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.

Happy Valentine's Day!

 ...and Happy Birthday to Granny!

Tucson Gem & Mineral Show

Papa and I visited several Gem and Mineral Show vendors on Tuesday morning in Tucson.  There are over 3000 vendors at this year's show.  We talked to vendors from Germany, Lebanon, and France.  We were really impressed by the giant specimens we saw, from a giant tabletop made of petrified wood to split sandstone with ancient sea life from the Middle East, to a small dinosaur. 

Boys & Girls

From this week's visit to the club...  Love all the smiles!

 

Youth of the Year

Over the past three months, Papa and I have been volunteering on Tuesday afternoons, at the 

Boys and Girls Club in Tucson.  We've been meeting with a group of kids from 8th grade to seniors in high school.  We play games and talk about choices and opportunities.  We were thrilled to be at the Club this afternoon, when one of "our kids," David, was named Youth of the Year for Tucson Boys and Girls Clubs. He has won two competitions, with the next competition in Phoenix, for Arizona Youth of the Year.  We are really proud of David! 

Valentine Mobile

On Friday, Madilyn and Colter Lee cut out lots of hearts from Arizona Highways photos.  On Saturday, I trimmed them up a bit, then sewed them together in long strings of valentines.  Today, I cut the strings of valentines apart and tied them to a limb.  I tied on a thin rope to hang it as a mobile.