The Event ~ Cows!

Tim has had a love of ranching in his blood since childhood.  He always dreamed of owning a ranch but his dream never came to fruition.  At best, he had a small herd of his own cows form time to time that grazed small pastures on our farm in Bayard and then again on our current acreage near Scottsbluff.  Thirty and forty years ago he loved checking his cows on horseback.  But more recently, he checks them on foot or in the jeep.

Tim feeding his cows about 22 years ago

There is something so calming about watching cows graze on pastureland.  It makes for beautiful pictures.  Below are a few pictures of our cows grazing.   The following pictures tell the story!

fall calving

beautiful early morning capturing the rolling fog

 

cows grazing in our front pasture

 

Cows just came in for a drink on a pasture out in the hills

 

Joe and Mattie checking cows with Grandpa

 

Josh feeding the cows and wanting to make friends with them

 

Mattie leans to lure a cow closer and talk to them.

 

Ben and Grandpa feeding hay off the back of the jeep.

Heading out to feed the cows.  They all want to grow up to be cowboys!

 

Tim has had his own brand since high school days.

 

Janel even helped brand in 1984 when she was 12 years old.

 

Now the whole family - kids and grandkids - enjoy the branding.
 



Grandpa instructing Jakob how to prepare to rope a calf.

 

Yep, having cows doesn't mean we own a ranch.  But it does pacify the cowboy who has always wanted to own a ranch.  Our small little acreage is our little piece of heaven on earth where cows can graze and grandkids can learn the ropes of rural life, livestock, and the great outdoors, not to mention a whole lot of hard work.  Cows can be an eventful time, that's for sure!

 

 

 

 









The Event ~ Family Fun Time

I feel so blessed to have grown children that want to come back home for visits, and that want us to come to their home to visit.  Not every parent is so blessed in this manner.  We recently enjoyed Janel and Tim and grandkids at our house for a four day weekend.  Then just spent a day in Denver with Cash, Annie and Penny while Val and Alexis were also there enroute home from visiting Val's parents in Canada. 

It is just good family time together, no matter what it is we do.  We enjoy time together making blackberry dumplings.  I think this is one edible I can make better than Janel!!

Or maybe it is making cinnamon rolls with my granddaughter Mathilda.

 Or maybe it is watching the boys play football on the front lawn which they always do when we get together.

 It could be working on a project together as Tim and Cash did preparing for a new cement deck. 

 or hanging out on the patio together with the grandkids .

 Maybe its just hanging out in the kitchen while everyone pitches in to help prepare a barbeque dinner, as we did in Denver at Cash and Annies.



 

 

A good margarita always hits the spot on a hot afternoon!

 

It's always fun to go somewhere new, like the recently renovated Union Station in Denver where we just hung out with coffee while Aunt Lexi and Uncle Val enjoyed precious niece Penny!

 

Since I'm talking about good family times together, a little catch up is due. . .   Family time while in Phoenix six months ago in early March. . .  Enjoying another meal around the table at Vern's house with brother Allen and Suzy, Vern & Melinda, and niece Kadi.  It's even a blessed event when siblings want you to come to their home to visit!  Not always the case in a lot of families, but I feel blessed that my siblings still want to see me!!!

 Couldn't ask for a better Phoenix evening with food around the pool.  Melinda is an awesome cook!

A rare occasion to get three of us siblings together in one room!  Me, Vern and Allen in Phoenix.



 Oh my gosh, three sibling together again in one room!!!  Me, Kelly and Allen, with Mom!Another blessing for sure!  This time at Mom's home in Billings. 

It's always good to get those mother/daughter pictures taken Easter 2014. 

Yes, family is the greatest blessing of all!    It's a blessed event to have close and extended family that loves each other to eternity!  I love you all!  I am glad you are all my family!!