Each morning for weeks I awakened to an incredible bounty.  Hundreds and hundreds of blooms from three antique rose bushes.  So many that I had the incredible luxury of picking a bouquet just for the night.

The cold wet winter brought forth this simple abundance, so rich and stunning.

That’s Amelia on the left, and Julia on the right.

Amelia is our little explorer.  Named for Amelia Earhart, the woman who’s dream was to fly around the world.  Amelia is super-bright and alert.  She misses nothing and is always on the move, searching for what’s new and interesting.

Julia is named for Julia Child.  Pioneer of French cooking in America.  Julia loves to eat and she likes to stand under my feet in the kitchen.  She is sweet,  and Monkey, our toy fox terrier, is smitten.

So Menny and I went out in Ole Blue to take a look at her.  It’s the first time I have seen her in awhile. We stopped the truck, I got out and called “Annabelle!” just like I used to, when she was a baby and living with us after she was orphaned on day three of her life. She began to trot toward us.

And the bond held.  I have hope now that it always will.

She let me scratch her head and around her horns, just like I used to.  After a while,  I got back in the truck.  But she wasn’t finished.  More head scratching was in order.

She rubbed on Ole Blue until we left.  But we aren’t far, and the Baby Watch is underway…..

But is it?  And if so, who is the ghost?  The land has seen three tragic periods: the Cherokee Removal, the War between the States (the Civil War), and the Moonshine War, when three members of the home were murdered or killed.

So we let some avid ghost hunters see what they could find out.

Members of the Tri-State Paranormal Society spent one whole night at the ranch monitoring any paranormal activity inside the historic home (circa 1850) and in the Saddle House, where one of the many unexplained events was reported.

Jamie McLain de-briefed  the investigators on their initial feelings  upon walking into the house, and then cameras were wired from rooms into this central screen.

The groups rotated after an hour or more in one location, and then again were de-briefed on what they may have seen, or heard.  The video, stills from digital cameras and voice recorders are all being examined.

The investigation should be wrapping up this weekend, and Jamie reports they have a couple of “interesting things” to tell us about.  Stay tuned!

We don’t get a lot of snow up here in the foothills and so when it graces the farm it is big news.  Time to grab the camera, and also time just to breathe in winter, and listen to….nothing.  No trucks on the road, just the faint wind sweeping over the earth.

But neither sleet nor rain nor snow will stop Blue’s Bengal Wonder from crossing the pasture to see me.

Bengal, like of our foals, was imprint-trained.  We were with him when he was born, touching him, talking to him, letting him breathe our breath, the way horses sense who you are

Bengal will be my saddle horse this year as I begin to ride again after getting a hip replacement.  So hopefully, this is the start of a good year for us.

The Seventy-four Ranch herd, anchored by Palomo, the huge white steer we had to bottle-feed at birth.

Owner Larry Butler, who has spent a lifetime breeding Longhorn and Corriente cows, as well as the ranch’s Quarter Horses, which are imprint trained from birth.

Our antique Chuck Wagon gets ready for its starring role in Don Contreras’ new coffee table book on how cowboys, then and now, get their chow. 

Photographer Don Contreras has selected the Seventy-four Ranch to be included in his upcoming coffee table book on Chuck Wagons.

He especially liked our rolling pastures and our antique chuck wagon and the fact that we have real cowboys here 24/7.  My chili is featured too!

Cowboy Keith Roberts, owner Larry Butler and Foreman Menny Lozoya prepare for the shoot

Our signature Seventy-four Ranch chili is highlighted in photographer Don Contreras’ new book on Chuck Wagons.

Larry has been perfecting this recipe for YEARS and I, as the chef, have taken a few secret liberties with his creation.

We could hardly wait for Don to take this picture before diving in!

The ranch blossoms in fragrance and soft color just in time for the wedding

The tables are set under stately 100 year old white oaks.

The honored guests gather

And so do the curious horses

You can feel the love

At the garden gate the groom awaits

Now the procession winds past the heirloom roses

Here comes the bride and her proud father

With, family and friends surrounding them, Lyn and Beth exchange their sacred vows

In the cool breeze of a late afternoon in the foothills, a new life begins for Mr. and Mrs. Wilkinson

As owner Larry and Pam Butler remember their own vows

And after cake and celebration …

The couple leaves in “Old Blue,” Seventy-four Ranch style

Our Best Wishes and Congratulations!

Cowboys from near and far joined us for spring roundup

Some of the herd came reluctantly

But come they did ….

The corral filled up with our Corriente and Longhorn cattle

Guests staying in the Cowboy Cabin for the roundup look on

Generations of cowboys pitched in

That’s Annabelle, who was an orphan last year and spent months inside the three acres surrounding the historic Butler-Cape House with the Butlers. 

Owner Larry Butler gives Annabelle the treasured 74 brand. During our roundups, ranch cattle are wormed, vaccinated, castrated and branded as needed. It’s a unique opportunity for cowboys to practice their 1880’s skills and guests to see them in action and understand why they have become so important to cowboys and ranch operations for more than 100 years