I'm Back

Hello hello, I have not fallen off the earth. I have been in the Big Horn Basin, celebrating my birthday and partaking in multiple fairs for the last few days.
The above photo is a mugshot for a publication that will be publishing one of my articles in the upcoming months. The key reason for posting it is that necklace, which was part of Adam's birthday present he gave me. I love it, and should have taken a wonderful close-up photo to show you all the details (maybe I'll have a chance to in the next couple days). Those are real stones, and it has a silver chain, and I love it!
He went above and beyond for my birthday, and made it very special. We made a quick trip to Yellowstone National Park one day, which was a surprise to me, and he had a vest and hat embroidered with my photography information. I am very blessed.
I also gave my grandma a ride to her brother and sister-in-laws on the way up there, and we had a great trip and got all caught up. One of my goals upon becoming self-employed again was to be able to spend more time with her, and it's been wonderful fulfilling that goal! She is 89 years old, and acts like she's about 65, and is a blast to spend time with.
Adam was super busy auctioneering county fair market sales, hog wrestling calcuttas and announcing rodeos the entire weekend, which I enjoyed tagging along for. I met a lot of people, saw some great steers, hogs and lambs and enjoyed taking rodeo pictures from the crow's nest.
I also took this week off from writing....kind of...to catch up on other projects, and am diving into those today. Hopefully I'll have time to post more pictures and updates on here too!

Home Sweet Home

I am back in Wyoming, and loving it, after spending a few days in Washington D.C., lobbying and discussing issues as a representative of the U.S. Cattlemen's Association (USCA). My boyfriend and I were fortunate enough to represent our great state at the fly-in, and it was a fun, intense experience. Hopefully I will have a few minutes to sit down and share several of the issues we covered, as they are all very important to everyone from producers to consumers.

We were also able to spend a day seeing the sites in D.C., met some great people from across the country that were also representing the USCA, walked many many miles, drank lots of coffee, went through a lot of security, and started our trip home at 2:30 a.m., MST yesterday.

I feel like a zombie as a result.

Today I am headed out to check on our yearlings, tomorrow we are turning out the last of our bulls with the cows and beyond that I do not know at this point...

These pictures are from my mother's Columbine flowers, and were taken right before we headed to the nation's capital, and were waiting when we returned.

Three States in Two Weeks

It's been a busy, travel filled few weeks for me, and if my posts have seemed a little sporadic, its due largely to my ever-changing schedule.
Since the first of the year I've been to Denver on two separate occasions - once for the NWSS, and once for the NCBA Convention and Trade Show. I've also been to two bull sales, and a number of meetings, conventions and other gatherings around the state.
After being south of Torrington once earlier in the week, and prior to heading for Denver the second time last week, I drove to Torrington again for Torrington Livestock's Customer Appreciation Day. Then I headed south, and was in Denver from Tuesday night through Saturday morning. I drove back to Casper Saturday, and fortunately the roads were great until Douglas. I slept 13 hours Saturday night and stopped by Christy's for her Superbowl Party briefly on Sunday.
This week I headed west to Riverton for the Fremont County Farm and Ranch Days on Wednesday morning, and drove back to Casper that evening. Thursday I rode to Veteran (near Torrington) for another bull sale, then went back to Casper that evening.
Friday I got to work early, then left work early and drove to my parents.
Saturday morning my dad and I drove to Newcastle, Sundance, Aladdin, Belle Fourche, South Dakota, and finally to north of Sturgis where we looked through Blair Brothers bulls and bought our quota for the year.
Then we met my mom in Lead, and Holly and I drove home and my parents stayed for their Valentines date.
This morning Holly and I fed, and right now we are waiting for our pizza to cook for lunch.
This afternoon I have to drive back to Casper.
Tomorrow morning I head to Cheyenne for the Farm Bureau Legislative Meeting, and might be staying the night to cover the Interim Ag Committee Meeting on Tuesday. I still have no idea if I'm attending this in an effort to get articles for the paper, or if I am just representing the Roundup. I also wish this trip had been planned a little better - it would have saved me quite a few miles if I had been able to go straight from my parent's house to Cheyenne in the morning. But, despite some last minute changes, it should all come together without any issues.
Next weekend, and for several following, I will be back home. But, other then that I'm hoping the traveling slows down for a couple weeks. I really like attending different meetings and conventions, but am starting to wear down. I don't have time to wear down too much, with a guaranteed busy March looming in a couple weeks, so I'm hoping my work calendar stays as open as it is right now for the upcoming weeks!
One great thing about all the things I've attended is the vast amount of information I've been exposed to, and the great people I've met. Friday evening I caught my parents up on the latest trends, issues, concerns and outlooks I've heard at all these events. Saturday my dad and I had lots of time to discuss some of them more in-depth as we covered the miles.
Despite all the positive aspects of my travels, this weekend has been a much needed stop between work trips to see my family and cattle, and to get out of town - for a few hours at least.

Holiday Recap

Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
During my week-long break, I packed in as much fun as possible. One true highlight from this year was getting to spend several days with my grandma (dad's mom), then my grandparents (mom's parents). I hadn't seen any of them for an extended period of time for a while, and it was great seeing them, visiting and catching up.

There were several other fun highlights as well:

I went to the Dillon Christmas party for the first time in about five years, and saw several members of my family I hadn't in years. Talked about a lot of issues, and it was great talking to people with the same perspective I have! Got to see the latest addition to our family too, and he's a cutie!

Prior to the party I helped my grandma cook, and she had me mash about six pounds of potatoes by hand. She's 89 years old, and I can barely keep up with her, but I loved spending time with her in the kitchen. She's an amazing cook, and a great lady!

The Black Hills received rain, on top of several inches of snow, and the county roads were the slickest anyone could ever remember.

Christmas Eve day I helped my uncle feed, looked at his calves and yearling heifers and visited. I was in my element, and it was fun. Then I mashed about six more pounds of potatoes, put together a relish tray, finished a dessert and just helped grandma in the kitchen while we caught up. The whole family showed up for lunch and a gift exchange. The younger generation also had a heated battle of a scrabble card game Holly received at the Dillon party.

Christmas Eve night we all drove home, and brought grandma and her dog with us. Christmas morning we opened gifts, then cooked (again) for our Christmas lunch.

In three days I consumed more calories than I had in the past month, and they were mmm mmm good! I had turkey, prime rib, ham, and was a big reason we needed so many mashed potatoes too... Salads, homemade rolls and jelly, homemade pies and fudge and peanut brittle was rounded out the three days of eating. And don't forget the raspberry punch (none alcoholic) from the Dillon party, I think I still have a slight sugar buzz from that stuff.

Side note - last night I worked out for the first time since all this eating - it wasn't pretty.

I fed our cows, calves, yearling heifers, and anything else I could while home. Every day from the day after Christmas through the first I was outside, feeding hay and cake and chopping ice. It was great! I've really missed seeing the calves this winter, and can report they continued growing just fine without my supervision. I also moved a few cows one day.

I took 1,074 pictures (I just looked)

My mom, sister and I drove my grandma home, then slid off the road going about 3 mph and got stuck. It was one of those situations where there was nothing I could do, and we were just along for the very slow ride. I had conveniently taken my shovel and tow rope out of the trunk to make room for luggage as we were heading to Rapid City to pick up round two of grandparents after dropping round one off. Fortunately we were just down the road from my Uncle's, and my cousin brought her new tow rope (Christmas present) down and we got out.

Following a very long and trying day, my mom and her parents stayed in Rapid after their flight got in three hours late. My dad, sister and I took the vehicle he had brought to Rapid for supplies home, after hot wiring the trailer lights in a restaurant parking lot with a hand held flashlight for light after they stopped working. That's the just the tip of the ice burg for that day, but it gives you a taste.

One good thing was my mom, sister and I stopped at the Mistletoe Ranch, outside Hill City, SD, and partook of their after Christmas open house. This was also the day the studded mud and snow tires were put on my car : )

My mom and the grandparents made it home the following morning. We all caught up, my grandpa helped feed, and for New Years we played cards.

Kyle and I went over to our friends house one night and ate dinner and played games until 11:30. I was the driver and Kyle was the drinker.

Kyle also went to Gillette for New Year's without me, which is why I was at home, playing Phase 10.

I entered all our calf weights into Excel, and my dad and I cussed and discussed all the topics looking at those weights brings up.

I ordered cards for the Roundup.

In preparation for the "big blizzard" that was forecasted, I doubled up the feeding one day, put number 1 diesel in everything, and cleared spaces in the sheds and shops for all the vehicles. While the blizzard was cold, it wasn't anything like predicted at our house, thank goodness.

I watched the video of my parent's trip to Europe, twice. They showed it to both my grandma and my grandparents.

My mom and I explained to her parents all the technological aspects to ranching today.

I learned my great grandpa on my mom's side had the highest selling and best set of finished hogs seen to date at the Denver Stockyards in the 1920's or there abouts.

Holly and I baked chocolate chip cookies and a cherry crisp one afternoon.

There was also one very sad event. On January 1, around 7:00 am, a guy named Andrew Hammond, that I went to high school with, was found dead in his car. No one knows what happened yet, but it is currently believed he froze to death after his car slid off the road into a creek. The only thing I've read said it is believed he got out of the car and walked around it once prior to getting back in. He had no winter clothes with him, and his cell phone was found in his pocket.
He was 24 years old, and one of those happy outgoing people that knew no strangers. This tragedy is hitting a lot of people in my community very hard, and your thoughts and prayers for his friends and family would be greatly appreciated.

Top 10 of 2010

2010 was a busy, fun, eventful year. Here are the top 10 highlights from the last 12 months.


1. Buying my first house.

2. Trading my truck for a new"er" car, by myself

3. The overall increase in livestock prices

4. Working for one year at the Roundup

5. Booking largest photography job to-date

6. Horse regaining complete soundness in bad foot

7. Traveling to so many new places within Wyoming

8. The people I've met

9. Living with my two dogs, and all the hilarious things they've done this year

10. All of the other things, large and small, that God has done with my life over the past 12 months.

Goodbye 2010, hello 2011!