The Taming of The HighLands

Its the Cowgirl Way

In one of my favorite movies of all time, the cowboy classic The Man From Snowy River, (which I could probably recite from beginning to end, and can play most of the songs on the piano), Young Jim, who recently lost his father is distressed when the local good boys ol boys on horse back club shows up at his family ponderosa and declares that Jim must head down to the low country to work.  They state, in a perfectly dramatic Australian baroque  that living in the highlands is an honor, and "you've got to earn your right to live up here."

Maybe I'm just an old soul, but man, you should really watch the movie!

I guess I'm also a bit of a romantic.  If I could cross the prairie on horse back with my family in tow,
my husband fighting of wild animals while I was tending kids and cooking dinner from gathered roots... I totally would.  Sometimes I look around this property we have, and I think I'm not that far off from a modern version of my romantic wonderlust.  It's been work, seemingly endless work, but there is something to say about looking out over un-populated land, that is very satisfying to the soul.  These parts are a bit like the Australian highlands... "one minute paradise, the next it's trying to kill you," but I'd say over this last year, we've proved our hardiness, and earned these views.

And now, we are beginning to tame them.  More fencing is going up; not as we speak for the farmhands are off in dreamland, but we made some good progress on a large pasture today.  I can't even explain the satisfaction fencing brings.  Not only for adding to our ponderosa, but for all the possibilities of four legged creatures.... SIGH!!!  Very exciting!  We are making this land ours, fence post by fence post.  Beginning to know the contours and rocks of our land in a personal way!

Unfortunately farming is not our primary life's work.  I've been back to school, and man it has gotten right to the point.  I've been busy with 12 hour shifts, and lots of homework.  I've really been enjoying my opportunities in the hospital this quarter, and am really starting to feel like a real nurse!  It feels good to make progress, and I have the countdown to graduation in June in sight.  Cam's been working on a job in town on his off moments, along with getting our revisions for the house plans to the building department, so we can get started on that.  Luckily we are having a gorgeous Indian Summer/Fall, and despite the dusty
landscape, Cam's got us prepared and ready for winter when it does come.  He's had hunting on the brain, and has gotten the chance to escape to the mountains several times, bringing back a nice coyote on one of his trips.  The kids were fairly interested with the fur, and Kendyl was quite intrigued by the coyote ear she found in the driveway....  Better than cartoons I reckon!  Bear recently went on his first school field trip---a bus trip up to Conconully for a "nature walk."  I don't think he was amazed with the nature walk considering that's a daily task around here, but man riding the bus was something!  He was very excited to ride in a real, genuine, YELLOW, school bus.  It's funny how these little minds
work, but definitely satisfying to see them enjoy life.
    
Having a nice reprieve this weekend, with Cal and Dottie and family friend's John and Pat visiting.  As I've mentioned before though, our visitors only get 15 minute breaks morning and afternoon, so they've been roped into fencing as well.  The last time they were here, the shop was but posts in the ground, and the trailer was where we dwelled.  One of these years we will just sit around and enjoy the view, but for now I fear we aren't the best entertainers.  Nevertheless, we have enjoyed their company, and appreciate all the help. 

Moments of fall have been in the air, but up until today, we've been existing in eternal summer.  We've had a couple trips up to the mountains to do a bit of scouting, and have been taking advantage of the nice days.  Today though, brought clouds, a bit of rain, and the fog.  It was much needed as our landscape is still parched from fire season.  It's a much different feeling going into the winter season this year.  Definitely much more manageable and not quite as overwhelming.  We know we will be warm, dry, and hopefully not have to thaw our pipes every afternoon.  We will have a little space for the kids to roam, and the wisdom of knowing that at the end of a long winter, comes a new variety of challenges.  This year though we will also have momentum... knowing that my schooling is coming to a close, there will be a house on our hill, and I believe we've gained a bit of confidence in the strength of our family.