'Tis Spring

And, time for branding camp in two weeks!

Oh how I hope we have another wee calf to 'drive' back to the campsite and love and snuggle!  They're my favorite!

The camp is mostly for fun with the kids, my husband says he gets more work done the week after we all leave.  Either way, it's fun, even for the grumpy old men!

Friday Fences: White Picket Fence

I took this picture last year while driving from Indiana to my home-state of Ohio.  I love the beautiful farms, barns and fences in the Midwest.  Even though this picture was not taken on a 'western ranch,' these agriculture producers are fighting many of the same restrictions and threats as western ranchers.    

Today, I'm participating in the Friday Fences blog hop by:

 Life According to Jan and Jer

Thanks Beth for suggesting I participate in this!!!

Rural Thursday Blog Hop: The View From My Front Door

 There is so much to cherish about this lifestyle. 

I love the peace, I love the quiet and I love the view from our front door!

Our place is not nearly as far out as some and not nearly as close as others.  We live forty minutes from the closest 'city' and fifty minutes from the other closest 'city'.  We are fortunate enough to live right by a small town with a small grocery store, hardware store, gas station and post office.  No stoplights in the near future!  We are close enough to a public school, but the community is so close-knit, I think the school is much like the 'private' schools in my home state of Ohio.  I'm able to take my kids to and pick them up from school every day.  And, all along, we're still able to own a decent sized growing ranch.  Life is good, the view is better, and the ranching is great!

I'm participating in the Rural Thursday Blog Hop.  Please click on the link above or button below to check out the other participants!



Wordless Wednesday: Modena, Utah

Wordless Wednesday: Calving Season

A Site to Cherish?

If we allow public range permits to be cancelled and bought out, slowly and surely, the below view will become a thing of the past in the west.  The very same views we aim to protect.  Who doesn't happen by a group of cowboys driving cattle without feeling a little nostalgic?  I live on a ranch, we are those cowboys and I still feel that way.  It's a piece of the American past.

We have a neighbor dealing with this very thing right now - Refuse to take the payout and you'll be pushed out.  Pretty scary if you ask me!  Often times, the reason for the buyout is to protect other wildlife residing on the same land.  Well, here's what I've witnessed.  Push out the cattle, stop the maintenance, think we can manage the land better than mother nature...

Well, have you ever drove by an abandoned house and noticed what the lot looks like when it's not maintained?  There you go.

We're the voters, we're the public, we have to protect ourselves or no one else will. 

Add to that, the cost of importing beef and we just plain can't afford it! 

Having Trouble Picking Just One

I'm not an accomplished photographer, but still I have many favorites taken over the years.  So, I am choosing a few to share with you today as promised last night.

The Beautiful Pine Park

A playground for the Kids

Cowboy Overload

At the End of the Day,

We Made it to the Corral,

But, How Many Cowboys Does it Take?

Memories Made with Big Sister

Request

It's been so long since I last posted on here.

It's all my fault.

I'm a slacker!

But, I'm back on the train...

I'm asking you this, to get started again, would you gals be willing to share your favorite ranch/farm story or picture or tradition with me? 
If so, please leave a comment or send me an email to lazyjmomma@gmail.com

Our Favorite Tradition?

Cow Camp

Every year in October our entire family gathers in a quaint little camping spot titled Pine Park.  The Park is a beautiful little space here in southern Utah with a small, small, trinkle of a stream running through it. 

The entire family gathers, rain or shine, some even consider quitting their jobs just to make it in time.  Hot Dogs, Pepsi, Coke, S'mores, Grandpa's beef stew, peach cobbler and great dutch oven chicken!

No cell service, just peace, quiet and cattle gathering.  Mostly play!

I'll post a favorite picture tomorrow.

Thank you to everyone, in advance, for helping me get this back up and running again!