Big News

Wanting life beyond our own is humanity in its simplest form. Jeremy and I are no exception to this simple rule. We’ve dreamed of giving life to a perfect combination of the best of us.

Raising a child will not be without its challenges. Due in June, I doubt I will be much use by April and May when we’re receiving and doctoring cattle. With just the two of us to get things done, the baby will have to go along as things need doing and help out as soon as he (or she) is able.

Although this is something we have discussed for quite a while, I must admit when I saw those two pink lines I felt a twinge of fear. It was soon replaced by excitement, but not before I contemplated that raising a child is a daunting responsibility. I think if parents-to-be aren’t a little bit overwhelmed by the task at hand, maybe they don’t fully grasp the challenge they are about to embark upon. It’s one that we accept and are looking forward to. Especially now that the nausea has somewhat abated.

This is the dating sonogram done around 10 weeks. The sonographer typed the word "BABY" next to it so there wouldn't be any confusion. I thought it looked like I was growing a peanut.

A Buck 20 Years Coming

This year we had the privilege of hunting with Les Butters from Arizona. When he booked he told Jeremy he wanted to kill a 200 inch (or bigger, obviously) mule deer. He knew it would be tough, but wasn't interested in shooting anything smaller. Jeremy told him we would sure try our best to find him one. During the early muzzleloader season in September, Les, Jeremy and Jerad glassed, glassed and glassed some more but with corn standing, were unable to find the 200 inch dream buck Les was searching for.

He returned during firearm season this week to continue the search. The first evening he found what he'd been looking for. This buck:

His goal, one he'd been working toward for 20 years, was accomplished. He shot with a muzzleloader, this deer, which measured 202 7/8.

"Droopy" the Giant

Rifle season for deer is off to a great start. On opening morning, Georgia hunter Ernest Gilbert shot a new ranch record Whitetail buck. And a very unusual one at that.

Last year, we had seen this buck and got some pictures of him on the trail camera. He was impressive then. We were confident with another year of growth he would be a monster.

That was definitely the case. It seems that, while in early antler development in velvet some type of trauma caused this disruption in the growth of his left side. He certainly made an impression when we saw this picture of him on the trail camera this year.
"Droopy" he was dubbed and categorized as definitely a shooter. When Ernest arrived the day before, the buck was rutting hard and several miles from where he had been living. By the next morning, he had moved again and was intent on a doe. Ernest was able to shoot him from about 150 yards.

He measured 187 4/8" making him the largest whitetail harvested off the ranch.