when i was in high school, i fell in love (obsessed) with a cowboy. this came as a shock to my friends and family, who always knew me as, well, me. (lover of all things glam, a country club baby.) i started going to rodeos. i wore pocketless jeans and cowboy boots. i started listening to country music. (my love of travis tritt still holds to this day.) my cowboy boyfriend broke my heart and after that i went back to the quarterback types.
a funny thing happened when i fell in love again, this time really. my man, my hunky hub, my cj- he has a little bit of cowboy in him. okay, a lot bit cowboy. he ropes, he rides, he owns a mahusive cattle ranch, (my hub and his bro are partners in the ranch. and my brother in law is hot and single- hey ladies!) back to my christian. he has those tough guy working hands, he smells good but looks so rawhide in those cowboy clothes, he loves classic cowboy movies (yes, tombstone and john wayne are both classics,) has owned a horse named Kip, has asked me to find and buy horse art for our home (ya-ok hon, we'll see,) is currently taking up half of my fridge with calf vaccines, and looks great in boots and a hat. (not a real qualifier, but it means as much to me.) i have always loved a cowboy. they are tough, but are gentlemen. they value hard work and honesty. working with land does something for your spirituality. and your heart.
the last time i went to the ranch was SIX+ years ago! (before we inherited the ranch, before we moved here, before kids, before our wedding!) it takes 2.5 hours on a bumpy dirt road to get there, (only 20 minutes in the airplane but lets face it small planes are scary and i just stay away!) and when we moved here i was pregnant and didn't want to brave the bumps, then i had a newborn, and so now it is past time and i am without excuse. on conference sunday we loaded up the babies and a picnic lunch and headed out to rancho fresnal.
the ranch is gorgeous. it's a valley with big mountains all around, centered by an old hacienda original to the ranch and plenty of windmills. since we've had such great rainfall this year, the grass is as tall as the cows. in the valley, the grass is tall and looks like flowing long blonde hair. (qualities we share, maybe that's why cj loves me tall and blonde and all.) the foothills and mountains are covered in green. the cows are fat and there are calves everywhere. am i the only cattleman's wife who sees dollar signs floating over calves? o look! there's a nordstrom shopping spree! and a diamond necklace! an el paso trip! a zebra rug!
tomorrow christian is off to a bi-yearly roundup. at a roundup, the cowboys gather up all the calves and brand, ear tag, vaccinate, castrate and de-horn them. i've been busy shopping, baking and prepping food to feed all the men during their long days. christian comes home from roundup, peels off his manure and blood stained clothes and drops them straight in the washer, heads off for a 45 minute hot shower with lots of soap, eats a nice big fresh salad (by request, usually there are no veggies in the manly man roundup diet) and a homemade milkshake, and then he will collapse on the couch so. tired.
a roundup is the hardest physical work i have ever seen men do.
it is also the most dirty work i have ever seen men do.
i'll be waiting on my tired cowboy with my best welcome home.
this country life. this cowboy love. is as glamorous as i ever dreamed.
a funny thing happened when i fell in love again, this time really. my man, my hunky hub, my cj- he has a little bit of cowboy in him. okay, a lot bit cowboy. he ropes, he rides, he owns a mahusive cattle ranch, (my hub and his bro are partners in the ranch. and my brother in law is hot and single- hey ladies!) back to my christian. he has those tough guy working hands, he smells good but looks so rawhide in those cowboy clothes, he loves classic cowboy movies (yes, tombstone and john wayne are both classics,) has owned a horse named Kip, has asked me to find and buy horse art for our home (ya-ok hon, we'll see,) is currently taking up half of my fridge with calf vaccines, and looks great in boots and a hat. (not a real qualifier, but it means as much to me.) i have always loved a cowboy. they are tough, but are gentlemen. they value hard work and honesty. working with land does something for your spirituality. and your heart.
the last time i went to the ranch was SIX+ years ago! (before we inherited the ranch, before we moved here, before kids, before our wedding!) it takes 2.5 hours on a bumpy dirt road to get there, (only 20 minutes in the airplane but lets face it small planes are scary and i just stay away!) and when we moved here i was pregnant and didn't want to brave the bumps, then i had a newborn, and so now it is past time and i am without excuse. on conference sunday we loaded up the babies and a picnic lunch and headed out to rancho fresnal.
the ranch is gorgeous. it's a valley with big mountains all around, centered by an old hacienda original to the ranch and plenty of windmills. since we've had such great rainfall this year, the grass is as tall as the cows. in the valley, the grass is tall and looks like flowing long blonde hair. (qualities we share, maybe that's why cj loves me tall and blonde and all.) the foothills and mountains are covered in green. the cows are fat and there are calves everywhere. am i the only cattleman's wife who sees dollar signs floating over calves? o look! there's a nordstrom shopping spree! and a diamond necklace! an el paso trip! a zebra rug!
tomorrow christian is off to a bi-yearly roundup. at a roundup, the cowboys gather up all the calves and brand, ear tag, vaccinate, castrate and de-horn them. i've been busy shopping, baking and prepping food to feed all the men during their long days. christian comes home from roundup, peels off his manure and blood stained clothes and drops them straight in the washer, heads off for a 45 minute hot shower with lots of soap, eats a nice big fresh salad (by request, usually there are no veggies in the manly man roundup diet) and a homemade milkshake, and then he will collapse on the couch so. tired.
a roundup is the hardest physical work i have ever seen men do.
it is also the most dirty work i have ever seen men do.
i'll be waiting on my tired cowboy with my best welcome home.
this country life. this cowboy love. is as glamorous as i ever dreamed.
10 comments:
sweet rachelle!
I know exactly what you mean…I however hated cowboys growing up but I am pretty sure all the cowboys I knew were not genuine cowboys. They are the hardest workers I know and I am so thankful that I married my cowboy.
Love your pic of maddie so so cute! CJ is a lucky cowboy to have you! I bet you make some yummy food for those cowboys!
beautiful pictures of the Fresnal, it is a glorious place. I haven't been in years as well, how about a family trip to the ranch???;) glad you had fun and glad you have found joy in the ranchin' life;)
Beautiful pictures, beautiful writing!
What a great short story. You should submit it to Reader's Digest or something. Well done.
I love these little peaks into your life! I am so ready to come visit you and The Farmer's Wife! I've told DK several times that we need to pack it up and move on down to Mexico. I guess he's not a cowboy....
Where did you find your zebra rug, by the way?
love it. we need to get out there with you guys.
ra, that is soooooo sweet!!!! i LOVE your cute little love story and the pics are gorgeous! we need to come visit someday!
You take beautiful pictures...love your subjects! :)
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