Tuesday, 01 July 2008

• Oh summer...

   

   

  Summer, I think, must be winters' reward. Lilacs draw me in with their heady scent as i walk by them on the path to my front door. Wildflowers paint the hills in all their brilliance, stealing attention from the moose, who've since made their way to higher elevations. The days are long and beautiful. Living on the ranch, it's not unusual to be up in the morning with the sun and off to bed as the light calmly fades from that great big western sky.

  Qliche? Not to me. I'm not a cowgirl. I still love the beach and i think i'll always prefer flip-flops to boots. But somewhere in the short year that i've been here a change took place and i'm waking to find... i've adapted. This culture and lifestyle are no longer foreign to me. I haven't quite decided what to do about that. Does that mean i want to stay here? I don't know... But it does open up a world of opportunity. If i can establish a life i love in the "wilderness" of Wyoming, 40 miles north of the nearest (small) town, what's stopping me from moving to Argentina? or living in a big white tent in Africa? hm. just thinking... Somehow when i sit down to write all this stuff comes out that i didn't really plan to say. I should do this more often. Who knows all the great thoughts i could be missing every day! 

  A lot has happened since my last post - when was that? last winter? well.. I went home to Florida for a month in April during the off-season here. Somehow the days flew by and what i thought would be a long time wasn't so long at all. Went camping and diving and kayaking with my family. to SC with friends to visit Iva at Fairplay - who, btw, is now ENGAGED!!! =) yayay IVA!! haha What else... Nida came to FL for almost a week from Atlanta, and of course i drank lots of coffee with old(-er) friends and went to all my favorite places  that i miss when i'm gone... the corner bookstore with vines growing over the window just right for long chats over Chai with beloved and kindred spirits..

  When i came back i left my roommate, Nida, and our cozy winter cabin in Wilson to move to a ranch in Buffalo Valley. It was a tough choice to move out here, so many things unknown. But i've rarely felt a stronger sense that i am exactly where i should be and i know with great certainty that the Lord brought me here at just the right time. I'm amazed at the sense of purpose that has given me and the fantastic opportunities He's opened up.

  I dove more seriously into photography and launched "Wild Iris Photography". I'm the ranch photographer, so i take photos of guests all week and sell them. I'm also working in the kitchen as pastry chef. With the 2 positions i stay extremely...  ah well, frankly, overwhelmed. But loving what i do is motivation enough so try my best to balance work and still make enough time to go out and explore the wilderness on horse-back, or go hiking. I'm learning fly-fishing from our guides at the ranch and even got to do some rather intimidating rock-climbing. We've been biking a lot too which i hadn't done in awhile. and on my days off i spend as much time as i can with Nida and other friends in town.

  There's a big thunderstorm moving in now so i better hustle and finish in case i loose power...

  

  Climbing in Lander with Amy Berry, Drake and Wes.

  

  

  These boys are the real deal.. haha Big Red is from Nebraska and is great authority on western wear since he's working his way through college at a store that sells that stuff. Troy rides bulls at the rodeo in town every week... and charms the ladies with yellow wildflowers.

   

  We are all required to look western (or try?)... Mark, our activities director/office guy pulls it off pretty well here except that i bet he's wearing tennis shoes. Bonnie, who is from Wyoming, always manages with great ease. I... well, i just try to look cute and have a good time. haha... Luke, is from the city and has a style all his own you can't help but love. His belt buckle has a spinner (ghetto-cowboy?) but he broke down and bought an authentic hat.  

  

  Square dancing! Every wkend after a cookout by the river, it's the last big event before the guests go home...

  

  ALWAYS a party in the kitchen!! Paige, Amy & Corban, dressed in b&w ready to serve.

   

  Chef Jason prepares the second of 6 courses

   

  Pete owns his "real wyoming" mustache. He takes care of the Wednesday morning breakfast ride. It's my favorite morning of the week - and it's tomorrow! Guests ride down the river aways to find Pete cooking eggs and pancakes over an open fire. Coffee always tastes better outside.

  

  Sunrise on snowy peaks, and the Buffalo Fork River where we will eventually be doing most of our fly-fishing. The river runs through the ranch and has been high this spring because of an exceptional amount of snowfall this year.  

  

  In the barn... Bonnie rides the wild ponies while Daniel loads hay, Amy and Paige are just here for the party! and oh yes... those are snowflakes in mid-june.

  

  My birthday!! Another big thing that's happened... i turned 26! We celebrated all wkend with bonfires and picnics by the river and serenades and jumping on trampolines and Sunday brunch at Nora's. What a fun wkend...

   

      

  Sushi! Fresh strawberries, bing cherries and angel food cake...

  

  Staff camaraderie he he.. Corban, my favorite Irishman, Amaris and Jen, hard to beat those girls southern girls, and Luke...

     

  Yeah we're cool... or maybe we were just entertaining ourselves at a cookout? Daniel always smiling on horse-back.

  

  Wranglers, Brittney, Daniel and Casey.

  

  The "Amys", Amaris & Paige.

  Time for Dinner...

   Happy Independance Day / week!!!

   

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