Mother Love
Just thought I’d share some of my favorite loving mother images from the past.
Hope you lovely mothers all have a wonderful day. Wishing you all the best. xoxo
Every Mother’s Day I like to reflect back on this post from a couple of years ago, Remembering Mom.
Bring Me a Whiskey, Would Ya?
Howdy! During the last month or so I’ve learned that life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…it’s learning to dance in the rain. Or snow in our case. We have survived incredible blizzards and stormy conditions over the last few weeks.
I don’t believe I’ve seen this much snow in the 3 years that I’ve lived here. And certainly not in the month of APRIL. It was such a whiteout that I couldn’t see where I was going and could barely keep the wheels turning on the four wheeler.
Let me introduce you to Polaris tracks aka, life-saver. Our gracious neighbors let us use this so that we could get things done around here.
What does one have to do in such ferocious conditions you may ask? Well, feed cows for one thing, but I’d like to update you on the changes to the Uprooted Magnolia and the Cowboy. First, you must endure these images like we have endured living through this. Keep in mind, in most places it was knee-deep and in some spots, it was up to my waist. I’m average height.
We were snowed in. But the determined and very responsible cowboy HAD to leave the ranch in order to get his cows and calves fed on the meadows at the bluffs.
As we busted through drifts, snow piled up on the hood and we could barely see our exit.
Then we just couldn’t see anything at all.
So we (Patrick) stopped to clean the snow build-up off the hood and convince ourselves (me) to go further. But what did I do? While Patrick observed the road conditions, I took pictures of the snowed in ranch.
Once we got 6 miles out of the ranch the roads were good and we made it to the bluffs to feed the hungry cows. They were glad to see us. As you can see, they weren’t getting any grub underneath all that snow.
Sunsets over a snow blanketed pasture are always a calming sight.
One of the snowy evenings I saw the turkeys roosting in the trees behind our house.
So now the snow has melted, the skies are clear and the sun has set on our days at Dakota Ranch.
The ranch has been sold to a new owner and Patrick and I are moving on. But moving our home in this springtime blizzard was extremely challenging. Challenging in so many ways.
For the next couple of months we will stay in the hills of Southeast Wyoming and are excited about where life will take us. Some wonderful friends have opened their home to us while they live 80 miles away for the summer. My days are filled with caring for chickens, ducks, goats, a fuzzy pooch, and of course Matilda. My calendar is once again filling up with photo shoots and we are getting settled in to our routine for this spring and summer. We will continue working hard for our new home. This has been a huge year for change, and it’s only April. What else will we conquer? Stay tuned. I’m sure there will be a lot of new adventures.
*Hugs* ~ Leah
Orange in a Blanket of White
Did I mention the whiteout blizzard we had last week? Unbelievable for April, in my humble opinion, but we are so grateful for the moisture. Matilda enjoyed the sunshine from inside her warm house while I waded through knee-deep snow to get chores done.
Snow Gobblers
I was lied to. I was told that turkeys aren’t very aggressive in the cold, much less in snow. Well, when a gobbler wants what he wants, no spring blizzard is going to keep him down.
Click on the picture or go HERE to see more pictures of turkey’s courting their hens who, by the way, seem less than interested in them.
Hope you have a great start to your week. We are off to feed the cows again in the falling snow.
Beds of Hay
We drove off the ranch yesterday to head to the bluffs to check on Patrick’s cows. We branded them this weekend and took them to new pasture and then bam, a blizzard hits when we least expect it. And that’s just tough on the sweet baby calves.
Snow was still falling by evening and blowing across the road.
When we got there, they seemed very spry and excited to see us.
We got out and looked everybody over. They were a little frosty but everyone looked good and healthy.
But looking over the pasture, there wasn’t much grass peeking through and nowhere for them to lay down to be protected from the cold ground. That’s where we come in. Patrick attached 2 chains to the pickup and the hooks on the other end locked into the hay bale so I could pull it off the stack.
We dragged it over to the cows and Patrick got out to cut the strings.
The girls were a little impatient! I backed the truck up unrolling the bale while Patrick helped to pitch off the hay to them. When the bale got smaller, I stopped the pickup and jumped out to help. We pushed the bale and rolled it into the trees so they had something warm to lay on and be protected from the wind.
By the time we were leaving, the calves made their bed on the fresh hay while their mothers were chowing down.
Warm and toasty. Well, not really. But at least they are covered in leather!
We checked on them at about 5 this morning and they still had a lot of hay left and the entire herd was bedded down on the hay. They looked good, just a little cold. We’ll roll out another bale this evening for them to help them get through this crazy weather. At least the sun has finally come out. That should warm them up a bit.
Just another day in paradise y’all!
He Spies with a Big Brown Eye
In a barn built in 1881 made of limestone and mule shoes, a peeping pony asked to be petted.
(I had title block so today’s title credit goes to my dear friend Jessica W in my hometown of Macon,GA. Thank you friend. Your print is in the mail. xoxo)
Evening Stroll
The weather is sweetening up and an evening stroll with the hounds-man and his hounds was just what the doctor ordered. I have to hang back as to keep from tripping over their happy feet and the multitude of rocks.
My, How You’ve Grown
Remember her?
And her?
Poco’s baby (top) and Kate’s baby (above) were both born a little over a year ago.
I thought you might like to see them now.
Here is Kate’s baby girl all grown up.
Poco’s baby is on the far right and they both were weaned off mama late last year. They were eventually put out in the meadows with our lead mare, Paddy’s Frost aka Rat. They went off with her to keep calm and be “supervised”.
Rat took right to her babysitting duties and takes great pride in showing the girls the way.
In fact, now that the other ranch horses have joined them in the meadows, Rat continues to lead the way.
Best friends forever.
Pink Daisies
“If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.”
Claudia Ghandi
This morning started out no different than most. I awoke thinking of those I love and am forever grateful for; my family, my friends, the loving man of my life, my kitty cat, you guys who loyally tune in to UM. But then, as I stretched and pet Matilda, I looked over and there beside the bed sat a pot of pink daisies. Now I don’t care how typical it is to receive flowers and chocolates on Valentines Day, it melts my heart to know he cares.
Have a great day my friends.
Love,
Leah
Sharing
This was a big hit on my facebook page last night and I thought I shouldn’t leave you out of the loop. After all, Mamma taught me to always share.
It was overcast most of yesterday, you know, one of those sleepy kind of days. I forced myself to go out for a hike and then the sun came out late afternoon. After a while of photographing dry and dormant flowering weeds left over from the summer, I came in to start dinner. I looked out of the window and everything looked pink. The grass, the fence, the trees. Pink. So I ran out of the front door and found myself literally chasing light. Once I was in the back of the house, there it was. Hovering over Squaw Mountain was a gorgeous masterpiece painted only by the heavens above.
In With a Kick
Live…
…like someone left the gate wide open.
I hope you are running through the gate this New Years Day without fear or hesitation. Kick up your heels, laugh out loud and move forward with purpose and your own personal vision. I love it when a new door, er um gate, opens up. I look forward to see what 2013 has in store.
Yeehaw Y’all!
Bring on the Mistletoe!
Merry Kissmas everyone!
We wish you peace, joy and love and lots of kisses this holiday season. 
Cooling
After 2 weeks in my hot and sunny home state of Georgia, I’m finally cooling down in the sanctuary of southeast Wyoming. I had a great and very busy time back east and I’m so glad to be home. The french manicure is wearing off, the makeup is washed off and I think I’ve finally caught up on many hours of lost sleep.
We woke up this morning to a soft rain that has turned into a beautiful snowfall. It isn’t very cold but the snow is piling up. Feels like a lovely day to stay inside and process the many images shot during the past two weeks.
I’ve missed you all and look forward to catching up. Be well!
Country Road
The country road that takes me home.
The cottonwoods are changing from green to gold overnight. I love this time of year.
“This shark, swallow you whole” -Quint
We surprised Dad last week for his birthday on Martha’s Vineyard. Also known as Amity Island, it is where the movie jaws was filmed 30 something years ago.
And Patrick spotted Jaws right here on the island!
Joey’s footprints.
A wet seagull feather sparkled on the sand.
Gayhead Lighthouse.
An osprey nest is housed up high and we watched as one circled in and joined it’s mate and young ones.
Joey enjoyed tossing sand into the ocean at sunset.
A few folks were fishing off the jetty.
Seagulls were everywhere. If you brought a picnic to the beach, you had to make sure you didn’t leave any food unattended or else you’d go hungry. These little thieves are fast and sneaky!
Sunsets were few and far between. The skies were overcast most evenings but we lucked out with this one.
We also enjoyed walking through craft markets and galleries in the many villages on the island.
There was an abundance of wildflowers. The wet and humid summer has done them well.
The ferry ride to the mainland on the last day was foggy, overcast, and dreary.
But the sun peeked through at times giving a calm and peaceful view.
It was so awesome surprising Dad like this. We all had a great week and he said this was the best birthday present ever. So glad we made it out there this year. Thank you Debbie for making it happen!
Menemsha Sunsets with Joey
Joey and I sat and enjoyed the Menemsha sunset yesterday evening.
Today is my Dad’s 70th birthday. His lovely wife flew us out to surprise him and boy he was surprised! We are enjoying our time together here on Martha’s Vineyard and wishing we could take the beautiful rain back home.
Goodnight Precious
Look who stopped by the porch for a visit last evening.
And then ran to momma before bedding down near the hay stack. ♥
Peace is a Mother’s Love
I spotted our little fawn a few mornings ago hopping and frolicking in the tall grass by the house.
Bambi would quickly check in with mom for a bath…
…and a scrub behind the ears.
There is always time for a suckle.
She spotted me on the porch so she told the little one to take off and hide for the day.
Bambi is getting bigger so traveling with mom is happening more and more. I’ve seen them by the river and in the meadows further out. But she does check in beside the house every once in a while. Such peaceful beauty just outside the front door makes my heart melt.
I hope this mid-week case of motherly love helps you get through the week. We’ve had our fair share of fires and then wind in the form of funnels so we sure could use some comfort from mother nature… for the rest of the summer please ma’am. 
New Additions
I’d like to give a warm welcome to four new goslings here at the ranch.
May you have a happy start to your week. ♥
Happy Mother’s Day!
Even if it doesn’t turn out quite like you expected.
This loving mother cow gave birth to a calf that doesn’t look much like her. We’re thinking the neighbor lady must’ve had one of her bulls come onto our cow during breeding season last year. Doesn’t matter, true love knows no color.
Hope your day is full of love, no matter what!
Love and miss you momma! #Remembering Mom 1948-2006
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