Okay, so it’s been a long time since I’ve posted anything here at CowgirlDiary, and I apologize…it’s been summer and a lot has happened, and—sad to say—none of it was horse-related. But it’s been fun, and busy, and crazy, and I’m just now getting to sit down and sort through photos and reminisce a little bit about the great summer we had. And I’m also feeling sad that it’s already gone!
It’s been dry. Driest summer ever, in the twelve years I’ve lived in Iowa anyway. And hot. Our lawns are all dirt, the bluegrass having given up the ghost a few months ago, and the only green showing is a few weeds, crabgrass, or very shady spots. The creek where my horses usually drink is reduced to a muddy path through their lot, and so I’ve had to set up fence panels to get them over to the cattle tank and share water with the cows.
But we had a week long break when August arrived, heading up to the lake in Minnesota where my husband’s family has vacationed every summer for over sixty years. It was cool up there, with crisp foggy mornings and a gentle rainstorm. We enjoyed the lake, the kids swam, we all went out fishing in our boat and stayed out well into the night, we girls shopped, the guys golfed, and we all ate way more than we should have.
We got home on a Saturday, and I flew out Monday morning to my parents’ ranch in Idaho to help them get ready for a big celebration the following weekend. It was their 50th Wedding Anniversary, and we kids wanted to make it special for them. There are seven siblings, and we’ve been planning a big party for them for two years now, and it all came together beautifully. Everyone showed up to help that week; we mowed the yard, trimmed around the fences, weeded the flower beds, tidied up the house, and helped them catch up on the chores that haven’t gotten done due to both my parents and little sister being in the hay field full time for the whole summer.
That next Saturday evening we had an outdoor dinner reception in their yard and invited all of their friends and neighbors to come celebrate with them. My dad’s brother from Nebraska came out to slow-roast the beef loin, all the girls made salads and homemade rolls, peeled potatoes, and served the best dinner we could dream up. One of the sisters-in-law made a candy buffet table, and I baked them a big tall layer cake and decorated it with bluebirds to match the theme of the party. It was really fun, and terribly busy, and we’re all so happy it turned out as well as it did. I think about 70 people were in attendance, and it was just so great to see the whole family again.
I didn’t have much time to go out and enjoy their horses, until the party was underway and the cake was served, and the guests were listening to some singing and music my parents and siblings provided—yes, we couldn’t have a party without some singing! But I did slip out to see their new crop of foals and pet my old horse Rudy. Rudy was really excited to see me until he had sniffed my hands and figured out I had no treats for him, and then he was completely bored. I propped my camera up on an irrigation wheel and set the timer to capture this picture.
Then we had to hurry up and drive back to Iowa (Cowboy Dad and the kids had driven out in the middle of the week) so that our oldest daughter could start school the next day! Like I said, it has been busy. My birthday was last Sunday, and I had to figure out how old I was (I can never remember!)….I just turned thirty-four, and it feels good. I don’t think I could be any happier, there’s just too much to be thankful for to worry about getting older. We’ve made a lot of great memories this summer.
Here are a few more photos from our Idaho party:
The candy buffet and cake table, with our beautiful daughter. I made the cake, which was a scary endeavor….overall it turned out fine, I was just happy it didn’t fall over or anything!
Our children posing in front of Grandma’s flower garden.
The photo table with my parent’s wedding photo, original wedding suits, the Bible my mom carried with her bouquet, and a big scrapbook I made for them as a surprise.
Their red roan broodmare, Ruby Red, with her 2012 filly who’s looking like a bay roan right now.
