MEANWHILE, BACK AT THE RANCH . . .

Just before my sister and her family moved to Washington, Mom, Dad and I spent one last weekend with the kids. As Laura herself was making an attempt to spend some individual time with each of her kids before the big move, we never actually had all of the kids at once! However, we made the best of the situation and adventured hard while we could! As it was early spring, (yes I am THAT far behind) I HAD to take the kids out to see all the new ranch babies. The calf pictured on the left, Black Boy, was actually born just days before. The moment I laid eyes on him, I fell in love! He is the first black calf I have seen born at the ranch. Pink nose, pink ears, brand new clean white face, long lovely eyelashes, little black freckled feet -- such a beautiful baby boy! I really do think newborn calves are some of the sweetest creatures on earth! It sure is a good thing they grow up to be ugly old COWS! I am so thankful to my ranch relatives for not only allowing me to be a part of the ranching festivities but for for allowing me to parade people around their ranch as if I owned the place! Granted, I usually parade their/our own family around, but still, they are so generous to allow all of us to come see what is going on back out on the ranch.

As I was on backseat duty for the drive out to the ranch, I made sure the crew was entertained. When we stopped for snacks, Makayla picked out a can of Pringles. Oh did we have fun with HER snack!

MAKAYLA AND I QUACKING UP.

UNCLE JIMMY'S DUCK WAS MY FAVORITE!

OUR FIRST STOP WAS TO CHECK ON TESS AND IRENE . . .

SUCH A BEAUTIFUL BABY (WELL, EXCEPT FOR HER SNOTTY NOSE)!

AND SINCE IT WAS FEEDING TIME FOR ROWDY AND OLIVE, WE BOTTLED UP AND HEADED OUT TO THE BARN.

MAKAYLA AND CLAIRE GOT TO FEED OLIVE (OR PICKLE, AS CLAIRE CALLS HER FOR SOME FUNNY REASON).

SO GLAD THEY GOT TO DO THIS! FEEDING OUR CALF IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHILDHOOD MEMORIES.

MEANWHILE, ROWDY SHOWED EVERYONE THE REASON I CALL HIM ROWDY! HE TRIED TO CLIMB OVER THE WALL TO GET ME TO PAY ATTENTION TO HIM!

WE STOPPED TO POSE FOR SOME COWGIRL ON A TRACTOR PICTURES

MY GIRLS!

MAKAYLA, CLAIRE AND COUSIN JESSIE

WE RODE THE FOUR-WHEELER IN THE MUD A LITTLE . . .

AND PETTED AND HAND FED SPIKE THE GOOSE.

WE GATHERED THE EGGS FROM THE CHICKEN HOUSE . . .

AND THEN LEARNED THAT OLIVE REALLY LIKES MAKAYLA!

HER NICE, SLENDER LONG FINGERS THAT IS!

NANA AND HER GRANDDAUGHTERS :)

DAD, MOM, CLAIRE, MAKAYLA AND I . . .

SUCH A BITTERSWEET WEEKEND!

SUPER MOON.

This, apparently, is a moony year! When I heard there was going to be a "super moon" I decided I HAD to stay up for it too! A total lunar eclipse and a GIANT moon within months of each other?! I wouldn't be much of an adventurer if I didn't photograph both celestial events -- especially when they were clearly visible from my back patio! I will say that staying up for the super moon in March was a MUCH warmer experience than the December eclipse, HOWEVER, I will also admit it was a total disappointment!!! The full moon was to be closer to the earth than it had been in 18 years, meaning it was to appear MASSIVE. I personally didn't think it appeared the slightest bit bigger though! I will admit I had to wait for it to travel up higher in the sky in order to be able to see it. If I had watched it rise over Bogus Basin, PERHAPS I would have noticed a difference in its size. Even though I was disappointed in the SUPER-ness of the moon, I decided to photograph it anyway! I am getting good practice! Perhaps this summer I will try my hand at some star trails . . .

JUST SO YOU UNDERSTAND, THIS IS THE IMAGE THE "AUTO" FEATURE ON MY CAMERA PRODUCES.

AND THESE ARE WHAT YOU GET WHEN YOU MOVE THAT DIAL TO MANUAL!

MORAL OF THE STORY -- I KNOW THIS IS SCARY, TAKE YOUR CAMERA OFF AUTO!

2011 CALVING SEASON.

For several years now, I have been rushing out to the ranch at the slightest indication a cow might be in labor. I have been present for and photographed as many calf births as possible. This year I missed . . . Every. Single. One. I do not have a single graphic birth photo!!! Although I am bummed EVERY cow snuck off and had her calf in peace, I am pleased to introduce one very special calf that was born out at the ranch this year. The black cow to the left is . . . Tess. I'm still not sure HOW a cow got named after me (and, trust me, it causes some confusing and often uncomfortable moments during our ranching conversations). Alas, this beauty is my namesake. And early one morning this spring, she became a MAMA! Fortunately, they realized Tess had delivered and sent me some photos of her new baby when she was just moments old!

WELCOME TO MOTHERHOOD TESS!

TURNS OUT, TESS IS A PRETTY GOOD MAMA!

AND HER BABY, A SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL CALF!

I THOUGHT IT WAS ONLY APPROPRIATE TO NAME HER . . . IRENE.

SHE IS SOME KINDA WONDERFUL!

AND THIS IS ROWDY, A FOSTER CHILD THAT CAME TO LIVE ON THE RANCH THIS SPRING.

FOR OBVIOUS REASONS, I KINDA LIKE HIM!

'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE . . .

Nothing has reminded me of how far behind I am in posting more than this post! Here it is, nearly JUNE and I am just now getting around to posting my CHRISTMAS adventures! Oh, well. At least I am still plugging along!

Traditionally Christmas has been an holiday that I wholeheartedly enjoy. I tend to be completely present in the moment and rarely take pictures. This year was certainly no different! I did manage a few throughout the month though because, (as you might not know) Gordons celebrate Christmas the whole month through!

IF THERE IS ONE MONTH WHEN I AM HAPPY TO SEE SNOW, IT IS DECEMBER!

ALTHOUGH, I HAVE TO ADMIT, I WASN'T SO THRILLED TO SEE THIS MUCH SNOW!

AH, POOR FLOYD!

SADIE LOVES THE SNOW!

SHE ONLY COMES IN WHEN SHE IS COMPLETELY FROZEN!

EVEN THEN, SHE STILL LOOKS LONGINGLY OUT AT IT!

MY BEAUTIFUL BABY GIRL

HERE SADIE WATCHES JACKSON (WHO CERTAINLY DOES NOT SHARE HER APPRECIATION FOR THE SNOW). SHE CAN'T BELIEVE HE MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO THE GRASS THIS TRIP -- SINCE HE USUALLY TAKES TWO STEPS OUT THE DOOR AND PEES ON THE DOOR MAT! I DID END UP SHOVELING A PATH TO A PEE PATCH IN THE GRASS FOR THE POOR OLD GUY!

THIS YEAR, FOR MY MOM'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY, I SUGGESTED WE DO AN UGLY SWEATER PARTY -- AND THEN I HAD TO WORK. :( ALTHOUGH I COULDN'T GO TO THE PARTY, JESSIE AND I IMPROVISED!

DURING OUR LUNCH BREAK, WE DONED OUR UGLY SWEATERS . . .

AND WENT OUT FOR CHINESE FOOD (SINCE IT WAS BEING SERVED AT THE PARTY WE WERE MISSING OUT ON). WE TOOK PICTURES OF "OUR" PARTY AND SENT THEM BACK TO THE FAMILY CHRISTMAS PARTY! WE WERE DEFINITELY THERE IN SPIRIT!

YUMMY! PORK AND SEEDS . . .

AS THEY LIKELY DID AT THE FAMILY GATHERING, JESSIE OVERINDULGED

(IN THE HOT MUSTARD)!

FOR THE MAIN COURSE, I INSISTED WE USE CHOPSTICKS . . .

JUST AS MY NIECES AND NEPHEWS WERE DOING!

JESSIE DID SPECTACULARLY WELL!

ME? NOT SO MUCH!

DURING DESSERT, JESSIE AND I GOT SOME PRETTY AMAZING FORTUNES!

AND BEFORE HEADING BACK TO WORK . . .

WE STOOD AROUND THE CHRISTMAS TREE FOR TRADITIONAL PHOTOS!

WE EVEN RECEIVED GIFTS!

AND THEN, JUST DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS . . .

MY DRYER HAD A MELTDOWN.

WITH THE HELP OF THE BRILLIANT MAN AT MY NEW APPLIANCE PARTS STORE, I MANAGED TO DIAGNOSE AND REPAIR MY DRYER -- BY MYSELF!!! TURNS OUT VICTORY WAS A PRETTY TERRIFIC CHRISTMAS GIFT TO MYSELF!

AND FINALLY CHRISTMAS EVE ARRIVED.

WE LOADED ALL THE PRESENTS IN THE SLEIGH . . .

AND HEADED FOR THE CHAOS AT MY SISTER'S HOUSE!

(poor danny had to work).

THERE WERE FUNNY FACES . . .

HILARIOUS MOMENTS . . .

A VERY SPOILED OLD MAN . . .

ONE SNEAKY LITTLE BOY . . .

AND SOME VERY TENDER MOMENTS BEFORE . . .

THE TRADITIONAL READING OF THE "THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS."

WHEN DID MAKAYLA GROW UP SO MUCH?! SNIFF, SNIFF. MY BABY GIRL! SNIFF, SNIFF.

MAKAYLA READ IT THROUGH THE FIRST TIME.

FOLLOWED MY MISS CLAIRE . . .

AND EVEN GABE!

I LOVE THAT WE ALL LOVE THIS BOOK!

AND BEFORE WE KNEW IT, IT WAS CHRISTMAS MORNING!

OF COURSE THERE ARE NO PICTURES BECAUSE I JUST SAVORED THE MOMENT!

BUT I DO WANT TO SHARE SOME PHOTOS OF MY FAVORITE GIFT I RECEIVED!

GARRETT MADE THIS WATER GLOBE FOR ME!

WHAT A SWEET, CREATIVE LITTLE MAN!

AND ANOTHER MEMORABLE DECEMBER!

is it time for warmer adventures yet???