A Country Girl

There is no way around it - I am a country girl.

I have lived my share in the city, and often in small towns, but I always feel most at home in the country.

 

 

I enjoy seeing my daughter carry her pet chicken around.

 

 

I enjoy cows standing on the road in the rain.

 

 

 

I really find it relaxing to hang clean laundry on the line in the summer.

 

I enjoy taking walks with my kids in the coolness of early evening, down a dirt road.

 

 

                                                               I find cows amusing.

 

 

I like to watch my baby watch the chickens.

 

I am glad my kids can hang over fences and watch Dad work cattle.

 

My heart goes pitter-patter when this handsome Cowboy rides past me, swinging his rope.

 

 

 The road home is always pretty...

 

 And the flowers in my yard seem to be shouting praises to God.

 

 

The rambling old rose bush harks back to a day where life was slower.

 

 

 

 And the wild roses that grow along the creek are so delicate and pretty... blooming unnoticed, mostly, but still being as pretty and sweet-smelling as they can be. Just because that is what The Creator told them to do.

 

 

The sinking sun streams over the snowy white clouds, shooting streaks of brilliance into the wild blue yonder. It makes one look up. Sometimes I just need to stop and look UP.

 

 

Note: All the photos in this post were taken with my phone. Minimal editing done.

Cowgirls

I write a lot about cowboys.

But today I want to write about the great ladies who work alongside the men - doing much of the same work, and they look better doing it! :) (you guys know this is true.) 
Some women are able to work with their men all day every day, some only part time, and some like me, are primarily stay-at-home moms, but who love to ride and work with our men when given the chance. (in other words: when we can find a babysitter!)

Here are some of the cowgirls who were at the Stevenson branding this week.
First up; Katie Rogers. Her husband used to work with Cliff at the X-Bar in the Big Laramie Valley. She was in vet school at the time, so I don't know her very well.

Next on the list is my good friend Karmen Stevenson.

She has a toddler and a baby, yet hasn't forgotten how to rope.

 

 When I grow up I want to be just like her. :)

 

 

Then comes... oops! I forget her name. I do know she is pretty and is getting married this month. Yeah. Sometimes I'm not that good with names.

 

 

 And lastly, Kaleah. (Forgive me if I am spelling your name wrong, Kaleah!)  I love her bright red shirt! She just happens to be Karmen's sis-in-law. And she can make a mean mocha cheesecake! She made the desserts for the branding lunch (after riding and roping all morning) and she did it all with jingling spurs, a knife strapped to her belt and a gun stuck in her waistband.
( I bet no rattler lives long around her!)

 

Maybe when you hear the word 'cowgirl', you think of turquoise and bling. Perhaps you think of barrel-racing and pink hats. But let me tell you - these are the true 'cowgirls'. These girls can cook a meal for several dozen people, ride, rope, brand and give shots. They can skin a deer and shoot a coyote. They can help a calving heifer and train a young horse. They can build fence and sort cattle.

And they can do it all with pink nail polish and beautiful long braids.

Because God made women tough.

Cowgirl Tough.

Stevenson Branding

June 9, 2013

Our good friends had a branding yesterday. They head and heel their calves, so of course it was a lot of fun! And they have two stinkin' cute  lil boys, so double the fun for me! :)

 Bringing in the herd.

 

Handful of rope...

 

 

Taking him to the fire while My Cowboy gets a heel shot.

 

 Got him!

Setting ropes.

 

 Branding.

 

 Waiting in line for their turn at roping.

 

 My friend Karmen! She's quite a handy lady. She has a toddler and a baby. She made lunch for about 20 people,(with some help from her sister-in-law)  and she was riding and roping with the crew.

 The Stevensons. Husband/wife team.

 

 A reata.

 

 

 Grandpa taking care of the baby.

 

Hot irons.

 

 



First Schrock Branding

 

My Cowboy and I made Schrock History last month.

We had a Schrock branding - of our very own calves.

True - it was a tiny branding, as brandings go, but hey - it was ours.

Kinda fun! :)

 

 

Cliff's brother came to try his hand at roping...

 

Didn't do too bad, considering he is a carpenter and all.

 

Oh wait - My Cowboy was a carpenter too, before he learned this whole ranch thing. Who cares? Anyone with some 'try' is bound to become handy. We aren't pedigree snobs around here!

 

 Our brand - designed and registered by My Cowboy. It's a take on a tool he uses a lot in his leathershop; the round knife. A friend who owns a welding business made the iron for us.

My Cowboy's mother also made the trip out from MO to help, since some of the pairs are actually hers. First ever branding for her.

 

Josh holding a steer.

                                                       First Round-Knife brand!

My Cowboy enjoys buckaroo tradition, and head/heel brandings. Of course all our brandings will be headin' and heelin'!!! :)

 

                               Head/heel brandin's make for prettier photos, I think.

 

 

 

                                                       Fun times!