ranch sponsored summer vacation

The weekend before last I had prepared My Luvin' Man to head to Stillwater OK to A.I. school with the bosses son, the lil boss.  At 6:30 Friday morning, when I had planned to sleep as long as possible, I was graciously awaken by My Luvin' Man.  He asked if the girls and I would like to go to Stillwater with him.  After I emerged from my sleepy fog, I tried to process what he was asking me.  The thoughts that were flying through my head was the laundry I had to finish for the girls, all the toys, diapers, wipes, bottles, snacks, socks, undies, swim suites and every other tiny article I would have to gather and pack for a sort get away with my lil family.  This of course didn't include the packing I would have to endure for myself.  At this moment MONEY popped into my mind, as unfortunately it always does, I said to My Luvin' Man, "we can not afford to do that".  He assured me that the lil boss was going to bless us with the means, so what the heck, right!?!  I cranked my self from my comfy sheets and proceeded to gather our life into bags.


We departed for the lovely, deeply humid Stillwater OK, so My Luvin' Man could assist a few Mama cows in having babies (this is how we explained it to the ornery gal).  He dropped us off at the hotel and he went to class.  The hotel had advertised a restaurant in house, but upon arrival we were told that it was no longer in service.  So, I toted the lil beauties to the near by taco joint for supper.  Then we hurried back to the hotel for a dip in the pool. 

We visited the cool spot several times over the few days.  We also went shopping and hunted down fabulous bargains that I delight in.  On Saturday night we had planned for a nice supper.  Nice supper for us is usually defined by our local corner store, so we were quite excited about the outing!  The thought of a few yummy steak houses began our conversation, but I quickly put out that fire when reminding My Luvin' Man that we eat beef three meals a day.  As we pondered one eating establishment after another,  RED LOBSTER was decided on.  Supper was delicious and we went back to the room for an evening slumber.

Rylie took this on the way to Red Lobster

Sunday My Luvin' Man went to class until noon and then we headed to the City, ZOO bound!  We made it to the ZOO around 1 that afternoon and made our way through the gorgeous scenery!  Of course I took my lil camera and took a few pix.

Sweet girls!



MAMA, it's HOT!



aww!

OH! There were a few animals too!  ;)

 

The ZOO had a brand new baby... sooo cute!



dmm-dmm-dmm... gOOd bye! 
(which was also the end of my cute lil pink camera, for it took a swim in fresh squeezed lemonade)   :(

lions, tigers, & bears... OH MY,

~C~

calf draggin'

This week has been an exhausting one!

Last Thursday night a herd of cow punchers strolled through my door at 10 o' clock.  The evenings camp cookie had expected them hours earlier, but should have known better.  They all grabbed a plate and piled on Nanaw's baked BBQ steak, pan fried potatoes and onions, no dressin' salad, baked beans, then finished it off with apple cobbler and ice cream.  With full bellies, including an after work gathering around the pick up partaking in their favorite past time, they were ready for bed.  A few of them kicked out their bed rolls in the living room and a few others rolled out in the yard.  I think the "tuff guys", who chose the great out doors, may have wished they had bed down in the casa seeing as how a strong north wind came roaring in that night.  The next morning I arose before the others and proceeded to start breakfast.  The guys grabbed a hand full and darted out the door bound for the headquarters pens.

Later that day the girls and I ventured out to the draggin, Rylie insisted that they needed her help, so off we went.  When we arrived, the ever insistent Rylie became the instantly shy, "I do NOT talk to men" Rylie, that we all know and love.  After My Luvin' Man finished draggin the last of the pen, Rylie jumped aboard Sister Sarah and was happy.  Happy until one of the men spoke to her, that is.  She eventually warmed up and started picking on a few familiar faces.  We joined the group for supper at the Drug Store, where we enjoyed a heap of catfish.  After the deep fried goodness, the girls took the opportunity to nap and Mama helped Dad load a few yearlings and haul them to ranches yard.  We then unloaded cattle and loaded horses.  The trailer lights were out, so we followed the load of horses back to headquarters, then started for our warm beds.

For rest of the week, the herd of cowboys stayed at the hunting lodge and the lodges cook was hired to feed for the week.  A highly disappointed bunch of fellers were let down by the cook only cooking lunch.  They said the flip-flop wearing, long haired hippy would have been happy to bring them yogurt cups and breakfast bars to start the day.  ( I think we all know what was said about that, which isn't suitable to write here)  So, after making sure that hippy wasn't one of my family members, I have taken this predicament under my wing.  Heaving myself out of bed every morning at 4 AM, I've cooked a hardy breakfast for my new groupies.  My Luvin' Man departs around 5:30 and I try to sneak a nap until 7, when I peel the ornery gal from her pink cowgirl sheets and get ready to take her to school.

The following days were filled with trips back and forth to school and the ranch.  I managed to get one night of walking in, where we found ourselves in the mood to have a lil fun... not walk! haha!!  We blamed it on the full moon and enjoyed ourselves a lil too much.  One of the warm VERY windy days, my beloved runnin buddy kept the babe for me and I borrowed her NIKON 3000.  Wow, that sounds fancy and it is to me!  I am NO photographer, but I had fun taking pictures of all the boys.  My Luvin' Man said that I may have taken a few too many pictures of all their back sides,  I was quick to let him know that was their best side! hehe!! 

It's the last day of the first round of draggin, in the morning I have full intentions of sleeping as long as my lil beauties will let me.  Speaking of the morning, I better heat the iron and get My Luvin' Man ready to head to Stillwater, where he's going to get A.I. certified.  So, without further delay here are a few of the photo ops I took advantage of.  Hope you enjoy, I sure did!

My Luvin' Man and Boomer

SEE!  I took pics of their faces too!  ;)

I happen to have a lil thing for leggins!

And HORSES!

I'm kind of in love with this one.  ;)

Jug Head and Sister Sarah

Bundy and Girl Dog

Lil Roany did not want to take the leap!

Well, looks like a few pictures turned into A LOT.  ;)

Peace, Love & Punchers,

~C~

short N' sweet

No this isn't about My Luvin' Man... hehehehehe.  ( he's gonna get me for that one, but I couldn't help it! ;)



See that handsome man with the tiny baby?  That's My Luvin' Man, he's short N' sweet!



Back to the post:  This week has been fairly uneventful. 

The ornery girl has been living it up at Pre-K, they have been practicing for school program, which took place last Wednesday evening.  She got up there and "hammed" it up as usual!  She is also starting T-Ball.  We shall see how this pans out, it ought to be entertaining if nothing else.   She doing great except for a wild streak here and there, I have NO idea where she gets it! 





Rylie is center in the pale pink shirt.





Sweet baby Rein has been coaxing a tooth in this week (only sweet because she doesn't talk or walk yet, I'm sure).  The tooth has yet to make it's debut, but we can see the tiny tip peeping through.  You wouldn't know that this baby was teething unless she grabbed your finger and used it as a teething ring.  Other than that she's wonderful.



Lil Rein was worn out, she fell asleep in the middle of the teething biscuit.

 My Luvin' Man has been busy moving cattle and getting everything in order for the big week (10 days) ahead.  He is going to be worn out too!

As for Mama, I've been here running from school and back, cooking and cleaning in between.  After supper every night, my running buddy and I walk 4 to 6 miles.  Depends on the day and how much energy we have by the end of mile 4.  I'm looking forward to next week, helping tend to the herd of cowboys, then sneaking out to the ranch and taking a few pictures.  I'm no photographer, but I like to have picture just the same and I will share.


from way up north,

~C~

town, calves and chilltions

Last week, for me, was a busy one here on the plains. 

I made the dreaded trip to the big town, where I gathered our monthly ration of goods.  OOh, how I deeply dislike this trip!  It's almost painful for me to drag myself to town and spend a significant amount of our MuLa on food and necessities.  Like it or not, it must be done.  I'm not a shopper, I'm a "get in, get exactly what I need, and get the heck OUT" kinda gal!  If I plan just right, I can manage to make the trip with only one child in tow.  Although, if the instant arises that I must tote both girls alone, Heaven help us ALL!  Thankfully, I can still keep baby Rein contained in her carrier.  Rylie Ann, on the other hand, is too big to fit in the basket with the future purchases.  So, she is either hanging on the overloaded basket, making it much harder to maneuver, or weaving in and out of the crazies that inhabit my favorite "one stop shop".  By the time I leave I'm praying for an hour long coma to overcome the little beauties in my back seat as we travel home, hoping that upon arrival a 55 gallon chillton is awaiting me.  On rare occasions, one of the two will happen and I will be blessed with a quite trip home. Then as we slide into home base, I usually discover I've missed a thing or two on my list.  Rest assured that I can do with out until next trip, I seem to conform to this naturally.

That evening My Luvin' Man returned from a long day punchin' cows and enlighten me, that the reason I wasn't able to contact him most of the day, wasn't bad service, he had lost his cellar device while roping and doctoring calves. DERN!  We loaded up our bunch in the single cab, less than clean, feed wagon and head out to find it!  The little beauties both had big days in town and at school, so it didn't take them long to be rocked to sleep in the rough riding F-550.  When we arrived to the glorious Mills pasture, I spent some time OOOO-ing and AWWW-ing over all the playful calves darting across the pasture.  Then My Luvin' Man and I proceeded walking and trying to retrace the steps he made while tracking a quick calf.  We had no luck and at that time we decide we need more daylight and horses to make our hunt easier. 

The next morning baby Rein and I took Sister to school and drove over to continue our search.  Rein and I were mounted on our kid horse, Boomer.  (Better safe than sorry with a lil girl aboard!)  We then searched high and low looking for his fairly new phone, which we did not find.  It was chalked up to LOST FOOORRRREVERRRRR and we continued through the pasture checking calves.  My Luvin' Man pulled out his healing powers and used them on one puney lil guy, whom of which I should ask about.  Midway through the herd I realized that my co-passenger was taking the opportunity to nap on Mama.  We finished up, loaded our four legged friends, and headed in for lunch. 

Later in the week we ventured back the to ranch, my first close encounter with headquarters.  This headquarters is only inhabited by the oil drenched family for small times of the year.  There are two houses. The old house made my heart PUTTER!!!  It's like the house and the surroundings were plucked from my dreams.  The precious house was locked up like a fort, but I may have OR not have peeped into the windows.  I instantly had the entire place decorated, filled with all my junk, potted flowers along the porch and myself rocking there, while watching my children play in the yard.  After I came back to reality and over came the heart break that I would never live there, we threw Rylie on Boomer and set her off on her own adventure.  My Luvin' Man cleaned out water tanks that are fixed through out the pens, these will be in use while dragging calves.  Baby Rein and I kept an eye on both, we were the supervisors you see.  After the job was done we hung out, played, and then drug ourselves home.

The weekend was a nice one, even though I had to take Rylie to her Dad/family to spend the weekend in Lubbock.  It makes it all worth it when she has a wonderful time absorbing her Grandma's love!   Nothing better.  The rest of that story I won't get into here.  Mothers Day was wonderful.  My Luvin' Man was able to get off early on Sunday to make the drive with me to get Rylie.  He had flowers and cards behind his back when I arrived to get him.  He also got me a new pair of spur leathers, which I love!!!  I spent the day with my lil family, we talked to our Mom's and wish them a good day, and I got to pick up my ornery lil gal.  It was fabulous!

This next week brings more busy doings, we have cowboys coming in to drag calves, which the first share will last 7 days.  I know one cowboy that will be worn out when it's all said and done.... don't tell him I said that.    

from where the antelope play,
~C~

the start of a good thing.

Upon request, I have decided to start this HERE little blog, to help a certain family member keep up with my camp.  So... here goes nothing.  :)


To begin:  I'm Courtney and BLESSED beyond measure with a handsome husband and two wonderful lil girls.  Perhaps gluten for punishment on the latter, we shall see.  Non the less, we are blessed indeed!  We have taken a large, blind leap of faith and moved to our hearts desire, Follett Texas or there abouts. 


Follett is where that handsome husband of mine, My Lovin' Man, was living when we met.  I secretly feel in love with the rolling hills of blue stem and sage brush while we were courting, but decided to keep that under wraps until I thought him suitable.  He gave into my hard-headiness, knowing that I wouldn't up and move my life north until he had proven himself... he moved to Lubbock, where the land and sky are one.  We lived and worked there for 2 plus years. After adding another precious baby girl to our trio, we were graced with the opportunity to move north.  So with many prayers sent up and a U-Haul FULL of junk, we pointed that orange truck north two days after Christmas and here we are. 

 My Lovin' Man works for a wonderful ranch where he is spoiled, I say. Rylie, the ornery and older of our two girls is going to Pre-K in Follett.  Baby Rein and I stay at home and run back and forth from school to the ranch tending to the other two.  When we aren't running errands, I am cleaning and cooking or escaping with my runnin' buddy.  Life is relaxing, calm, non-stressful, and absolutely fantastic!

'till our trails meet again,
~C~