Ok, Ok, time for an update!

Right now I'm sitting in my friend Debbie's guest room NOT ON THE RANCH! I'm in Colorado Springs enjoying one of those priceless days God gives us sometimes, when everything seems perfectly designed to make up one perfect day. I left at around 11pm last night with my roomate Sable and Debbie and we drove the grueling 9 dirty, turny miles down the dirt road and off we went to Colorado Springs. I woke up this morning in a clean room (what a novelty) to the wonderful sound of...no horses! Sable and I quickly decided that a trip to Starbucks was a DEFINITE must. 20 minutes later, I happily sipped my vanilla latte and read...THE NEW YORK TIMES!!! Yes, they sold the NYT at Starbucks. I was thrilled...and disappointed because of all the great shows out right now, and very sad that I'm missing a J.M.M Turner exibit at the Met...Mom, you should definitely try to check that out while you're there! Let's see...what else has been going on? Well, this last week was...interresting to say the least. We have what we like to call our "emotional wall week" here on the Ranch, which I'm pretty sure I plowed down with a vengeance. Thankfully, I'm no longer freaking out about the endless monotony of the days all being the same here, and am again remembering that God has me here for a reason. I really do love this place...it's just the realization that every Tuesday for the last 48 years has been a square dance night (which I AM MISSING TONIGHT THANK GOD!) without fail freaked me out a little. I like change, as anyone who really knows me will tell you, so for me, it was a startling realization. But this week, the Lord has reminded me that He called me to this wilderness for a reason and that I will not die of the monotony. Anyway, that's the end of all this moping! I'm looking forward to this new week, with new guests and a new outlook on my mission here. Here's some pictures from the rodeo, and some video too that I've been meaning to include. Love to all!
Oh! And I slept outside again with some friends two nights ago...I could get used to going to sleep seeing stars shooting all over the sky and waking up to the sun rising over the mountains!

(and don't worry, mom, no snakes! :o)



some favorites! (L-R) Katie, Heather,Debbie, KaitlynOur Rodeo Clown! and one of my best friends here, Adam

We finally got our bulls, so Lucas here is attempting to ride. One of the guys, Alex, who has never ridden a bull before, stayed on for 6 seconds! Amazing Ride!


Ever seen the 3 Amigos?? This is Peter, Stone, and Russell doing the barrels, bareback, three on the horse. Poor Joanie! "Joanie the Roanie" was the first horse I rode here...I'm pretty sure the only reason they stayed on is because Joanie has one speed...and it's definitely NOT fast :o)

The bull finally did what it was supposed to do, and ran out the gate and down the bull run back to the pen...usually he runs clear to the South meadow instead. There were a few nervous guests high tailing it off of there.

Here's a video of the opening of the Rodeo. I wish I could have gotten the whole thing, but it hasn't rained here in a loooong time, so the ring is a dust bowl and the dust clouds kind of covered what was going on.


This is some video of Wes's bull ride from last week. Pay special attention to the commentary, that's Peter our head wrangler from Alabama...yes people really do talk like that...and also make sure you don't miss Tony, our Ranch Foreman's special dance on horseback...Let's Rodeo!