We have the greatest old barn! It is an old Pea-Viner which was a building used to take the vines off of the peas when they used to grow a lot of peas.

We stack hay in it now.

The worst part right now is that the ladder is a little wobbly. The real worst part is that the hired men

(not me this time)

have to stack hay in it by hand in the summer.

It is the least favorite job.

Feeding out of it isn't bad at all.

We just send the hay toppling down into the bunk.

Manna from heaven!

Cell phones!

I have never been known to be the sharpest knife in the drawer.

I am not always happy about that, but I have come to accept this, especially when it is blatantly shown.

Take yesterday.

Alma and I branded 18 steers and so when I came home I was super stinky so I drop everything into the washer and head for the shower. About an hour later, after the washer had stopped running, I went looking for my phone to make a call to one of the people in my contact list, and only in my contact list, I knew immediately where it was and ran squealing to the washer.

The girls thought I had lost it! (they were right, of course)

The nice people at the phone store said to try putting the soggy phone in a bowl of rice. It may dry it out enough to get my contact list back--maybe! They sent me home with the lovely silver model--no cool colors!

Aaaaaa! So I am sorry to everyone that I have lost and that I have to ask you again for your private information.

I promise I will be better!

Honey would still like to velcro my phone to my forehead, maybe that isn't a bad idea after all! (knowing me, I'd forget it were there like I do my sunglasses)

Delicious!

Our favorite--Cinnamon Rolls

This is what is left after we get a hold of it!

Breakfast coffee cake, sorry, no after picture--we ate it too fast!

Soon to be spaghetti sauce

When I started taking pictures and talking about things I like to do, cooking delicious things for my family is high on the list.

I don't enjoy grocery shopping,

I don't enjoy the clean-up so much,

But, I do enjoy putting delicious ingredients together to make something that we all love!

My favorite? Bread, of course. (Thanks, for making it homemade all the time, Mom)

I would post a recipie but I am not good at following one so most things don't turn out the same time after time. That way, dinner is always an adventure!

Ridin'

Have you ever wondered what it was like to ride a horse?
Well here you go.
Just relax and climb on your favorite rocking chair.
Now as you rock, shift your weight from one cheek to the other. Isn't that great?!
Now, take a deep breath and enjoy that sweet smell of dirt and sweat (not yours) and sage.
Unless, of course, it's winter and all you can smell is just horse, oh ya, and the inversion.
One daughter humors me and comes riding with us when we drive the cattle. She gave me an example how most people feel about riding all day:
"Mom, you know how you used to run but don't any more because it was just a little fun but mostly uncomfortable?"
"Yes" I said, wondering where this was going.
"Well," she said, "that is how horse riding is for me."
"Oh, well, thanks for being mostly uncomfortable but having a little fun then." I said.
And I thought I was a cool mom letting her come and enjoy the beauty of the outdoors and spending time with me.
Guess not.
Guess I'll go out and ride, again.

Darling D. A.

Can you believe this girl? She is just finishing up her year as a Dairy Ambassador.(dairy darling for those of you that remember that) She had a blast!
I admit, at first I was not too excited about all the princess stuff,
but we had a great time and the other girls were so great and it was fun to see her shine. We have been dress shopping,
driven a float for parades,
thrown more candy than I ever thought we should,
prepared presentations about the dairy industry (I know, it doesn't have a lot to do with our side of the cattle business, but c'mon it is still agriculture),
go to college basketball games,
and now get things ready for try-outs for this year. It has been a blast!

Road Trip

My pictures ended up backwards so you get the road trip in reverse! These are the pens at the Idaho Falls Auction. It is a very old place and quite run down. I still think it looks cool to see the pens full of cattle after the sale.
They sell on Wednesday. There weren't very many head there this week, maybe only about 250 head.
I dropped Honey off at the sale and headed to the mall to see what kind of adventures were there. I picked up a nice ski coat for Si Si and some great mittons for Banna. It took us about 2 1/2 hours to get home and I drove this part.
He thinks I am a crazy driver. I think it takes talent to be a good passenger!

The best part of going to Riverton is that we get to stay in Jackson Hole! We didn't get into town until after dark Tuesday night, and when we left the next morning it was too foggy to see the Tetons. But, when we were headed over Teton Pass, this is what Jackson looked like above the clouds! It was so cool! This is looking to the south east of Jackson.

This is how Honey spent most of the drive time.

This is the ring in the Riverton Auction. It is a nice one with a scale built into it. Above the actioneer's block a computer tells:

what the cattle weigh,(Bryan was guessing within 5 pounds)

what the current bid is, (in case you can't understand the auctioneer's song)

and how many head are in the ring (for people like me who can't count cows to save my life).

Honey and I headed to Riverton, Wyoming on Tuesday morning. I try to go with him on this excurtion at least once a year.

It is grueling for me to sit in the truck for that long but he is worth it!

This picture is at Atlantic City. It is on top of South Pass. Those poor pioneers! It was 2 degrees and 9:00 a.m. this day.

Thanks, I needed that!

See all that nasty fog and inversion? We left that all behind and headed for higher ground where it was sunny and warm!

I am smiling with my eyes. We are at the mouth of 3 mile

Our outhouse all covered with snow!

When my sister-in-law invited me to go with her and Big Al on the snowmobiles I was so excited I couldn't help but do the happy dance all through the house!
I haven't been for 15 years or so.
It was a frightful foggy day at home and it was only about 5 degrees outside. So I changed some minor apppointments and I was outta there! I got to ride Fred's sled--thanks Fred!--all by myself.
I have never been to the cabin in the winter and it was beautiful. The sun was bright so the snow was all sparkly and powdery which is so much fun to ride in! We went over into section 12 and looked into Liberty and the North Fork and stood by a pile of rocks I never knew exsisted-mostly because it is a long ride on a horse to get there and that is usually my mode of transportation. We had a quick lunch of cheese and crackers and then headed to the Pearce Ponds and down the main canyon road. It was fabulous--and then I didn't lean quite enough to make the uphill curve.
The worst part of snowmobiling is telling Big Al that you are stuck! Thankfully, Di was behind me and went to tell him for me--Thanks Di! It was an easy fix for Big Al so he had me get on his sled and he rode my sled out of the trees.
That is when I really got stuck!
On Big Al's big sled. How embarrassing!
After a few minutes of digging we were out and on our way again. Whew!
It was an amazing and spirit lifting day. Thanks Big Al and Di--I needed that!