For the last 10 years or so, we have gone with our neighbors Karen and Kelly to cut Christmas trees. It is never an easy task as the snow is usually quite deep and the trees are frosted heavily in white. We had the intentions of getting a smaller tree than in years past but misjudged. Terry and I were not sure we could get it in the door and when we did, not sure we could get it in the stand.
Focus Christmas 2015
Perseverance and the fear of failure spawned success. With the help of Mary (sister) who arrived early to decorate, Focus Ranch was transformed into a magical scene as in Christmases of yesteryears. The house was decorated in grand fashion for the annual family Christmas gathering. Every year is different depending upon which relatives can join us. This year we hosted the Arizona Ripples and the repeats-Dan and Jill from Reno and Mary from Santa Rosa, CA.
Fireplace Cozy
The fire was going constantly during the wakeful hours as the temperatures were on the brrrrr side. It was wonderful that everyone arrived between storms and then could enjoy a week of hunkering down while the blizzards raged.
Maureen, Jill, Cindi, (Steve filming)
The time went quickly with great meals to warm our midsections, bursts of outdoor activities (snowshoeing), lively conversation and games. All the while, Christmas music played throughout the house.
Oh Christmas Tree!
As quickly as Christmas came, it departed. Swoosh, the guests piled into the various SUV’s and headed
Family Dinner
west! Now, not a creature is stirring, not even a mouse. Just too quiet…but perhaps a good time to think back on the many blessings of 2015 and what 2016 might have in store for us. Of course there is the ever-looming presidential election but I’d rather not go there right now and maybe for several months to come!
Deep in Snow
As of January , 2016, here is what we know for now:
- January-purchased a backhoe, feeding 50 calves, 3 old horses and 2 milk cows daily
- February- hiring seasonal employees;
- March- continuing with the daily chores and guest/cattle season planning, “March Madness”
- April: trail cows and horses home from their winter pasture;
- May: Employees arrive; receive & work the cattle, begin the guest season; trail yearling cattle to forest pasture;
- June- calving, weekly roundups and pasture rotation of cattle, Photography and Ranch Workshop with Karen Schulman;
- July- anticipate roundup, sorting of cattle, haying, moving cows/calves to summer pasture and Fly Fishing Clinic
- August-roundup and shipping of cattle, guests enjoying the early signs of fall while fishing, hiking, horseback riding;
- September/October-Pregnancy testing the cows, finishing projects before the first snow, begin the third phase of the river restoration project;
- November/ December- trail cattle and horses to their winter pasture, Thanksgiving then Christmas!
This sounds so neat and tidy, like an outline for a term paper. Believe me, things don’t always go like clockwork when there are so many variables to consider. Weather plays a key factor but so will cattle prices, cattle weight gain, guest season reservations and life in general! Still, we plan and then tweak as we go along the trail.
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