"Autumn the wind blows colder than summer............

This is our God daughter, Autumn Cody.  She was actually born in Spring, April 2nd.  I was at the hospital with her mama the day she was born.  I love this lil' girl.  She is polite, kind, sensitive and spiritual.

I met Autumn's mother when we were liaisons for Hope House and the Catholic church.  Hope House is a home for unwed, pregnant women.  Those unwed women who were Catholic, were assigned to us for Church functions, attendance of weekly mass and family time.  The first time I met Cai Cody, I liked her immediately.  She was very pregnant, lonely, and needed some hope.  We must have given her that as she has been in our lives now for over seven years.  She in return has given us Autumn.................

Cai is Apache.  She was sent off the reservation at a very young age to live with a Catholic family who would send her to Catholic school, teach her the "American way." This is very common for reservation children....to be sent away from their people, and taught a whole different culture.  Cai actually had a wonderful "American" family that she enjoyed, although she missed her mama, daddy and siblings much.

"The Man" and myself have been included in Apache ceremonies over the years thanks to Cai and Autumn.  The Apache Sunrise Ceremony or na'ii'ees. 

It's an arduous communal four-day ceremony that Apache girls of the past and present experience soon after their first menstruation.  Through numerous sacred ceremonies, dances, songs and enactments, the girls become imbued with the physical and spiritual power of White Painted Woman, and embrace their role as women of the Apache Nation.

For most of four days and nights, to songs and prayers, they dance, as well as run toward the four directions.  During this time, they also participate in and conduct sacred rituals, receiving and giving both gifts and blessings, and experiencing their own capacity to heal.

The Sunrise Ceremony involves extensive preparation and teaching, often lasting six months or more before the ritual begins.  Much of the preparation, such as creating the girl's highly symbolic costume, and building the lodge, requires following complex procedures and rituals; another facet of preparation is a physical regime oriented toward strengthening the girl's physical endurance.  Her family is also engaged in extensive food preparation, since throughout the ceremony, they will be providing food and gifts to all participants and visitors.

Most of the extended family of an Apache girl are involved in preparing her puberty ceremony.  The most central figure is the sponsoring godmother, followed by the medicine man and Gans Crown Dancers.

The family takes special care in choosing the godmother, who will be a role model and have a special relationship with the girl throughout her life.  As her primary attendant in the Sunrise ceremony, the godmother will dance with her both day and night, massage her, help inspirit her and care for her when she is exhausted, give her food and drink, and prepare a huge dinner for all her relations.   

When choosing a godmother, the family visits her residence at dawn, places an eagle feather on her foot, offering her also a prayer stone and gifts as they request her to serve as godmother to their daughter.  The medicine man also has an important role, and must be approached in a similar manner.  He will preside over much of the ceremony, chanting dozens of songs and prayers, and both orchestrating and paying the singers and drummers that will accompany him.

The work involved in sponsoring a Sunrise Ceremony is enormous, as is the cost, which apporximates $10,000 per ceremony.

The Godmother chosen for such a ceremony will be a godmother chosen from the reservation, an Apache woman.  We guide Autumn in her religious beliefs only.  She attends St. Anthony catholic school, attends mass every Sunday and is being taught her catechism classes.  Cai is continuing her religious beginnings with her daughter.

Cai is attending college to become a pharmacy tech, she lives off the reservation for now, as it is much easier to travel to and from college three times a week than to travel the long distance from the reservation.  She is 8 months pregnant now and living once again at the Hope House.  She is pregnant with a baby boy this time, her third child. 

We have been Autumn's godparents since she was one year old.  It was a very, very special calling for "The Man" and myself, one we don't take lightly.  Although we don't see Autumn as much as we'd like to, I will drop anything I'm doing to get to see her.  All Cai has to do is call, and we're there. 

Cai and I have developed a close relationship over the years, somewhat like girlfriends.  She calls often, we chat, we text, we Facebook together, we see one another.  She is a beautiful woman, kind and compassionate.  I enjoy time spent with the two of them, I respect that she trusts us enough to include us in many aspects of the Apache traditions as do her mother and father. We've met her siblings, Autumn's father, and her grandmother who still wears traditional Apache attire.  Cai comes from good "stock."

Autumn came to Taylor last week for a school field trip to the Pumpkin patch, Cai immediately called me.  I stopped whatever it was I was doing, hopped in the car and drove over.  I spent four hours with the two of them, along with three class grades of St. Anthony children!  We sipped hot Chamomile tea in the park, I brushed her hair while she talked(she has beautiful jet black, shiny hair which I love), I listened.  We shared food, hugs, laughter.  I love these two girls very much, I pray that one day, Cai will find a man who appreciates her for her spirituality, compassionate personality, beauty, and beliefs. 

"The Man" and myself are looking forward to Autumn's confirmation in the church soon.  She will be surrounded with people who love her dearly, she is easy to love.  I look forward to the day when she will become a woman, dancing her dance and walking her four directions to merge with White Painted Woman who is born again and again, from generation to generation.

"Mares eat oats and does eat oats and little lambs eat ivy, a ram el be angry too wouldn't ewe?"

This is one time of year the sheep look forward to......the gleaning of the ranch owners garden and yard.  This time of year we let the sheep out daily to assist in the job of "clean-up" on the ol' ranch.  There are a million elm leaves to be munched, left-over chard and spinach in the garden along with beet and carrot tops.  The sound of the sheep munching is similar to rice krispies crackling in ones bowl of cereal.

The lambs are a bit skittish at first as they have never left their domain other than changing pastures periodically. Mama sheep after awhile, tend to let their lambs "fend for themselves" when it comes to the Fall gleaning.  They just want to "snarf" up as many goodies as they can in an alloted amount of time............."babies, you're on you're own!"

I know one thing about people, they love to watch baby animals. Annually people pull over on the side of the road to watch the sheep.  Lambs are about the cutest lil' things you've ever seen when it comes to play.They hop, bounce, arc and run like lil' maniacs.  These lil' "leaf munchers" are having the time of their life.  Two nights ago we had three cars pulled off the road at once, thankfully the lil' cuties put on a show.  Have you ever seen a lamb bounce?  It's crazy the height they can get, all the while landing with acute accuracy only to bounce again even higher.  It's great entertainment for "The Man" and myself.....I gather it is for the people in the cars as well.

Friday evening after cutting wood all day, we decided to cook outdoors on the ol' campfire once again.  This particular evening we cooked up a small Dutch oven of Walla-Walla sweet onions in butter with a lot of black pepper and a smidgen of coffee, steaks, and foil wrapped taters in the fire. While sitting outdoors, recapping the day, the neighbors stopped by for awhile, we enjoy their company.  The "neighbor woman" was watching the sheep roaming the yard smiling, wondering if it was o.k. that they were, "eating leaves on the tree," "now they're in your rose bed,".............NOT!  I think "Estes" instigates this lil' adventure, goats LOVE rose bushes.  Once I've chased them out, they head to the garden until dusk, munching away.The only downside of this "holiday" is the rams discontent at not being invited to join them.  This annual event has a tendency to anger him........all inclusive: headbutting the corral fence, guttural crying, frustration, unsettled behavior to say the least! He has "Oreo" to keep him company but it's just not the same as getting out of the corral to "mingle" with his girls.  I keep telling "Blackcloud" that he only has one month left before he can "visit" with his girls..........I don't think he finds this humorous!  Try as I might to console him, it's just not working.This look is pure frustration at the shepherdess for not including him in the "fun stuff."  Feeling a bit humbled by his look, I manage to talk to him a bit, try and calm him down.......he stops the guttural crying and listens if only for a short bit of time.I absolutely love this ram, if you look closely in his eyes, you can tell that he is intelligent and wise for his age.  He's always a "pure" gentleman with his girls, never butting the ewes or lambs, just taking his time and watching.....always watching.It's time for me to call the flock back into the barn for a small amount of food, they've  supplemented much in the hour they've been out of the barn..........think Hoover vacuums!  Thinking I've got all of them in, I begin to feed, it's getting darker so I decide to do a head count.........one is missing!  I close the gate to the barn, head out in search of the "wee lost one" only to find this.............our 200 pound Nubian hiding behind a fir bough!

"Build a fire and they will come!"

     Yep..........build a fire and they will come!  Specifically if it entails food................"Rockin' A Ranch hobo dinners."  A good, hot fire with a nice bed of coals, foil, veggies, cheese's, gravies, meat of choice and you've got yourself a campfire delight.

    Three times this week-end we outdid ourselves in our "culinary fest of hobo dinners."  Let's see, there was Friday night with a wonderful Chicken Divan, Saturday night with a thick pork chop and gravy, Sunday evening was Dutch oven boneless leg of lamb.............YUM! 

     "The Man" and myself love the outdoors and with Fall upon us, we're trying to "milk" every drop of sunshine out of the shortened days that we possibly can.  It's a beautiful time of year for campfires, fall colors, hobo dinners, and watching the wildlife.Summer time is too hot for campfires, so this time of year makes perfect sense to get one a blaze!

     Saturday morning I spoke with our daughter Jessica on the phone, I love our lil' chats.  "What are the kids doing?"  What are you doing today?"  You get the jest..............well, I mentioned our "hobo dinners" to her on Saturday morning, and she decided that after their day trip up to Sunrise for the Fall colors, they'd like to come out for some of those!  Come they did, around fourish.  Babies in tow, lawn chairs, sweaters, hats, mittens..............that's NO simple feat when you've got lil' ones in tow.  We sat around the campfire and chatted for awhile before heading into the ol' ranch house to make up the dinners. 

     Toby (aka Tobias) was in boy scouts for a long time, I actually think his Dad was a leader or something, anyway, he manned the fire throughout the duration of cooking.  He'd spread out the coals until they looked like a "fan of fire," add more wood as needed, stir the cabbage dish in the Dutch oven.....................he was doing real well so "The Man" and myself let him have at it.  By the way, give a man a fire, a poker, and food, and he'll chat your ear off!  It's like they're in their element...............cavemanish! (Except they didn't "kill" the "hobo dinner!")

     All in all, it was a great evening spent with two of our youngest of five grand babies, our kids, and one another.  When dinner was over, we got to play with our grand kids for several hours..........we had absolutely NO T.V. on, no music (although it would have been a nice touch), just the six of us, playing, chatting, resting and enjoying one another.  I think the kids mosied out of the ol' ranch house around tenish, Tobias was going home with the boys to get them tucked into bed, Jessica was going grocery shopping with two of her girlfriends, manned with several envelopes of coupons to do the weekly shopping.  Let me tell you, those three girls are masters at saving...............like a $130 grocery bill getting "chopped" with coupon savings to over half!  NO kids or men are allowed, it's "girl time," serious as it is.................I'll bet those nightime checkers are "suited up" and ready when they see these three girls marching in the store.

     Once again.....................it's so very, very important to tell those you love just how much you love them, how much you cherish time with them. Also,  "tickles" and song singin' are critical for lil' ones to enjoy.  I felt like I'd been "run over by a truck" when those two lil' grandson's of ours left that evening, they crawled and jumped all over Nana........................and boy did I love that!

Rockin' A Ranch Hobo Dinner

Take two 18-inch sheets of hevy duty aluminum foil and lay them out per packet.  Assemble packets by placing pork chop (bone-in) on top of foil. 

Mix a large can or two small cans low-sodium cream of mushroom soup, 1/4 cup sherry, 1 envelope of Lipton onion soup mix, fresh sliced mushrooms and freshly ground black pepper.  Divide evenly amongst packets spooning on top of pork chop.  Wrap foil by folding down to base of meat, tucking in the ends tightly.  Place on a cookie sheet along with tongs and a long handled spatula....................holler at the guys to "come get it!" When packet is done cooking, open carefully due to steam, top each pork chop with a slice of Provolone cheese, a few French Fried Onion's (from the can), reclose for a few. Serve.

Rockin' A Ranch Cabbage and Apples

3 slices of good quality Maple bacon, chopped

1 medium onion, peeled and finely chopped

1 head green or red cabbage, cut into small pieces

3 tart apples, unpeeled, cored, and cut into pieces

1 Tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 1/2 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 teaspoon salt

Pull out the ol' cast-iron Dutch oven, place uncooked bacon in the bottom.  Add the onion, cabbage, and apples.  Sprinkle with fresh ground black pepper, stir.  Cover and holler at the guys to "come and get it."  Once over the bed of coals, make sure and stir the dish every so often to prevent the onions from burning, mixing the bacon around in the dish.  Cook approximately 25-30 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the mixture of lemon juice, sugar and salt to the dish, stir, cook an additional 10 minutes and serve.  Kids love this dish......................so does Tobias!  Makes enough for a crowd.

Woodcutting 101

I've decided that although wood-cutting is a hard, dirty, long, and laborious job, it can be fun despite the sore hands, feet, and dirt caked into every orifice one has. When "The Man" and myself set out to cut wood, we set out in style.  This past Saturday we headed out into the woods(the burn area from one of Arizona's largest fires in history.

This particular wood-cutting run we had some mighty fine food (if I do say so myself!).  Always, always I pack a lot of fruit, when your mouth is parched and dry, oranges and melon seem to quench and perk up the ol' tastebuds. 

To start our morning off "The Man" made some incredible fresh ground "joe."  We always take a thermos of "joe" out for that initial cup on the tailgate of the ol' Ford.  Nothing nicer than a warm cup a joe and cool, mountain mornings.  I brought along a nice, warm coffee cake for the occasion, just out of the oven.  While we nibbled on coffee cake, sipped some joe, we eyeballed some dead oak, fortunately, the dead oak was in the middle of a young, new grove.........fires are good for one thing for sure....... Arizona's overgrown forest floor.  Fires are great for incubating fine, new growth, once it's raged through an area.

"The Man" said he really liked his coffee cake and "just how long has it been since you made this?" "When our kids were lil'?"  Overlooking the obvious sarcasm, I told him "I've never made you THIS coffee cake."  We then set to work............after about two hours of cutting we decided to take a break for some water and fruit.  Always, we sit and admire the wood we've cut.  I have to say, we did well in our scouting efforts this trip.

Now I personally think you can turn any arduous task into a much better time with a good attitude and a belly full.  It's good exercise, it will keep you warm in the winter (we heat strictly with wood), and I love to look at the striations and coloring of different wood types.......Juniper, Cedar and Oak, all hard woods.  When we're about half way loaded, we stop for lunch.  This particular wood-cutting trip I made sandwiches...........not just any sandwich either.  I took some very good, roasted turkey, smoked Fontina, fresh red onion, avocado and homemade fig jam.  Now put that all on some good homemade bread..............heaven opened up for us!  These were not "dainty" sandwiches mind you, these were "drizzle down your arm" sandwiches, the best kind to eat. 

Once finished with our task of wood-cutting (which takes us six hours), we head for home..........tired, satisfied, and one cord closer to our goal.  We cut throughout the Fall using two or more permits to "stock up" on the wood supply.  One day every week-end and the chore is done. 

When wood-cutters are selling wood in the "peak" season (Winter), they make $200 + a cord.  Personally, I can think of a million and one things I would rather spend $200 dollars on................like saving for a vacation next year. 

As we pull into the drive-way, weary but happy to be home, the three dogs greet us with wagging tails.  They LOVE to smell our pants and boots, like, "where have you two been?"  "Oh come on, let me guess!" 

Now is the time to unload and stack the wood.  Once that task is done, we crack open a cold one, sit on the tailgate of the ol' truck, and admire our efforts.  The day has come full circle, it's getting late, the sheep are bellowing for food, and the dogs want to come inside and visit with us.  The smell of the pork roast packed full of garlic, simmering in homemade sauerkraut, apples, onion, potatoes and spices(oh yes, and a good stout ale) infuses the house, we are soooo ready for a hot bath, P.J.'s and a glass of wine to unwind this evening.........until next week-end when we do it all over again.

Shepherdess Kat's Coffee Cake

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs, at room temperature

8 oz. carton of sour cream

2 cups King Arthur all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg

1 teaspoon cinnamon

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

1/2 cup toasted, chopped walnuts

Combine butter and sugar, cream until light and fluffy, add eggs and sour cream, mixing well.  Combine next five ingredients, add to batter and mix well.  Pour batter into a disposable, greased and floured 9x13x2-inch pan.  Combine brown sugar, walnuts, and cinnamon, sprinkle on top of batter.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.  Uncover and bake at 350-degree oven for 35-40 minutes. 

Catahoula Who?

A couple of weeks ago we took our beloved "Blue" into our vet to get routine shots.  Normally I do this annually but this particular time I had too much on my plate to purchase the shots, drive to Clay Springs for the Rabies, and so forth.  This visit we saw a NEW vet, a female, Dr. Sanders.  She fell in love with "Blue".............yeah right!  Anyway, she immediately said to us, "what a beautiful Catahoula"  and I said, "what the heck is a Catahoula?"

Apparently the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog or the Catahoula Hog dog, or the Catahoula Hur, or the Louisiana Catahoula Leopard dog..........is so named after a Parish in Louisiana.................hmmmm?  Louisiana has cited this dog as having it's origin in Louisiana, although some suspect it is actually a Nordic Wolfhound..............hmmm?

I got this pup thinking it was a Border Collie X..........hmmm?  Now for a nominal fee of $125 we can find out just what "Blue" is by having a DNA test done..................NOT!!!! For GOD's sake, I only paid $5 bucks for the pup.  And when he's bad, "the Man" let's me know he's MY dog.

He is beautiful I'll admit, we've had a lot of comments from people about how "good looking" he is.  Once we had a younger guy pull into the ranch to buy fresh eggs from us..............he had this gorgeous, full-blood Border Collie female in the cab of the truck with him.  While "the Man" was selling him eggs, he turned to "the Man" and asked him, "did you shave your Border collie?"  Now that's about the most humiliating thing you can hear, especially from someone who's got a perfectly trained, lil' female, full blood collie!  "The Man" came into the house after the transaction snorting and laughing.............I didn't think the story was so darn funny..............poor "Blue."

Now, if in fact "Blue" has any Catahoula in him, we're in trouble.  Apparently these Catahoula's take the "pack thing" real serious!  The bio on them say's that an "owner who takes pack leadership seriously with structure, leadership and plentiful exercise" should do well with a Catahoula..................O.K.!!!  The objective is in training this dog to achieve a pack leadership status................"Blue" flippin' runs this ranch, pack leadership my ass, he herds us, tells us what to do on any givin' day, tell's us when it's time for him to eat, sleep or play, we're at his beck and call.........24-7!  I've tried, seriously, I've TRIED!  I've even watched Cesar Milan until I'm blue in the face.............I'll bet ya, Cesar couldn't snap his fingers and hiss at "Blue," and achieve any leadership.  As my sister says, "ain't no one the boss of "Blue." "  And she's right, you can't be the boss of "Blue."

I've never, ever had a problem with leadership with any of our other dogs..........Labradors, Wolfhounds, Basset's, Retrievers................NEVER!!  I've always been the boss and I've always had them trained to be polite, social dogs.....................I've pulled my hair out with this "peach."

"Blue's" morning starts with attacking "the Man's" socks and shoes at 5 a.m. He's obsessed with shoes, but ONLY "the Man's" shoes.  From that point in his day(which is very long for the remainder of his pack family), he will herd the Shepherdess at 7a.m. when she heads out to feed the sheep.  Once in the barn, he focus's his attention on the sheep.  The lambs are his "gig," he chases them around the pasture, barking and gently nipping their twist, brisket and legs.  He herds them all right............in circles, stirring up huge amounts of dust while the Shepherdess lays out hay.  Once the Shepherdess is coated in a layer of dust, she head's over to feed the other two, gentle, sweet dogs that she own's.  At that point in time, "Blue" pounces on the "sweet dogs" nipping and barking, he then run's into the cellar house to "guard" the container of THEIR dog food.  He does let them eat in peace, but they are always watching him.  Once we've achieved that huge chore, he follows the Shepherdess into the house, looks at his food bowl, jumps up on the couch and crashes for several hours................napping on his back, legs spread eagle, farting like the wind.  This all resumes again when "the Man" is home for the day, but this time he want's to play. The game he loves most............"try and get your Reebok tenny from me."  He can have the damn tenny..............you couldn't get it if you wanted it anyway.  It's been his fav toy since he was a darling, blue-eyed pup(I have to remind myself daily just how cute he was at one point in time.)

The only animal on this ranch that has any clout with "Blue" is "Ya-Ya" the tiny, female cat and "Estes."  "Blue" will actually let "Ya-Ya" drink from his water bowl, he'll play with her and she grooms him. Now "Estes" is a different story altogether, "Blue" doesn't much care for "Estes,"  "Estes" doesn't much care for "Blue," probably because he torments "his" sheep flock.  "Estes" will charge "Blue" and on occasion, he'll toss him in the dirt, not hard, just to let him know who's boss..................I'm thinkin' I need to spend more time watching "Estes" being the "pack leader" instead of Cesar Milan!

Now, don't get me wrong, we love our "Blue" but it's like having a three year old on sugar, tired and desperately needing a nap!!!  However, every evening when "the Man" and myself settle down to our bedroom, "Blue" leaps up on the bed, lies down between us, licks us and then rolls over spread eagle for a belly rub..........with those SWEET eyes of his!

Now they say that these Catahoula's live to be fairly old...............................OMG!!

The Girl I was, the Woman I've Become

When I was seventeen I left home........it struck both my parents very hard.  It made Mama sick for several days.  I didn't exactly leave in a "normal" sense, like asking them if I could go, or even having a plan really, I just didn't come home one evening.  What did happen to me formed the foundation of who I am today, why I have the beliefs I do, and how I view life.  Many years later, my mama will tell me, "when you left us it hurt, but what you learned didn't hurt you."  I think that means she's forgiven me my insensitivity to their wishes at the time.........like finishing high school and staying home.  I wanted to hit the world hard and fast.....I did both, and I haven't stopped!

In September of 2007 I went to Alaska for the second time.  While in Skagway, "the man" and myself went to the Red Onion Saloon for a couple of good ol' Alaskan ales.  I struck up a conversation with two older gentlemen about my first visit to Alaska.  I would say we chatted with one another for about two hours.  When it was time for us to go, one gentleman turned to me and said, "you need to write a book about your memoirs, you need to tell these stories, write them down for your kids if nothing else."  I've thought about that comment a lot over these years.............

What I can tell my two kids is this...................I'm living a good life, I've enjoyed my journey thus far, the good has far exceeded the bad, and I wouldn't change a thing.  I've worked in many a "mans field" earning me more money but working much harder, I've rock climbed mountains (the Granite Dells, the "Monk," boulders in carefree, mountains in the Sierra's and Alaska, Mt. Baldy and the Grand Canyon), I've back-packed in areas many people will NEVER see, fished high mountain lakes ( many people will never see), I back-packed Alaska for three weeks carrying a 70 pound pack, travelling there via a ferry out of Seattle. I've hiked down into the Grand Canyon, camped for two weeks, I've hiked the Superstition's.........never finding the "gold mine" but feeling rich afterwards.  I've hiked numerous times into the Sierra's, travelling 10-14 miles a day with a heavy pack, forging cold, snow melt rivers that were deep and raging.  I've even walked into the woods with my own back-pack strapped on me and camped by myself for days............I highly recommend it to anyone!

In Northern California I lived in a community that was rife with "hippies."  Most of whom became my friends, most of whom worked but enjoyed the simple lifestyle. We'd gather once a week at someone's house, tent or tepee, share vegan meals, play music, sing, enjoy one anothers company. I learned a lot from those days........................

I've learned that it matters to me to take good care of our earth, have empathy towards others, be kind to animals, love people unconditionally.  I've learned NOT to discuss politics or religion with people because everyone has their own beliefs, mine may not be the same but it works for me.  I've learned that spontaneity gives richness to one's life. Spending time alone will heal much.................  I've learned that grand babies are definately

"GODS GIFTS," they are the extension to the lil' ones you once rocked, played with, nurtured. I've learned that you should NEVER, EVER look back and wish you'd done something differently, the past is the past, it's final.  I've learned that as you age, you become more sensitive to the important things, love, life, family and loss.  I've also learned how to love someone else and let myself be loved........unconditionally.  Sometimes the "second time around" is by far the best.

I've also learned that it's very important to take care of one's body, it has to last you a long time.  Spending time in guietude each day doesn't mean you're "lazy" it just shows that you know what you need physically and spiritually to be at peace. I've learned that loud, boisterous, people or people who complain a lot are NOT conducive to my well-being. I've learned to stay away from people who tend to be competitive, they lack self-esteem.

 I've learned that cooking good food has become my passion.  Using the most natural, untainted food is the BEST for me, the end product superior.  I've learned that to get that superb quality without paying huge sums of money requires me to raise our own food.......lamb, chickens, ducks, turkeys, rabbits, pork, fresh eggs(both chicken and duck), and vegetables........the work is hard but the dividends are worth it.

 I also look back and understand that I've had much serendipity in my life.  A "calling" which started when I was a very young girl, placed me right smack dab into the life I have..................... a GOOD LIFE!

Autumn Equinox

John Donne (1572-1631)

No Spring, or summer beauty hath such grace

As I have seen in one Autumnal face.

     Autumn is upon us here at Rockin' A Ranch.  Chilly mornings greet us at 4:30a.m., we linger one moment longer under our covers, snuggling and chatting, listening to the rooster greet the beginnings of dawn before jumping out of bed and grabbing our robes.  Rick plugs the percolator in, I let the cats and "Blue" out for their morning "winkle" and stretch. "Blue" runs the fence line of the ranch, barking and staving off the "yotes" (coyotes), this morning they are close.

     This is our favorite time of year...............Autumn.  Chores like gardening, watering, and weeding all slow down and are replaced with wood cutting, raking leaves and mulching. In one month I will begin to "flush" our breeding ewes.  When the first full moon of November arrives, "Blackcloud" our Churro ram and "Oreo" our wether, will join the girls for several months.  I won't remove them until late in the ewes gestational cycle. "Oreo" is thrilled to get to visit with his mama "Freckles" for a period of time.  Sheep can distinguish between all other sheep, they recognize fellow flock mates and lambs even after years of separation. 

     Our myriad birds here on the high prarie begin to disappear..........Macgillivray's warbler, Orange-Crowned, the Nashville and Wilson's, Song Sparrow, Lincolns, Brewer's, the Green-Tailed Towhee, Western Tanager, Pinyon Jays, Juniper Titmouse and Lazuli Buntings. Soon we will also witness the flocks of ducks and geese heading South in their long journey, but this Fall they won't be able to land on the lake near our home as it has dried up over the summer.  We will still enjoy their flight..... we will hear them long before they arrive overhead.

 At the Autumnal equinox, the Sun appears to cross the celestial equator, from North to South; this marks the beginning of autumn in the Northern hemisphere.  This is the time of year for our annual Fall picnic, a     gourmet  picnic which is always accompanied with our own special hot, spiced, wine for sippin'.  We build a fire, put out lawn chairs, chat, eat, hike with the lil' ones, take pictures, nap and towards the end of the day, we listen to the Bull Elk bugling and thrashing about in the woods.  And every single year, a child gets to sit on the lap of "the man" and "drive" us out of the woods. 

     This is the time for plentiful bread baking and soup making.  We love soup, a good loaf of homemade artisan bread, and a glass of wine.  "The man" and myself rarely watch T.V. during colder months, we'd rather capitulate to the crackling of the fire in the woodstove, dim the lights and have a nice conversation, before retiring to bed early, similar to the old days. " Early to bed, early to rise"...................I don't know how " healthy, and wise" we are, but we feel very wealthy with Autumn's splendor upon us.

FALL PICNIC HOT SPICED WINE

1 cup sugar

4 cups hot water

Sliced lemon and other desired fruit(apple, orange, dried berries)

18 whole cloves

6-8 cinnamon sticks

2 (750 ml) Red or Burgandy wine

To Prepare:

Wrap spices in cheese cloth, tie off. 

In a pan, heat water, sugar and spices to boiling for approximately 10-15 minutes

When slightly cooled, remove spices and add simple syrup and fruit to crock pot, putting it on low setting.

Add wine and additional fresh fruit (if desired), heat gently, DO NOT BOIL!

Serve in insulated cups.