The Snakes Are Crawling!

Our Summer Moonsoons are back - Thank Goodness! BUT along with the blessing of rain comes the 'curse' of snakes! The other day Teryn saw six! Last weekend Ty was walking around and saw what he thought was a rattler. He got 'Pop', then Ty killed it. It looked like a rattler, but it acted different, it didn't bother to rattle, and it had a strange blotch on it's forehead. We did a little research and confirmed that it was a Mojave, one of the top 10 most deadly snakes in the world (according to Ty)! So if you want to come see us - please do - BUT wear your boots!

The Perfect Day

Today is going to be The Perfect Day! Actually I have about 10 different perfect day scenarios, so this is only 1 in 10!
I already started some Ascedero cheese. 'Emma' came over the other day and showed me how to make it. This will be my 2nd batch. The first batch wasn't nearly as good as hers. But I've given it some thought, and have (maybe)figured out the glitches! I wrote an article on how to make Ascedero Cheese and plan to submit it to Mother Earth News and Country Woman Magazine in a couple of days - after I have played with cooking it a couple more times.
Anyway, I'll be finished with the cheese in about an hour, then I'll go play with MiHijo. We weaned him this week and he is lonesome, so I'll go 'bond' with him!
This afternoon, we'll go to Alpine. They are having Camp Meeting at Paisano Baptist Encampment. Camp Meeting started about 100 years ago to provide remote ranching families an opportunity to get together for praise and worship. The families would tie their milk cows to the backs of their wagons and head out, sometimes taking days to travel to Paisano. I wonder if I should take my milk goat? I'll have to think about that one! Anyway, once there, everyone camped out for 2 weeks and enjoyed fellowship and daily worship services. It became a sort of family reunion for many of the families. The tradition continues today, and we're going tonight! My friend Karen asked if I could stay after the worship service,and sing and play some old time gospel music on my mandoline. I can't wait - AND - I can hardly imagine a more perfect day than that!

The Swimming Hole

Teryn and Sky cleaned out one of the tanks at the back of the ranch. It's taking forever to fill up, so it's still shallow, and a great place to go with the neighbor kids to play in the water!

Metate y Mano

Ty came out a few weeks ago and was walking in the creek where he found an old Indian Grinding Stone and the Hand Stone that goes with it. You can't tell from the picture, but there is an indentation on the stone from many years of grinding down herbs and berries. I'm gonna have to go back there and see if I can find some arrowheads!

Ramblings

I Thought I'd update everyone about all the goings on, here at the ranch. We've had a couple more bobcat attacks lately. Another weanling goat was injured in the exact same places as the first - the inside hind leg and an ear. This goat wasn't hurt as bad as the first - who is now doing fine. Also we are now down to only one hen - I suspect again, due to a bobcat. The other attack was on a beautiful yellow manx tomcat. He was cut up pretty bad, but seems to be getting better! Teryn found a nest of baby bobcats between the house and the goat barn a few months ago, but he couldn't bring himself to kill the kitty's. Some thanks for his kindness!!!
The Escuela de Espanol is awesome! We sit in a circle and talk, gesture....and laugh- it feels surreal!! Almost as if we were back in time a couple hundred years, trying to talk to the Indians. Last night we talked about bobcats, and how to make Ascedero (a Mexican cheese made from Nightshade - a poisonous weed that produces yellow berries). Emma and I are going to make some this Thurs.! If I don't post for awhile - you'll know we did something wrong, and got poisoned!! Last night I dreamed in Spanish. I remember waking up briefly from the dream, and almost saying something to Teryn in Spanish before remembering and switching back to English!
MiHijo had a little operation yesterday! I think we will be seeing a much milder attitude soon! We gelded him in the pasture by the road, and were happy to see him up by the house pens this morning eating grass - it's about a mile walk, and the walking is really good for him! We'll wean MiHijo in a few weeks, after he heals from this operation. Once he gets weaned, I'll be able to really start teaching him tricks - I can't wait!!!
We've been doing bible study daily! The other day we went across the road to Morgan and Michelle's house and had some supper, then did a bible study with them! We really, really, enjoyed their procedure of reading passages, and then having each person discuss how the passage applied to their life! Oh, and the supper was great too! Teryn and I are so happy that we are FINALLY understanding the bible. The wisdom there is incredible! When upsetting things happen, we sure are tempted to react as our human nature dictates, but when we respond in the way that the bible teaches, we are ALWAYS happy with the end result!
Don't know if you can tell or not, but life at Saucida Creek ranch, in Pinto Canyon, is incredibly satisfying! Enough ramblings for now! Hope you all have a great week!

Estudiantes de la Escuela de Lingua

Tonight we started the "Pinto Canyon School of Language and Fun!" Any of you who want to come are invited - but NO ENGLISH!!! We'll be meeting on Sunday evenings at 6:30! After the language classes, we'll have a potluck. Hopefully we'll learn Spanish, but if not, I know we'll have fun, and the food is always delicioso!