The last weekend of September we began what shall turn into an annual tradition – Ranch Camp with the Graham family from Colorado. My delightful friend Pippi drove north with her kids for a lovely long weekend with us. Talus, four years old, loved helping me and Bart with our chores, from pouring concrete into the new stock tank to breaking up clumps of chicken poop with the hose. His absolute favorite task was collecting the chicken eggs – and taking them straight to the kitchen for french toast. On his first day in town, I returned home from work at noon to find him close to exploding with excitement at the prospect of looking for eggs.  He was full of questions and boundless energy, matched only by that of our English Setter, Doc.

Spending time with Talus reminded me to appreciate the joy of the little moments each day. Forget drudgery! It can be such a grand adventure to drive the 4-wheeler out to move the chicken coop across the yard! Why not run in circles around the hay bales, getting lost and dizzy in a towering maze of sweetly-scented clover?! The muddy shores of Dead Man’s Basin were made for soupy mud baths, right? That last escapade ended in the kids’ first wash basin bath together. I imagine by next year they will have outgrown the tub – but I am already counting down the days and planning grand new adventures for Ranch Camp 2015!