Snake Season

Well, it's that time of year again. . . snake season! Sometimes I don't know how we would survive at the ranch without our dogs! The second we have a breach in the snake fence, Gunner lets us know with his unmistakable "snake alarm bark." This time it was a couple of racer snakes mating just inside the fence behind the shed in the garden. We left them alone for the time being because they are harmless to us and will help with the rodent problem in the garden. Plus they are climbing snakes so our snake fence can't really keep them out. If they venture outside the garden into the main fenced area around the house, we have no doubt that Gunner will let us know.

Love is in the Air

Our little wren has found his little lady and now they both are busily building their little nest. There are now so many twigs inside the birdhouse that they are starting to pop out the vent holes. Notice the one sticking out on the right side. If you look inside the doorway, you can hardly believe that a little bird could fit in there. . . but they continue to pop in & out with more little twigs.

Growing Veggies in the High Plains

We have big plans for our garden this year. About a month ago we planted our cold hardy veggies: lettuce, spinach, onions, beets, carrots, snap peas, mustard greens, & broccoli. Within the coming days we will be planting tomatoes, corn, zucchini, peppers, green beans, & herbs. Gardening in our harsh desert climate at 5,800 feet has been challenging to say the least, but vegetable gardens have flourished under far worse conditions. With some research & prayers, we are expecting a fruitful harvest!

A House Wren's New Home

We've had our bird house up for over a year now with no visitors. So you can imagine my excitement when I woke up this morning to a friendly little house wren poking his head out. He has been vigilantly building a nest and calling for a mate all morning. We hope he finds a lady friend soon! In the meantime, we are enjoying his melodious song!

Celebrating Mother's Day

I don't remember the last time Jolly & I were with my mom on Mother's Day. That to say, it was incredibly special to have her here this year! Equally special, we were able to celebrate Cherie's very first Mother's Day! We all had lunch at the ranch together and played games. It was also great to be together.

Denver Botanic Gardens

Last Friday, my mom and I went down to the Denver Botanic Gardens Spring Plant Sale. We bought some great finds including Mojave Sage, Hopflower Oregano, & Ice Plant. But the real reason for going was to visit the gardens for free... usually the entrance fee is $10 per person. The tulips were in bloom among other things. The succulents (my favorite) were spectacular! It was great to spend the day together!

Spring at the Ranch

Everything at the ranch is starting to pop with color! I love this time of year! The scrub brush is blooming and my perennials are coming back in full force. Our favorite song birds have returned. As Ryan put it... "It sounds like an Amazon rain forest outside."

Nicole's New Jewelry Blog

The last couple weeks I've been helping Nicole with marketing & photography for her jewelry business. Nicole is amazing!! Everytime I wear her jewelry I receive endless compliments. Check out her new blog: Nicole Roloff Jewelry Design | Blog. She is also on Etsy. If you haven't discovered Etsy yet, you need to. Etsy is amazing resource for anything and everything handmade. Check it out: Etsy.com. Below are some of the photos from a recent jewelry photo shoot. . . The model is Cherie!