch until 6 p.m.  About nine miles from home, I had a flat tire, which meant I had two flat tires on the car!  I was in a dead cell phone area, so I walked over half a mile to get cell reception.  I called our nearest neighbor, and they drove to Carly and Colter's house to ask them to get Papa to come help me.  All of this took about two hours, and they arrived to help me at 8 p.m.  I drove Papa's truck to Tucson and he took care of the flat tires.  It was not one of my best days!  On the bright side, I was safe in my Hummer, with a magazine to read, and a beautiful sky as the sun went down.

First Time Mothers

Most of the cows in the Buck Knob pasture are first time mothers.  I hiked down this morning, amidst mama cows and their calves.  The mamas are protective of their calves, but allowed me to get close. 

Popsicles

I love popsicles in summer!  I prefer homemade popsicles.  They are easy and quick to make. I've made a version of each of these recipes over the past couple of weeks. 

Pineapple Pops
In a bowl, stir together a large can of crushed pineapple, 1 mashed banana, and a cup of grapes cut in half.  Spoon into popsicle molds and freeze.

Yogurt and Fruit Pops
2 cups of fruit - use your favorite mix of fresh berries and sliced bananas
2 cups plain or vanilla yogurt

Place fruit and yogurt in a blender.  Cover and blend until fruit is chunky or smooth, as desired.  Spoon mixture into popsicle molds and freeze. 

The Boulders

Papa and I went to Phoenix to stay at The Boulders for my birthday.  The Boulders Resort is one of my favorite places to stay.  The accommodations are casitas, placed carefully in the lush desert landscape, with plenty of wildlife all about.  The first time we visited The Boulders several years ago, a bobcat was standing at the door of our casita when we arrived.  On this visit, I enjoyed the pool, which sits beneath a giant outcropping of boulders.  We had a delicious dinner at one of the resort restaurants, with Mary joining us.  This morning, I took my morning walk, about the resort, 

enjoying the birds, especially the quail, and bunnies hopping around.  

My Birthday

I am 57 years old today!  I love my life!  I am blessed in so many ways.  As the years pass, each birthday is more special than the last.  This photo was taken in April, of my Mom and me.  Mom turned 77 on June 4.  I hope I look and feel as good as she does in 20 years!  In the short term, I intend to enjoy every moment of year 57!

Flowers and Thorns

These yellow flowers are blooming on a barrel cactus in the backyard of our Tucson house.  

The thorns on this cactus are long and sharp!  The flowers are delicate as can be.

Saguaro Fruit

While in Tucson over the past few days, it was hard not to notice the bumper crop of saguaro fruit.  Birds were feasting on it.  The deep red, juicy fruit is full of seeds, and is eye turning this 

time of year, when there isn't much bright color in the desert. 

 

 

Happy Father's Day!

A few photos of Papa, taken in April on our trip to France, with all our children and grandchildren.  Papa is a loved father and enjoys the moments of being a grandfather.  Happy Father's Day!

Summer Clouds

Summer clouds bring rain to the desert.  We woke up to clouds in the sky.  It's a beautiful morning on Winchester Ranch!

Hedgehog Cactus

We have had a dry spring on the ranch, so there have been fewer cactus blooms this year.  On a trip into town a few days ago, I saw these hot pink blooms on hedgehog cactus along the way. 

Colter Lee's 6th Birthday

Carly invited us to join them for a tacos last night, to celebrate Colter Lee's 6th birthday.  I took a chocolate cake for dessert with candles.  There were sparklers, a pinata made by Madilyn hanging from a tree, and smiles all around.  Happy Birthday, Colter Lee!

Carly

We are grateful to have Colter as a partner and manager of Winchester Ranch.  We are equally grateful that Carly comes with Colter!  Carly is a loving mother and wife.  She has been especially attentive to Colter over the past several weeks, as his broken leg heals.  Carly is a barrel racer and equestrian.  She rides regularly with Colter, and she has been riding the ranch to check for new calves this spring.  She almost always brings one or two of the kids with her to ride.

We say about Carly and Colter's kids that they are "just about perfect."  They are exceptionally well behaved, which is a reflection of Carly and Colter's discipline and expectations.  Over the past five years, we've had Carly and Colter over for lots of meals.  Carly pitches in the moment she arrives, so that its hard for me to get a big meal on the table without her!  Carly tells things as she sees them, no nonsense!  She always has a smile.  Papa and I are happy to have Carly in our lives!

Horses Manes

While walking a couple of days ago, our horses saw me and seemed to know that I was on my way home.  They turned and began walking quickly toward the gate for our house.  They beat me to the gate but I didn't let them in, patting each one and speaking to each.  They crave attention!  Our horses are of quite different coloring and their manes are different too.  Oscar is a redhead.  Doc is so dark brown, he's nearly black.  Pablo is a paint with a striped mane and a cowlick.  We love our horses!

Checking Water

Water is probably the most important ingredient of successful ranching.  Winchester Ranch is not only a desert ranch, but the whole of southeastern Arizona has endured drought conditions for several years.  We hope for enough rain each year to keep perennial grasses and other native vegetation alive, and to keep the water table high enough that we can pump water from existing wells.  Currently we have 250+ mature animals on the ranch, including mother cows and bulls.  Our mother cows give birth during the spring, so they are nursing over 200 calves, which requires more water than usual.  During summer months, our herd consumes approximately 5000 gallons of water/day.

 

Our ranch water system is dependent on pumped water from wells.  We are thrilled those 

few days of the year when the streams on the ranch run!  Winchester Ranch water statistics:

5 wells, with 1 of those used as backup

4 solar pumping plants
1 diesel powered submersible pump used regularly at night, and 1 on standby

1 commercial power pump

1 spring on Javelina Peak that produces a small volume of water to 1 drinker

30+ miles of high pressure water pipeline

40 drinkers

16 storage tanks that will hold up to 90,000 gallons water

4 dirt tanks - only fill from seasonal rains

4 concrete dams - only fill from seasonal rain

With all the drinkers and storage tanks, there are hundreds of valves and fittings.  The valves and fittings seem to freeze in winter and leak in summer.  When "checking water," there are lots of parts to check.  Colter normally "checks water" across the ranch.  Papa has been "checking water" over the past few weeks as Colter is recovering from breaking his leg.  Its a big job!

Lechuguilla Blooms

Lechuguilla consistently bloom in June on the ranch.  As our cattle population on the ranch has increased, lechuguilla blooms have decreased, because the cows eat lechuguilla shoots.  We have considerably fewer blooms this year than in years past.  Still they are fragrant, bright, and their tall flower stalks are beautiful.

Mom's 77th Birthday

Mom, also known as Grammar, is celebrating her 77th birthday today! Papa and I spent Easter weekend with her in Paris.  We made many happy memories. 

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Summer Sunsets Begin

It seems the sunsets in summer are more colorful than during the rest of the year.  Last night's sunset was the first "WOW!" sunset of this summer, full of bold colors.

Morning Ride

Will and Savannah are staying on Warbonnet Ranch for a few weeks this summer.  They rode with Carly, Larry Sr., and Colter Lee this morning, to check on new calves.  They rode in two groups, with Carly, Larry, and Colter Lee going west.  It was a still morning and I could hear them talking a quarter mile away.  Carly had tags to put on new calves. They rode down the canyon and up the other side onto a ridge that is quite steep.  Colter Lee roped a calf for Carly to tag. It never gets old watching a 5 year old rope!