Cocktail Party

We hosted a cocktail party honoring Tom Conroy and Zaneta Wasaznik. Tom is the son of T.C. and Laurrie Conroy. T.C. was Philip best friend and his early death to prostrate cancer was a blow. We introduced T.C. and Laurrie to the ranch...they began bringing their young boys every year until T.C.'s death. T.C. ashes are scattered at Castle Rock. We hosted the party in T.C. honor; because that's what he would have done and how proud he would be of his son. Zaneta's never been to the ranch before and we wanted her to meet some of our friends. It was a fun time. The party was on the lawn in front of our cabin - shady and a slight breeze blowing.

The pics are all compliments of Dunker

 Becky, Jim Sostman, Steb Chandor, Bronco Jones, & Tom Conroy

 Steb Chandor, Bronco Jone, Philip, Botsy Jones & Charlotte Guastella

Jim Sostman, Laurrie Sostman, Philip, Botsy Jones, & Steb Chandor II

 Toast to Zaneta and Tom

A couple of new pics taken by gang members

This is the Chandor rock pile. The kids/grandkids started the pile 20+ years ago. They add to it every time they return. They ask Matt to add a rock to the pile. (it's actually quite a climb to the top and Matt did it twice.)

Grandpa and Dunker aka Matt

Dunker and the uncles

Day 4

Just back from Sawmill, hot dusty ride. Luckily we got a breeze near the Aspen groves and an updraft coming down. Duly noted, with Steb ll in the lead, we didn't make the usual wrong turn.

Treated to quite a sight, bald eagle soaring overhead.

Correction...not Little Mesa last night; thinking Timothy's Meadow???? No matter, Dunker got to lope.

Ranch burro at the feed bag

Preacher lady, Sundance and Dunker 

Preacher lady, Gateman, Sundance & Dunker

Sundance & Dunker

Dunker 

Butch & Dunker 

Crossing North Fork,  Rock Creek

Federale in training

Checked at the corral, the eagle we saw soaring was an immature bald eagle. And the large rodent we see scurrying is a marmot.

Hot, hot, hot today ... Matt, Philip and I teamed up to do laundry. Matt and I loaded; Matt and Philip switched to the dryers and I collected and folded. Still waiting to see if Matt's phone is going to come back on-line. It keeps shutting down. He says the times between shut downs is longer and longer. That's sorta a good sign. Philip and Matt went to the pool; then the 3 of us headed over to Chandor's for porch time.

Typical, we're starting to made plans for next year's trip...which week will we come. It's fairly simple; Michael has to be back in Columbus in time for the charity bike ride; so we come the week before or the week after.

After dinner Tom, Zaneta, Matt, Michael, Charlotte, & Steb II rode to Little Mesa (this time I was correct) and let the horses run. We were sitting on Laurrie and Jim's porch and had perfect views.

Gregg Conroy, almost new home owner, arrived from Denver.

After the night ride, there was a surprise birthday party for Laurrie. Gregg brought a cake from Denver, Zaneta and Tom provided the champagne. Both Laurrie and MC have 8/21 bdays.

Day 3 - Matt's on the gang

Matt was greeted by the breakfast crowd by his new name - Dunker. He's now an official gang member and we immediately took him to our China Wall hideout...after we played with the ranch carpenters chocolate lab. Philip wants this lab in the worst way.

Fortunately Steb ll spent the last 10 years in the cell phone business; he revived the speakers so Dunker has a fully functional phone.

China Wall is a favorite, mostly climbing; going thru a few streams, twisting our way thru a piney slope and then come up behind the rocks. The view from the top are incredible.  We saw lots of antelope.

Hooch, my sleeping buddy 

That would be the dog; not Paul head corral man.

Someone's always asleep

Our dining table changed today as we added the Sostman/Conroy family...more Meet and Greet. Everyone seemed to hit it off right away. We're all going to Castle Rock on Wednesday - TC's ashes are there. Several years ago we built a cairn honoring Michael's brother. Thursday Matt's going over Stone Mountain to Ginger Meadow with Tom, Zaneta, Gregg and a wrangler. Wednesday Phil and Matt are shooting. Friday Matt's shooting with Tom and Gregg. Can't believe we've got the week planned out.

Not many teenagers at the ranch. I worried Matt would be bored with so many old people. Doesn't appear so...he'll soon know everyone at the ranch. Last night no one wanted to ride so he went up to the corral and hooked up with a wrangler taking another group to Little Mesa - which was great as Little Mesa is the perfect place to let the horses run (they did) ... otherwise it's the most boring trail at the ranch.

After lunch, Matt and I drove into Buffalo ... so much I take for granted is new to Matt ... cutting and baling hay. I did some shopping and he explored.  Came back, I got ready for tonight's party and he headed over to play whiffle ball.

We had a cocktail party celebrating Tom and Zaneta's engagement and upcoming Sept wedding. T.C. was Phil's best friend. We thought the party and introducing Zaneta to the ranch was something T.C. would enjoy. We invited 25 of our friends and the evening was perfect - on the lawn right in front of our cabin. The perfect ending was John Sutherland's "egg trick" which he performed to perfection. Zaneta's was enchanted.

After dinner, our table moved to the porch for coffee and more stories. I headed up to the corral to watch Matt come in and maybe take some more pics and then thought ... no, I do not need to hover; I can get lots of pic. So instead I turned and walked to the cabin. He came in later, told us about the ride and then fell into bed. Another good day and tired people.

Day 2 - Birthday Boy

Lovely to sit on the porch, listen to the rushing water of the creek and watch the sun rise. This cabin is perfectly located.

Matt is 14 today. Several 1sts for him - skeet shooting, trotting and loping in Timothy's Meadow and getting dunked in the horse trough by the wranglers. I'm not so sure the latter was a welcome surprise, particularly since his cell phone was in his back pocket. It seems to be working; everything except the sound.

Philip's riding Little Owl, but should be back on C4 today. I'm on Cinnamon; great walking horse. Matt's riding Snake Bite. We went into Red Canyon...meeting numerous federales coming toward us. Apparently we have our work cut out for us this week. The safety of the ranch could be perilous.

Hot, hot, hot ... everyone headed to the showers. By the end of the day ... think Matt said he'd showered 4xs.

The guys went shooting in the afternoon. Matt said "grandpa is humble but he's a really good shot." Believe I heard he only missed 2.

I read and just enjoyed a couple of hours to myself ... that is until Hooch showed up. I was taking a nap and thought I heard the guys come back from shooting. Thought to myself ... wow, really overslept...opened my eyes and Hooch is curled up next to me. Hooch is a beagle pup. We both flew out of the bed.

Porch Time at Mary and John Sutherlands. Enjoyed visiting with Margie, Tina and Botsy. Granville clan started arriving. As we were finishing supper; I saw Jim and Laurrie arrive so we walked over to their cabin for Meet and Greet. They're in Lookout - perfect for viewing the mountains and watching the riders go out.

Evening ride was Michael, Matt and Steb. They headed out to Timothy Meadow to give Matt some instruction and a chance to let him trot and cantor. He did fine. We're hoping to hook him up with friends going on the day ride to Ginger Meadow ... wranglers always accompany the day rides. Neither Philip nor I think we can make the 2 hrs straight up and then 2 hrs back down thru the twisty canyon.

Good day, provided Matt's phone speakers come back. If not, we'll be getting a new phone. Not going to make a big fuss about it with the wranglers.