Nicole {Family}

I remember as a little girl taking family pictures. Mom always put me in a little dress with a matching bow in my hair or my little cowgirl boots or something that I look back now thinking "was that really in style then?!". Not only did it capture an age of our lives, but it made for one heck of a memory to look back at. As we get older we look back at old pictures of ourselves, family and friends and laugh and reminisce. I was able to help make a memory of a friend of mine, Nicole, and her adorable little family.

 Daddy's little sweetie

 Nothing like a mothers love

 the cutest little muddy toes!

 A girl is never to young to wear lipstick!

All in a day

All in a day...

As you know, life around our house seems to never stop. There is always something to be fed, fixed, cleaned, you name it. Here are a few more pictures from around our house.

Windmill

Windmills

For hundreds of years, the most important application of windmills at the subsistence level has been mechanical water pumping using relatively small systems with rotor diameters of one to several meters. These systems were perfected in the United States during the19th century, beginning with the Halladay windmill in 1854, and continuing to the Aermotor and Dempster designs, which are still in use today.
The first mills had four paddle-like wooden blades. They were followed by mills with thin wooden slats nailed to wooden rims. Most of these mills had tails to orient them into the wind, but some were weather-vaning mills that operated downwind of the tower. Speed control of some models was provided by hinging sections of blades, so that they would fold back like an umbrella in high winds, an action which reduced the rotor capture area to reduce thrust. The most important refinement of the American fan-type windmill was the development of steel blades in 1870. Steel blades could be made lighter and worked into more efficient shapes. They worked so well, in fact, that their high speed required a reduction (slow-down) gear to turn the standard reciprocal pumps at the required speed.
Between 1850 and 1970, over six million mostly small (1 horsepower or less) mechanical output wind machines were installed in the U.S. alone. The primary use was water-pumping and the main applications were stock watering and farm home water needs. Very large windmills, with rotors up to 18 meters in diameter, were used to pump water for the steam railroad trains that provided the primary source of commercial transportation in areas where there were no navigable rivers.
In the late 19th century, the successful "American" multi-blade windmill design was used in the first large windmill to generate electricity.

 You can't get more american than an American flag, an old wooden Aermotor windmill, and a sunrise.



Rachel {High School Senior}

You should hear the amazing music that Ranchel plays on her "Vihuela". She is so talented that not only does she play for her high school, but also for the university mariachi band! I had the opportunity to take a few pictures of her in her formal uniform on a beautiful day in Northern New Mexico.

 The fingers that make the most beautiful music...

 I had no idea about the history of the formal Mariachi uniform until I spent some time listening to Rachel.  Every little detail about it has a meaning...

Rachel proudly represents the "Vaqueros De La Sierra" Mariachi

Cowboy

Cowboy

Here are a few more pictures form around the ranch...

Something about my husband, a sunset, and a windmill takes my breath away 

 The End.

 Nothing like having to work in the snow...



Ranch Life

Ranch Life

Living on a ranch, with my husband, I often have the perfect opportunity to capture some great moments of our everyday life. My wonderful husband bought me a camera for Christmas a while back and I truly have not stopped taking pictures since then. Taking many pictures, my comfort level behind the camera grew and grew; I went from taking pictures of just our lives, to now the lives of others. I have started this blog to share photos with my friends, family, and now customers.

 This sunrise off of our front porch was taken as we had just finished cleaning up from a delicious breakfast and were headed off to gather the ranch.

 I cant help but like the silhouette of a cowboy in a sunset or sunrise. These cowboys were just leaving the pens to begin a long, busy day.

 Who would ever guess this picture was taken from inside of our ranch truck. It was a cold, dusty morning as the guys went their separate ways.

 As one of our helpers walked away I had to take a picture

 It is fairly easy to see the view from behind when your pushing cows, but this view as they are coming toward me with the clouds, and the cowboys in the picture too, was just breathtaking.

As the boys branded, I had lunch in the oven so I was able to be outside with them. As I walked to the other side of the branding pen on the outside of the fence, I knelt down and took a few pictures. In this particular picture, the way the iron stood out from the smoke, I just could not help myself! :-)

As our grey horse stood there watching and waiting patiently for his next job, I took a picture of a bit I had made for my husband Ty.