Adventures in Wyomingland, January 2010
| Adventures in Wyomingland, January 2010 |
|
|
I have to leave tomorrow. I'm
full of emotions. I'm anxious to see family and friends, AND Matilda,
but I'm sure going to miss this land and the beautiful man that takes
care of her. After packing up, I went out to see the horses. I haven't
spent much time with them so I wanted to get some photos of their fuzzy
coats. Here are some very curious young ones.
  "Hey, what do you have here strange lady? Can I eat this real quick"?                 |
|
I can be pretty bossy. Just ask
anybody that knows me.
    Okay! Stay right there handsome. Let me put it on timer now. Run Leah run!  Last one baby. I promise.  Gosh, I'm going to miss him. I hope he looks back at me. If he looks back, I'll know he still cares.  Oh, I love him.
 |
The moon has been
beautiful this last week. Once everyone
left, I stepped outside for some fresh air and the moon was so bright.
I couldn't resist shooting her. All I need is a cow jumping over. |
There was a big turnout
and we had a great time. The
cake was splendidly made by a friends mom. It was a marble cake with
chocolate icing. For supper, we had a roast that Patrick cooked all
day, potato salad, glazed carrots, corn, salad, refried beans, cheesey
potatoes, and little pimeto cheese sandwiches. I decided not to do
candles on the cake because Patrick has a cold and we didn't think it
would be wise to invite folks to a party and all they got was a lousy
cold. We did sing to him and he turned as red as the icing.
He
would not wear the headband however.      Got some hilarious cards! This one was my favorite.   I didn't have much time for shooting because I was playing hostess with Patricks mom but here are a couple snapshots of some friendly folks and family. Uncle Tom and his gal Cindy.  Momma Wanda and Step-dad Gil.  The Foland family: Traylea, Toby, Jay, and baby Tylen.  |
Patrick turns the big
FOUR O on Monday. We're having a party
here with a few friends and family today. It's beautiful and sunny with
no wind and blue skies. He's got a small cold but is hanging in there
with hot tea and vitamin C. He's cooking a roast and potatoes, conqueso
dip, and I made some pimento cheese. It's what this southern vegetarian
can't get enough of. If his taste buds were working, he's probably like
it.  P.S. he will wear the above headband at least during the cake eating. I hope. |
| Patrick came home from
fencing and told me to grab the
camera, we were going hunting. The sun finally came out late afternoon
so there was some pretty light to shine on the wildlife. I love how he
recognizes light from a photographers eye now. Not just as a hunter. So glad the clouds are gone. I love shooting the moon when the sun is still lighting the sky.  A whitetail buck peeked out as we drove by.  Brother and sister mule deer fawns.  As Elmer Fudd would say "that's a chicken hawk".  Seems like geese are always flying overhead.  A mule deer buck paused for us along the way home as the sun went down .  See them in the distance? Patrick can spot them miles away.  |
| I've had a couple
requests for pictures of my home for the
month. This is the managers headquarters, aka
Patrick's house, on the property of the main ranch. It's a cloudy day with a chance of snow tonight and tomorrow. Fingers crossed!  The woodpile.   Patrick is out mending fences and moving cows today. I'm staying in to keep the fire going.  Because S'mores are a must!  |
I went with a
few cowboys to the Kenny Haas Bull Sale
today. They boldly go into the pen with them. I just prefer
to look from afar and not touch. They had about 150 healthy bulls for sale and sold almost all of them. Patrick won the bid on this guy, #18. He's young and not very aggressive yet.   |
| We went into town today
to get a spare tire fixed and
some tools for changing the oil in the ranch trucks. I was itching to
go shopping in this tiny towns thrift store. Patrick dropped me off and
the sign on the door said "$1 bag of clothes day". I busted in ready to
find that perfect shirt or sweater or maybe even some coveralls. With a
couple sweaters and a shirt in hand, I felt a tap on the shoulder. I
turned around and saw a light brown hand-tooled genuine leather purse.
I stared at her for quiet a while. The cost was $30, a little high
priced for a thrift store purchase but she sure was speaking to
me. I told the store clerk that I just loved it but was timid
on
spending that much for a used purse. She said I could make an offer. I
declined and left with my purchases that fit in my bag for
$1. I jumped in the truck and off we went to grab bite to eat. But I just couldn't stop thinking about that purse. I finally announced loudly to turn that truck right around, I wanted to make an offer! We were sliding the corners and I was holding on tight to the car door handle. I ran in, grabbed her up and approached the counter. I said $10, she said $20. I said $15, she said sold!  She is in perfect condition and all mine. What a high. We stopped in at the neighbors house to feed their animals while they were at a bull sale in Buffalo. They have chickens, roosters, and even ducks! And they were excited to see us.  That's Squaw Mountain in the background.  Patrick suggested this one be black and white.  |
When the sprinkler
rotates around the circle to water the hay
in the
spring, summer and fall, the tires leave deep tracks from all of the
runoff. In the winter, it is necessary to get those ditches filled in
so that the tires won't get stuck when we start watering again. That's
where the coal burning power company comes in. You can purchase fly ash by the truckloads to fill in the ditches. It's a waste product from the power company and many of the ranches around here take advantage this waste. It doesn't provide nutrients to the soil nor is it harmful to the environment, it just helps even out the ground. You can see Patrick here walking alongside the truck releasing the ash where he needs it.  He arranged for 10 tons to be dropped but believe it or not, it isn't enough. We'll have more brought in this week. He'll hop on the tractor and even it out with a blade. He'll probably fill in some holes on the roads leading onto the ranch as well.  While we were going along taking notes on which tracks needed the most repair, we came along a sad sight. This is the result of a coyote kill. Don't worry, it isn't bloody. This poor antelope couldn't fend of its hungry predator.  It was a pretty scattered crime scene with a leg and hoof a few feet away from the above scene.  And hair all around.  Very sad. Everybody's got to eat, even the wild mangy coyotes. |
We drove into Chugwater
to drop off a ranch pickup with a guy
that is going to replace the standard bed with a flatbed. This little
guy was running all around and so sweet. He's red and gray frosted with
brown eyes. I've never seen a dog like this.  After we left the Kelpie and his owner, we drove through bluff country. The bluffs have unusual shapes.  Driving through downtown Chugwater.  We stopped by Irvine Ranch to pick up some tractor equipment.  I met a silly little Corgi. The sun made us both long legged for a change.  A very curious and fuzzy horse came up for a visit too.  |
| <<<older posts newer posts>>> |