Oscar, Pablo, and Doc

Our horses have been coming in our house yard for days.  Seems the grass is better on the house side of the fence.  They also like the attention they get from Papa.  We think they are beautiful animals.

Morning Cattle Move

I woke up almost two hours later than usual this morning, after a late night of photo book making.  Colter and his Granddad were in front of our house, moving cows as I poured my first cup of coffee.  With over 200 mama cows + calves + bulls in the pasture to our east, Colter continues to move them every few days.  Cows are not the brightest animals and they seem to gravitate to ridge tops even though there is much better grass on the canyon sides. 

East and West

We grilled dinner later than usual yesterday.  As I was walking to and from the house with vegetables and utensils, the moon came up over the Winchester Mountains as the sun set over the Santa Catalina Mountains.  It was so beautiful.

Planning for Christmas

I've put together 12 Days of Christmas activities and gifts over the past several years for our grandchildren.  I'm doing it again this year!  With our schedule over the coming months, I got a head start.  One of the crafts this Christmas is Winchester Ranch Stars.  Papa cut twigs from a tree near the corral.  I cut lengths of yarn to tie them together in a star shape and made samples.  Winchester Ranch Stars will look nice on their Christmas trees.

Big Clouds over the Santa Catalina Mountains

Late yesterday big dark clouds formed over the north side of the Santa Catalina Mountains, to the west of the Winchester Mountains.  Light rain fell for a few hours, until the sun was going down.  The sky lit up at sunset.  A joy to watch! 

Child's Note

I was going through a box of files this morning and came across a card with a handwritten note from about 10 years ago.

"Mom,
 I thought I would write an old fashioned card (it is more fun).  I want to thank you for so many things you have provided for my entire life.  As I get older, the more I realize how much you did (and continue to do) to make our lives richer, better, easier, more enjoyable, and more full of love.  

You could not have done anything else better, you got it right on the first try with us.  I feel as if my life is almost completely a result of your guidance, help, and advice.  And I am so happy, I don't know how to show you how grateful I am.  You lead me, Whit, and Aud by example and I hope to continue to make you proud and live up to the amazing example you have set as a mother, wife, daughter, friend, and person.  I love you Mom.  :) 
Claire"

I couldn't be more proud of my children.

Sunday Morning on the Ranch

Today was a pretty typical Sunday morning for us.  I was up at 5, enjoying my coffee and reading the news.  Papa was up by 6.  We had breakfast, and by 7:30, Papa went down to the Rock House corral to put new shoes on Oscar.  I hiked down the hill around 8:15, passing a nursery of calves being watched by one mama cow.  Papa was putting on Oscar's fourth shoe when I got to the Rock House corral.  I shoveled weeds and then Papa and I sat on the front porch for a bit, to enjoy the still running creek, while the horses came in the yard.  It was a beautiful morning!

 

Moving Cows

Since July 18, all the cows on the ranch have been to the north east of our house, in a pasture of about 2500+ acres.  We've had good rain and many of the creeks are still running.  Regardless of range health, cows seem to gravitate to a few familiar places.  Colter moves them every three to five days, hoping they will graze in new places. 

Barrel Cactus Blooming

If it's August, barrel cactus are blooming in the desert!  We were in Tucson the past two days, and enjoyed seeing barrel cactus blooming all over the foothills.  I love these blooms!

Colors of the Sky at Sunset

Last evening's sunset was very colorful. 

Roadrunner

Over the past few days, we've had a curious roadrunner come onto our porch and walk around the house... over and over!  He's hard to photograph because he runs away when he senses movement. 

Handprints

One afternoon while our family was gathered at the ranch in June, each of the grandchildren painted t-shirts and they dipped their hands in paint to make hand prints on canvas.  I spent a few hours yesterday sewing pillowcases from their hand print canvases.  Love this pillow of hand prints!

Mowing

It is rare that mowing needs to be done on the ranch.  Today is one of those days, after all the rain of this summer season.  Papa is mowing around the house with a weedeater.  Its nice to see the stonework at the base of the house plus a bit of walking space. 

Grazing

After being away from the ranch for a week, with Audrey's family at Lake Geneva, the horses were happy to see us.  They ran into the house yard to graze.  We're happy for them to "mow" the grass!

The Boulders

Papa and I flew to Wisconsin from the Phoenix/Mesa airport, so we had a good excuse to 

stay over at The Boulders Resort.  We enjoy The Boulders in summer for a short getaway.  

We got up this morning and went to the spa.  While we were there a storm blew up, 

which was beautiful and brought much needed moisture to Phoenix.

Weekend at Lake Geneva, WI

A few months ago, Audrey invited Papa and me to join their family for a weekend at Lake Geneva.  They won the weekend at a silent auction for Lauren's preschool.  We flew up on Friday morning, and met them early afternoon.  We explored Lake Geneva, getting ice cream and going on a 

boat ride.  We went to a petting zoo and we had fun on a nearby playground.  Mostly we enjoyed 

the time with Audrey, Dan, Lauren, and Taylor, who said "Wuwu and Papa," over and over!

 

 

 

Fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains

Papa and I drove into Tucson this afternoon.  As we approached the city, we saw smoke in the mountains.  It was a small amount of smoke, up one canyon.  Within four to five hours, the fire had spread over a much larger area and is now (as I write this) burning up to the top of what is visible from the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, the northern boundary of the city of Tucson. 

This photo taken over the top of our nearest neighbor to the north.

Summer Green

In every direction we look on the ranch, we are blessed to see green grass.  We love summers on the ranch, and this one is special. 

Our Toad Friend

Every summer, like clockwork, after we have had several rains, our toad friend appears on our porch.  Of course, we don't know if it is the same toad, but there can't be that many, at 5420', a half mile uphill from a seasonal creek, and in the desert!  He's back!  He knocks on the window as he catches bugs.  He feels like an old friend!