Making enemies in a small town is easy.

I need to remember that I live in a small town.

This means that everyone knows everyone and there is no exception to that.

I need to remember that even if I don't personally know the person driving (way too fast) on the dirt road near our house there is a good chance that my husband does.

If I don't know them and J doesn't know them, then there is a good chance that my mother-in-law taught them in school. Also, it wouldn't surprise me if she was their favorite teacher. That seems to be a statement I hear often.

If my mother-in-law doesn't know them, there is a good chance my father-in-law has done business with them in the past. He's probably made a few good teeth for them (he used to own a dental lab) or maybe he's sold them a lamb or two in the past.

If that fails, there is a good chance our families are connected through my sister-in-law's marriage.

Bottom line is...the stranger on the road that I (loudly and rudely) screamed at for speeding yesterday is not a stranger, but now I'm pretty sure is an enemy.

I clearly need to work on my friend-making skills. Clearly.

Happy day, my friends!

It's a big weekend at the ranch. We are bringing the sheep home from the summer pasture!

Gringo leading the pack!

Stay tuned...

...oh, and not to toot my own horn or anything, but the picture above won 2nd place in  the 2011 American Sheep Industry photo contest! all the entries will be posted on the American Sheep Industry website on October 1st. :)

Wordless Wednesdays - In a field of yellow flowers...

Poo On Road. Use Alternate Route.

It's that time of year...the leaves are changing, kids are back in school, the crisp fall air surrounds us and the sheep make their way back to the ranch!

If you've been around here long then you know that the sheep coming home from the summer range up in the mountains is one of my favorite times of year! (The other is when the sheep come home in April from the winter range.)

Our herder, Daniel did a spectacular job tending to the sheep this summer and for his first year on the mountain he far surpassed our expectations! We are grateful for his hard work and dedication to the ranch. Very grateful.

Our sheep will be coming home Sunday, October 2nd and yes, once again I will be leading the pack (aka flagging oncoming traffic while I say about 100 yards ahead of the herd). I'm not worried though...I've been mentally (not so much, physically) preparing for this trek all year long. Bring it on!

If the sheep want to run all 12 miles home, then running it is! I.am.ready!

Back to the story at hand...

This weekend was our towns annual Heritage Days Festival. The history of our town is celebrated in the park and is kicked off with a 5K Fun Run and the annual "Trailing Running of the Sheep!" The other sheep rancher in the area brings his sheep off the mountain a week before we come off and times it so the sheep make it through the main street around 9am on Saturday (sheep time).

I, unfortunately didn't get many pictures, but this will give you an idea...

Our sheep used to be the sheep that came through town, but we can get another week of feed on the mountain and we have to take advantage of that! 

After the trailing and the road is covered in poo, there is a parade through town then vendors in the park. There are several events including a car show, a redneck fashion show, music and this year there was a lamb roast, the lamb provided by yours truly.   :)

It was yummy!


It's truly a great event in which my mother-in-law helped start and I do plan on having a more active role next year. It's important to keep this tradition alive. It's what this area was founded on!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!

Wordless Wednesdays - "Look Mom, I sit like a lady!"

The sheep are working their way down from the high country! Will have a sheep trailing post soon! Still trying to get back in the swing of things around here. Thanks for stickin' around. ;)

Wordless Wednesdays - Siblings and Sharing.

Hi Everyone!
I've been a bad blogger the past few weeks. Hope to get back in the saddle in the next week or so!
-Veronica

Wordless Wednesdays - Morning Stroll