Holidays at the Ranch

"Oh there's no place like home for the holidays..."

Since moving to Washington over a year ago, I've only seen my family twice since last Christmas.  

Being a wandering soul and adventurer comes at a bit of a cost.

But I have NEVER missed a Christmas.  

After I worked Christmas Eve I jumped in my truck and turned my wheels southward for 6 hours and East for about 45 minutes until I was rolling into the 160 year old driveway I grew up on.

My parents are so cute, even though I had told them to go to sleep and I'd just sneak in really late and see them in the morning, there they were...half asleep on the couch when I walked in.  Parents of adult children or not they still wait up! :) 

I won't drag on about how great it was to see everyone and do things...so here's the highlights...

• Spending Christmas day up in the snow as is tradition.  The sun was blazing and beautiful and we had an amazing time
• Frosting cookies with my 2 year old nephew.  He sat on my lap for 30 minutes patiently decorating.  The bells are his favorite! :)
• Watching my parents with my nephew.  Mom reading him stories on the couch (he adores her as he should) and Dad sneaking him cookies from the adult table (two mischievous boys)
• Cooking a birthday dinner for my Big Brother with the help of the talented and marvelously 39 weeks pregnant Sweet Sister-in-Law who is the most amazing impromptu winging it cook I have ever known!

I love my family dearly. We have differences and have distance but I am so proud to say I belong to them :) 

Family Hike

"The family that hikes together stays together."  

-Annonymous

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On a bit of a rainy typical fall PNW day,  we (Mom, Dad, Luke, Sarah, Sawyer, Oma, and yours truly) took a family hike up to Susan Creek Falls just up the North Umpqua River from our home.  

Yes it was pouring rain at first...but seriously...what's a little bit of the elements when you've got the beautiful PNW forest around you and are with your loving and adventurous family?  We don't melt.

Armed with raincoats for all the family trekked up the path heading deep into the woods.  I was on a bike ride and was planning to catch up to them part way in after I'd done a few miles on a BLM road.  

Sure enough I met up with them about 2/3 of the way in to the falls.  I biked the rest of the way then walked back to join them.

Once we were at the falls...I turned baby snatcher and took Sawyer James (in his crazy adorable L.L. Bean rain gear) and marched across the bridge to see the falls up close.  He was mesmerized. He did not care that it was raining or cold...he is afraid of nothing.  Except the vacuum...not a big fan of that.

And then we walked down to the creek.  He immediatly tried to dive out of my arms into the water!  I parked him by the edge so he could grab leaves and stones and that child was so content I was envious.  

Cold water don't care.

Cold rocks don't care.

Soggy leaves don't care.

Mud don't care.

He loved it and would NOT be pried away.

That's the hand of his Daddy right there...holding him back because he wanted to keep exploring that creek!

Is that not one of the cutest little rain suit clad adventurers you've ever seen?

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I'm not a Mom.  

I'm only an Auntie.

I'm an observer of the humans I see around me, both family and strangers.

I'm an outdoor enthusiast who loves adventure...and when I see a little boy not even 1 year old, unafraid of nature and the outdoors...

that warms my heart.

There are millions of humans in this country and around the world who are afraid of the elements.

Afraid of nature.

Humans who have no idea how to exist in nature without iPhones and google maps and being 100% comfortable at all times.

It's sad.  It's dangerous.  It's terribly depressing.

I wish every person would be open to experiencing the joy and wonder that my little nephew experienced.  His socks were wet and his hands were cold but he wasn't bothered with that.  He was learning.  Comfort was not his priority.  Learning was.

Here's a challenge I've put on myself and I'd like you to join me!

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Learn something new.  

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Maybe it's reading about Black tea vs Green tea.

Maybe it's listening to an audio book instead of music.

Maybe it's going to a dance class or painting class or language class.

I challenge you to learn something and don't focus on how comfortable you are.  

Choose something to learn and make it happen even if it's not gloriously fun all the time and super convenient. 

Let's not be lazy.  Let's be adventurous learners!

That time the babies carved pumpkins

October 15 the Talcott tribe descending from my lovely parents conglomerated at the ranch for a bit of a reunion.  Also my sweet Oma flew down from Alaska at 85 to see her Oregon grandkids and all the great grandkids.  

When I was a little girl, Oma and Papa would drive the Alaska highway down to Oregon every year in October to see my brothers and I.  We would do crafts with Oma, Papa drove us to the ocean, and the last night we would carve pumpkins with Papa and eat Donuts they had made for us.  These were good memories and I'm thankful to have had grandparents who took time, all the way from Alaska, to have a relationship with us kidos. 

So this October we resurrected the tradition by having Oma fly down from Alaska, my oldest brother Joshua and his family fly up from Denver, me drive up from Arizona and my older bro Luke come back from Eastern Oregon.  Yes we are spread out!  

My niece and nephews were taken to the pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect carving pumpkins.  My nephews are both 11 months at the time so they basically just looked at the pumpkins, slapped the pumpkins, played in the dirt and looked cute.  My niece who is 2 made it a shopping trip, trying every pumpkin out before choosing.

Pumpkins at home, washed, and set out on the table.

Check

Nephews dressed in matching outfits.

Check

Ready for festivities....

As I had an artsy pumpkin photo set up...in comes the hand of my broski.  The cracked and calloused hand of a hard working man who supports his family by the sweat of his brow.  He's the bro who got me into fire fighting...because he has been a firefighter for a long time and he's basically the best at it.  No bias.

Here he is again concentrating on helping my sweet sister-in-law Sarah (his wife) with a Pinterest pumpkin.  That my friends is a loving husband.

Here is Sawyer James...Luke and Sarah's sweet baby boy.  Aren't those eyes to die for?

And this boy with the crazy sweet cheeks is Junior.  He's my brother Joshua and sister-in-law Jenni's boy and I cannot stop kissing that face!

These guys were born about 12 days apart...on accident thought...Sawyer was waaaaay early and spent a long time in the NICU but look at them now!  Bright eyed boys who are going to be walking soon!

They are just too much

Concentrating on those toys...and learning to share.

Sweetness.  Lot's of sweetness surrounded by lots of love.

Sarah my sweet-sister-in-law making her Pinterest pumpkin.  Just a shout out to her for the dinner she made for the whole family at her house.  Homemade bread.  Homemade chocolate cake with homemade chocolate gnash.  Homemade lasagna with homemade lasagna sauce.  This woman can cook! 

And she can use a drill...watchout.

Jenni getting some laughs out of Sawyer man....he was a big fan of her necklace!  

Ok back story.  We have this old video of Luke carving pumpkins with Papa and LOVING it at about the age of 6.  He has this look of absolute glee when he pulled the "guts" out and a laugh that, well, if it doesn't make you smile then you must have no soul.  

SO we HAD to document Sawyer's first reach into a pumpkin to pull the guts out.  Granted he's only 11 months but he has no fear.  Put him on the ground in the garden and he's picking up leaves to crunch, rubbing the dirt around, splashing his hands in cattle water troughs...he loves to learn.

This was his reaction.  This is not crying.  This is confusion, a little disgust, but curiosity as well.

And he plunges his hand down in there again...and again...he was perplexed but did not want stop!

Now Junior on the other hand, he is very observant.  Very serious and quiet.  Sometimes he gets giggly and smily but often seem content to simply watch.

I had no idea how he would react to the odd texture of pumpkin innards.  But tell me he doesn't look crazy cute right now!

He's his father's son for sure.  Put his hand in the pumpkin...got some on his hand.  Hands immediately went up by his ears and he looks away, completely calm, but not at all interested in continuing the gooey tradition.  

Had to get some family shots...Last year when Luke and Sarah carved a pumpkin...Sawyer decided to come into the world ahead of schedule!

After all the scariness and hospital time and driving to Eugene and tears and IHOP food...who would have thought one year later we'd all be together with two healthy happy baby boys!

His wee face.  His Dad's strong hands. His Mama right behind him...this child is blessed

This is a cell phone photo so low quality but it's precious to me. We had 4 generations in that kitchen doing the donuts.  Sawyer only observed (he was transfixed by the circles in the dough) but it was a very sweet time.  Left to right: Oma, Sawyer, Sarah

Two days with Family

Fire season lasts for about 6 months.  

For me that's 6 months every year guaranteed away from my family.  

Since College (which was 4 years also far from home) I haven't had a full time job near my family. 

Mount Adams as seen from Trout Lake, Washington

Nope...first Alaska, then Arizona for the most recent years.

Reason A) There aren't jobs to be had in the field I want locally

Reason B) I have a wandering itchy foot 

SO days like today, when I am lucky enough to have my two mandatory R&R days only three hours from home are a HUGE BLESSING! This is after 14 of working.  Not complaining...the last roll for me was 21 days before R&R.  This is normal real life for wildland folks in the summer.

This is a brief summary of why I love being home with my family.

• My Mom hugs me and feeds me good homemade food (I block out the vegetarian lasagna MRE memories)
• My Dad tells me all the goings on at the ranch so I don't feel like I've missed out too badly
• And Sarah my Sweet-Sister-In-Law drove the 3 hours over the mountains with her baby in the backseat just to pick me up at my helicopter in Eastern Oregon and bring me the 3 more hours back home!  

{I am highly blessed.  My family is brimming with kindness and love for me and dedicated to supporting me in whatever way they can from far away.  Convenience is not a word they understand...no they will jump any hurdle to support me and to get even the briefest times together}

Each year I anticipate not seeing them for the full 6 months...but this year I am unimaginably thankful to see them in the middle.

Only 63 days to go!

Here is a mash-up of photos I've taken on this last roll.  Some are taken on my phone, some with my Go-Pro...the quality isn't that great for some but at least you get the idea!

Mt. Adams view from a gravel sling sight where we received cargo from the fire via our helicopter for a few days

Sunset from a helispot I managed on the Mt. Adams Complex fire.  It was great to spike out...even with ice on my tent.

Loads prepped and ready for backhaul from H-1 on the Mt. Adams Complex

Every night in Trout Lake I crashed into my hammock for the night.  This is my happy place.

Thank you Pacific Northwest.  Even the most remote towns have an espresso shop with stellar coffee.

You know you're in Oregon farm country when...there is a tractor and fiberglass cows inside the grocery store.

Kudos to this store for shortening the distance from farm to table.  Well done.

Life is exploding with happiness for this Auntie when she gets to have her day off with this little man.  SO. MUCH. LOVE.

Finally got to bake after months of not really having any culinary expression besides Tabasco on the MRE wheat wafer.

Even though I love being home, it feels weird to be in a house.  Had to have some hammock time to mentally re-set.

Meet My Ranch Family

We're an odd bunch but I love them dearly!

{He's a hoot...he's my bro...he's awesome}

{This is his lovely wife who is the best thing to happen to the Ranch since...well...Dad married Mom}

The newest Rancher.  He belongs to my Bro and his wife but I lay claim to him too.  Can a face get more precious?!}

{Sweet Mom.  Dad's best decision 30 years ago}

{Dad...the man who has had the same style since he graduated high school...the most steady person I know}

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{PS TIP}

If you have family you are close to...be thankful and do not let those relationships fall into disrepair.  Don't sweat the small stuff and be gracious about the big stuff.  Respect each others boundaries and care for each others needs.  Once those relationships are gone, it's near impossible to get them back.  

Don't be lazy about your loved ones!

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My family has had some of the BEST times around fires.  Bonfires, campfires, fires in our stove...we are a bit of a family of pyros...also considering two of us are wildland firefighters I suppose it's inevitable.  

I've never really been one for New Years Resolutions but this year I'd like to set some goals to reach.  Life is busy and all over the place for me spending my winter on the ranch and traveling then summers fighting fire in the Western US...it's easy to drop things along the way or think I don't have time in the whirl of my life to send a postcard.  

BUT one of my goals for 2015

Put my family and close friends first.  Don't cop out and think "they understand I'm busy".  Make a real effort to make them my priority. 

What are your New Years Resolutions?  Share them in the comments :)