A day in Yellowstone Park...

We woke up yesterday morning and decided to go an adventure. We were going to go somewhere fishing but part of the way down the road we decided to go into Yellowstone Park. We had such a great day. Didn't see any wildlife, but saw so many amazing and beautiful things. The above picture is of Firehole. We usually swim in it. You jump into the stream and it carries you down stream. It is a blast, but right now the water is too high so there is not swimming. Steve was bummed!!

This is old Faithful going off. When I was a kid it went off every hour on the hour but now after some earthquakes it goes of between 60 and 90 minutes. Yesterday was a record high in many years and it lasted longer than it usually does. I think it did it just for us!!

This is the back of my dad!! What a great shot Old Faithful and my Dad.

We went into Old Faithful Lodge for an ice cream, we just sat and admired the amazness of this very old lodge. This is a block that is right in the middle of the lodge.

I took this picture to show two things the tall trees that are bare are from the fire that happened to yellowstone in about 1989. The thick new trees that you see are the new growth. When the pine cones fell to the ground the heat from the fire made them burst open and all the seeds eventually work their way up and produced new trees. It is a very healthy forest now. But will still be many many years before Yellowstone returns to all it's glory like it was before the fire.

Here is a picture of my traveling companions. Steve, Susan and my Dad. They are standing in front of Lewis Falls.

Another picture of tall trees still standing that got burned in 1989.

We had a great picnic around Jackson Lake.

Steve and I decided that when we ever build our dream home we want a scene like this out our picture window. This is mount Moran in Yellowstone park.

Steve and I standing in front of Lewis Falls. We had such a great day. We love to take sight seeing trips with Dad and Susan. They are always game for an adventure. My Dad loved being the co pilot because it could just look at everything and not have to worry about traffic, where to park, and just enjoyed the scenery.

Third of July Baby...

Presenting the THIRD OF JULY BABY... We have been waiting for this baby colt for the past two and 1/2 weeks. The mom was here at my house until her owner came home. Then we moved her up to his house. Each day we have thought that today will be the day. Well it finally came at 3:00 am the morning of July 4th.

It is a female baby colt. Will be a register paint horse with chocolate spots. The owner hasn't named her yet.

She is so little and young. She hasn't figured out how to tuck those long legs under her to be able to lay down gracefully yet.

She was curious about us.

This is the owners grandson who saw the birth take place. He went out at about 5:00 and did what is called imprinting with the baby colt. That baby just loves to have him rub her little head she rolls on her back and just enjoys the attention.

She finally decided she was hungry.

Getting those legs to move insync with that body is a struggle.

She has mainly enjoyed eating and sleeping in the warm sun today.

It has been so much fun being here this summer with all the activity that goes on in connection the ranch. Each day seems to bring a different surprise, you never know what the next day will being.

Another Big Adventure...

Yesterday we decide to head up to Jackson to go to some Art Galleries. But we got side track many times!! We never made it to the art galleries. This picture was taken of the Tetons just at sunset leaving Yellowstone Park.

We took a hike into a waterfall. We saw several little creatures. This is a rock chuck. He is a fat, friendly little character.

We ended up at Jenny's Lake for lunch. I had packed a picnic. We were just going to take a little walk around the lake. But then we saw a sign about a hidden water fall. So I suggested we hike to it. It was only 2.5 miles in. Little did I know it was up hills and down. The path was great it was right along side the lake. We took Rooster and of course everyone who came along wanted to say hello to Rooster!!. It was a glorious walk. The hard part was hiking the 2.5 miles back to the truck. This picture above shows Steve and I in front of the water fall. I post more latter on this beautiful falls.

The Tetons are Steve's favorite mountains. This year they still have so much snow on them. Usually you just see snow on the upper peaks. But this year the snow and was deep and it is lasting longer.

We passed this shed on the road. Either this guy really skis alot, works at the ski village, or just like to collect skis. They were all tacked to his garage.

This is the lake that we walked around. The water fall is between the two mountains coming out of the one with snow.

It was such an incredible day. We left our home at 10:00 and returned at 10:00. In the 12 hours we explored many places. Saw a bull moose, a momma grizzly bear with two cubs, another momma grizzly bear with three cubs, a herd of elk being chased by one momma grizzly because she needed food for her babies. I will do more posts to show the many pictures of all we saw!!

One Year Anniversary...

Today was one year anniversary since my horse riding accident and brain jury. It was wonderful to have such an awesome feeling that I had made it through one year of struggles, blessings, hard times, great times, seeing my kids really grow up fast, and having many good friends and family who stepped up to being a part of me getting better.
SO TODAY I DID SOME THINGS to make it a fun, great day...
Above is Steve setting waiting for our special picnic. We went on a great drive up one of my most favorite canyons and had a picnic. I bought chicken strips, potato salad, crab salad, baked beans, salt and vinegar chips and celery with cream cheese. We had a feast!!!

I have this great little airstrip I love to visit, it is in the middle of an hay field. The guy has a strip that he and his friends use of a landing strip. Tonight he was mowing it. There was a small plane doing some touch and goes and then he landed his plane. Someday it would be my dream to get my license and have my own little plane.

You can see what a little plane it was.

Then we saw this entry to a big house. This was on one of his gates. It was great because one of our mottoes for our family has been soar like an eagle. It was a great reminder for me today because with help from many and my Heavenly Father I have soared like an eagle this year.

Today I saw this baby colt getting some milk from his mom. It reminded me of how great it is to a mom and the two awesome kids I have and how they have loved, helped, coached and taken care of me this year.

Then of course on my anniversary I have to be very thankful for the man who has done so many things for me this year. He has loved, taken care of me, oversaw my recovery and taken time to just help me. Then there is my Rooster. He has been my constant companion this past year. He has protected me, stayed with me during painful nights, licked my tears when I was crying, got between me and others if he didn't know them, and walked by my side for many hours.

SO YOU SEE I HAVE BEEN SO BLESSED! TODAY IS A DAY TO CELEBRATE THAT I WAS GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIVING A REALLY GREAT LIFE!!

My Ians...

I want to introduce you to my ranch Ian. He was born just a couple of days ago. I didn't get to see him born, but I got to see him take his first steps and try to get milk from his mom. I just thought he was really special. So I decided to name him after my other Ian.

This is my other Ian. He is my little buddy. He is an amazing kid. He started to sit by me in church when I moved back to Texas. I have enjoyed being with him, listening to his primary talks, see him grow, and have fun listening to his stories, andwatching him draw special pictures for me.

Many times he reminds me so much of my son. This guy and his brother and sisters prayed for me constantly during my head injury recovery.

So since I am really missing my little buddy. Don't you just love that face. It makes you just want to smile!! As you compare these pictures you will see why I named my ranch Ian after my Texas Ian!! Love you Texas Ian and I really miss you!!!

This Ian was sure having a tough time walking. His mom had gone off to eat hay and he decided to adventure out on his own.

The gate was open but Ian decided to take the skinny way around.

I know you can see why both my Ian's are just darn handsome!!

A great day...

Today was a great day. It started out with the sun shining and it promising to be a warm day. I got a wild hair and talked my Dad and Susan into going for a great lunch and drive. In reverse order Ill share my day...We stopped at where we used to have our hunting camp when I was a kid and teenager. I may share more pictures later. But this is my dad looking out in the woods for an old camp stove that they used to cook all of our meals on in the cook tent. The first time it got taken up it was decided it was to heavy to keep hauling up there so they used to hide it out in the trees and each year would dig it out and use it. Many years ago it disappear. But today we looked just in case. Didn't find it.

We saw about 25 head of deer. But this one was special. This mother had just had this baby. The fawn could hardly walk, but knew where to find the milk from mom.

This was a view today of the river, forest, and snow capped mountains.

My Dad and Susan for a scenic picture.

A field of wild sunflowers.

My Dad spraying thistle on a piece of ground he had just worked up with the tractor a few days ago.

Another scenic view with my dad and Rooster. Today was such a great day. But the 2nd best part about today was remembering how much fun my family used to have exploring, hunting, and camping in this area. The BEST part about today was the stories my Dad told about the sheep he used to herd in this area, the dudes he used to take out hunting, how people got some of the land through poker games, how the old timers used to trap and mine, and how different canyons and areas got their names. WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!!

Winters over...

These big guys are used all winter long to pull a sleigh loaded with hay. Sometimes my brother hooks up four of them at one time. But now that it is summer it is time for them to be taken to the hill pasture for a rest.

My Brother Dan has become used to these big guys not wanting to be caught.

But he always seems to whisper to these big guys. I think he must tell them where they are going and how green the grass is and that they will just love it. Because they always let him finally catch them. But little do they know...

That they have to be wormed before they get to go out on summer pasture. The tube has a paste in it that kills off any worms that have grown in their system through the winter. It tastes uky and they are always trying to spit it out. But my brother prevails and gets it in the right spot so they then have to swallow it.

The long and finally walk after the long trailer ride. My dad standing by the trailer supervising the finally walk. My brother leading the team called Blaze. Rooster our faithful dog always making sure everything is herded and going in the right direction.

All four waiting to go through the gate. Some of the saddles horses waiting for the new arrivals.

Another job completed

Why is it that the grass always seems greener on the other side. A whole 100 acres to graze on and he decides not even 5 minutes into the field that it must be greener on the neighbors side of the fence.