Finally in front of the camera...

I don't have much today...rarely do I get in front of the camera but I wanted a picture of my step daughter and I so we set up the camera, put on the timer and here's what we got;) We're going to Fort Worth tomorrow so check back on Saturday to see lots of pictures (I HOPE!)

Hog Hunting

I saw wild hogs today for the first time...I saw the damage they can do to a field also...just incredible. They root(not sure if that's the correct spelling or terminology) in a field and make huge ruts that will shake you to death if you're in a JD Gator or even in a truck. They are SO destructive. I think it's open season on them in Texas all year long. Well, I saw about 10 today and my son in law shot one and we tracked blood through the woods for a long, LONG way before losing the trail. This was so exciting for me...There I was camera in hand waiting to get a good picture of those hogs but they were as fast as lightning. I guess if someone was shooting at me I could step it up a notch too! I did get a really good look at them though and they were some pretty good size hogs. (I'm comparing them to hogs I've seen on the Saturday morning hunting shows on ESPN!!! LOL) Anyway, not much happening to blog about...just having fun. I'm doing some senior pictures on Saturday for a friend of my step daughter's so I'm really excited about that. She's like a rodeo queen or something and has the most amazing skin so I can't wait. We're going to Fort Worth Stockyards on Friday so I'm sure I'll have plenty to blog about this weekend...

It was hot and we walked and we walked and we walked

Maybe this will give you an idea of how dry it is here!

Hogs blood

Hog tracks

Fishin' Day

Yesterday was fishing day at the ranch and what a day! I am now a firm believer in "everything is bigger in Texas". I've never seen so many big fish. The ranch has several lakes/ponds (they call them "tanks" out here) so we spent the afternoon fishing and we had so much fun. We ended up staying out there until it was almost dark because the sky was so beautiful it was hard to come to the house:) The very last picture on this post HAS NOT BEEN EDITED...it didn't need any editing...the most amazing sunset I've ever seen. It looked like the sky was painted -did not even look real. Also, the biggest fish of the day was caught by Megan, my step daughter, but only after she traded fishing rods with her husband...3 or 4 casts later she hooked a 6 lbs 21 1/2 inch large mouth bass. Needless to say I think we're going fishing again today.
Fish kissing Cowboy?

Reelin it in

He had the biggest catch of the day until...

Megan came along and caught this

6 lbs 21 1/2 inches We shot this in case Field and Stream needed a good picture for her pro tour! lol

AMAZING...simply amazing

Shorty the Cow Dog

I can't believe I forgot to post this picture of Shorty the Cow Dog. She started out at our house in Tennessee and was going to waste since we don't have any cows so my husband gave her to them to bring back and work on the ranch. She's so great...probably the smartest Red Heeler I've ever seen. She knows how to work those cows and is certainly at "home" here in Texas.

Bringing home the girls...

My step daughter and son in law are living in Texas where he is a Ranch Superintendent, so today was the day to bring home the girls that are about to calve. We started out at 8:30 this morning and went to the "bottoms" and rounded all them up. Then the guys drove them from that piece of property back to the ranch (about 3-5 miles). We blocked traffic and everything... it was so cool. Maybe I shouldn't say "we" since everyone that knows me knows that I CANNOT ride a horse. So I rode in the truck...and got some great pictures. After the drive we had prayer (Thank you Roy) and a meal...it was delicious. Smoked Brisket (Thanks Rhonda and Tyson!), Pinto Beans with Tennessee Squash Relish, Potato Salad and Megan's Sweet Tea. We're all wore out...even the dog! I hated the fact that they moved so far from home (12+hrs) but they have made some great friends out here. Everyone I've met has made me feel so welcome...I don't feel so bad about them being out here now with a little one on the way. It was a good day...I feel so blessed.

The guys going to round 'em up

This is the bottoms

Just starting out (I know these aren't the greatest pictures but they tell the story!)

Coming on down the road

My son-in-law leading the herd

Texas Tyson!!! A real cowboy:)

Coming home...down their driveway that is lined with 125 Bradford Pears (which are blooming... aaaccchooo)

They're all in Roy...get the gate!

Check out those chinks! (short chaps...I'm learnin')

First Day in Texas

This is a picture of my first Texas sunset. WHEW...Long drive but so worth it. It's beautiful and so peaceful here. I will post more tomorrow about my adventures!

Lily and Luke

I photographed my dearest friend, Nan's children on Sunday afternoon and whew...I just kept asking her how she keeps up with Luke. He is going everywhere. Luke loves his sister...I mean he LOVES her...lights up when she walks in a room. We put him on her back and the first thing he did was grab a handful of her hair...Lily is a great big sister, she just laughs and takes it. Luke is turning 1 in a week and if you want to see how much he's grown check out the blog from August 21, 2008. They're so much fun and I'm grateful for the time I spent with them on Sunday. He looks so much like his Uncle Paul in this first picture that it made my eyes fill up with tears. Some of my best childhood memories were spent with Nan, Paul and their family:)

Lil...so grown up and into accessories, she said that's what it's all about

He looks so tough in this picture. It's my favorite.