Friday, June 15, 2007


Friday Wrap Up

Or.....my attempt to participate in Show and Tell Friday!


This week, I have simultaneously dedicated my blog to the theme of my blog, Prodigals, with our Church's online devotional, Life Line. We have done a series called, God Cares......in which we address issues relating to life. It began with a three day series dedicated to Prodigals, and have moved on to address many of life's other painful issues such as suicide and divorce.

Although we returned from our family trip to Texas on Monday afternoon, today is the first day I have had to post photos of our time in Bryson, Texas.

While we intended for all of our children to travel with us on this trip, and oh--how excited I was to have them all with us, Curt arrived at the airport last Thursday sick. He was unable to fly with us. Although my heart felt sad that he was not able to be with us, we did have a very nice trip.
Bryson, Texas has gotten a lot of rain over the past few months and when we arrived we were pleasantly surprised by the colors of the wild flowers. The magnolia trees were so fragrant and the cactus had bloomed in full color!

The normally dry creek beds, were flush with streaming water.
The 'fishing hole', one of 9 lakes on our property, had grown larger by acres. By Minnesota standards, these lakes are really ponds--still, in Texas, water supply on a Ranch holds great value.
And of course, what would Spring on a Ranch be ....without babies!
It's enough to make a mamma proud!

On Saturday night, we went to the finals of the Jacksboro Rodeo. Our Minnesota heritage involves more around Winter Carnivals and Lake activities; we have our Rodeo's, but nothing quite like a Texas Rodeo! I will be doing a little research in the coming weeks on rodeos--as our 26 year old daughter was moved to tears...well, she cried. She is our equestrian and has ridden since she was a toddler. She is our Cross Country Champion and in her heart of hearts and deep love for her cherished horse, the perceived brutality of a rodeo was just too much for her. We talked about Americana culture, we talked about the Western livelihood of cattle roping, horse breaking, and calf tying. Still, her heart would not allow such logic! Any Southerner's or Western folk out there that could help this Yankee soften the heart of my horse lovin' daughter??? :) Thanks y'all!

All in all, we had a Texas-sized-fun-time! There was all manner of four-wheeling, skeet-shooting, and we once again proved, you can take the boys off the farm--but you can't take the farm out of the boys.


Proof positive! I've never seen these three brothers look so happy!


Whereever the road may lead you this weekend,
may it be a blessed journey! Y'all come back now, ya hear!
For more participants in Show and Tell Friday, click over to Kelli's at There's No Place Like Home.

22 comments:

Trella said...

Lovely pictures. Thanks for sharing.
Trella

Anonymous said...

Now that's an adventure I've never had. I might have to get out of the city more...

Dawn said...

Sounds like great fun. Although I'm not a horse person in any sense of the word, or a farmer, I don't care for rodeos either.

What beautiful pictures in big old Texas!

someone else said...

It sounds like a lovely trip and the fishing hole looks like a little piece of paradise.

Betty said...

Sounds like a wonderful trip that everyone enjoyed...

Thanks for visiting me and taking the time to comment.

charish said...

thank you for your comments I to live in MN. We live upnorth to the city standards. I have only seen mooses in the zoo, though. How sad. I love the photos of your trip. It looks like you had agreat time. (we do have Rodeos here soon in Isanti)lol

Susan said...

What a lovely time you had.

Mary L. Briggs said...

Thanks for sharing your lovely time in Texas. Sorry your dd does not like the rodeo--I've always loved it!

Anonymous said...

I love that your daughter cried about the horses! What a tender heart!

Diane@Diane's Place said...

I loved the pictures, Diane! Great commentary to go with them, too.

And you can tell your daughter that although the rodeo might seem cruel, that it's really not. Those people value their stock and their animals are worth a LOT of money. They get better feed and care than most pleasure animals. After all, those animals are the livelihood of those breeders and stockers. Those animals are pampered and treated better than most house pets.

Seriously. Do a little research and you'll see I'm telling the truth.

Have a great weekend, Diane!

Love and hugs,

Diane

Cheryl said...

We too just got back from small town Texas to West Texas. I've never been a rancher, but both of my sis in laws are married to ranchers. I suppose I've never thought of rodeos as harmful even though I personally wasn't too interested in them. Thanks for sharing your pics with us.

jodi said...

It looks like you had such a great time.

Carole Burant said...

What a wonderful trip you had! Loved seeing all the pictures and I know it's a place I would love to be able to visit too!! xo

Linda said...

I love the pictures!! It looks like you had a really memorable time.
The rain has been so beneficial to us Texans. The wild flowers were great this year, and it is so good to see all the streams and rivers filling up.
My daughter feels much the same way about rodeos. The calf roping got her this year. I don't think any amount of talk can toughen up their sweet tender hearts.
Have a great weekend.

Kelli said...

The magnolia's are just beautiful and it sounds like a wonderful trip!
Kelli

Kim said...

I'm so glad you had a nice trip, thanks for sharing your pictures with us.

Disney for Boys said...

Great post, loved it and all the neat pics! I love farm life, horses and cows!!! Thanks for sharing!

Barb said...

What great photos. You really captured all the different parts of your trip. The flowering plants are amazing, especially the cacti.

What I wouldn't give to see and smell a blooming magnolia tree again. To think I grew up surrounded by them and took them for granted. Nothing smells better!

Nadine said...

Great pictures. Sounds like a good time.

eph2810 said...

I didn't participate in 'show-and-tell Friday', but still enjoyed your recount of your vacation in Texas. So, is that were you are going to retire to? It looks like a marvelous place to me--especially the flowers and the pond :)

I don't know too much about rodeos -- since I am a European city girl :). We do have rodeos here in Arizona though. My understanding though is that at those rodeos the skills of cowboys are measured and I have to say that some cowboys are just great on what they can do on their horses :). I am sure your sweet girl was shocked, but I think in the early days, that what helped them survive while tracking cattle across the country.

Blessings to you and yours.

Dee said...

wonderful pictures!

Blessings Deana

Kristen said...

Hey Diane!

New blog at: http://coffeemama.wordpress.com

Not private, just new. ;-)