More Calf Branding...

I will admit that the photo below was very intentional...with a 20 something year old spirit, mind you!!

For those that don't know...I married a rodeo cowboy (Cliff however, gave up riding bulls 30 years ago). This cowboy stuff is still in my blood somehow. Loved every minute of the shoot!!

Calf Branding Revisited

About a year ago, my friend, Cherie, and I were invited to photograph a calf branding at a ranch at the end of a country road that pretty much narrowed down to one lane. We weren't certain that we were in the right place, but out in the middle of nowhere is, well, out in the middle of nowhere. The ranch itself was nestled up against the foothills blanketed with young shoots of spring grass (absolutely beautiful). The air was bitter cold, but at the same time sunny with puffy clouds. The foreground of the corral was dotted with pick-up trucks, horse trailers and horses. We could hear the gallop of horse hooves, whistles, moaning calves, cowboy (and cowgirl) hollers and laughter as we climbed out of Cherie's truck. The smell of burning flesh and hair was in the air. Yep, we were in the right place. I'm not a professional photographer, I'm not a fantastic photographer nor am I really a good photographer, but it was an opportunity and experience I will value for a long time. All of the photos following have been converted to look like pencil sketches. To see more cowboy photos log onto http://www.gyokleyphotography.blogspot.com/ and click on "Cowboy Up" on the right of the page under "Gallery". Some of the same photos are posted in color there.

Maycin...Our 6 Year Old (handsome) Man!

Yesterday, Ashlee, the kids and I went for a drive to a little town called Snelling, and on the way, we always pass a dairy farm with exotic animals. This is a zedonk (zebra/donkey cross).

It was Maycin's first meeting...and the zedonk came right up to the fence.

But...this is the real reason for the whole trip...Henderson Park. A beautiful park with fun playground equipment!

Henderson Park is set right next to the Merced River.

Oh, what a gorgeous day...but very brisk!!

And...Maycin will hold still for about...well...about a nanosecond!! So, you have to be quick on the draw to take photos of him.

Finally when I got him to stop moving around (after all we were at the park where he had acres and acres of area to run), I begged...no I pleaded...no I just whined and whined until I made a deal with him. "Just give me 5 seconds, Maycin...just 5 seconds is all I'm asking." "Okay, Nana! Here's one!!

"Ugh...grrrrrrr...here's two!"

"Here's three! Are we done yet?"

"Here's 4 and 5...I'm out of here!!!"

It's almost cruel to make a 6 year old man be still at a park!

(When Maycin turned 6 on his last birthday, he announced that he was now a 6 year old man!)

Our Beautiful Margo!

I had a photo shoot with my beautiful granddaughter Sunday, and here are a few photos from that session...The first photo shown was the very first photo! All but the last photo (it's in sepia tone) have been edited to give a more vintage look.

Her first meeting with sunglasses...hey, she is still a California girl for another 16 days!!

This photo is for the curious...this is what we did the photo shoot in...and she was perfectly happy for about 15 minutes.

Resemblance?

Resemblance? You decide!

Princess Peanut, aka Margo Fargo, aka Margoo, aka Sissy-roo...

We love this little squishy cheeks!! But, it's a wonder she knows her name at all..."Hey Margo!"

Margo's world...

What Am I???

* I'm the size of a cat

* I'm solitary and nocturnal - usually slow moving

* I Hiss and growl and show my 50 teeth when frightened; but in reality I'm gentle and placid

* I like to eat insects, snails, rodents, berries, over ripe fruit, grasses and leaves

* I can adapt wherever there is water, food and shelter. I'm at home in trees. Although I do use my tail to help stabilize myself, I do not hang by it!

* I'm the only North America marsupial

WHAT AM I?

Guess who was in our redwood tree in the back yard??? That is Cliff's hat and he's holding the flashlight on our visitor two nights ago.

Here is a closer look...Cliff went outside to get some firewood and our dog ran over to the tree. She didn't bark (which was strange...hope they are not friends...I really don't want a pet opossum in my back yard), but Cliff noticed the branches of the redwood moving, so he got his flashlight. Thank goodness it didn't hiss or growl at us or I would have screamed and ran as fast as my short and stout legs would carry me!

My Baby's 21!!!

It has been our tradition for family member birthdays, to choose your birthday dinner meal and dessert. Even though we do not promote drinking, I imagined that we (the parents of our now 21 year old baby) would be the first to buy her a drink with her meal out. We had talked about going out for her dinner meal, but she chose to stay home and have a turkey dinner prepared for her along with her favorite dessert, cheesecake! So, that is exactly what we did! No alcohol was served and no alcohol was asked for. So is it possible that our young adults are making better choices or is it very wishful thinking from a parent's perspective?

It's just pitiful...I had forgotten to get candles, and so my baby got the left over (unused) candles from years past. She was not at all put off by it.

After we were totally stuffed with turkey dinner and cheesecake, an old classic movie was in order. When our children were younger, we felt it important to choose well when choosing TV programs and movies. Classics became a favorite in our household, and so our baby chose one of the movies in a set received for her birthday.


And so, she continues to grow...up...grow...older...and continues to shine her free spirited, zany, quirky, beautiful personality. Happy Birthday Lacee Noel! We love you!!!

Lucy?

Pretty in Pink

Need I say more???

Today's Afternoon Drive

The Merced National Wildlife Refuge is only about 15 miles from us...

An observation point
Mr. Yokley!
Mr. Hawk!
Miss Egret!

Sad eyed avocet...

Another hawk...a young hawk?

Great Blue Heron

Take off...

Ground Squirrel

Path to the last observation point...

It was a wonderful afternoon...nothing better than seeing and experiencing wildlife in the wild!