Pink Flowers

It only takes a little rain for the pincushion cactus to bloom.  This one was blooming yesterday morning in front of our Tucson house.  The blossoms are exquisite next to the thorns of the cactus. 

Day in Phoenix

I drove to Phoenix on Thursday morning.  I met Mary in My Sister's Closet, 

a really fun resale shop that I've been to before.  We also stopped in My Sister's Attic, 

where I bought a new mirror for the Tucson house foyer.

Mary and I stopped by two of my favorite furniture stores, Bungalow and Tierra del Lagarto, in north Scottsdale.  Both of those stores transport me to another time and place.  I love them!  We later drove up to Dynamite Horseman Supply, owned by Carly's parents.  Carly's Dad, Corky, gave us a tour of the shop and the travel trailers they take to weekend rodeos. 

By 1, Mary and I were having lunch at Arcadia Farms, celebrating my birthday.  Thank you, Mary!

More Branding Photos

Mary arrived the day before Branding and stayed with us through that weekend.  She is back home in Phoenix and has edited her photos.  These are a few of my favorites.

Toad Friend

With all the rain we've had over the past two weeks, our toad friend has been on our porch most evenings, to feast on the bugs attracted to our house lights.  Thump, thump, thump, as he jumps and hits the glass, night after night.  He's our bug zapper!  

Road Work

The welcome rainfall brought the unwelcome chore of road work.  Our driveway, from Warbonnet Ranch to our home, is over 2.5 miles long.  Much of it is in very poor condition after the rains of the past week.  Papa spent much of today on Fergie, grading a small portion of the road.  2.4 miles to go!

Flowers and Mushrooms

All the rain of the past couple of weeks has brought nourishment to flowers, some blooming out of season, and to mushrooms.  We have mushrooms growing in the desert!

Ranch Guests

Ranch guests arrived on Friday of Branding Weekend.  Lorraine and her son, Alex, Ann and her daughter, Amanda, came from Tucson and pitched in Friday afternoon, chopping, counting, and prepping for the next day.  By late afternoon, Papa and I drove up the hill with them and hiked a bit around Hunter's Camp.  By the next afternoon, they were talking about the "new" cowboy language they had heard, new experiences they had, and all within two hours of home.  We enjoyed their visit!

Green, Green Grass

We've had 3" of rain in the past week, including an inch today.  Our grasslands, canyons, and mountains have turned a brilliant shade of emerald green.  Our days are cool, in the 70's, and nights are cooler still, in the 60's.  The creeks are running at the moment! 

Lulu at Branding

I got up with Papa at 4 on Branding Day.  I prepped for Branding lunch.  I made muffins for the cowboys arrival at 6.  I prepared breakfast for our five house guests.  I greeted other guests as the morning passed, got cold drinks ready, and by 8, I was by the fence with my camera.  I had tears in my eyes at the sight of those 400+ cows and calves, with 14 cowboys (and 1 cowgirl) I've come to know and love, moving down the mountain.  By 8:30, I went to the Rock House corral, to get ahead of the cowboys moving cows in their last push to the corral.  I was clicking away with my camera from the first cow over the hill until the last, trying to record the day in photos.  My role at our Brandings is taking photos.  This year I took over 2000 photos.  Many of them get posted to this blog.  Many are used in a gift that has become Colter's annual Christmas gift, his photo book of that year's Branding.

A neighbor cowboy, Dallin came for roundup and Branding this year.  Just after he arrived at 6, got his horse ready to ride and had a muffin in his hand, I came along with my camera.  He put his muffin down and smiled big.  I asked what he was doing and he said he had gotten the memo, "always smile for Louise because these photos go in The Book."  I loved it! 

Papa and I are so grateful for this life we live on Winchester Ranch.

Blood, Smoke, and Dirt

Branding is a messy job.  Its smelly with the aroma of burning flesh and hair.  Its dusty, dirty, and bloody.  All that grime doesn't make the day any less fun!  It calls for long hot showers!