Shiloh Ranch Ramblings

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-24T16:22:00.000-08:00

This beautiful turkey, in his full glory, is courtesy of Tamara Gooch, AMAZING photographer and person. Click here: for more of her western horse and wildlife photography.

Dear Lord, here is just a small beginning of a list of things I want to thank You for today:

Your great Love for us
Jesus
Your Holy Spirit
Your Living Word
Your Salvation
Your mercy and your grace
giving us life and breath and Your Spirit
Your faithfulness
my Dad
my stepmother/spiritual mother
my children
my grandchildren
the perfect spouses for my kids
my half sisters and their kids and spouses
Your salvation and love and light You have given them all
for using my children as vessels of Your glory
allowing me to live long enough to see my kids grow up and to know my grandkids
the good friends you have given me throughout my life
the special friends I still have and their eternal salvations
for the awesome (and weird) bodies You housed us in and the 5 senses You gave us
the beautiful earth You put us on
for the sky; the moon and stars and clouds; the warmth of the sun, and rainbows
hearing and answering all of our prayers
for keeping me and all of my family and friends safe, even through all of our mistakes
giving me my heart's desire: allowing me to have and ride my beautiful horses
giving me dogs, cats, bird, hamsters, bunnies, goats, chickens, horned toads, dragons, and all the domestic and wild animals we have had and touched and seen
trees, flowers, saguaros, pines, and creatures and horses and butterflies
oceans, streams, rivers, waterfalls, ponds, dew, rain, snow, icicles
Your colors and gifts of creative expression
for Your gift of music and dance and gifting my boys with musical talent
my home and barn and car and refrigerator and water
Your provision for our every need
Your days and Your nights and allowing me to see them and feel them
allowing me to have time off of work to enjoy your blessings
the good medical care You have provided me
red dirt, Your canyons, mountains, valleys, meadows, forests, rocks
road trips and allowing us to go on them
all Your treasures on this earth and giving us the joy of discovering them and experiencing them
musical instruments
fire and the smell of wood burning and camp fires
phones, cameras, and all technology
all of your beautiful wild creatures on and in and over the earth and in the waters

July 4, 1776 - 2010 Independence Day!

2010-07-04T23:54:00.000-07:00

ENJOY the holiday ... the fireworks ...
(The National Archives Building Washington DC)
BE SAFE ...
(Insid e the Rotunda for the Charters of Freedom)
APPRECIATE your FREEDOM ...

(Artist: John Trumbull - Commissioned 1817 - Purchased 1819; Placed 1826 in the Rotunda)
REMEMBER our forefathers ...

(Currier and Ives Lithograph - Color Slide - Between 1835 and 1856)
DEFYING tyranny ... STANDING courageously ...

THEY FOUGHT for our RIGHT to LIBERTY!!! (ABOVE) "The Declaration of Independence being fully adopted, John Hancock, President of the Continental Congress took up the pen and signed his name to it in a large bold hand; then rising he said, "There! John Bull can read my name without spectacles, and may double his reward for my head. That is my defiance!"

There is a wonderful pictoral history of the events leading up to July 4, 1776 here: from the Library of Congress

We would do well to look back and remember ... rekindle a desire and a passion to preserve our liberty and actively seek to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ... while we still can!!!

If we, as citizens of these United States of America, remain mute and faceless ... we are very likely to lose the very freedoms that our forefathers fought so hard to obtain!

We cannot continue to take this precious document, and everything it stands for, for granted anymore! The Declaration of Independence is uniquely OURS ... we need to OWN it and PROTECT it!

Here is a very cool opportunity to literally stand in agreement with our forefathers:
Sign the Declaration of Independence: Choose a pen, add YOUR name and print it out! .
Click here: Visit the National Archives Interactive Signing of the Declaration of Independence

The Fourth of July is a wonderful time to consider our freedom—as Americans and as Christians. Our national freedom is precious, but our freedom in Christ is of infinite worth.

Gratitude without measure wells up in my heart, when I consider the brave men and women of the American military who, this Fourth of July, will be fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan to combat the tyranny of terrorism.

These soldiers stand in the train of valiant warriors who fought in the Revolutionary War, Civil War, two World Wars, Korea, Vietnam and the first Gulf War. Each of these conflicts—while unique in themselves—shared the common goal of protecting American freedom. Today's battles are no different.

But even as I prize my freedom as an American, I am moved to consider a greater freedom—my freedom in Christ. It is the freedom that comes with being a disciple of Jesus Christ.

"If you abide in My Word," our Lord declares, "you are truly My disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32).

The saving truth that Jesus speaks of in John 8:32 brings ultimate freedom—freedom from sin and death and the devil; freedom from a life of futility and an eternity of wrath. It is freedom from the tyranny of hate and bitterness and cruelty. It is the freedom to love God and neighbor.

May this "Declaration of Independence" be on my lips and in my heart this Fourth of July!

(Above exerpts from Another Declaration of Independence: Freedom in Christ by Mike Pohlman)

Travelin' Highway 10 - Day 1

2010-04-22T00:25:00.000-07:00

Travelin' East on Hwy 10 ... blue skies ... fair weather!

Absolutely will NOT miss seeing BILLBOARDS everywhere!

This San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm is really quite beautiful. It sits near Palm Springs, atop the San Bernadino Mountains of California. There are more than 4000 of these Wind Turbine Generators, enough to power up all of Palm Springs and all of Coachella Valley! These make smart use of pure, natural, constantly replenishing, and FREE energy resources!

California's wildflowers decorated her dry desert floor.

Click on the pictures to enlarge and enjoy the flowers.
Bright yellow, pale yellow, white, greens, and greys.

Corals, touches of purple and lavender ...

Ocotillo blossoms were like graceful red flames...

First Stop: Chiriaco Summit, CA: Aproximately 1,700 feet elevation. This Post Office (above) is made of cactus skeletons. We made our obligatory tour of the restaurant's gift shop and visited the new "Chiriaco Summit Southwest Travel Information Center." "The center can provide comprehensive travel and tourist information for attractions in the Southwest." Well, maybe it could, but the person working that day, knew absolutely nothing about the Southwest nor traveling ... however, as always, it was a fun ... a kitchy, cool little stop. Gas, food, General Patton Museum, West Coast Viet Nam Veterans' Remembrance Wall.

The Chocolate Mountains ... close to the CA/AZ border. Yee haaw!

Finally ... ARIZONA!!!! We're home!!!! Have you missed us?

ARIZONA TRAVEL WARNING:
Photo Radar Enforcement, day and night, virtually everywhere, especially highways!

Buckle Up.

Pay close attention to Speed Limits.

Seriously ... Arizonians say that police will cut you no slack.

Read this important information: Arizona Driving: click here.

Signs in Quartzsite, AZ are unique - couldn't resist sharing this one.

We enjoyed a short, but sweet, time of fellowship with one of my BFFs. Then we proceeded West to Hwy 60 North.

We made our obligatory stop to pick up some lunch at the Brenda Country Store in Brenda, AZ. Always interesting locals around and a nice place to stretch, take a deep breath of AZ air and look around at the wide open spaces!

Then on to our favorite stop in Salome,AZ, the T Bar B Feed store. (Which, btw, is much more than just a feed store) A must stop, if you are passing through this cute rural little town. Besides feed, grain, tack, horse and pet supplies ... they have some quite nice silver jewelry, unique western gift and decor items ... some locally crafted. Down to earth, good ol' western hospitality, they always make a visitor feel welcome! My g'daughters' favorite attractions are the store kitties, always have a purr and a pet waiting there!

The T Bar B Arena, just North on Hwy 60 @ Hope St, hosts team sortings every Wednesday and the annual T Bar B Rodeo in October.

VERY sad to hear that the powers-that-be are trying to pass ordinances against horses in Salome ... under the guise of protecting the land or some such nonsense.

The truth is that the Mc Mullen Chamber of Commerce is promoting off road vehicle activity in place of equestrian activity. Talk about trashing the environment!!! They advertise: "Quads, Jeeps, Dirt Bikes, Buggies, Trucks - Off Roading at it's best!" Says a lot, doesn't it???!!

Oh my goodness ... the world is all backwards and upside down! Bob Dylan was right ... the times they are a changin' ...!

Bottom line: Locals: speak up and support the horse population in Salome! The rest of us need to see what's left of the old West, while it is still here!

Our next mandatory stop was at Double D Western World in Wickenburg. 24,000 square feet of Western delights. No kidding! Nothing I couldn't live without this time though ... which is a FIRST for me! It is always fun to go and drool, and get decor ideas, at the very least ... the folks there are super nice! A few years ago, I called my neighbor in CA to come out and take a my new couch and chair home for me! AWESOME! Never regretted it, not even for a minute!

We were anxious to see "our" town. But we had traveled quite a few miles and were pretty road-worn by now. We could hear a hot shower, hearty dinner and soft beds somewhere calling our names!

So, we headed straight to our usual resting stop at the Best Western Rancho Grande in Wickenburg; figured we would walk to dinner from there. Well, guess we had forgotten that we can make all the plans we want, but only God can direct our steps. Next time, we need to let Him confirm our itinerary before we go. Duh ....

"Bad" news: a very unusual and unpleasant experience with a very unpleasant clerk. Evidently, the rooms range from wonderful to ... well ... unacceptable. This clerk placed us in an outer wing of the motel in a dark corner room that was not, at all, acceptable. I have since read a few other negative reviews, thus ... our best advice: always check out your room before taking it, no matter how tired you are!

Disclaimer: The accomodations and staff have been great in the past. They are kid and pet friendly, even provide a couple of surprises for your pets! Located right in downtown Wickenburg; it is only a short walk to almost everything. As for special needs, ask for a ground floor. The ramps are quite steep and long for anyone with mobility issues.

Good news: the Lord led us to a an even more excellent new discovery!

The Wickenburg Inn (above); a delightful little hotel ... just a hop and a skip from town. Merv Griffin used to own it; it was then a fancy dude ranch on the West end of town. Our concierge told us that it was sold after Merv died and the same company aquired and renovated this hotel. Very nicely done!

Complimentary breakfasts are cooked up personally by a local gourmet chef! Beat that! Room service will deliver fresh meals to you right from the Cafe Azure in Wickenburg. The hotel is child and pet friendly and has a nice pool, spa, horse facilities, horseback riding in the Hassayampa River Preserve available from there. Clean room, comfy cozy beds, great shower, free wi-fi and high speed internet, nicely appointed.

Seeing double? Twins are SO much fun! Even more so with mirrors!

We drove into town for a hearty Mexican dinner at El Ranchero Restaurant: the hosts were quite friendly, but the food was not as much to our taste as our favorite:

Anita's Cocina (pictured below) in downtown Wickenburg.

Yummmm....next time ... back to Anita's!

Watched the sunset from our hotel window, as turkey vultures soared on the cool evening air currents. Beautiful ... relaxing ... ahhhhhh ... thank You Lord, for bringing us here ...

We have had a long day and are ready to snuggle in for the night.

More about our Wickenburg adventures soon!

Sayonara ... zzzzzzzzzzzzz

It started with 13 donuts and 3 smiles ....

2010-04-07T09:13:00.000-07:00

YUMMMMMM!

Blue skies, wildflowers, and the open road ....

Our new friend, Ol' Joe....

Elevation 5000 feet!

Getting close to Navajo Country ... yipee!

See you on down the trail ...

Many more Arizona adventures to come!!!

On the Road Again...!

2010-04-05T02:15:00.000-07:00

In a few hours (very few), I will finish packing the Equinox ... my grandaughters will arrive ... we will arrange our gear, kiss mama (and Menifee) "GOOD Bye," hop into the car, buckle up, start the engine and pop in our favorite CD for road travel......

"Get your kicks on Route 66!" will blast loudly from the radio... and, with many excited giggles and a few "Woo Hoo's," we will head OUTTA HERE!!!!

ARIZONA, HERE WE COME!!!!

First stop: Yum Yum Donuts on the Cali side: for some seriously delicious extreme chocolate bars!!!! That is what I am talkin' about! Oh yeah!!!

We'll check in with ya'll, every now and then.

Be good, be careful, and be here when we get back, ya' hear??

Muah!

HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!

2010-04-04T12:06:00.000-07:00

The tomb is empty!!!!

... the very reason we live and move and have our being!!!

HIS Love for us is beyond our human comprehension.

May we remember how much Jesus suffered for us ... for the JOY that was set before Him!

That joy was ME and YOU!!!

Whoa!!! HALLELUJAH! And a heartfelt YEE HAW!!!

Click here for more ... get to go break bread with my family in a few minutes!

Bless GOD and thank HIM today and every day!!!!!

Happy Valentines' Day!!

2010-02-14T12:08:00.000-08:00

HAPPY ♥ Valentines' Day ♥ Everyone!

The GREATEST Valentine that I ever received: ♥ John 3:16 ♥

"For God SO loved the world that He GAVE His only begotten Son, that WHOSOEVER believes in Him should NOT perish, but have EVERLASTING LIFE."

Valentines' Day Challenge: Read 1 Corinthians 13 ... BUT ... read YOUR name everywhere the word "LOVE" appears ....

How did that work out for ya? Yah ... me neither ...

NOW, reread it with the name of Jesus ... ♥ ... AWESOME!!!!

Tell everyone you love, that you do love them today!!!!

♥HAPPY TRAILS ......

Virtual Trails - A Beginning

2010-01-30T09:37:00.000-08:00

Hey There Saddle Pals!!!

Just wanted to let y'all know that we still exist. It has been way too long since we have hit the trail and rambled anywhere! Floods, snow, and g'kids' new school schedules have delayed our plans this winter.

Lord willing, we will begin catching up on our last adventures soon.

Here are some of the places I would love to be right now ... Click for live webcams:

Zion National Park UT

Meet you on down the trail!

Shiloh Ranch Outfit

Shout Out to America's Veterans!

2009-11-11T21:22:00.000-08:00

Shiloh Ranch would like to shout out our heartfelt thanks, appreciation, respect, and love to all of the Veterans of the United States Armed Services.

Ooo-RAH! Hooah! Hoo-YAH! Ah-roo! Geronimo! Let's Roll! Yee-HAH!

We owe our very right to freedom and liberty in this country to GOD and to all of you and your families, who daily sacrifice so much for us! THANK you for keeping us SAFE!!!

We very much appreciate what you do for us! You have earned and deserve our love, respect, honor, and help when YOU need it! GOD BLESS YOU!!!

PBS aired a program titled, "Tattooed Under Fire." Most excellent! It is not easy to watch, but it really brings home what is happening to our men and women in Iraq and Afganistan. One cannot remain complacent after viewing it. This film knocks you off of the fence.

I believe that every member of the VA should be required to watch it!

For further information: http://tattooedunderfire.com/

Note to President Obama: You signed up for this job. Either give our military forces what they need to win this war OR get them out! YOU are their Chief; it is YOUR job to make sure that our vets are properly taken care of when they come home! They also deserve the FIRST shout out ... not a side note after your political buddy call outs! And they should never have to wait for their President to show up to honor them. Military time is on time! The head of all of our military forces should KNOW that and PLAN for that!

We all need to be doing MUCH more for our veterans returning from combat! The LEAST each one of us can do; is to write, email, and/or call our elected officials: urge much more than 3 days of deprogramming!

At least 1/3 of vets returning from combat suffer from PTSD (Post Tramatic Stress Disorder) ... here are some websites that may lead to help:

http://www.swords-to-plowshares.org/

http://www.iava.org/

THE NATIONAL PARKS: My Parks

2009-09-16T21:49:00.001-07:00

Cliff Hanger

2009-08-18T08:17:00.000-07:00

South-side of Zion Canyon ~ photo: myshilohanch

Sorry to leave this blog hanging for so long ... things got SO busy since the last post! Without further delay:

Zion ~ Episode 2:

Late last July, Grandson S and I got to take a week-long road trip together. We ended up sharing a grand adventure, quite worthy of his 14 year old constitution and my almost-64 year old frame!

We headed for Zion National Park, Utah, not knowing if we would stay or move on.

For lunch, we stopped at: Peggy Sue's Diner. 4+ bullet faire ¤¤¤¤+

A serious must-do if you are anywhere near Las Vegas! This iconic, authentic 50's diner is out in the middle of nowhere, right off of the I-15, just 10 miles north of Barstow, CA. Watch for the billboards! FUN, excellent food, large servings, excellent service, and kid friendly! There are photos, everywhere throughout the diner, of celebs who have eaten there.

Once YOU have eaten there, you will be back! If you like dill pickles, be sure to try their "deep-fried pickles." Oh.my.goodness. YU-UMMM!!! Whoever first thought those would be SO good?

We traveled north on Highway 18 through (thank God) the HORRID work traffic of Las Vegas. NOTE: avoid work traffic like the plague!

We finally got out and the vista opened into a barren land of greyish hills. At least no more inappropriate neon signs!

We stopped at a small, sparse Visitor Center in NV. This charming farming community, sprawls alongside of the freeway. The volunteer at the center told us that the Pony Express played a star role in the history of this town. NOTE: visit historical spots here sometime.

We then passed through the beautiful, classic old city of St. George, UT. Still quite small for a city ... at least compared to our CA "metropoli!" There is a highly recommended Visitor Center and Museum located there; but we opted to visit when we had more time. NOTE to self: schedule St George on agenda for next trip.

We took Exit 18 and traveled east on HWY 9. We slowly drove through the really cute and cozy small town of Cedar City, UT.

As we drew closer, we could see the beginnings of the Canyon ... the rock turned more and more red! Words do not suffice! Awesome, interesting, beautiful, captivating ... shapes, shades, and designs of the red rocks were getting bigger, higher and more awesome as we drove!

Until ... voila!

Finally... we arrived at our destination: Springdale, UT!

What a beautiful, idyllic little town! I surely left my heart there.

Perfect timing: we checked in and got settled into our motel ... well before dark.

View from our room ~ Pioneer Lodge

We stayed at the Pioneer Lodge: 4+ bullets ¤¤¤¤+

The perfect spot! Right at the gateway to Zion National Park. Highly recommended. Cozy (small, but you only sleep there), clean rooms, appointed with all the necessities (except charging stations), plus extraordinarily comfortable beds, refrigerator, and microwave. There is a pool, spa, free wi-fi, restaurant ...even a laundramat. Kid friendly. Shops and free shuttles into the park are just steps away. Right next door are domestic elk, buffalo, longhorn cattle, horses, and other uncommon lifeforms!!!

WARNING: NO PETS at this motel! As much as I love to travel with my dogs ... I really do not recommend this adventure for pets anyway, unless you bring an RV. Pets are only allowed in very restricted areas. This location is a place you will want to be free to hike whenever and wherever your eye and your heart may lead you.

Zion Canyon: view from Angels' Landing

One can only imagine what awe the Mormon pioneers must have felt as they crossed the Colorado Plateau and came across this incredible river and canyon! I am sure that God's Presence was overwhelmingly evident ... as it still is today. WOW! There are so many and varied areas to explore; I totally understand why they settled right near here. No need to go further.

Click on the monument for the short story.

The next day we hit lots of the little artsy shops in town, then shuttled in to the Visitor Center inside the National Park! "DISNEYLAND!"

~ Zion National Park Visitor Center ~ 5 Bullets ¤¤¤¤¤
Too much cool stuff to even begin to blog about. You must experience it yourself. From there you can catch the Park shuttles to anywhere within the Park.

We had brunch out on the lawn of the Center. What a beautiful, peaceful place! We were there during the busy season, so there were quite a few people ... but no crowds, not one child crying; everyone was happy, smiling and calm!

What a special spot on earth! Visitors were there from all over the globe! But in that place, we were all the same! God's Awesomeness, reflected in His creation, so surpasses the boundaries of words and languages! Bless Him!

That evening we rode a shuttle (they run every 5-6 minutes) into the Park and checked out the whole "loop" route. We got off at the Sinawava Temple stop and took the 1 mile Riverside Walk to the beginning of the river-hike. That did it, we knew where we were headed the next morning! We were going to hike, past the RW, enter the river, hike in the water, on and over the rocks, several miles up into the narrowest part the canyon, into the famed and revered slot canyon, aptly named:

"THE NARROWS"!!!!

Excitedly, we went into town and bought proper "water shoes," a "bladder" for a camel pack (hydration unit), a "fanny pack," packable food, LOTS of water, and a new camera (mine broke.) BTW: We found almost all the items on sale, bless God ... He is so faithful to provide for us, for where He guides us!!! HINT: Check out the sale tables in front of the storefronts for kaylagonga deals!

We visited the Zion Adventure Company: 4+ bullets ¤¤¤¤+
to get outfitted for our day-trek. The experienced staff showed us a pre-hike orientation-type film and familiarized us with the upcoming terrain, recommended clothing, necessities, and possible signs of danger ... poison oak, mountain lions, flash floods, etc.

The three main DANGER signs to watch for:

Water suddenly getting faster
Water getting darker, muckier
Debris floating down from upstream

As soon as you notice even one of the signs:

Seek higher ground immediately (at least 6 feet above the river) and STAY there for at least 15 minutes or until the water subsides.
Do not wait for a second sign!

Excellent advice for any river or canyon hike!

The personnel at the Adventure Company are very helpful and informative. I highly recommend attending the lectures, seeing the films and heeding their advice. They are experienced in rock climbing, rappeling, river and dry hiking and canyoneering. AND ... they know the local quirks of the land. They do not charge for information or advice and the cost of their rental gear is minimal, if you choose to use it. Good quality gear is a little pricey to buy. Guided adventures are also available for hire.

We "made" dinner in the motel micro, filled our waters, and supplies ...and hit the hay as soon as we could.

We met our outfitters when they opened at 8 am, rented our "official" hiking sticks and waterproof packs, bought quick-dry, no-blister socks, and logged our personal info, intentions, destination and emergency #s.

Weather conditions posted for this day: "afternoon thunderstorms and 20 percent chance of flash flooding!" WOOHOO, a real bonafide adventure!

We packed all of our survival gear ... mostly food for the ravenous, bottomless teenager and water enough for both of us, plus camera and emergency supplies of course. Sunblock, compass, battery operated light, lip balm, hats, epi pen, and first aid kit. We took our cell phones too, although there is no service deeper into the canyon.

We took one of the wonderful free shuttles up to Sinewava Temple stop and began our hike up the Riverside Walk. "Kodak moments" were literally everywhere ... so our pace was quite a bit slower than it would have been without a camera. I would not, however, trade time for the memories in the pictures that we brought home! Truthfully though, keeping my new Nikkon from getting wet was a little stressful; a little research will surely resolve that issue! NOTE: Bring a seriously waterproof camera bag next time and inner tube or other floatation device for equipment transport.

Almost Shangrila, except for the summer influx of tourists. However, I must say, we did not come across one grouch and only a few rude (make that unconscious, teenagers from France.) Actually, in this immense canyon, having people in your shots lends great perspective to your photographs. Excitement welled up in us, as the path ended and we entered the waters of the river to begin our hike into the famed Zion Canyon Narrows!

Oops, out of time! RATS! Will have to leave you hanging again, until the next installment. Probably enough to swallow of my rambling, at one time anyway :) Gosh, I am getting all excited again, just writing about this! How funny, I actually have "butterflies" in my stomach! I can hardly wait to go back, even via the blogosphere! :D

ALL PHOTOS (except where noted) in this post are taken by and are the sole property of myshilohranch.

CONDITIONS OF USE:
Personal, Professional, and/or Published:

I have been granted, by God, the free gift of seeing, experiencing, and capturing the beauty of His creations. It is my privilege to share these images with you. You are always welcome to enjoy them for your own personal use. Please just LABEL photos with proper credit and LINK BACK to this site.

For any other use or reproduction: CONTACT myshilohranch for information and/or permission.Thank you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Zion ~ Sanctuary ~ Refuge

2009-07-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

Greetings from Utah!

Grandson S and I are on our first annual road trip together. We are lodging in Springdale, Utah, at the entrance to Zion National Park, one of the world's natural wonders and America's most beautiful National Parks. Upon entering the Park, we promptly decided to spend our entire week right here!

My bloggy friend Michelle, said it right: "A picture is worth a thousand words. So here are a few thousand words ... and hints of what we will be doing tomorrow! (click on pictures to enlarge)

All photos: myshilohranch (see conditions of use below)

Any guesses yet?

Last clue!

Come on back and see us for the "rest of the story."

God has blessed this very special place in so many awesome ways!

And He has blessed us by bringing us here!

May all the earth praise His name!

"Sing praises to the LORD, which dwells in Zion: declare among the people His doings."

Psalm 9:11

Until next time,

Happy Trails!

ALL PHOTOS in this post are taken by and are the sole property of myshilohranch.

CONDITIONS OF USE:

Personal, Professional, and/or Published:

I have been granted, by God, the free gift of seeing, experiencing, and capturing the beauty of His creations. It is my privilege to share these images with you. You are always welcome to enjoy them for your own personal use.

For any other use: CONTACT me~here and notify me of your intent to use and purpose of use.

Please also LABEL photos with proper credit and LINK BACK to this site.

Thank you.

For God SO loved .....

2009-04-12T14:33:00.000-07:00

For God SO loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:16

Today begs for a special post. This day celebrates the very reason for our Life and Hope. All week the heaviness/weightiness of what Jesus did for us has been working on/in my heart.

His love. His love is what we are to spread to the world. Lavishing His love on others is the essence of what we are created to do. Only God can draw them, only the Living Word can change them, only the Father can judge them, only the Holy Spirit can convict them, and only the Savior can save them! We are to LOVE them.! From before the foundations of the world until this very day, His love speaks. The life and beauty that He spoke into existence inhabits this world and the one to come.

His love is SO strong for us that He specifically went to and endured the cross for us ... for me, for you! Knowing every wrong choice we would ever make, every wrong word that would ever come out of our mouths, every rotten thing we would ever think or do! (oops, my personal confession)

The POWER of His amazing love is what has been impressed on me this week. Life giving resurrection power!!!! The power that raised Lazarus, the power of His Precious Blood that cleanses me and YOU and bought and paid for us. The power of His stripes that heal us. The power of His love that DIED for us ...

Through the power of His PERFECT love, Jesus endured the absolute horror of scourging, berating, and the unimaginable torment of the Cross ... to help US, to save US! So when He calls for His Bride, we will answer and our bodies will also be resurrected! Because of His love, we will live with Him FOREVER, in a place that He has personally/lovingly prepared for us! His LOVE is so beyond our human comprehension!

WHOA, who am I Lord, that You would go through all of that for me??

I think that if we truly knew/grasped who we really are in Christ; we would have a much clearer vision of our purpose on this earth. And the other junk we concern ourselves with, would surely fall into its proper place.

He died so perfectly and completely ... with each of our names etched on His nail-scarred hands. His Blood Sacrifice atoned for every sin ever committed, once and for all.

The Crucifixion of Jesus by Spencer Williams
Click here for more of his work.

As the the Passover lamb was being slain, Jesus spilled forth His Blood and Living Water ... birthing fluid ... as the First Fruit of Resurrection, He opened the womb for us to follow. HALLELUJAH!

With the same "wonder-working" life-giving power of His love in us, how can we not endure our bad days, situations or circumstances??? God fills us to overflowing with His love during those times in our lives, knowing that we will later help others with the same LOVE that He gave to us.

I expect that it will take an eternity to begin to grasp the full extent of our Savior's Love for us!

Looking to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith, Who

for the joy that was set before Him

endured the cross,

despising the shame,

and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:2

ON THE ROAD 2009 - PART ONE

2009-02-16T14:43:00.000-08:00

Whew, we have been rambling outside of the blogosphere for quite some time! Most of which was, admittedly, a welcome change, free from noise, busyness, and "have-tos." Actually, we have been on a techno-free vacation (fun) followed by a few short leaves of absence (not-so-fun). We are considering blogging during our next vacation; wouldn't it be fun IR (in real-time)???

Ricochet ridin' shotgun; tough job
My granddaughters' school has been on a year-round schedule, which has afforded us precious winter "off-track" opportunties to spend time together. Most people seem to choose summer to travel, making winter vacationing very enjoyable! Sadly, the girls will be back on a traditional schedule next year, with regular summer vacation. *boo hoo*

Anyway, we packed up the Equinox, the two smallest ranchdogs, the twin girlies, loosed the bonds of everyday life and headed out for our annual two-week winter road-trip.

Our first stop:
Pam's? YumYum? Donuts: Beaumont, CA: 5 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤¤
Right off of the Beaumont exit, just north of the I-10. A MUST stop if you are ever anywhere near that town ... if you like donuts, that is! Hands-down, they had the largest selection of the freshest, most delicious donuts we have ever seen or tasted! The rich chocolate they use is like no "regular" donut shop! Oh-my-goodness!!!!

Next stop:

Chiriaco Summit, CA: 4 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤

Post Office made out of chollas
We stop here on every road trip, coming and going. A good place to stretch and care for various needs: including kitty-petting, there are always purring cats appreciating attention from travelers. The Chiriaco story is one of fascinating local family history. Click here to read about it. The link on the title has further information as well.

Always welcoming and kid-friendly. There is a comfortable patio area with plants, fountains, shade, a pet walking area, an unusual rural Post Office made out of cholla wood, a sit-down restaurant with good homestyle cookin' and a nice little gift and souvenir shop. The cheesy to the antique, there is something for everyone. Gas and services are conveniently right across the drive.

Right next door:

George S. Patton Memorial Museum: 4-5 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤-¤

Photo:Courtesy of motorhome05

A wonderful, bigger-than-life statue of Patton and his dog welcomes you. A little-known, yet hughly important, piece of U.S. history. There is a small fee for the museum, which is full of memorabilia and artifacts found locally. There is a "tank yard" out front which houses a Sherman Tank, a Stuart (both from WWII) and others. Military buffs will LOVE all the militaria! GREAT photo opps! Also sand dunes of fine/soft sand that you can sink your toes into. Definitely an enjoyable and enlightening hands-on world history lesson for kids and adults alike!>
General Patton "actually handpicked this site and was the first commander of the Desert Training Center (DTC) with Camp Young as the headquarters, eventually training over a million men to go into the WWII." He also reportedly imported camels to this location, planning to use them in the war.

Photo: Courtesy of waymarking.com - AWESOME website - recommend visiting!

To see pictures of the inside of the museum: click here!

Also located at the Patton Museum:

West Coast Viet Nam Veterans Wall of Remembrance

Very sobering, touching, and relevant.

Photo: Courtesy of snowbirdchronicles

Continuing east on Highway 10 ... wwe crossed the Colorado River.

Photo:Courtesy bikeacrossamerica

... and voila! FINALLY! ARIZONA!!!

Photo:Courtesy bikeacrossamerica

We see our first saguaros and ...

Our next stop:
Quartzsite, AZ: 5 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤¤
Just east of the CA border, on both sides of Highway 10, is an incredible must-be-experienced event held during January of every year. When you come over the hill from CA, it looks like snow down in the valley ahead. But it is soon apparent, that it is actually a bazillion RVs and tents that you saw.

This guy has ALL the skinny on Quartzsite shows
Photo: Courtesy of Hitchitch

There are acres and acres of gems, rocks, minerals, and stones, in every form you can imagine, in their rawest states to finished jewelry. From countries all over the world are vendors selling jewelry, beads, goodies, gadgets and gimmicks. The customers and sellers are every bit as interesting as the merchandise (none however, that you would want to take home, like the jewelry...hee hee). There are crusty "desert rats" to high-class store owners and celebrities. There are also dogs of every kind (mostly little) in every imaginable kind of wagon, stroller, and homemade pet-"vehicle."

There is mostly dirt and rocks on the ground and you are a little dusty by the end of the day, but all are happy. Everyone there is friendly, welcoming and helpful. A unique and fun experience for adults and children alike. Caution: potentionally "dangerous" if you really like jewelry. You will find gift items from 50 cents to whatever you are willing to spend. Hint: Only take as much money as you are prepared to part with. :)

Bring: comfortable walking shoes, plenty of water, a camera, money, a c-card and a gift list! If bringing children, sunscreen and caps and/or an umbrella for shade would be wise. There is really nowhere to stay overnight, unless you RV or camp, except perhaps in Blythe (or Ehrenberg, if you're really lucky.) Love's has the best prices in town for gas. There is a General Store, a Post Office, several stores and "restaurants" ... and an AWESOME little bakery with genuine homemade goodies, the wildest police car you have ever seen, and a very STRICT 35 mph speed limit! (Don't ask how I know!)

Tyson Wells Sellarama

We, however, did not come for the show, our friends Linda and Art live in town and we stopped to visit them. We visited Linda at their sales booth, explored the "Sellarama" a little, and left with trinkets for the girls' "medicine" pouches and colorful metallic hair extensions.

Our friends were gracious enough to feed us wonderful bbq'd "steak" and cold canned pork and beans ... our favorite! Anyone else out there like them that way??? Oh yeah, YU-UMM! They also put us all up for the night in their oh-so-cozy and beautiful southwest desert hideaway.

Shiloh's Stagecoach at the Ranch in Quartzsite

Linda and I have been blessed to be bffs for 27 years! Their home has been my first layover in AZ since I started coming here! Murphy always remembers their house and is especially excited to see his "buddy," Art! He follows him all over the property, whatever he's doing is good for Murph (must be a "guy thing.") The girls and I wore our "triplet" matching cowboy jammies and got to sleep on Linda and Art's awesome new couch bed!

KJ, CJ, Richochet

Linda was up bright and early, making tea. Art said, "Sue, your sunrise is outside." Waking up to an Arizona sunrise is always SO exhiliarating! The fresh air, the wide open skies ... ahhhhh ... I'm "home!"

CJ, KJ and "Linda's gecko"

All too quickly time passed and we had to hug, kiss and say our goodbyes.*sniff* Our friends took off for their day of work, we took a few more pictures and then headed out to continue our adventure.

I must, at this point, insert 2 massively, vitally serious exhortations

1. Love fully every moment! Do not miss even a small opportunity to give a good hug and say "I love you." Do not take for granted that you will see that person again. You just don't know.

2. See your doctor regularly! Brave up and take any and all age-appropriate tests (especially heart, blood pressure, cholesterol) and/or medications he or she suggests.
I just thank God that we made this visit when we did! We could not have know, but this would be the last time we would see one of our beloved friends! Less than a month after our visit, Art unexpectedly went home to be with the Lord.

Back to front: Art, Linda, CJ, KJ, Murphy

ART: You are loved and will be missed by every life you have touched! I know that I will see you there my friend! If it is possible, put in a good word for me with Jesus, OK???

LINDA: My forever-friend and sister, we all LOVE you and keep you constantly in our prayers. We are so THANKFUL that you are in our lives! My heart hurts for you. We have been on a few journeys together over these 27 years ... this is the toughest one yet, but a brand new journey has begun for you ...
As we left Quartzsite, we headed east towards Phoenix, then to old Highway 71 North, towards Prescott, one of my favorite roads and a highly recommended adventure! There is an old, comfortable familiarity about this route that used to be the "thoroughfare" for Easterners traveling out "West." Ruins of late 40s motels evidence bygone days of the early driving tourism post-WWI; old cool road signs and all.

There are quaint, interesting little country stores and places to eat, explore, and photograph! Ruins of mines, and remnants of the first wood and wire that fenced off "private" lands. The open landscape is BEAUTIFUL! Saguaros, ocotillos, creosote, cholla, yellow and purple flowers, the beautiful and very special Harcuvar mountain range,

BIG blue skies, peace ... and open highway!

We will explore some Highway 71 treasures on our next "On the Road 2009" edition.

Thanks for joining us! We love sharing the awesome wonders that the Lord in His wisdom has placed in and along our paths.

HAPPY TRAILS!

UPDATE: La Jolla Daycation!

2008-11-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

This post marks (excuse the pun, fellow employees) the launching of the new SHILOH RANCH RATING SYSTEM ... and quite possibly the pre-inauguration (is there such a thing? There is now!) of a unique sort of "Travel Blog." OK, here goes the "trial edition!"

We invite and welcome YOUR comments and would especially relish hearing how YOU rate these places!

The Shiloh Ranch Rating System is comparable to "thumbs up/thumbs-down." In keeping with our site's Ranch theme, thumbs have been replaced with "bullets" (for now, horseshoes later.) Ratings scale: 1-5 bullets.

Peradventure (is that not a great O.T. word?) Ahem, as I was saying: Peradventure any of you Ranch Readers contemplate visiting one of the spots where we have day- or vay-cationed; you can now do a quick search by location or subject.

On to the post:
Last July (2008), I was blessed with a whole day off to spend with one of my 13-year-old grandsons. SP and I ventured over the hills and through the woods to the COOL SoCal coast. A nice respite from the scorching heat of our desert!

Our first stop:

UPDATE! California Surf Museum/Oceanside - Rating withheld until moved to new Location
Since our visit, CSM has updated their website. Their is much more good information. Well worth checking it out for anyone into Surf History! The museum has been very busy and evidently the place we saw was just a temporary location. It was indeed a worthy work in progress, thank goodness! After the move to their new quarters, we will re-visit and report.

Worth a look-see, if in the area - disappointing as a destination. This tiny museum houses some very cool vintage plank boards and a few vintage long boards.Regrettably, it has a fair way to go with design, display and memorabilia. Too much expensive/generic surf-themed/tourist-junk made in China; not enough locally handcrafted surf goodies. Would like to see a more traditional representation of the SoCal surf culture. Hopefully, it is a work in progress. Easy access, educational, free!

Across the street:

Longboarder Cafe/Oceanside - 4 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤•

Highly recommended, GOOD food, BIG portions reasonable prices, easy access and kid-friendly. Service, mmm... "relaxed. "Gargantuan breakfast! YUM!!! Interesting/fun sayings painted on walls, GREAT surf decor!

Unexpected Treasure:

The Vintage Sanctuary/Oceanside 5 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤¤

A must-visit when in the area (unless you have serious claustrophobia)! Cozy, friendly atmosphere, CRAMMED with vintage goodies!! It's ALL there and at reasonable prices! This TINY little store has a HUGE inventory of vintage everything! LOTS of ultra-cool clothing, accessories and fun stuff from the 40s to the 80s! The owner obviously loves the Beatles and proudly still flies hippie banners and buttons! Peace, Love, No War! It is indeed a sanctuary in time!

SP and I arrived in La Jolla too late for kayaking the caves along the coast, as was our plan (Plan A.) NOTE: Reserve that adventure for a next summer!

Plan B:

Casa/Children's Pool Beach/La Jolla - 4 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤•
This location is a 5 bullet adventure, WHEN the seals are allowed their natural space!!!!

Kid-friendly, only access to beach is by stairs, easy access to benches above for observing the seals, educational, free!

The tide was low enough to explore one of the sea-caves by foot. VERY cool, neat acoustics, old inscriptions, hot pink and lime green colored moss, waves lapping at both entrances. Tunnels carved further back into the rock by the tides. Seaweed and sand covers the cave floor. Good-sized creepy crawly crabs live in the many holes in the rocks.

Local pigeons were curious about us; a few even flew into the cave to get a closer look. There was also an abundance of brown pelicans, gulls and other sea birds.

Harbor seals offshore kept bobbing up and down waiting, and waiting, for the noisy/pestering tourists to leave or step aside so they could come ashore and bask in the warm sun. They need to re-energize and balance out their body temperatures periodically. But alas, that did NOT happen until almost dark! Poor things were exhausted! Man can be so self-centered and inhumane!

In the evening local seal protection groups showed up to "police" the area and remind visitors that it is a violation of Federal Law to harass the seals. A watchdog group stays the night in shifts to watch over them - the Sea Shepherds. What a blessing that God has put it on the hearts of these people to be diligent in "standing in the gap" for these creatures of His.

For years the seals have had, at the least, a third of the beach roped off for them. Casa Beach is designated an official breeding site (rookery). One of only two along our Pacific coastline! People come to La Jolla, from all over the world, to watch and study these seals in their natural habitat.

La Jolla rookery during pupping season.

The Grandson and I were shocked how totally thoughtless some people were. Some would actually run at the seals and scare them back into the cold night water. Some were vehemently nasty and agressive about their anti-seal opinions. Scary, seals are SO beautiful, gentle and harmless; but many of their enemies are NOT! Recently some "genius" has filed a lawsuit and succeeded in getting the rope taken down and plans set to dredge the beach to rid it of the seals!

PLEASE LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD, concerning this beach and perhaps a safe-haven in YOUR part of the world! YOUR LETTERS AND E-MAILS REALLY DO COUNT!

http://www.savesandiegoseals.com/
http://oceanoutfallgroup.com/helpsealthedeal/

The sun set and we drove up into town (a nice walk also.) La Jolla is a beautiful town to walk around, day or evening!

Dinnertime: Hard Rock Cafe La Jolla - HRC Locator

No rating - Now Permanently Closed

The swan-song supper: Once a dazzling seaside HRC, it was disappointingly quiet and sparse of memorabilia on this day. The grandson even dubbed it the "SOFT Rock Cafe!" Much of their inventory had been moved after recent storm damage ... little did we know that the HRCLJ doors would be shut PERMANENTLY within two months! Bummer! We shared a slab of yummy baby-back ribs, good conversation and camaraderie! Looking back, we were incredibly blessed to eat there one last time! We are also glad to have taken some farewell pictures.

Shown above and below: before :) and after :(

Directly upstairs for dessert:

Cold Stone Creamery/La Jolla 3 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤••
Ever been? A very unique ice cream experience. And very good ice cream! Yu-ummm! You choose your own mix of ice cream flavors and toppings. Their freshly-made ice cream is "mixed" on chilled slabs of marble. Oh yeah! Kids of all ages LOVE it! I found this particular location to be very small and rather impersonal. Try one in YOUR area! Definitely kid-friendly, fast service, moderately priced.

A short walk up the block (north): we spotted an inviting art gallery that drew us right in to look around: Thomas D. Mangelsen's IMAGES OF NATURE Gallery/LaJolla 5 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤¤

A most WONDERFUL experience! This nationally acclaimed photographer has 15 galleries across the country! The bright, airy, friendly atmosphere beckons you to come back again and again. 'Images of Nature' showcases the largest display of beautiful, clear, sharp, colorful photographs of wildlife in their natural habitats that I have ever seen! This very gifted photographer captures God's creatures in the most beautiful, unlikely, lovely, humorous, and touching poses! If you don't have a gallery near you, check out his website and order a catalog. Mannered children-friendly, educational, easy access, low to moderate and up prices (something for everyone!)

Then back over the hills we went. Some construction on the Ortega Highway, but a beautiful drive, as usual.

Our final stop-over: DeJong's Cash and Carry Dairy/Wildomar - 4 out of 5 bullets ¤¤¤¤•
Located just south of Lake Elsinore,. This is the last family-dairy in the area. The milk is FRESH and delicious; PLUS there is a little petting zoo of farm animals! What a delight! A wonderful glimpse into the Valley's rich rural heritage. A GREAT place to take visitors from out of town. The dairy produces milk without growth hormones and the herd is reportedly 100% from their own breeding stock. Their chocolate milk is particularly yummy!. They also sell fresh eggs, hay, feed and grain. Definitely kid-friendly and educational, easy access, prices low to moderate.

WHEW! As I read over this blog, I realize just what a HUGE blessing God gave us to spend quality time in this many special places in just ONE day!!!

I hope you enjoyed coming along on and sharing the sights. Getting away from our routine lives, even for ONE day, is fun and so refreshing! Sharing that special time with your loved ones is absolutely priceless!

....... Happy Trails .......

UPDATE: Human Slavery-Children for Sale

2008-10-16T17:06:00.000-07:00

When my eyes were first opened to the current conditions of Human Slavery, I posted about it here. Then, just last night, I watched another horrifying report on the child sex trade in Cambodia, on Dateline NBC. It was, at once, tragic and sickening, yet in the end hopeful!

Girls as young as 8 years old, perhaps younger, are being sold into brothels all over the world, en masse, often times by their own parents! Some are orphans, and some are kidnapped to be sold. These babies so matter-off-factly take care of business, that it is chilling. In fact, they were terrified to leave, once rescued! The despicable pimps, madams, and customers are now finally being jailed long term!!! As they should be here, as well!!! WOE be to them!

One wonders ... how many millstones will the LORD need for these subhuman cold-hearted greed-beasts??!! If you have the gumption ... brave up to check out Dateline NBC's report and video.

A couple of Americans had
filmed the raids on these brothels which they instigated and insisted on, until the police finally listened. The original reporter, Chris Hansen, revisited 4 of the girls who are now in their early-mid teens. They have had intensive care, education and counseling. What an awesome blessing! One wants to be a doctor, another a dance teacher, and one a CEO of a corporation!

**Here is a the site for the center that helps to rehabilitate these kids. Please check it out, also the 'Who We Are' icon.** This is an example of what the "power of one (family)" can do, with the Power of One directing them.

Nothing will change until, one-at-a-time, we do!

Sorry, for the soapbox again so soon. You see, this is why I don't dare to read the paper! There is SO much injustice in the world. Our Nation conveniently (and shamefully) looks away from these human rights violations and continues to trade with these countries and give them money.

We consumers, citizens, voters, and Christians just let them! To top that, we buy clothes and goods from those countries, without even blinking! It gets me all riled up - however, I think that it is time that we do get riled up, enough to DO something! We MUST pray fervently ... EVERY day, morning, evening and in-between for the LORD to complete His work and to have free course in this Nation and all over the world.

Thanks to God's Word, we KNOW that one day soon Jesus WILL come back and set everything right!! If Obama gets voted in, I believe we will be on the "fast-track" to our heavenly homes. Buckle up Christians! Listen for that heavenly 'shofar!'

God created us to stand; to stand up and out, boldly, firmly, confidently and tenaciously. Even if we are alone: if we are RIGHT, according to God - we MUST stand and let our voice be heard! We have heard that the ground at the foot of the cross is even; our sin of complacency makes us, surely, as guilty as these slavers and partakers of evil.

Forgive me, dear readers. The inhumanity of man toward man is just blowing me away again. Not that this is new; I should surely realize that, since I a just studied Exodus and am now in Genesis, but it is still not any more acceptable!

Surely the "shaking" IS going on again NOW, however, as my dear bloggy friend Gateway pointed out. Stand fast, my friends!

"It is not about what we have, but what we do with what we have."

~unknown to me, Kathy Duplantis, perhaps?

Vaya Con Dios Chevelle!

2008-09-29T09:46:00.000-07:00

First Day on the Ranch

For Chevelle's (the boxer) touching story come on over to our newest site:

Cayuses, Coyotes and Critters

Dawning of My New Blog

2008-09-13T12:04:00.000-07:00

I just launched a new blog today, please come over and visit:

Morning Measure of Manna

PS: The Exodus 17 post, on this blog, was not-quite-ready-for-prime-time! I accidentally hit an unknown button that published the beginning of my draft!

Loved your response S4J, thank you!

Human Slavery TODAY!

2008-08-10T13:35:00.000-07:00

The faces of our shame-

trafficking in persons!

I wrote this about 2 weeks ago and can't get it out of my head:

I just watched a very disturbing report on network TV. There are more slaves now on the face of the earth than ever before in human history!!! Horrendous! Outrageous!!!

27 million of them!!!!!

Haiti is one of the worst!!!! An ABC reporter made a deal to buy a 10 or 11 year old girl for just $150.00! It took him less than 10 hours after leaving L.A. to make this "deal!" Haiti is so poor a country that parents often give their kids away to be slaves!!!!

WHY is this world allowing this travesty to continue and proliferate right under our noses??!! Do we just shove it aside, like other unpleasantries that offend our sensibilities???!!! After all, most ARE women and children!

WHY are so many people still focusing on the slaveries of past generations when right now, TODAY, it is happening to others???!!!

AND it is happening right in our own backyards, cities and communities, as well as other countries!!! We see a story every once-in-awhile on the news and think, 'How terrible, to think that could happen here!' Well it does happen here and we need to be aware! It is so easy to shut our eyes and ears and "mind our own business." We must hear the cries of the captives!

Until our LORD intervenes, we MUST intercede for these poor victims, who have NO voice! In prayer to God and also with calls, letters, e-mails, contributions ... and/or WHATever way we can help!

My heart cries out!!!!

I keep "hearing" the LORD demanding of Pharaoh, through Moses, "Let My people GO ... !" He demanded 7 times!!! Exodus 5:1, 7:16, 8:1, 8:20, 9:1, 9:13, 10:3

WHAT will it take for us??? The Egyptians never spoke up and Pharaoh's servants did not until just before the last plague! It was too late then to stop the suffering.

I am feeling a great urgency that we MUST, as Christians, STAND and stretch out our hands toward heaven!

I challenge every person who reads Shiloh Ranch Ramblings to:

Pray: Intreat our LORD faithfully for the freedom of His people who are forced into bondage.
Read: SIGNS TO LOOK FOR!
Act: Pick one group in to support in some way. Whether it be your local area, your country, or a particular place or group that the Lord has laid heavily on your heart!

I have just begun to research this issue and I am already overwhelmed at the amount of information out there and the number of groups that are working to help stop the trafficking of human beings!

Here are a few places to get you started:

"Trafficking of humans is estimated to be the second-largest criminal industry in the world after drug dealing, and is the fastest growing." Arizona Republic Editorial - April 21, 2004

Won't you join me in making others aware of the scope of modern-day slavery atrocities in our "civilized" world?

If you are already ahead of me on this, I way covet your input! Especially the most effective ways to impact this problem.
OK, off the soapbox now :) I feel better ... HAD to write this!

A Closing Note

Kickin' It at the Museum

2008-06-29T18:17:00.000-07:00

My 13 year old grandson, SP, and I shared a rare day together recently.

No, this NOT my grandson with a new "punk" haircut!

This kicked-back guy is a fairly good-sized Iguana from the live animal exhibit at the Riverside Museum. He is a VERY cool and laid-back creature, actually not unlike SP!

Which reminds me: what an HONOR the first Adam had, to name ALL the animals of the earth!! Don't you think it must have been SO fun??? A huge task at any rate!

My barely-teen grandson is almost as tall as me already! It was SO much fun to pal around with him! We are really blessed to have this time now; in a few more years, he may have other things to do, or will have to bring a girl with him or something! YIKES! He really is handsome and brilliant (not just bragging), he has a great sense of humor, I love the way his mind works, and most importantly he loves GOD! He and I made several cool discoveries this day:

1. Dubliner Cheese - Glory be! (as my grandmother used to say). What a taste delight!!!! It is an aged Irish cheese - sort of a cheddar-like texture, with a nutty flavor similar to Swiss and the tang of fresh Parmesan! YUMMMMY is our description!!! We were on a hunt for summer/beach wear at Costco, when a kind lady offered us a sample of this most awesome cheese! We immediately bought a 2 pound brick and headed for the bakery department, which led to our 2nd discovery:

2. Olive-oil and rosemary French bread - A match made in heaven, this AND the Dubliner! Oh my goodness! PLUS we had some big juicy green table grapes to go with! SP carved the cheese, we tore off the fresh bread in hunks and enjoyed our somewhat Medieval feast all the way to our 2nd destination - an appointment with my surgeon. (YUCK)

Good news! My elbow is healing nicely and my range of motion has improved significantly. Thank You, LORD!!! And thanks everyone, for all of YOUR prayers!

Whew, a LONG road, this one! Somewhere down this "merry path," the doc will take the pins, screws and wires out. He has promised to stitch me up as nice as he can, as the staples left a nasty scar (don't look, if you have a weak stomach). Can't wait - actually, yes, I can!!

SP got to see the x-rays of all the cool hardware in my "bionic" arm. I suggested to him that he might like to do what my surgeon does, as "there are lots of power tools involved." *shudder* ... plus he makes about a bazillion dollars a year! The Dr's eyes LIT up and he asked SP if he liked tools. Hesitantly SP answered, "yeah." Doc replied with a smile, "This is easy! You like tools? Really, it's easy!! " YU-UCKK, yeah ... if you don't mind carving on PEOPLE!! LOL

Anyway, SP and I adventured to the historic section of downtown Riverside and our 3rd discovery:

3. Riverside Metropolitan Museum: There were two featured exhibits. The American Grizzly and Quilt Stories - both very interesting! Well, actually the Griz exhibit was a "little" sparse, but there were also lots of interesting historical items and memorabilia from the local area.

OK, this IS my grandson apparently in the grip of a griz cub. Just happened to get a reflection of the California flag in the shot!

There were many examples of how the grizzly has been used in advertisng as a symbol of strength and power! Showcased were some nice griz art, a few books, a bear rug, pictures of bears as circus attractions, and Theodore Roosevelt's first naming of the "Teddy Bear." Teddy Roosevelt actually lodged at the Mission Inn back in "the day."

The intricate indigenous Native American baskets of the Chumash and the Luiseno were a striking contrast to the brightly colored modern Native American quilts: both told stories of their everyday lives!

Luiseno basket-1890s

Collage of Quilts

We saw Community Quilts, that record the stories of entire communities. Among them were quilts from Gee's Bend, Alabama and a film interviewing the elder lady quiltmakers. The U.S.Postal Service commemorated these quilts on stamps in 2007! Most awesome to see them in person! These traditional quilting skills have been handed down from mother to daughter continuously since before the Civil War!

Also on display were Riverside Citrus Heritage Quilts, which depicted stories of the Washington Navel Seedless Orange that was developed in Riverside! The matriarch of that citrus empire had the SAME last name as the maiden-name of my SP's other Grandma! Hmm...will have to research that! I heard that the fam was not related, but SP and I think it could be...worth a little digging.

The Cultural Heritage Quilts were my personal favorites! There were exquisite depictions of the life and traditions of the Navajo and Hopi people. There were also Family Quilts, which were passed down through generations of families.

NOTE: My maternal grandmother was a master-quilter and hand-sewed all three types of quilts beautifully. Unfortunately, her skill was NOT passed down in our family, but her quilts certainly will be. I will put OUR stories on my "blogs to-do" list! :)

Cougars used to roam local hills.

(This poor guy reminded me of your displaced panther, Gateway!)

Being a Natural History-type musuem, there were lots of specimens, animals, insects, birds and really icky stuff in jars...curiosities they call them. These of course, were some of SP's favorites!

Better yet was the live animal exhibit, the Nature Lab! Besides the iguana, there were tarantulas, black widows (like I don't have enough at home!), all sorts of local snakes (minus a rosy boa), lizards, millipedes and other lovely creepy-crawly and flying what-not that are best enjoyed by men and boys!

What stood out the most to me was the immeasurable variety within each and every species that the Lord creates! The beauty, colors, patterns and the delicate/perfect balance that HE created and provided for all His creations to exist, thrive and multiply just blows me away! Each is unique to its own environment, yet all are in perfect balance on this one earth!! Unfathomable to my finite mind! He is SO the God of marvelous detail!

How could anyone see all of this and not believe in GOD ... in a CREATOR??!!! Can anyone really believe that all of this just "happened"???!!! Only those who, like Pharaoh, REFUSE to see, and CHOOSE to harden their hearts! That is SO sad!!! We MUST pray for these lost souls and especially for their families!!!

SP and I had a great time together! We topped the day off with a personal tour of a new state-of-the-art Athletic Club in our neighborhood. Seems the LORD blesses US with favor when we go anywhere too, we got celebrity treatment! Of course, we are children of THE KING! Bless His name!

We ate as much Dubliner, bread and grapes that we could on the way home! Ahhhh yesss... !!!

THANK You Lord, for turning my long drive to the doctor into a fabulous adventure with SP and for the very special memories You gave us!

"O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Your name in all the earth,

who have set Your glory above the heavens ...

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,

the moon and stars, which you have ordained,

What is man that you are mindful of him,

and the son of man that You visit him?

For You have made him a little lower than the angels,

and You have crowned him with glory and honor ...

Psalm 8:1, 3-5

Awesome Wonderful Special Very Good Day

2008-06-06T18:42:00.000-07:00

Elephant Seal Pups
Our Awesome God just NEVER ceases to amaze me! It is oh-so-precious when He just POURS out His grace and His favor on us, for no "apparent" reason, isn't it??!!! Sometimes He makes us SO aware of His Presence that we can almost "taste" His SWEET love for us!! As the song goes, "... when Your eyes are on this child, Your Grace abounds to me ..."

THIS day was one of those VERY special times for my g'daughters & I. Actually, the Lord seems to give the 3 of us EXTRAORDINARY favor almost always, when we adventure out together! Bless His heart. :) My theory is that people see Jesus in us and, even if they're not conscious of it, they are drawn to Him & want to bless Him. It doesn't take even a snippet away from HIS Amazing Grace, that my 8 year old g'daughters are irresistably cute and incredibly intelligent! Braggy but true! :)

Anyway, I had seen a children's show on TV that visited a Seal Rescue Center located within day-trip distance. SO ... we got an early start & took a leisurely drive over the mountains to the ocean. We drove through the Cleveland National Forest, throughout which God blessed us with spectacular views and an amazing array of wild flowers, plants and trees! There were huge succulent flowers growing right out of bare rock walls of the canyon! We passed through very inviting campgrounds and hiking trails and drove right by the Mission of San Juan Capistrano in full Spring bloom! NOTE: we resisted the temptation to stop and reserved those adventures for another time!

We finally found our way to our destination: the Pacific Marine Mammal Center. Wow! They had 17 in-house patients that day - all animals that were injured or sick and/or stranded on one of our West Coastline beaches. Some had cuts from fishing nets, many had wounds from BIG fishhooks stuck in their mouth or cheek, most were underweight and there were lots of malnourished pups. Come to find out: this year there are LOTS of 2 year old harbor seal mommies (equivilent to "teen-moms") that are not very good mothers and don't have enough milk. So, unfortunately, a LOT of their little babies are showing up ONshore! It is an expected cyclic occurance, we were told. These pups are BEYOND cute!!!

This incredible group (mostly volunteers) sends Rescue Teams out to pick up these poor guys as soon as they are reported. They doctor, feed and rehabilitate their patients until they are strong enough to release them back into the ocean!

People come from around the globe to study/visit this little haven that is tucked away in the coastal hills of SoCal. However, THIS day we had the place completely to ourselves for several hours!! We were blessed to meet the onsite Veterinarian, who is one of only 22 in the entire nation! He invited us for a personal behind-the-scenes tour with him, which is generally reserved for VIPs! A very unexpected privilege and honor ... I call that FAVOR!!! Bless the Lord!

Then, to top off this incredible visit: as we were about to pull out of the parking lot, a Rescue Team truck came rushing through the gate with a JUST rescued yearling sea lion! We jumped out of our car and hurried over, just in time to watch them pull the big plastic dog kennel off the truck, then weigh and check her in ... it was SO exciting! Heroes-in-action, that you don't ordinarily HEAR of, much less SEE!!! What a major BLESSING! The Rescue Team named this little one Betsy. We are hoping to attend her release in about 3 months! THAT is what it is all about! They say to bring tissues ... that's probably a very good idea!

I could go on all day (or have I already?). You can visit their website and learn a WHOLE lot more about this amazing place and the amazing work they are doing! Check it out: http://www.pacificmmc.org

The weather was absolutely PERFECT for us too! So, we drove down to the shore, stopped at a See's Candy store for a couple of treats (mm mmm MMM!!!), got some lunch, then decided to stop at the beach before we went home. Just look where we "happened" to stop!

A breathtakingly beautiful little cove where you could see right through the incredible blue and jade green water! It is actually a Marine Tidepool Reserve - no wonder it was so pristine! A very welcome change from the average SoCal overcrowded beaches!

What a jewel that we "stumbled" upon! So peaceful, so relaxing, WOW! Our Father gave us such a FULL experience! E-Triple-A indeed!!!

I find that these times of refreshing USUALLY precede an upcoming trial or time of service. All through the Bible the Lord refreshed, strengthened & prepared His people before sending them into battle or into other service. As you may have also noticed in your lives, He clearly STILL does!

The girls returned to school the next day and I unexpectedly got a call to return to work that next day too! Coincidence? I think NOT!!!!

Check back, I tried to upload a video of the ocean, but it wouldn't work tonight. I will keep trying!

What unusual and interesting *day-cation* spots do you have near your home?

*Term borrowed from Becky...thanks!

American Flag - Rich in Meaning

2008-05-23T15:56:00.000-07:00

"Blessed are they who mourn, for they shall be comforted." ... Jesus Matthew 5:4

May 30 was set aside, before the end of the Civil War, as a day of remembrance for those who have died in our Nation's service; that gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. We so have made it into a convenient holiday off work to bbq, picnic, play & relax.

A conversation with my Physical Therapist (for my healing broken elbow), who is a Veteran of our Armed Forces, actually inspired this post. As we spoke about the precious meaning of our Nation's flag, I was thinking: "I should blog about that!" (Does this mean I HAVE entered the blogosphere??)

Not meant to be a downer by any means; I am passionately patriotic and I think this is a fitting post in honor of Memorial Day. I pray this information will be a blessing to you, as it was to me!

As a military custom, the flag is lowered daily at the last note of retreat. In the folding, the red and white stripes are finally wrapped into the blue, as the light of day vanishes into the darkness of night. This custom is reserved for the United States Flag alone.

The flag folding ceremony represents the same religious principles on which our country was originally founded. The portion of the flag denoting HONOR is the canton of blue, containing the stars representing the states our Veterans served in uniform.

At the ceremony of retreat the flag is lowered, folded in a triangle fold & kept under watch throughout the night as tribute to our Nation's honored dead.

The next morning it is brought out and, at the ceremony of reveille, run aloft as a symbol of our belief in the RESURRECTION of the body.

**WHY THE AMERICAN FLAG IS FOLDED 13 TIMES**

You may have noticed that the flag is folded 13 times when it is lowered and when it is handed to the widow at the burial of a Veteran. If you haven't, you will from now on!

HERE is the traditional meaning:

1st fold - a symbol of life.

2nd fold - a symbol of our belief in ETERNAL life.

3rd fold - made in honor & remembrance of the Veterans departing our ranks who gave a portion of their lives for the defense of our country to attain peace throughout the world.

4th fold - represents our weaker nature. As American citizens trusting in GOD, it is to HIM we turn in times of peace, as well as in time of war, for HIS Divine guidance.

5th fold - a tribute to our country. In the words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, in dealing with other countries, may she always be right; but she is still our country, right or wrong."

6th fold - for where our hearts lie. It is with our heart that we pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States Of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation, UNDER GOD, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all.

7th fold - a tribute to our Armed Forces. It is through the Armed Forces that we protect our country and our flag against all her enemies, whether they be found within or without the boundaries of our Republic.

8th fold - a tribute to the ONE Who entered into the "valley of the shadow of death," that we might see the Light of Day!

9th fold - a tribute to womanhood and our mothers. It has been through their faith, love, loyalty & devotion that the character of the men & women who have made this country great has been molded.

10th fold - a tribute to the father. He, too, has GIVEN his sons and daughters FOR the defense of our country since they were first born.

11th fold - represents the lower portion of the seal of King David & King Solomon and glorifies the GOD of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the eyes of a Hebrew citizen.

12th fold - represents an emblem of eternity & glorifies GOD the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit, in the eyes of a Christian citizen.

13th & final fold - When the flag is completely folded, the stars are uppermost, reminding us of our Nation's motto, "IN GOD WE TRUST".

After the flag is completely folded & tucked in, it takes on the appearance of a cocked hat. Which reminds us of the Soldiers who served under General George Washington and the Sailors & Marines who served under Captain John Paul Jones, followed by their comrades & shipmates in the Armed Forces of the United States, who are preserving for us the rights, privileges, and freedoms that we enjoy TODAY!

There are some traditions and ways of doing things which have DEEP meaning. Now you know why our flag is folded so precisely. Share this with the children you love ... and with others who love the symbol of "LIBERTY and FREEDOM."

This Memorial Day weekend, and always, when you see our flag displayed or folded, think about what it represents ... and what it costs!

*** To ALL of our Veterans and their families: a huge and heartfelt THANK YOU for your service to our country and for your sacrifices!!!!

*** MAY GOD PROTECT US ALWAYS ... AMEN ... and ... OOO RAH!

Meet My Ranch Horses

2008-05-18T17:37:00.000-07:00

I promised to introduce you to the big fellas on the ranch, so here they are:

ROMORE: Very kind Arabian gelding, now white and freckled. Happily retired, he is a scitz on the trail, but LOVES children, especially my grandchildren! He has been my "pretend Andalusian." I know, it's quite a stretch; but he IS really handsome in his own right! He has served me well, and continues to be a blessing. I bought Romore for a stablemate to my loving sorrel mare Julie Amarreto. He was a faithful companion to her until she passed on.

I had wanted a horse ALL of my life; Julie was my first and she was SO very special. My dream/prayer is to ride her at liberty (w/no tack) again ... in the LORD'S army!!!

NOTE: Julie's story will be written in a future post.

JOHNNY VALENTINE: VERY handsome bay Quarter Horse stallion. Sorry, bad pic, will work on better one. I bought him as a weanling from a local horse trader. He has never been under saddle, but he is a walking MIRACLE and witness to the POWER of the Lord, prayer, and God's unfailing LOVE. Purely by His GRACE, Johnny survived a really bad case of the West Nile virus, with no medical treatment and no lasting side effects! NOTE: I will reserve Johnny's whole story for another time also.

When I am away from the equine members of my ranch family, I miss them terribly:

~Their gentle nickers when I come out to feed them.

~Their scolding squeals and naughty stomps when I am a little late and they are "starving-to-death."

~The ever-so-peaceful sound of happy horses munching tranquilly on their feed in the barn.

~The feel of a huge horse neck in my arms.

~That incredible communion between horse and man when you breathe gently into their oh-so-soft nostrils.

Besides my Lord Jesus, I am also hopelessly "hooked" on horses and the whole old western lifestyle!

You have met the entire Shiloh Ranch Bunch now. Lord willing, I will share my horse stories with you in the future, as well as how God has used them in my life for HIS glory!

Thanks for stoppin' by!

"The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man." ~ Will Rogers

Yard Sale Find

2008-05-09T12:29:00.000-07:00

My neighborhood had a huge yard sale last weekend. I was feeling prre-tty good about NOT giving in to my addiction of collecting things that I don't need! CLUE: Du-uhh, pride comes before a fall!

A little RAT TERRIER had been running around IN the street all morning. I called him over, but he was too shy to get close. I carried on with my business, UNTIL he came back a THIRD time! He laid down at the end of my driveway and crossed his little front paws, like he just belonged there. Omigosh, THAT did it!

I could stand it no longer: I offered him water and food. He finally let me pet him and he was oh-so-skinny (his back and hip bones are sticking out), oh-so-happy for someone to care that he was LOST ... and oh-so-CUTE!

He is handsome, well put-together and very SWEET. I imagine that someone MUST be very worried about him right now, but I can find no lost ads anywhere. Will put up found ads next.

As you may know, I already have an eclectic pack of dawgs here at Shiloh Ranch. Adding a "whole" male to the mix is NOT on the agenda! Mine are all neutered and spayed!

Murphy, my J.R., sits up and begs for me to let them play together. He is so happy to FINALLY have someone on this Ranch that is smaller than him! These two COULD make quite an efficient varmint control team! The Shiloh Ranch EXTERMINATORS!

IF we don't find this guy's home in another week or so, we will have to take a little trip to the vet and get him neutered (gasp). There are SO many dogs and puppies already out there, that are literally DYING for a home! :(

I have been thinking (which CAN be dangerous): I suppose to qualify as an official "RESCUE," one would actually have to find other homes for some of the dogs???!! Perhaps I really SHOULD look into it; I could definitely use a tax write-off! LOL.. hmmmm.....

UPDATE: My granddaughters fell in LOVE with the little "Prince." We checked with all the local pet stores and left "found" notices everywhere. No luck yet. We theorized all sorts of stories about how this nice little guy got loose WITHOUT a collar or tags!

UPDATE 2: Little "Prince" is REALLY fast and SUPER agile! If we DON'T find his owner; his Ranch name will be "Richochet." That moniker fits him PERFECTLY: his call name could be Riccy or Rico.

Oh-oh, does it sound like we're getting attached?? I'd better put a check on THAT!

I have this HORRID propensity for getting AHEAD of the LORD! NOT a good thing! I need Him in front, LEADING me in the way HE has for me...ALWAYS; and that's the truth!

One thing I am SURE of: Our Father knows EVERY sparrow that falls from its nest, so we know that He has a plan for this little lost dog. I'm also reasonably sure that He has a lesson for US as well! ;)

He ALWAYS gives us so much MORE than we can even anticipate! My Pro Rodeo pastor, Coy Huffman, speaks of "E-Triple-A" from Eph 3:20. "Now unto Him that is able to do Exceedingly Abundantly Above All that we can ask or think..."

It is such a blessing that the great and awesome I AM is concerned about EVERY teeny-tiny detail of our lives and ALL of his creation!!

BLESS THE LORD, oh my soul!!!

"Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout ALL the ages, world without end. AMEN." Eph 3:21

Weeds in My Path

2008-05-03T20:55:00.000-07:00

WOW, what a beautiful day in So Cal!

I would like to just share how the Lord ministered to me yesterday, as I was pulling weeds from my much neglected brick pathway.

As I went about" encouraging" the weeds to LET GO of the ground, it occurred to me; IF this path was regularly used, the weeds would NOT grow here!

I see examples of this where my horses habitually traverse the pasture, where my dogs come & go around my property, and even in the long two-way paths ants make on their journeys.

Pathways, when not traveled, eventually grow completely over with weeds! A grown-over path is not very attractive & becomes even hard to FIND! Hmmm, a whole other lesson here.

Other issues with weeds growing in our path: various disagreeable debris blows by, gets caught in the weeds and begins to create heaps of WHO-KNOWS-WHAT!?! This in turn creates inviting habitats for insects and all manner of creatures that seek the DARK.

We have to walk cautiously to avoid stumbling ONto or stepping INto something unpleasant that may be lurking in the weeds. We don't want to get stuck BY anything or get anything stuck ON us! A lot of those things that live in the dark are slimy, creepy &/or BITE!

Weeds can discourage us from taking the path that was created for us: they ruin our view, hide our witness, and take the joy out of our journey.

It becomes easy to turn our head and ignore those nasty weeds. "I'm too busy, too tired; I need tools I don't have: I just won't LOOK!"

The task of removing the weeds in MY path SEEMED overwhelming! Some were especially tenacious. They had grown strong and tall and had been bearing seed and multiplying freely. Yikes, ANOTHER lesson!

However, yesterday I FINALLY just sat down with the Lord and DETERMINED to go at it! I yanked out ONE weed at a time, right from its roots. Each success drove me forward to pull MORE! It was actually FUN and SO satisfying!

OUT with UNFORGIVENESS! Out with ANGER! Then BITTERNESS and COMPLAINING! OUT SELFISHNESS;and you, MURMURING, OUT! ALL of you are OUT of here!! It felt so GOOD to clear that path! Most of the weeds came out SO much easier than I had imagined!

However, the job would have taken SO much less time, strength, and energy had I taken a few MINUTES each day (even each WEEK) to pull out the tiny baby sprouts BEFORE they had a chance to take root!

My brick pathway is now clear, clean, accessible, beautiful, and INVITING! A much better WITNESS to the awesome GLORY of our awesome GOD!

Mmmm, it was a long day, but I slept SO well! The first thing this morning - I looked out my window and saw that pretty path framing the front of my house.

As I smiled and thanked Jesus, I felt like He was smiling too!

Oh yeah, a BEAUTIFUL day! :)

Meet My Ranch Hounds

2008-04-28T17:45:00.000-07:00

NEWEST FIRST:

Sadie: beautiful fawn female Boxer. Adopted from animal shelter when licensing my other 3! NOTE TO SELF: Renew licenses by MAIL next time!!! :)

Chevelle: sleek & sweet,light brindle female Boxer. Adopted from a US Marine family who could not keep her in their apartment. NOTE: Immediately delete future Freecycle ads offering dogs!

Lil' Hoss: gorgeous dark brindle 95 lb. male mystery breed. One vet guessed Pit/Great Dane; another Pitbull/Chocolate Lab. Neuter cert says American Staffordshire Terrier. Two boys rang my doorbell one evening. They had this sweet little puppy with grape green eyes and HUGE feet in their arms. They said, "Our mom says you take care of dogs..." NOTE: Don't answer the door when neighbor kids knock...unless they are GIRL SCOUTS!!!

Murphy: mellow black/white short legged Jack Russell. Ranch BOSS and protector of all things Shiloh. He was given to me by a dear Christian friend from one of her litters. He brought joy back into my life at a time that I really needed it. He also earned the distinguished title of Bark Ranger at the Grand Canyon this year! His job as Ranch enforcer is not an easy one; especially as everything and everyone on the Ranch is a lot bigger than him! NOTE: Sometimes being an ONLY dog is OK!!

OK, so you have met my pack & now y'all know what a sucker I am for animals. I have been that way since I was a child. I always tried to keep strays I found on the way home from school. My poor parents used to get so frustrated with me.

They didn't understand why I cried when any animal in a movie, book, or on tv got hurt but not for the people! NOTE TO PARENTS: Your child is not likely to EVER grow out of this!

As a matter of fact, I still don't really trust anyone that doesn't love animals!!! Mom always said I could have as many animals as I wanted when I got my own place; so now I DO!

I'll introduce my horses next time and post pics, as soon as I figure out how!

ANYONE out there that would like to share their animal and/or livestock stories/adventures/insights and perhaps how your compassion for animals has been manifested in your life?

I am anxious to hear!

Happy Trails from,

My Shiloh Ranch