snowmobile sink

 This is the thing that cause the"where is the ski to the snowmobile" issue.  It is a creek that used to run shallow and nicely but a couple of years ago it decided to re channel itself and so the story begins...

 We went to the ranch for my 50th birthday and we rode snowmobiles.  My brother and his wife are in the top picture and my handsome husband is in this one. You can see how beautiful the valley is in the winter.  I sure don't think I'll live there in the winter.  But I really do love the summers.

 Well my brother passed over the creek several time and then decided it was safe to cross.  But something happened as he started across for the last time.

" I think the snowmobile ski dropped into the creek.  You're kidding no way are you sure?  Yeah I can hear the creek running under the snow.  No way"!!

 Let's see if I can dig it out of the creek enough to pull it out. Ok Ill stand here and supervise you!!!

 Wife see if you can turn the handles.  Ok maynard pull up and put your sit behind the desk muscle into it or we won't get the ski out.

 Maynard what are you doing.  I didn't say to fall down on the job.  Man my boot, thigh and leg dropped off to now where.  What is going on. Come on help me get out of here before I get wet.

Come on strong ranch boy pull me out.  I am starting to get wet.  Who cares about the snowmobile I am going to catch cold.

 Pull me I'm and old man and need some help.

 Wow I wish we could see the hole.  I'd like to know how deep that is?  It felt like I was sinking to China.

Wow this the the picture after the snow melted. No wonder he felt like he was sinking to china!!

My morning 4 wheeler ride and more...

 This morning I decided instead of walking  my miles today I would go for a 4 wheeler ride.  It was a beautiful morning.  So I loaded up my trusty companion and off we went.

 This is a big mesh of webs actually it is a Cocoon.  Inside are a million caterpillars.  You see them everywhere in the trees and bushes.

 This guys was eating some grass right by the creek.  I immediately shut off my 4 wheeler but he started to run away anyway.  I just love to watch these deer.  Their big brown eyes just almost look into your soul.  Sometimes I wondering if they are just asking you to let them just be.

 This is my dad he just had open heart surgery about 7 weeks ago.  He is truly a miracle in his recovery.  He is such an inspiration to me.  He is 82 years old and is out and about enjoying every minute of having a revamped heart.

 This is my brother just leaving in his cattle truck.  He is headed out to haul someone's cattle.  

 This year the pine trees have a huge amount of pinecones. They are the little brown things that you see on the top of the trees. This pictures doesn't do it justice.

My nephew was changing pipe and Rooster loves him.  He saw him and started running through the field to see him.

This was the best surprise of the day but you can barely see my surprise.  I ran across a mother elk with her baby.  But as soon as she saw me she started moving quickly into the trees.  At times like these I really wish I had a high powered zoom lens.  It was just such a great day.

fun stuff...

 This past weekend I went to California for my cousin's son wedding.  More on that to come.  But I saw this really neat flower while we were waiting for everyone to come for lunch.  I was intrigued by this flower.  The bright colors and then these precious little white flowers in the middle.

 This is a tree that Matt planted in the yard yesterday.  He bought it and gave it to Steve for father's day.  It is called a Japanese Maple.  He put a fence around it to Rooster couldn't decide that it was his treasure and water it.

 Matt built me an awesome garden raised garden.  I  planted it this afternoon.  I am so excited.  I planted about 60 onions sets.  My Dad loves green onions to eat especially if they are fresh from the garden.

 You can't see it but I planted 6 rows of lettuce.  All a different kind.  I eat salads all the time, so I thought this would be fun and healthy.

 I also planted several rows of green peas.  When I was a child my grandmother had rows and rows of peas.  It was a blast for us kids to go to her house and raid her garden.  All those years and she never complained. When the peas were ready to harvest she would make us cream potatoes and peas.  Yum it was always one of our favorites.

Another picture of Steve's tree.

Old Dance Hall...

 Up in the mountains in my home town is a beautiful lake.  It takes about 45 minutes to get up into it. One Sunday I decided to go for a drive and snap some photos.

 Here is the lake.  I remember coming up past this lake for girls camp many years ago.  The thing I remember the most about girls camp was they made a wood structure and put tons of ice cream in it.  They then added all kinds of toppings.  We would eat an ice cream and then move onto another spot.

 This is a part of the lake where there used to be a sawmill many many years ago.  They used to float the logs down the lake to the sawmill.

 This part of the lake had a dance hall.  I remember my grandfather telling me about going up the canyon to do a lot of dancing.   Part of the dance floor I think extended out over the lake.

You can still see some of the wood in the lake that used to be a part of  I not sure what...the dance hall, the sawmill or a pier. 

What a fun and glorious place.  My dad also told me stories about a friend who used to go hunting up in those high mountains and one year he could get his buck out and had to come get my dad for help.

more cabin fun...

My Aunt and Uncle really enjoying telling the girls about some of the history of the cabin.  My Aunt remembers the three girls always imaged Indians coming and bears coming to the cabin.  Oh how young minds can wander.

 

 And yes there is rooster again!!

 Now the story of the broken arm and fence.  The three girls used to walk the fence.  One day my aunt fell off, not sure if she slipped or was gently pushed!!  But it broke her arm.  She went into her mom and showed her and her mom said oh you broke your arm and my aunt said no it is just bent.  My Grandma wrapped it up and put a sling on it.  Then they had to wait for my grandpa to come back from his daily trapping and take them out to the DR.  Mind you the drive was probably about an hour drive.

 Here is a picture of the inside of the cabin.  This used to hold all of their dishes and supplies.  It is on hinges and can close up, but was let down to use a a table to make dinner and to eat around.

 There has been some tables added through the years.    At the top of the picture you can see the loft where the girls used to sleep.   

Speaking of FOOD...  My Aunt told of the Bask sheepherders who used to bring them mutton (a piece of sheep meat) to eat and how they would stay and play them song and sing the Bask songs.  They would use a comb and a aspen leave for their instruments as they entertained my grandparents and aunts.  For many years my grandmothers used to cook mutton slowly in the oven with onions and seasonings. 

a memory day at the cabin...

 When my Aunt was a young girl her father was a trapper.  They came to this cabin to spend the summer while he did the trapping for the game and fish.  We made a journey to this cabin yesterday to share it with some young friends.  For me the best part was listening to my Aunt recalling the memories. 

 Getting ready for a picnic on the front steps of the cabin.

 They would live here all summer long.  My Aunt told of at about age nine being in charge of bringing the horses from their winter home to the cabin by herself, because her family was bringing in the supplies a different route in the car.  She also told us about how fun it was to put the old horse in the ditch and how the horse would stand there and they would run a jump and try to mount her like the indians used to mount their horses.

 This was a forest service cabin. It was only a one room cabin.  But there was a loft and I remember my mom saying that the girls slept up there.  It used to have a wooden pole fence around it. Ill recall a story tomorrow about the fence, a broken arm, sling and the journey out to the DR.

 Of course like usual Rooster is right in the middle of our adventure wanting a stick thrown!!

As I watched my Uncle and Aunt sitting on the porch I wondered what  memories my aunt might be recalling and I also got a small glimpse of my grandparents maybe sitting out on the step talking about their day of trapping and watch three young girls play.  Both then and now I am sure a thought on all of their minds was how good life is.

Branding time...

 Its that time of year when mom and babies get moved around, shots given, calves labeled, and college girls come home to help and watch.

 This little  baby was born only two days ago.  He sure didn't like all the craziness of being in the middle of having mom and calves put into different pens.

 This little guy is saying "what I need to go down this lone lane, I can't even see out so how will I know where I am going"?

 You know Uncle Dan you told be this bed would be comfortable, I think you tried to trick me it isn't comfortable at all... I'm going to tell my mom you made me laying in an uncomfortable bed!!!!

 Ok College girls this is how it is done... Sit and watch...

 Those little buggers wont get moving.  I guess we need to show them how its done.

Ok boys remember when you used to hold them like this to brand?  Let's see if you can still do it.