Horsing Around

 Around here, we spend most of our time outdoors and it's baby L's favorite place to be

When they were here a few weeks ago, we soaked up all the mountain air we could

Let's get a little mud on the tires

Childhood as it should be

Chicken chores

If there's a road, he was taking it

Horses?

yes, please!

DH's horses are not pets. They are working ranch horses and it was just the sweetest thing to watch them shed their cow-horse mind and open up their big, gentle hearts

To this tiny, precious toddler

They were absolutely drawn to baby L

They were so curious and inquisitive

And followed him all over

His mama was practically raised in the saddle

Such a sweet

                          

Happy

Soul

                             

We soaked up every sweet moment

A Good Year to be a Rancher

 Since moving to the mountains, it's been difficult to tear us away from home. Especially when tearing us away means being in town. But this weekend found us at the fairgrounds for a 2 day ranch rodeo. A good friend coordinates and produces this annually and he always asks DH to be a judge. 

It is good to catch up with ranching friends we rarely see and in this year of plentiful rain, abundant grass, soggy calves-fat cows, and soaring beef prices; our conversations are filled with grateful hearts. We know all too well that this is an incredibly rare season and an immense blessing and it is not taken for granted.

If you ranch for the money, you may as well go do something else because more often than not, the bottom line is red and not black, but most of us don't do it for the money. In this line of work, it's not what you DO. It's who you ARE. It's faith and family. It's tradition and heritage. It's legacy and values.

                                        

Through the years I've written countless posts (most of those are tagged under ranch life if anyone wishes to read more) about wind and drought, the challenges we've encountered, and about my love for this way of life through it all.

So even in the rough years: when the rain doesn't fall and the prices tank, you pray through it and ALWAYS give God the thanks and glory for allowing you to be a steward of the land and livestock He has placed in your care because from where I stand, there isn't a better life. 

Well that certainly wasn't the direction I saw this post taking. LOL. But the words just fell out and I'm leaving it as is and honestly, every year is a good year to be a rancher. 

Under the Needle: September

 Closing out September already? That doesn't seem possible. It was a busy month both in and out of my sewing room. 

I spent one day in a place I hadn't been in over a year. I used to work at the Livestock Sale Barn on Mondays out on the block next to the auctioneer for 10 years. I quit when we moved, but my boss asked me if I minded filling in when she knew she'd be shorthanded last week. I told her I'd be rusty and she replied that it was just like riding a bike. My reply: I'm pretty rusty at that too. 😂 But I took Jesus to work with me and all went well. 😉

Funny side note: The gentleman circled in the photo is now a cow buyer. Super nice guy. He was a bank president for years. He was also my boss in a different part of the state when I was first married over 38 years ago. 😂

Then today I had to shake off the town-itis and spend some time outside

And then I spent a little time stitching on the binding to the I Spy quilt for our grandson so I could hand stitch it down in the evenings

I recently picked it, and another quilt, up from Jackie

This month I finally finished all the blocks for my S'mores quilt. I'm making it queen-sized so that translates to a lot of blocks. I also got the top together which was a huge undertaking for me. This quilt is on point and I spent lots of time on the floor pinning sashing to rows

 I also started and pieced a 16-patch quilt for a friend's daughter 

And then I decided her brother needed a quilt too so I pulled out these 3 fabrics 

I settled on this 3 yard quilt. I've never made one before, but I think this will be perfect although I'll make it bigger.

So, no finishes this month, but tomorrow is opening day for DH's elk hunt so I think I'll be spending some time out on the deck, stitching that quilt binding and procrastinating about cleaning out the chicken coop. 😉

A Houseful of Blessings

 Last weekend our Okie family blessed us with a visit! 

Everyone gathered on Saturday to celebrate Granny's 87th birthday. And sadly, this is the only group shot anyone took. Baby L was napping, but we had 12 in the house that day.

E helped Granny with her birthday candles and then performed Zip-a-Dee-Do-Da for her.

It was a treat to see my BIL whom we all adore. He no longer drives but my SIL brought him and it was really good for all of us to be together.

And it just melted my heart to watch these 2 cousins interact

The sandbox was a busy place

And a favorite place to play                                      

As folks visited on the deck

Baby L spent every spare minute on his balance bike

                                           

He seriously racked up the miles

            

And the old 25 yr old wagon is still going strong

 and rolling into the next generation 

Our boy has always had a passion for bugs and snakes and lizards and he caught a garden snake to show the littles

Cousin charades kept us in stitches

It truly was a precious weekend

And yes, there will be a 2nd post. 😂