Morning Parade

Every morning, over the past several weeks, we've had a parade of deer in front of our house.  There has been water in the drinker just east of our house and they go there for a drink.  There is a distinctive big buck among them.  He's missing an antler. 

Saturday Hike

After lunch, we hiked up the creek behind the Rock House, through a meadow that is odd because all the big rocks have been thrown to the sides.  It seems that someone had a reason, maybe to grow crops, to clear this big area.  We hiked up the rocky hill beyond the meadow, up and up to an old survey marker, dated 1916.  At that point, we rested for a moment and enjoyed the views, before hiking down the side and into a canyon that neither of us had been in before.  It was a beautiful day.  The grasses were high and swaying in the breeze.  There were potholes of water in the canyon. 

Adding It All Up

Papa, Colter, and the other cowboys went to the shipping corrals yesterday afternoon, after Day 2 of Winter Roundup.  They sorted and weighed all the calves, and counted them one more time.  They were pleased with the results.  Good job, Colter!  Over the next few days, he will decide which heifers to keep or sell.  There is always plenty to do on Winchester Ranch!

Winter Roundup, Day 2

The roundup was yesterday, along with hauling all the calves to the shipping corrals for sorting. Today was mostly preg checking all the mother cows.  It went like clockwork, and Colter preg checked over 230 cows by 11:30 a.m.  The cowboys took a break for lunch I prepared.  Then they counted the cows one more time before pushing them about a mile, to the Bull Tank pasture.  It was another good winter day on the ranch!

 

Winter Roundup, Day 1

Papa came home from Tom's roundup yesterday, to tell me their lunch was exactly what I was planning for our lunch today.  Fortunately, I had some things on hand to quickly change course.  Papa left at 5 this morning, to feed the horses and get to Colter's barn by 7.  I prepped food, loaded the Hummer, and left home by 10.  I stopped by Antelope Ranch to pick up Ashley, and we got to the Patterson corrals by 11, with Carly already there, along with Colter Lee and Traven.  The weather was beautiful, with clear skies, and crisp temperatures.  The cowboys had been hard at work, and there were cows in the corral with more were headed down into the canyon.  It was a perfect day for Winter Roundup!

Week of Winter Roundup

Papa has been helping with Winter Roundup on Tom's ranch over the past few days. He left home at 5 again this morning, not returning until 7.  I spent much of today cooking and prepping for Winchester Ranch Winter Roundup lunches this week.  Our Winter Roundup will begin day after tomorrow.  I'll be cooking more tomorrow, making chili for cowboys!

Downton Abbey

Papa and I don't watch a lot of tv, but we got hooked a couple of years ago on Downton Abbey.  Its a British period piece, set in the early 1900's, following the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants.  Its shown on PBS, Masterpiece Theatre.  Downton Abbey has become the most watched tv drama in the world!  Tonight is the first night of season 4.  We'll be watching!

Anniversary Thirty Three

Today is Papa and my 33rd Anniversary!  We feel like the luckiest people on earth.  We have made many happy memories over the years.  We are healthy.  We have four happy grown children and eight happy grandchildren.  We enjoy our life together, on the ranch and wherever we are.  Today is a happy day!

New Year's Greeting

Wishing you, in your busy life,

some time for relaxation and reflection,

good sleep,

good health,

good exercise,

someone to dance with,

a bit of adventure,

good looks...

but most of all, I wish you

lots of bear hugs,

and the bliss of real love.

May you always have love to share,

health to spare,

and friends that care.

Thank you for this greeting, Joy!

Happy New Year, 2014

Happy New Year from the ranch!  

We are not in Paris, but we have a family trip to France planned in April.  

We wish for many happy moments in this new year.