I have been slowly working on a hat for a friend. It is one of those projects that takes concentration and paying careful attention. I created the pattern myself and used an app to generate the patterns for the color work.
What projects are you working on?
On Facebook today, someone shared a poem that was pretty good. It made a lot of sense to my life. It actually was pretty true to the way I live my life. The more I thought of the poem, the deeper the thoughts took me.
Here is the poem. I apologize to the author, it was not cited and I have no idea. It is not mine and I take no credit, except for my own rambling.
Now before I get down and deep, let me just say that my house can not be featured on an episode of Hoarders or How Clean is Your House! There is a complete difference between messy and disgusting. I’m just throwing that out there for you.
I have come to the conclusion that I enjoy life. I enjoy memories. I enjoy my kids! And I enjoy the whole mess that comes with kids, a husband, and life. How can one truly allow life to be lived if the constant concern in the front of our mind is I must vacuum or all the toys need to be put away immediately. Now let me say there are times when it must be done. But to truly live, don’t we have to overlook the mess to see the memories. When our kids want us to color with them. Do you choose dishes or do you hop down on the floor and color that picture of Dora?
I feel that too often we are caught up in the desire to have everything just so. Everything in its place. However, does it truly matter?
When we are old and approaching the end of our earthly life, will you honestly be thinking about how glad you were to have that spotless house? Will you be overjoyed and feel your life was complete because all the toys were always put away by evening? Will your children share their childhood with others and talk about how clean your house was and how great it was to always have parents who spend all day everyday making sure cars, homes, and rooms were immaculate?
My guess is no! We want memories of how we colored with our babies. We want memories of going for walks and seeing pretty rocks. We want our kids to remember the great life we showed them.
It is never too late to change our outlook! Let the dishes go. Let the room stay messy for a day and play with your kids. Sit down an watch a movie with your family instead of listening from another room as you tidy or clean. Trust me you will remember that a whole lot more than you will remember which load of laundry you did.
As someone once said. There will come a time when you will wish you had dishes to wash that your loved ones ate on. There will come a time when you wish you were stepping over toys. It will all be gone one day. What memories will you make? Trust me Let It Go!
It Was more fun than I thought. More to come.
should be an owl.
The kids did awesome today. John received 5th in intermediate showmanship, champion in class 4 market beef at 1347 lbs, and overall reserve champion for the market class. Loganne received grand champion in FFA showmanship, 2nd place in class 2 market at 1184 lbs, and reserve champion with pen of 3.
May and June are the busiest times on the ranch as far as cattle work goes. It seems we are always on the go branding, moving cows, fixing fence, AI’ing, or preparing for all of those things. July begins to slow down a bit and I am ready for a little time.
I recently met my mom and dad in a wonderful place in Iowa to take back over possession of my children. Yep, that’s right I turn them over to my parents every year. You see I am from East Tennessee and moved to Wyoming in 1995. Well after having kids. It was assumed that they would get to spend an incredible amount of time in the summer with my parents and family. So every summer they go for three weeks. Sometimes we fly back and forth, and sometimes I drive. This year mom and dad decided they would meet me halfway.
While in Iowa City, we stopped of course at a local yarn store. It was fabulous the lady was so helpful. I found this lovely scarf made of cotton blend. It came with a free pattern, so I snatched it up. I can’t wait to see it finished.
They also had a pattern for these lovely slippers called Mukluks. I am on the edge of my seat waiting to finish this scarf, just so I can start the slippers.
Enjoy the 4th. Celebrate our Freedom.
Our journey always begins with heifers running for all they have as they exit the feedlot. They are on their way to our mountain property high in the Laramie Mountain Range near Laramie Peak.
Over the years we have had various hired hands, friends, and even a few that should never have come along help us. However now that our children are getting older. We have help that is gaining more and more knowledge about cow work every year.
The picture below is all 5 cousins. The oldest is my 15 year old daughter and the youngest is 7. They were doing a fantastic job moving cows. 
As we drove to Casper today to deliver Zip to Miles and Alicia it occurred that I have a driver. I keep forgetting that I can choose to allow her to drive. I mean she has had her license for over a year now.
On the way home we have her the wheel. I chose to ride in the back and knit of course.
I am working on a howl-cat for Loganne. The yarn looks more pink, but it is purple.
John was clearly excited to ride with his sister at the wheel.
The worst is our rule has always been driver controls the radio. Well we are reaping what we sow there.
Next week I travel to become certified in acidified food processing. My recipe will be tested and I will be approved to selly jalapeños.
I am so excited for this venture to begin. I am looking forward to traveling to farmer’s markets all over Wyoming to peddle my wares! Lol
My labels arrived and my sample jars are ready. I have had a few testers give me their feedback and so far so good. They are sweet with a perfect amount of kick. Just enough to know its a jalapeño, but not enough to hurt.
It is also funny that my labels are chalkboard inspired. When I taught I had so many chalkboards. Why teach if you don’t get to use chalk? So my labels are perfect.
The Modern Ranch Wife 