Words and Words and Words

I think in the past couple of weeks, I've really developed an appreciation for good beer.  I had about 2 sips of Bud Lite Lime at the branding, and refused beer after that until Wendi brought back some Fat Tire. And golly, was that Fat Tire good! Thank you, New Belgium!  John and Lindsay: I have finished TWO beers in the past two days. You should be proud!

We finally got some much needed rain today. Just in time too! Keith and I had just come in from a 3.5 hour ride (looking for straggling cattle up in Saw Mill), and as soon as we had our saddles off, it started coming down. Then we drank beers while driving up to pick up the truck and trailer (It's a cowboy's life for me!)

The girls and Wendi are at horse camp this weekend. It's strange and quiet around here.  It's kind of nice to be left to my own vices though. Just a list of things to do and all day to do it.  I love the hard work. I also love being able to take a bit of a break whenever I need it; it's my time, as long as I get my list done, life is good.  I also very much love working outside all day.  it's mentioned in "The Secret Garden" that Mary's hair gets full and healthy when she starts playing in the garden, and though I wasn't completely locked inside all the time before this summer, I have definitely noticed a certain springiness (not to mention a lighter color from the sun!) to my hair. I like it.  It's going to be hard going back to school in the fall and having to spend all that time inside.

Keith and I spent hours talking at the table before, during and after dinner and dessert today.  I like hearty conversation.

I miss my family terribly.

I think I'm done blithering. Here are some pictures:

This is the view from the Rock gate (taken about 10 minutes before I tipped the 4x4).  It's really quite beautiful up there, though I prefer to ride a horse over driving a 4x4. Of course, I'd ALWAYS take a horse over a machine!

And of course, what's a place without a bear? I got shocked by that gate while trying to get it closed. Yeeouch!

Gnan also found a pretty flower on the way back home!

Wednesday was (cousin) Michael's 12th birthday.  I made him a cake and about 30 minutes after we ate it, he went and broke his wrist. Happy Birthday, Michael!

Nice cake, Gnan!

We all went as a family to the College National Finals Rodeo on Tuesday night. What a party! I did enjoy it, though I'm glad I chose dressage and not Rodeo! What racket!

Bronc riding! You have two events; bareback and saddle bronc. I'll let you figure out the difference.

Yeehaw!

Barrel racing. ZOOO-turn!-OOOM!

Calf tying. This is kinda funny; they rush out after the calf, rope the calf around the neck, then jump off their horse really quick and flop that calf on the ground and tie his legs. Fastest wins! I thin the fastest time was around 21 seconds?

And steer wrestling. I think this one was the funniest to watch, and also probably the most practical.  The two cowboys rush out of the pen after the cow (The guy on the right is there just to make sure the cow goes straight), then about half way down, the wrestler jumps off his horse onto the steer's horns, then flips the steer on the ground by twisting his horns (and therefore his neck).  The things some people do for fun...