Advice from a big sister to a little sister

As your high school graduation approaches you're going to be off in a big world and for a little while it's going to be all about being free, finding yourself, making memories with friends, staying up late and probably drinking a little too much...and that's perfectly alright. 

I just want you to know these things-

Marry a man who will dance with you, wether it's in a loud bar dancing to some cover band, on the front porch with the music playing in front of your whole family or in the kitchen and your favorite song comes on the radio. Be with a man where you are unapologetically YOU and he is unapologetically HIM. 

Your siblings will be with you until your old, be nice to them while they are young. They will always be at every back yard barbecue and sometimes with a busy work schedule and growing up you really get to missing them. They're your first best friends and we should all be on the same team. 

Call your grandma and just tell her hello, we keep getting older but a grandma will always be the same. 

Listen to our Papas tell stories, it's stories of the good old days.  

Learn to be a good cook, everyone loves a cook. 

Always keep a little stash of cash somewhere safe for the days where you don't feel like yourself. A pedicure really is good for the soul and you can never get those cute little flowers painted perfectly at home. 

Spend money on nice jeans, the ones that make your butt look fabulous. Life is to short so go ahead and buy the purse too. 

Take care of your skin and never sleep in your makeup. 

When making big choices listen to Mom and Dad. They've been in the same place that you're in now. You don't even have to take their advice, but listen wholeheartedly. They love you and want the absolute best for you. 

Sometimes not having a lot money can be the most memorable times of your life. Papa always says the best recipes come from poor folks...and I believe that to be true. 

My porch light is always on, my house is always open and we can cuddle up on the couch anytime and watch chick flicks or girl code. I'll always be a phone call away and if you need it, I'll be a drive away to come whisk you away from all your troubles.

In this life I want you to find yourself, be confident in who you are, create and live carefree, travel and then settle down with the one you love but never forget where you came from and the special place that you call home. 

I love you little sis. 

"You're strong just like I prayed you be"

Love,

Jordy 

Dream Chasers

Last night we were up late skinning our hunters trophies, and I realized a lot of things-

Happiness is found in a new knife.

Companionship is one of the most important things.

Never skin an animal wearing fleece.

Always cherish every late night conversation with your lover, you talk about things that you wouldn't during the day.

Laughter really is the best medicine, it's good for your soul.

We're just two people in love, chasing our dreams and investing every bone and ounce of hard work we have to make our wishes come true.

I call us dream chasers. 

~Wyoming Wife

Sunrise & Burning Hide

Crisp early mornings had arrived, the ones where you can see your breath and hide your nose in your silk wild rag. 

You’re busy inside getting all of the things ready for the day. I grab his favorite bridle, a silver inlaid B/B bit, the headstall he had been wanting since our weekend getaway to Cody, WY.  A year had passed and the headstall still hung on the store wall.  I just happened to have the extra cash and picked it up for him.  Reins that had been braided by his Dad when he sat quiet at Elk Camp listening to the rain make music on top of the old tin camper. 

He had loaded up the horses, and waited for me in the driveway.

Don Edwards playing through the speakers and we both catch ourselves singing ‘Coyotes’.  We’re driving down I-25 watching the sun rise together.  Two nice horses in the trailer we could have never been able to afford if we didn’t start them ourselves. 

Branding season has come and gone, calves were doctored, young horses learned, and your older horses got even better. 

I will always be thankful for the sunrise and the burning hide that brings friends and neighbors together. 

What Inspires You?

I find all of my inspiration during the day from the falling leaves, flakes of snow that appear like glitter, the tangles in a horses mane, antlers hanging proudly in someone’s living room.  The special moment you have with someone, barn wood lying in the wild prairie grass waiting to be picked through.  Window frames hanging on by a rusty nail, sheets of tin that were left and forgotten.  Strands of rolled up barbed wire, that have the consistency of fried bacon.  Wooden crosses where someone’s loved one was once laid to rest.  Music coming through your speakers, finding its way to your soul.  Rusty bailing wire and the stars at night.  The moon hanging low.  The color blue, the same color as his eyes.  The color of sagebrush and savoring the smell.  A four inch saddle horn and rawhide reins.  The perfect bit, stamped by a great maker.  Coyotes singing, singing you to sleep.  Rain drops against your bedroom window along with the chill of the night.  Turquoise jewelry embellished with crosses and the color black.  Laughter filling the room and smiles on beautiful faces.  Old couples at the local café, you know the ones you see every day.  Sunsets, the ones that make you bow your head. 

 

What inspires you?

 

~Wyoming Wife

Why I Didn't Decorate For Fall

I guess it’s time to get out the Christmas decorations now; I had no problem taking down my fall decorations.  I have totes upon totes of cute little scarecrows, pumpkins and wreaths.  They usually hang perfectly from the walls and shelves reminding everyone that enters my home that I have too much time on my hands and that fall is here with its warm colors, changing leaves and crisp air. 

This year, I didn’t have too much time on my hands; the totes are still in the office closet awaited to be brought out for next year.  Why didn’t I decorate this fall?  …oh I did.

A camouflage pack frame was on the front porch, reminding me that it’s hunting season.

Our wild rags misplaced all over the kitchen counter, reminding us that we had things to do outside.

Our coats hung from the bedposts, telling us that the air really is crisp and it would just be an inconvenience to hang them up after each use.

Our scotch caps rarely leave our heads and when they do they lay on the kitchen table ready to be used again.

Our bridles are hanging in the entry way, handy to get to when needed.

Our boots are near the front door, with mud on the bottom.  Mucks, Packs, Danners and Uggs ready to protect our feet when we need to brave the weather. 

Winter gloves sit on the dryer, easy to get to and near the front door.

The boots dryer is near the kitchen table, ready to dry our wet boots after a long day in the weather.

Tracking collars and shock collars are also on display, ready and charged for each morning we head out.

All of these things say fall, and this year I just didn’t have much time to put out my November decorations on display.  I was reminded every day that it’s fall with all of our necessities.  This year that’s what my fall decorations were. 

Oh and by the way, here is the awesome Deer I got this year.  My biggest one yet...I say that with every Deer, but this one will be a hard on to beat! Happy Fall my friends!

 

~Wyoming Wife

A Happy Heart

I’ve been striving to be the best person I can be, to do everything with a joyful heart and to seek the positive through the negative filter sometimes life puts before us.  For instance this morning my truck wouldn’t start, I didn’t get upset.  I thought to myself a lot of people in this world don’t have a truck to start…I embraced the day looking forward to getting housework done and quite honestly staying in a pair of raggedy shorts I would never dare leave the house in. 

I have found myself more positive and ever thankful for the tiniest little things I have in my life, because they aren’t tiny things.  These little blessings that we care so much about make up every aspect of the person we are.  So be thankful for the miniature things in life.

I often take things for granted, when I was a little girl my dad asked me to get him a glass of ice water.  I was comfortable on the couch, I didn’t want to get up…we’ve all been there.  That’s when my grandma looked and me and said, “I would do anything in the world to be able to get my dad a glass of water.” With a happy heart, and those words hit so close to home a lesson was forever learned to never ever take people for granted for the reason that one day you won’t have the opportunity to do something so simple for them. 

So go make your husband dinner with a happy heart, make someone’s favorite apple pie, and don’t moan and groan when you have to fold his underwear and iron his jeans.  Someone out there in the world would love to have another chance to cook their husband dinner or go get their Dad a glass of ice water. 

Do everything with a happy heart, and you will find yourself happier. 

~Wyoming Wife

A man that has lived, seen and heard.  He comes from Old Mexico and worked his way North roping cows, fixing fence, shearing sheep and trading stories.  He rides a Paint horse named Angel with a pretty fancy saddle that I’m sure took months of savings to buy.  He enjoys Tequila and Coors Light from the can and fine Mexican ladies. 

He has lived in some deep-rooted houses, with nothing but mere windows and a few ghosts that would appear in the heart of night.  The echoes of jingle bobs would awaken him from a deep sleep.  He would rise and look around and ask who was there, but no one would answer…just a cold draft would find its way into his home.  The echoes of past cow punchers determined to never leave.

Years ago, when the days were good he would live at cow camp miles and miles from town.  He would hunt for his food and cut the meat right off the bone to cook.  I think he day dreams of the Curry Meadows.

He is one of the best when working and sorting pairs.  He knows more about his rope than he does himself.  He is never in a hurry.  He is our friend Jesus, from Old Mexico.

~Wyoming Wife

The Reason I'm afraid of Bears

The Reason I’m afraid of Bears

Every summer we go to the western side of Idaho and run Bears with our dogs.  We hunt with our friends Ben and Carrie who have great bear dogs.  We usually head up there sometime in July and it seems to be Kody’s favorite thing to do for our anniversary…me not so much.  First off the Idaho Mountain ranges we hunt are densely covered where it’s hard to even maneuver once the dogs bark treed.  There is so much ground cover it’s almost unreal.  I’m constantly checking myself for ticks in the warm July sun and hoping to god I don’t get car sick on the winding forest service roads. 

We usually end up taking some young dogs that haven’t been started on Bear to see what they will do when the rig dogs bark and then we turn them all lose.  It is not unreal to see 2-5 bears a day…there are bears everywhere there!

On a late morning hunt the dogs started barking on the box we turned them loose, sat up on a large rock and listened to the chase.  Kody and I heard this squawking noise about 100 yards below and decided to take a look.  At the very top of the tree was this little 30 pound cub, precious to say the least.  I wanted to swaddle it, cuddle with it and take it home with me.  I got some pictures of him and we sat under the tree while Ben looked at his Garmin and said the dogs were still running the mother, less than 300 yards away and coming too.  I mentioned that we should probably get the heck out of here because Mother Bear poop is the last thing I want to be.  I tried explaining that I have a life to live back at home, a family, a husband and baby brothers and a sister.  Ben simply told me that I would get some good pictures.  I guess that was the ticket for me to stay. 

Here is Little Bear

Ben said, “There she is!”

We all stood up, camera in hand.  I’m not fibbing here, that momma bear saw us, wheeled around on her back legs and was coming at us like a Mexican fighting bull…only meaner.  We all stood up and hollered at her like an old cow and 10 yards before she tried biting off my big toe she turned and ran the other way.  I was scared and for a minute and thought I was no longer alive.  It was unquestionable that if I was going to start running bears we would need to go to the local Wal-Mart and buy some adult diapers because jeans are getting way too expensive to wet yourself in.

This is the picture I took when I was near death.

The back of my husbands shirt.

~Wyoming Wife

Takin' Pictures

A few weeks ago, I took pictures of my little sis Haley.  She is super photogenic, and pretty to say the least.  I finally got to really use my new camera…and after the first photo I fell in love.  These were the first set of photos I’ve ever taken just one on one.  Boy, did we have a blast. 

We went out the ranch that Kody works for where everything is perfectly manicured, and the old barn is still frozen in time.  It just seemed like the perfect backdrop.  I grabbed and old comfy chair out of the store and we were off to see what we could do.   

~Wyoming Wife

The Houndsman’s Wife’s Prayer

The Houndsman’s Wife’s Prayer

I ask for Mother Nature to come dressed with snow

And sometimes the sun, so the dogs have to work in the dirt

I ask for safety in the Pine ridges and the dark canyons below

May we sleep in our bed each night and recover every dog right after the hunt

I pray our horses feet don’t get soft

And Lord keep our ponies noses out of the dirt

And our butts in the saddle

I pray for big toms to be easy on our dogs

I pray for lions to be treed high and bobcats to snarl in a cedar

I ask that fur prices are above and beyond

Comparable to last year would be just fine

I pray that our vet bills be low and the fuel prices down

Lord, we love to be in the mountains

And you’ve blessed us so

Thanks lord for good dogs

We couldn’t ask for a better pack

Keep em’ safe

And Lord, we ask that you be with us when we run that track. 

Thank you for reading

Love,

Wyoming Wife

Gravel Road Bucker

My Grandma said she would work for me last Wednesday, so I could go move cows with Kody.  We moved them 10 miles, across the railroad tracks, across the bridge going over the river, and then across the highway.  There weren’t any critical spots, they all moved slowly but without any fuss.  Out of 378 cows there was only one that tried to get away once and my little paint horse did a great job getting her back to the herd.

The morning started out gathering them out of one pasture they were moved to the day before, right off the bat a little yearling antelope jumps up out of the brush and runs right past us just giving little paint a case of the jitters…but nothing more. 

They are hauling gravel out of a ranch that we cut through, I counted twelve gravel trucks driving right past us…and they didn’t seem to bother. 

We got down past the river, the cows were moving across the highway.  I decided to ride around a big ditch that was frozen solid at the bottom…just because I like to be safe.  Kody was flagging traffic about 100 yards up from me and saw this happen…

I squeezed little paint into a trot, and holy heck. His back feet went up, his nose went down.  This was the last thing on my list of things to do.  He was ahead of me the whole time, I was scrambling to shorten my reins, and mid third jump I landed on a gravel road.  Before I got myself off the ground, little paint had run across the highway and Kody ran over giggling to himself.  Then he saw my face, bloody nose, bloody chin and blood in my mouth.  Thankfully I didn’t lose a tooth!

Looks like me and little paint have a little more work to do. 

Some of my Favorite Things...

The smell of your saddle pad after a long days ride

George Jones singing through your pick up speakers

A fresh haircut

Flowers on your kitchen counter

Gain Laundry detergent

Picking pieces of sagebrush, to keep in your pocket

Looking for arrowheads after a wind storm

Gun powder

Fleece blankets and sweat pants curled up on the couch

Tortillas and butter

Big Turquoise necklaces paired with pearls

High Fives and good shots

A firm handshake

Jokes…that I understand

Draft Beer and a good band

Cash in your pocket

Black smoke coming out of your exhaust…I gotta let the cob webs out sometimes

New jeans

Following a blood trail

Coffee with too much creamer

Archery Elk Hunting

.270 Short Mag

What We've Been Doing...

Kody married a freak

The meat pole

My first time guiding an archery elk hunter

My second time guiding an archery elk hunter!

We caught these guys napping...

I start hunting again on the 14th! Wish me all the luck in the world!

~Wyoming Wife

A Bronc Ride

Kody drew a horse named Sarcee Trail, a bronc he had never been on.  He made a few phone calls to some buddies of his to see how much rein to give the horse, but they had never been on her either. 

The whole day, I was nervous for the ranch rodeo.  I always love when Kody rides bucking horse, but on that day I wasn’t really excited…I think I told him behind the chute that he didn’t have to get on…he looked at me like I was a freak. 

In a nutshell here is what happened.

The horse reared up as and turned around in the chute.  I did really well for being within 5 feet of my husband being tossed around.  I felt a little helpless, but I knew he would be alright...I was talking with God. 
They couldn't get the horse turned back around, so they gave him another horse.  He didn't get it covered, but you can't ride them all.

Thank you Wyoming Ranch Life Images and More for the great pictures!

You can find them on Facebook or their website at http://www.wyomingranchlife.com/

Until Next Time,

Wyoming Wife

My Brother Who I Still Think Is Three...

This is Little Cody…he got the name little Cody since Big Kody (My Kody) came into the picture, before that he was Cody Bear or Baby brother. He grew up…and it upsets me.
I was talking to someone the other day and I was telling them about my little brother Cody who is 8...I stopped and said, “Oh my goodness, he is 10.” Then I had to tell them if I think he is still a little boy maybe he will stay that way forever.
We are about 12 years apart, I’m his big sister, if he wants a soda pop, candy bar or ten bucks to buy a toy he knows I will give it to him…but we never take advantage of each other.
Were identical in the sense of our personalities. He is my buddy, my friend and the best secret keeper.
Cody always gives me a hug when he sees me, even if it’s in public. He still thinks it’s cool to hang out with big sis.
One time we went out of town for the weekend, Kody, Cody, My brother Troyboy and myself. We picked Little Cody up from school…he was wearing all camo as if he just got out of the tree stand. He looked at me and said, “ I knew you were going to like my clothes.” …he refused to change out of it all weekend. And for Cody being Cody…that is why I love him.
Here are some of my favorite pictures of little Cody….the best little little little brother anyone could ever ask for. I only say little 3 times because I have 2 other little brothers.
　

Love you Little Cody! 　

Photos courtesy of my Mama