DARBY LOGGER DAYS WITH THE BAERS AND RIDING HORSES

Bill, Leslie, Andrew, Aiden, Walker, and Avery Bear spent sometime with us seeing a few more things the Bitterroot has to offer and also doing some of the things they always do when they visit us.  We had a great time with them as always.  They arrived on a Friday and we went to Darby on Saturday to take in Logger Days to give them a taste of that side of western Montana.  A little horseback riding on Sunday - below are a few pictures of those events.

All the boys rode the mechanical bull at logger days - and all had fun.

The lady who won her division for chopping a log in two pieces.

All the boys rode the bungee jump.

Cookie stacking with a chainsaw.  It takes some talent to cut this vertical log three times then pick it up and set it down on another log with the chainsaw without spilling the water in the mug.  And also can't touch it with your hands.

We have a lot of humming birds around here this year and they were out in force when the Bears were here.

Riding horses is what the boys wanted to do.

Andrew riding Bill Cody.

Bill looks pretty good sitting on a horse.

Andrew leading Joe around so Walker can ride.

Aiden showing his Dad a trail through the rocks and around the trees.

MOVING COWS ON THE MARTINELL RANCH

Connie and I spent a couple of days over at the Martinell Ranch in Dell helping them move cows from the ranch headquarters up to the Centennial Valley where they have their summer range.  Most of the cattle are already up there in different places of the valley.  It was nice to see the family and the cowboys who work for them.  Very dry over there though and they need rain just like all of southwest Montana.   

Saddling up at 0400.  Connie and I use the "old" horse barn to saddle our horses when we are over there.  Lots of history in this old barn.

Connie took the next few pictures of the drag crossing the saddle from Sage Creek to the Centennial Valley.  It was very dusty because of the lack of moisture.

Sunrise over the Centennial.

I am in the lead and this is looking back to where we drop down on the North Valley Road.  You can see the drag just coming off the hill in the background if you click to enlarge the photos.

This was Zeph's first cattle drive and he did very good we thought.  He is up in the lead with me keeping them going.

A little conference on where we left them at 1430 after 9 1/2 hours trailing them.

Having a late lunch at the Mayberry cowcamp.  Connie and I lived here for a number of years.

After we finished moving the pairs up to the Valley, on our way back to the ranch we had to gather up some of their heifers and return them to the pasture they were supposed to be in.  They found some good grass around this irrigated lawn.  That is Kiley Martinell checking them out.

That is Lima, MT in the background.

Kiley, Heath, and Craig coming out of the pasture where we put the wayward heifers.

VAN AND WENDY VISIT

Connie's sister Wendy and her husband Van came up from Salt Lake and spent a few days with us.  They had not visited for a few years so it was good to have them here.  We had a great time and hope we showed them some things they had not seen before while here in the Bitterroot Valley.  Got quite a bit of work out of them also. 

Van, CJ, and Wendy up Willow Creek on our way to the Willow Mountain Lookout.

Lots of beargrass in bloom.

Wendy and Van with lots of wildflowers behind them.

The dead trees are from the Dominic Point fire a few years ago.

The view from Willow Mountain lookout.

Willow Mountain lookout.

Lunch of apples.

Zeph says throw another stick for me to chase.

The beargrass was really out this year.  Never seen so much of it in bloom.

Sitting around the fire ring by the cabin.

Some fireworks on the 4th from the upper firepit.

We went to an airshow at Hamilton's airport.

Not the largest airshow, but for our little valley, it was a good one.

Connie getting a little nuzzle from one of Doug and Rita's colts.

Gary and Margee's horse DJ had a colt while Van and Wendy were here so we went over and checked it out.  It is only about an hour old here.

Another one of Doug and Rita's colts that is only a few days old.

Doug and Rita's barn where DJ had her foal.

First milk.

Dj's first baby.  I think she really likes it.

Connie, Van, and Wendy checking out one of the colts.

Van helped me start the patio on the south side of our place.

Zeph getting a little drink from the outdoor faucet.

Van and Wendy got in on a little haying while they were here.

More work on the patio.

Wendy with Zeph and Tracy and Angie's dog Buster riding on her lap while her and Connie picked up some loose hay over at Tracy and Angie's.