Girl Who Cried Fire

It happened last August, just a couple of weeks after we came home from our wedding. It was such a beautiful morning, and although they had predicted a windy day, it was surprisingly still.

August on the ranch is pretty relaxing. The grass is usually plentiful enough that we can take a break from  feeding the cows,  leaving us with a bit of time for leisure. This particular morning, after the usual chores were completed, my husband and brother-in-law decided they would go to town and play a game of golf. I bid them adieu and was happy, for the first time in a long while they were getting some play time.

About 3 hours later I decided it would be a nice treat to make some cookies, and while I was pre-heating my oven I looked out my window to see a plume of black smoke coming from the other side of the mountain. At first I panicked, which is always my initial instinct when I smell, see or sense smoke. I've been known to false alarm others of fire danger, calling if I even suspect a fire could get out of control, leaving me with the title "Girl Who Cried Fire". I had already called the fire department AND 911 three times in the previous months, only to find out the smoke I was seeing was a prescribed fire for the forest next to us. I was a little hesitant to call the station for fear of them arresting me of prank calling, so I opted to call my husband to let him know what I was seeing.

After realizing no one was burning intentionally, and I was only one of three people even on the ranch that day I really freaked out! After calling 911 and praying they would take me seriously, I jumped in my car and headed down to see what was on fire. As I neared the 5 way I met up with my husband and parked. We turned the corner and this is what we saw.

 That's my husband trying to give me a heart attack. (Do take note of the propane tank, and fuel tanks standing by)

Our barn was on fire, beyond rescue.

You must know, after moving 3 times we had collected quite a bit of housewares and furniture, which we stored in this barn, along with some items that had sentimental value. Yeah, bummer. As I got a closer look at the barn going up in flames I was shocked when I saw what looked like a truck on fire.

It wasn't just the barn on fire....a truck too!

At this point we could really only watch our barn, and 1/2 of the things we own burn, while waiting for the firemen to arrive. Unfortunately, since we live an hour away from any town, it took some time for any help to show up.

The police were the first to arrive on the scene, only able to join us in watching the barn burn, and take down some of our information. The smoke was beginning to clear out, and we started to see the damage that had been done.

The barn before...

and after...

When it was all said and done nothing was salvagable, including two trucks; however the fire didn't spread and catch any pasture on fire. Thank God the weather predictions of high wind weren't accurate or things could have been much uglier! That's when it hit me, MY OVEN WAS STILL ON!!!! 

Buggy Ride

Praise the Lord it's warming up!! Spring is here, and I couldn't be more excited to put away my winter jackets. My body has been thirsty for Vitamin D so I've spent the last week outside soaking up every bit of sun I can get. Although it's warm, the wind comes hand in hand with spring out here, and apparently the ranch is one of the windiest places in the country. Yup, that's a true story folks.

HANG ON TO YOUR HATS! 

The wind decided to lay off a couple of days ago so we went for a buggy ride. 

 There she is, in all her glory! 

The buggy is much like a boat on land. It comfortably seats 8, and semi-comfortably seats an additional 3 or so. There is a handy hook up for our ipods too, so we can listen to music while we ride. This buggy accounts for much of my happiness in the summer months! 

My brother-in-law mentioned he had seen a great spot way up in the mountains that we could take our land-boat, but we were in for a long ride to get there. Here are some of the photos I snapped of our journey into the mountains.

This is what they call Jacks Peak. It's located right behind our house.

 You could see for miles at this point!!

See that hole? 

There are quite a few abandoned mines in these parts. Here's a closer look.

Ay yi yi, really??

Yeah, really. 

Nearing the top of the mountain. (I love this picture because it reminds me so much of the Smokey's, where I'm rooted, sort of.)

From the tip top! 

My hunk of a husband, and my unusual brother-in-law, Jesse.

L.O.V.I.N.G. Spring. 

Views like this really put things in perspective for a body, huh? So much to love about this place! 

Home on the Range

Although I had a wonderful time visiting my family, I was very excited to get back to my husband & dogs! Since being back on the ranch I've spent most of my time catching up on things I missed around here, discussing our upcoming schedule (we're facing a few busy months ahead), and basically trying to find my ol' faithful routine to fall back into. (It was a good routine, and I liked it, the kind you want to stick to!)

While I was gone my husband had his hands full with the ranch, having to move all of our cattle into the next pasture. Since we do rotational grazing with our cattle it's important that we stick with our schedule we make 6 months in advance. He had no choice but to move them the best he could, from our biggest pasture, with a cake truck. Since the pasture is so big, he assumed he probably missed a few and so we all went out on our horses and rode the entirety of "Big" pasture.

So far so good, no cattle in sight. 

"Wait a minute...what's that speck way out on the top of that hill..."

It's a bird, it's a cow, it's .... my father-in-law! 

After an hour or so we finally got the first section of "Big" covered successfully. One down, 3 to go! 

So we headed off, Diesel, my camera and I in tow. 

Isn't he just so good-looking on his horse!! Yeah, I think so too.

"Bud you check right, I'll check the left." 

After a good 2 1/2 hours we had scanned the whole pasture and surprisingly spotted zero stragglers. I call that a good day! I was pretty impressed with the fact that my husband had herded all of our cattle into the next pasture with the cake truck alone. On second thought, why would I have thought otherwise, he's a pro in the cake truck, and so good-looking. Did I mention how good-looking he is? 

I'm happy to be home! 

Washington, D.C.

"Only a hop, skip and jump" Rajun reminded me before flying to BWI. I suppose for any normal person with "street smarts" it would have been. I refused to call Rajun while running frantically through the airport , desperate for exact change so I could catch the next bus from BWI to DC. After all, I am an adult, I didn't want Rajun to know I hadn't made sure to have exact cash! I always learn something new when I visit my sister. Next time I'll have at least 20 dollars in $1 bills. Am I really so backwoods to have not known I needed exact change? Don't answer that. My pride certainly kept me from asking a stranger for the 50 cents I lacked to get onto the bus, but after an inevitable call from my sister, and a near breakdown on my part, I decided I was going to have to find a way! I explained my problem to the visitors center and the nicest lady grabbed her wallet with no hesitation and spotted me 50 cents.

I had the greatest weekend visiting with my sister. She always shows me a fun time, and this trip was no different! My first day we not only got to see the Washington Monument, we went to the top of the monument. (Thank you Thomas!!!)

Yup, all the way up there, 500ft from the ground, and here are some of the pictures from the top.

 U.S. Capitol 

The White House 

Sniper on the roof of the White House (I love my camera)

& 

just in case you're wondering what the President's porch furniture looks like...

Okay, this is getting out of hand. 

After successfully reaching the ground, we decided to walk to The White House to see the other side. 

Okay, time for a snack...

So adorable, so good.

My visit to Rajun was really perfect timing. Thomas was on spring break, his brother and girlfriend were visiting as well, a friend of Rajun's had a house warming party, AND, to beat it all, it was Bulgaria's independence day! Saturday the embassy had a celebration and I was lucky enough to tag along my sister and attend! 

The beautiful building the celebration was held

I loved my visit to Rajun, I loved Washington, D.C., now all I have to do is find ranch land in the D.C. area. 

All Quiet on the Western Front

After a spell of warmer temperatures, Sunday we experienced a bit of stormy weather.

First the wind came.

Then the rain.

Then the snow? Then more rain.

Then the clouds cleared up into a beautiful sunset.

 New Mexico, land of enchantment.

My  husbands sister is having her first baby any day now, so the whole family is away leaving him and I to hold down the homestead for a couple of weeks. Yesterday evening we headed over to the east side of the ranch to feed up and found the cattle had made themselves right at home, in my father-in-law's yard.

They helped themselves to the garden, the porch, and the back yard.

They must think they are pets, and they belong inside to get baths, eat and sleep with us in bed at night. Or they must not think at all. I'm guessing the latter.

Next time ol' John Wayne will have to run 'em out of the yard, because I am packing my bags and fleeing from the ranch to a much more civilized place, Washington DC. Was "civilized" really the right terminology??
Scratch that.
I'm packing my bags and heading straight into my seesters arms!

So long cattle, horses, buffalo, longhorns, antelope, mule deer, chihuahuas, my dear, dear husband :(

So long mountain lions :)