Old Faithful

Our good old faithful...Gus. He represents a lot to me. In today's world, everyone is a gypsy; here one day, gone the next. It's not so popular these days to settle down and plant some roots. My generation isn't in such a hurry to get married and have a family. "You're only young once!" They say. And how true this is. But is there anything wrong with spending my youth raising babies? Planting some roots and enjoying the slow down of life on the desert? I can't say there's anything I'd rather be doing besides watching my little one grow and learn, riding my ponies and feeling the wind in my hair. I love the wide open spaces out here, and I get to enjoy them in my own time. I get to stay put here on this ranch, and I get to cook my husband dinner every night. My old faithful.  Just like Gus, he is steadfast and strong, always learning and growing but somehow also staying the same. We are old fashioned, a couple of home bodies. We have so many goals and dreams, but they're focused around our family and this way of life. It gives me such a huge sense of freedom. No 9 to 5, no waking up in the morning dreading going to a job I detest. Just living our best lives, a little old fashioned,  a little bit slow paced. Just like our Gus.

And God Said, Let There be Cowboys

God created the mountains, the open range, the cows, and the horses, and then He knew there would need to be someone who would love and take care of all these things. So He said, let there be cowboys.
   
Let there be cowboys so there is someone willing to go out in the middle of the night when its 10 below to make sure none of the calving heifers need any help.

Let there be cowboys who will work those 12 hour days 7 days a week, with no real quitting time because they can't go home until the job is done.

Let there be cowboys that will get on that broncy colt on a cold morning, and teach him with a firm but gentle hand, because he knows that's how nice horses are made.

Let there be cowboys to treat a lady with respect, to open her door and say kind words, but also treat her as an equal partner because on the ranch, everyone works; and that cowboy, he knows she is every bit as tough and handy as he is.

Let there be cowboys to be daddies to little cowboys and cowgirls, to teach sons and daughters alike to work side by side in the branding pen and in the house. Everyone chips in on the ranch.

Let there be cowgirls, to work along with her cowboy, riding colts and roping cows.

Let there be cowgirls, so there is someone to keep that cowboy in line, but understand that he wasn't made to be tamed.

Let there be cowgirls, to show her daughters how to be the kind of woman that earns and deserves respect, and her sons how to respect a good woman.

Let there be cowboys and cowgirls...to live this hard, beautiful way of life, keeping things simple, loving God, and riding nice horses. 😘

Thoughts From a Homebody

The idea of travel....seeing all the beautiful places and meeting amazing people...who doesn't love it? I like to think I could be a vagabond, traveling the world in a camper van with no more than the basic necessities. A new sight to see out my front door every day! How wonderful would that be?
But if I'm really honest with myself, I'm such a homebody. I love waking up in the same place to the same face every morning. I love my little routine.  I love waking up to little hands grabbing my face and a little voice gurgling at me. I love making breakfast in my kitchen in my cozy little house that always stays in the same place. I love walking outside to see the tall trees and the pond and the geese honking (no matter how annoying they can be when I'd LOVE to sleep in). It might be six degrees when I go to feed the dogs, but the wiggly little pups so happy to see me, and my big hairy dog who thinks I'm the best thing in her world, make the cold air feel refreshing and wonderful.
I couldn't live happily not having roots...I love being part of a community, even if I'm kind of a hermit. That's the wonderful thing about Skull Valley and living on this ranch.  You have built in family and friends, but it's so easy to keep to yourself if you're not such a social human. Living way out here, 45 minutes from town, in the middle of the desert...it might sound like hell for someone but it sure is heaven to me.
Sometimes I really think I need to travel more...but then I look around at this beautiful place where I'm lucky enough to put down some roots. And well, it's no wonder I'm a homebody.