Camera

Yay! Yay! I finally got a new camera and have taken about 600+ pictures in the last few days. The leaves were changing colors and I was going crazy not having a camera. I finally decided on one and got it ordered and it came even sooner than I expected. We are shipping calves tomorrow and those and branding pics are my absolute favorites. Here are some pictures from the last few days. By the way, did I mention that I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new camera?

Chansy watching her dad load straw bales.

Earl and Kalon sorting off replacement heifers.

Hayes and Cherry in a standoff. He had to ride my saddle and the stirrups didn't fit him but he did awsome.

The boss.... no, SERIOUSLY!

My "Man Snowy River" picture (minus the sunglasses of course).

Deer Hunt 2009

I absolutely LOVE the deer hunt! I have always hunted Norther region which for the Stuart family tradition consists of starting early morning on the Middle Ridge. Then we always headed to Dairy Ridge. TRADITION. This year was a little different as those two areas are now CMW areas. So we stayed local, meaning town and surrounding fields. Dad and I rode around the night before the hunt and ended up seeing 5 little bucks. I always have hopes of bagging a great big buck and this year was no different. I told myself that night before the hunt that I wasn't going to be shooting any of those little bucks. HMMM. Saturday morning, Dad, Maureen, Earl, Hayes, Kalon, and I all loaded up before dawn and headed to Cox's pasture. We didn't see a deer, let alone a buck. Dad took a shot and missed a HUGE coyote that just stood and looked at us. We drove around and saw a few does and fawns and then rode over the hill to the creek to take a look at a couple of little bucks that were walking over by the hill. 4 pt. and a 2x3 pt. Maureen was closest to the door so she got first shot on the 4 point. One shot, and the buck behind hers started running. What the heck. One shot. Two bucks-two bullets. Who can complain about that? Anyway, it's been a few years since we've had venison so I'll just be happy that we have some meat. Plus, it's always fun to hunt!

Hayes had a ball!
Kalon didn't know what to think of gutting the deer! (That's NOT a smile)

After the deer hunt ended at 7:30am, we went fishing down on the river. We didn't have any luck but it is always fun to try. Then, we picked up Grandma Stuart and Uncle Dick and headed out to Sessions for a hot dog roast. The weather was perfect! We walked down to where an old mine shaft was and picked up a lot of petrified shells that pretty much made up the mountain.

Lauree making popcorn and my cute, cute grandma.

After our picnic, Earl and I took Kalon fishing up to Hardy and Linda's pond. Holy FISH! Kalon skunked us. He caught about 12 huge trout. It was the only time that I have EVER seen Earl enjoy fishing. It was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Blessings

During the last little while it seems like everything has broken or worn out around our house. My lawn mower was the first to go this summer. Then, the water heater, and then the microwave that I used to heat water for the 11 days that we had no water heater. Earl and I also talked of adding on to our house which is not going to happen now either. I am now without a camera now as well. This is one of my hardest things to go without. I am a picture freak. My one excuse is that when my kids are grown and gone, I will still have my pictures. When it rains, it most definitely pours! In the midst of all of this, I am not going to complain because I am so truly blessed! I look around the world at all of the disasters and losses and horrible things that people are going through and I acknowledge that I am blessed. I live in a free nation (for now) where I can CHOOSE to do anything that I please. I have a warm home (still small for 6 people), beef to eat at my every convenience, healthy children (for the most part), wonderful friends and family, and I especially appreciate the blessing of raising my children in the gospel. For these things I am completely thankful and I know where these blessings have came from!