Deerwood Ranch

This week I had the privilege to visit and tour the Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse Eco Sanctuary.

What a privilege it was, too.

In Aug 2012, Deerwood became the only BLM supported private land Wild Horse Eco Sanctuary in the United States.

What a wonderful legacy for our beautiful state of Wyoming.

The entire experience was amazing.

We took a hayride out to the land in which the horses roam.  A ranch of over 4,000 acres of land with live running water sources and plenty of trees and willows to allow refuge for the horses during the harsh Wyoming winter months.

The land itself was breathtaking.






Then we saw them.  Off in the distance, approximately 300 wild horses clustered together.







As the tractor halted, leaving the member's of the Centennial Women's Social Club perched atop the flat bed turned hay ride, looking out across the grassy land, they saw us.






Soon, bustling activity as the horses made their way toward the vehicle.







Circling around, they trotted, snorted, neighed at us.  Curious by nature and somewhat familiar with the flatbed from having hay brought to them when the snow was too deep to forage for grass adequately, they came to 'check us out'.













What wonderful photo opportunities.











Every color and type of horse imaginable were in the mix.  Even a 'curley', which is more or less a 'hypo-allergenic' horse.  A non-allergic-reaction-causing horse.

What a blessing for these horses - all Wyoming born.















The ranch provides adequate food and space for these horses that could otherwise starve due to the lack of grazing area available in our state compared to the growing number of wild horses.

Some even got brave enough to take hay off the truck.

 What beauty...

and charm.....

 and fun....

 and elegance.

Frolicking.....

Trotting.....

Running!

What beauty!  What grace!  What an amazing site!

If you ever find yourself in Wyoming - mosey on over to the Deerwood Ranch Wild Horse Eco Sanctuary.  You'll be glad you did.

Kisses on Hands

Whenever I leave the house, the girls insist on hugs and kisses.

I LOVE that.

I enjoy giving them hugs and kisses.

A long time ago, when Jacob was little, a friend introduced me to the book The Kissing Hand.  A fabulous little story of how a mama raccoon kisses her baby raccoon's hands to allow him to take his mama's kiss with him wherever he goes.  Enabling him to feel his mama's love whenever he gets scared or nervous.

We began such a ritual with our kids way back then.

It continues today.

However, our little girls take it to the E-X-T-R-E-M-E!

As soon as they hear the news 'mommy's leaving' - no matter where I might be going: out to the garage, to take the dog on a walk, into Centennial to grab the mail, or into Laramie for errands - the 'fun' begins.

"Hugs and kisses?"  They all yell.  Clamoring their way to my person to get their longed for squeezes and smootches.

I hug them all, they walk away, only to return with a flourish moments later - as I move from one location to another - to get "kisses on hand?"

With hands thrust in my face, I take turns kissing 3 little sets of hands.  That's 6 little hands, 30 tiny fingers waving in, around my face and head.

Before I can get out the door there's usually another round of 'kisses and hugs' to be had.

As I get in the car or walk down the driveway, I can see their precious little faces plastered against the windows or sliding glass doors, watching me drive or walk away; blowing me kisses from a far.

Kisses and obvious displeasure regarding my departure.

I smile as I feel their love and because I know - in mere moments - they'll be happily playing, running, tosseling about not thinking about the fact mommy is gone.

Until..... next time.  Then.... we'll. do. it. all. over. again.  Happily!

Messy Memories

Since we had such a cram-full, fun-filled week with the littles last week AND because sickness enshrouded our home, I decided the girls could use some 'lower key' messy memory making activities this week.

To Pinterest I went.  I've 'pinned' many-a-ideas for just such an occasion as this.

I wanted it to be something fun, yet something semi independent they could do while I cooked, folded laundry.  Something that would hold their attention while I tended to other tasks and yet be F-U-N!

First up -- Fluffy Stuff.  Super easy to make - just corn starch and shaving cream.

Fluff Stuff

Squishing.

Squashing.

When mixed together it makes a moldable.... well..... FLUFF!

Such fun.

The girls squished, molded, splatted, and played with this wonderful soft textured concoction.

Molding, making.

All, but Selah. Her response - "oooo, I don't want to get yucky."

Painting.

Dancing?

Her tune changed as the 'fluff' turned to a powdery mixture and they discovered they could 'paint' themselves white and become 'white fairies'.

Covered in fluff.

I'm a white fairy - she stated.

All grins w/painted 'fluff' on her face.

This 'fluff' became great fun for not just one, but two days.

Those skirts aren't even a problem when painting
your sister's legs.  LOL!

Next, as we continued to pass this wonderful bug around our house, I made flubber.



Just as easy to make.  Glue, water, and borax.  Mix together and VOILA!  F-L-U-B-B-E-R!

Granddad would be proud of our 'Science experiment' made toy.

Smish.

The girls squashed it, slipped it through their fingers, flattened it in their hands, then added their 'my little ponies' to the mix.

Smash.

Fun ensued.

Mish

Mash.

Lots of fun.


Squishy,
squashy,
mishy,
moshy fun!

Splunk.

Wonder what tomorrow's craft, activity will entail?

Splat.

Do you have a favorite 'messy memory making' recipe we could try?  I'd love to hear it and try it out with our girls.

Happy Memories.

 If it results in smiles and happy - 'messy' - memories like this..... I'm game.