Spectators

Scout and I were simply spectators at the J-5 Ranch this week. The branding pen is shaped like a triangle and it's hard to keep the calves on one end. Not to mention they were pretty big and snorty. Since I'm not moving super fast these days and especially not carrying a 30 lb kiddo, we decided to watch from the flatbed. Good thing, cuz it got a little wild a few times.

Headin' and heelin'

Charlie-charolais (the calf) is about to be swarmed by the cowboys. I just liked this picture because everyone is on the move. In case you aren't from these parts.......the calf doesn't really have a name. I call all Charolais (a breed) cattle, Charlie.

Clifford (Jearl's son) bringing one to the fire.

Here we are on the flatbed I was talking about. You need to move around to get good pictures. Sorry about that!!

Riley and Scout on Breezy.

Come out to the Earth Ranch Rodeo this Saturday. Tom Brown is announcing, some local cowboys, some not, some good hands, some not, may be a few wrecks, may not. You never know what may happen, but it should be some good entertainment!!

GYMNASTICS

Scout started gymnastics yesterday. I thought I was an advocate of waiting until about 3rd grade to start extra-curricular activities and instead we didn't even wait until she was 3 years old. She did really well and only threw a minor fit because she didn't want to sit and wait her turn.

There are only 5 girls in her class. Luckily she adores Gracee and will do anything she does.

This girl could do front flips all day long.

Back flips are new for us.

She is supposed to be jumping with her arms to her sides like the instructor is modeling. I think she was just having fun getting some "air".

The meltdown.......who wants to wait their turn, really!!

When the lesson is over the kids get to play in a foam pit.

Throwing foam cubes at everyone is hilarious!!

Miss Dare-Devil was not afraid to swing on the rope above the pit.

Things Could Be Worse.....

So.....there was a moment in time during the rodeo in Alpine that I just knew we weren't going to win. Riley took the saddle horn to the chest when his bronc came over backwards in the chute. We knew he was going to catch his air again and that he was also being offered a re-ride. I found myself all pumped about the re-ride and then it just hit me. He could have been badly hurt and I'm thinking about the re-ride. I sort of caught myself just wanting to win so bad that I could taste it. Nuts!! We weren't going to win probably to learn me a lesson.

I took hardly any pictures. Not sure why because it is a very beautiful place. We saw lots of century plants growing out in the pastures. Those are so cool, Pat had/has one I think. I need one someday.

The silhouettes of "our" cowboys across the way.

Brothers (in-law) discussing their game plan in the doctoring.

You can't tell it here, but Red is about to "go for broke" on his heel shot and it worked. Their time in the doctoring was 25 sec, which only won second place. I'm telling you people this rodeo was tough.

Prizes, prizes, let's talk about prizes. Most rodeos that we go to don't give cash awards for winning events, much less prizes. If so it would usually only be for winning first. Some of the items in our bags of loot provided by Big Bend Saddlery were a huge cowboy coffee mug, platter, reins, bit, rope, roping DVD, hat gift certificate, jeans gift certificate, Schaffer vest, saddle butter.......so second place really isn't that bad.

http://www.bigbendsaddlery.com/home.html

"Gross Pasa"

Scout was a lunch guest at Hope's house today. Hope was serving lasagna, but Scout didn't seem to care too much for it. Generally she eats pasa (pasta) really well, so Hope reminded her that it was pasta. After a few bites Scout announced "gross pasa". From now on lasgna may be known as "gross pasa". I'll eat it any day!!

She Make Fire.....

It isn't what so many of you are thinking.....Scout did not make fire, thank goodness. She has been pretty ornery today though.

So we were at the post office. A lady was standing next to our vehicle talking with some folks. Scout says, "she talkin". Next she says, "she make fire". The lady was smoking.

I just thought it was too cute!!

Mimi's House!!

This past Thursday afternoon, Hope and I and our girls and boy headed to Mimi and Papa's house. We thought it was perfect "Mimi time" since our boys were driving to a rodeo in NE early Friday morning. On Friday we worked in Mimi's classroom, cooked, set up for the cookout, bagged green chili's for Hope's freezer, napped, fished, and as usual ate like pigs.

On Saturday Sandhill participated in the Maverick Ranch Rodeo in Cimarron. We continued the streak of bad luck, which means we didn't win. We have ordered matching shirts just to see if it helps out this weekend in Alpine. No pressure guys!!

Scout had to settle for throwing rocks into Charette Lake. She really wanted to swim, but the water was pouring in off the mountains so we didn't try that.

It was kind of a long rocky hill down to the water. She would just take off and could move pretty good. I hated for her to have a skinned face because I was lazy so we took turns walking around with her. Of course she wouldn't just chill on a rock and enjoy the evening like Summer is doing here.

Mimi helped Trail with the fishing. He can cast pretty good. We weren't having much luck so we all took a turn on the fishing pole. Hope claimed she was getting some bites and I said I didn't come all that way for her to catch a fish. Can you feel the sisterly love?

Preston & Le Roy doing their part for the cookout at the Wood House. Just teasing, Preston cooked burgers and helped serve the ice cream. (You know it was so he could steal a bite here and there.)

Ivy, Clay, and Trail when they weren't digging around in the irrigation ditch for creatures. Yuck!! This brings on the story of Scout and Trail carrying around big cups of those tiny frogs. Carrying them around the house that is!! Has Mimi lost her mind? I almost did when Scout came to me saying, "I drop it". Thank goodness Trail was there to catch it.

Deep in thought? Not sure what is going on here. Probably shouldn't even ask.

Scout and Hattie trying their hand at roping. Doesn't look too good really!

Scout wanted to catch a horse, which isn't too convenient so Tripp put the halter on Raider. He mostly led Scout around.

Evidence of how tasty that ice cream really is. Scout had about five bowls and even drank it after it melted.

This is the "I'm about to jump" look. Seriously, give the girl a few steps and she's content to go up and jump down all day long.

Enjoying the cool evening, delicious food, and good company.

and games...........There just has to be a little competition!!

Croquet. We used to play it all the time when I was growing up. Scout couldn't stay hooked very well and wanted to use her "club/mallet" for other things.

All prettied up on Sunday morning!

Lunch at the St. James Hotel in Cimarron. Very interesting and super cool. I love me some green chili smothered burrito or pretty much anything for that matter.

What do I say?

The whole bunch, so glad David & Julie were able to join us!

The patio at the St. James is just awesome.......I need it at my house.

Farm Kids

So we cooked out at the feedyard the other evening. It was kind of a celebratory thing for Riley and Tripp. They recently had a little work done to their arena. The return alley is also the roping steer pen and it had built up with manure over the past years and therefore the fence was slowly going over. So let me explain why this was such a deal. Their beloved arena and place of "work" was out of commissh for approximately one week. If you know Riley and Tripp very well, you would understand why that it such a big deal. It was finally completed on Thursday evening and we had to have our supper there instead quitting at a decent time and coming home. Fine by me, because Hope always ends up doing all the cooking anyways.

I titled this farm kids, because that is really what they look like in the pictures. There are a few tractors parked right where we cook so all of our pics are by tractors. I stole the one of Scout in the tractor tire from Summer.

Scout driving the old blue Ford tractor that belonged to my grandpa Henry. Thanks Tripp for passing it down to us.

Summer's friend Justin joined our bunch. (Seriously, they're just friends.)

What are we gonna do when this girl goes to college? (tear...)

Blue eyes posing for the camera. Awesome picture Summer!!

Notice I didn't get a single one of the guys roping or the new arena alley. Oooppps!! Just not quite as important as these cuties.

Join us sometime......Hope cooks some mean sausage and veggies.