Rain = Green

The community has been stunned at the amount of rain we have received. They say they haven't had this kind of moisture in 15-20 years. Flowers have sprung up that normally sit dormant for years.



This is the creek that runs through the property.


Tons of wild flowers have bloomed.

The windmills are such a unique feature of where we live. To think that they run and provide fresh water for all the animals throughout the hills. Normally they are an oasis in a normally dry land.

Lynn's Cattle Drive and Millenium Branding

Two weeks ago we helped our neighbor, Lynn Meyers, move his cattle about 10 miles south to their summer range. We started at 5am and got all 450 pairs of cows and calves there by noon. Here's a picture from the back end of the procession showing how far they string out on the trail. Some of the leader cows were a mile ahead of the calves lagging behind here at the end. There were 11 of us on horseback, with some of us in the back pushing and some along the sides guiding the herd.



Dutch and I got a lot of miles together and both were pretty tired by the end of the day. On a 10 mile drive you probably cover at least 20 miles pushing the cattle and cutting stray cows and calves back in. After we arrived to the summer pasture we spent 2 hours pairing the cows and calves back up with eachother.



This is my boss, Alan, and his horse Rocky. We enjoy a change of pace working off horseback whenever we get the opportunity.

Here's a shot across one of the meadows on our ranch. We've had some wonderful rain showers that have greened our meadows and hills up better than they've been in the last 10 years. It's almost seemed like Michigan here for the last month:)

Another tail end shot. Speaking of cattle and horses, we helped our good friends Jeff and Tracey Keiser up at the Millenium Ranch brand two weekends ago. Darcy decided she wanted to do a roundup on horseback, so we left the house here about 5am and drove up north to their place. She rode one of Millenium's horses and our neighbor, Marlene Meyers, watched Daraby for the morning. We had a great time rounding up the cattle and taking part in the branding. Darcy organizes and refills all the vaccines and I took up my usual job wrestling calves (we forgot our camera but we do have pictures of other brandings in earlier posts). It was a great day and we always enjoy getting together with the neighbors at brandings. A lot of work is done in a short time during brandings (vaccinations, castrations, and the branding) and the food is guarenteed to be good when the work is done! We always like to get out and work on horseback too:)

Forgetting 5 Years!

Last Friday I awoke to sounds in the kitchen. I must tell you that there isn't a lot of morning noise in our kitchen. While I was in the bathroom Andrew shows up in the doorway with a plate in one hand and a glass of orange juice in the other. I looked at him blankly when he said he tried to catch me in bed. "You made me breakfast in bed?" I asked. "For what?"

"For our anniversary," he replied. "Oh," I said. I cannot believe that I was the one to forget our 5 year anniversary. Yikes! I normally remember our anniversary date with Memorial Day but this year it was a week before our anniversary which threw my memory off. When our anniversary came I thought I still had one more week before May ended. I can't believe how fast this year is going by. There are so many things I've wanted to do but haven't. I have goals that I haven't even started to work on.

I must tell you that Andrew even got me a card and drew a decent heart on the envelope. (Usually his hearts are wierd shaped ovals with points.) I was humbled! I'm so proud of him! He is so good to me!

I posted a photo of our wedding to remember that wonderful day 5 years ago.

Something Old

As many of your know I enjoy taking a walk through time. Call me an old fashioned girl with a pro-woman viewpoint. By living in Nebraska I see the value in a life built upon neighbors, trust and ingenuity. Many people that visit here say we live at least 10 years in the past. Most of the trucks, tractors and homes are antiques. People here invent ways to make their lives easier since they don't always have the cash to buy what they need. Not only that but there is a strong emphasis on doing the right thing no matter the cost. I'm fascinated with the ideals and ideas that are present here.

Everyday when I drive down the road I witness the progression of time. Modern homes are erected next to old barns and original homesteads. Some sod homes are not torn down but maintained. Old wooded corrals are still being used yearly. There is something so unique about looking at an item or building that has withstood time. I wonder who has held these antiques or who has enjoying being in an old school house or cabin. What were their lives like and what did they do through their lifetimes? I love to read and study history. It is the connection to our past and ultimately to our future. Everything new isn't better!

Amazing Alice

This is my 75 year old neighbor and friend, Alice, roping at another neighbor's branding. She is a woman that inspires the rest of us woman to be tough, diverse, and push ourselves to the limit. Many folks around here call her the wonder woman. There isn't much she can't do.

Here is the ever faithful Abby nursing our tomcat, Harley. Our other kitty, Jackson, is pregnant in this horrible heat. I hope she can have her kitties safely without the snakes eating them. Yesterday, we found a baby rattler lying next to the foundation of the house. I have an irrational fear of snakes!