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.