The 4th of July

No doubt about it, summer is a busy time on a ranch and the Fish and Cross is no different. 

I‘m sitting at my desk this early morning. 

Listening to grand children and great grand children play on the patio below. Adults greeting each other over coffee. Talking about dreams. Literal and figurative.

Watching the hands bring in the horses.

Today, all of the 4th festivities are over. Life resumes its normal cadence. 

But for a few days, we gathered, we planned, we worked together.

In Yampa, Independence Day is something to behold with parade, horse races, and cowboy polo. 

Fish and Cross enters a float. This year‘s theme reflected the history of agriculture in Yampa Valley, and granddaughter Lexie worked to design a beautiful float resembling a boxcar carrying produce. Daughter Jenny road the back with baby cows. It was an amazing entry. Amazing enough we won two categories. Best Float and Best Kids Costumes. 

Grandsons, Owen and Nick played polo, and Owen rode in the race to take his fourth annual win. 

Then there are the gatherings. 

Dinner and a movie around the fire on the patiio. A BBQ designed for lots of visiting. Smaller family meals here and there. Visiting, communing, cooking, cleaning. Lots and lots of eating.