Elk Win!

Gary and Wade Nicolas just returned from Weare's Outfitters in Montana after a week of climbing mountains searching for the ever elusive elk. The weather was cold, rainy, foggy and generally not conducive to finding big game. The boys finally saw one young buck on the last day of their hunt, but he was too far away to track. The boys came home tired and discouraged.



















Personally, I can't say I'm all that sad about the outcome. The freezer is already full. And...where would we hang another Rudy? I say let the elk grow for another year!

BTW, photos courtesy of Wade.

The Baby Horse

There are many interesting features of boarding our horses out at Bar-K-R Ranch (www.cuttinghorse.net). One of the sagas that we've been watching since the beginning of the year is the pregnancy of Sky, the birth of her foal, and watching how Sky and the foal interact.

Sky has been a very loving and protective mama. Yet she allows her foal to interact with people, a mini-mule, other mares and the geldings. She's always watchful, but does not interfere. I can learn a lot from her.

Now, it is time for the foal to be weaned. They've been placed in the the lower barn in adjoining stalls. At first, they were both anxious but seem to have settled down into being happy to be near each other. The foal is almost as big as Sky now.


It is almost time for the foal to go on to her new owner. I wonder if I'll be as graceful as Sky has been. Will Sky miss her foal terribly? Will Sky be ready for the next time she's a Mom? Perhaps these are lessons to prepare me for when Mags gains her independence. Will I be sad? Will I miss her terribly? Nah...who are we kidding?!! We'll both be ready. ;)

Fall Foliage at Lake Texoma

Just had to share some of the beautiful fall foliage pictures from our cabin at Lake Texoma.



This isn't a picture of the fall foliage as much as it's a picture of my beautiful daughter, Magpie.





And here is our beautiful German Shorthair Pointer, Shiner Bock, enjoying the afternoon.



And...finally, the view of the lake (and a sailboat - BONUS!) from our tree swing:



What a relaxing way to spend a Sunday afternoon...sitting on the tree swing, reading a book, enjoying the fall foliage and conversing with my daughter. Life IS good.

Halloween 2008

In order to protect the Goodman house this past Halloween, we let Mags have her first high school party. We made a pumpkin cake, witch finger breadsticks, witch hat cookies and ordered pizza for her soiree. They carved pumpkins, put on costumes and went out to terrorize the little kids. Can you believe that most of these kids had never carved a pumpkin???


















Our strategy worked. The kids all had a great time (even Bruiser wanted to join the party), and none of the pumpkins got smashed, our house didn't get egged, and we were not T-P'ed.