Road Trip!

Saturday was a beautiful day so we hopped in the Toy and went 4wheeling.  Temps were in the 50s and we had clouds!!!  We found a new-to-us abandoned ranch.  We think it is the old 96 Ranch.  This place was something in it's day.  Looks like it goes back to around 1900, with a second house built in 1934.  Very nice place.  Sadly, it is very run down now.  So much hard work put into a place, and people just come in and shoot it up and tear it apart.  No respect left anymore. 

We also got some amazing landscape shots of the scenery.  All in all a very good day.

Empire Ranch

This weekend we went down to the Sonoita area for Steve to hang out at Empire Ranch.  We decided to check out a local bed and breakfast and chose Whisper's Ranch.  The owners maintain an animal sanctuary next to the lodge.  We reserved the Ranch Suite, which was awesome.  The whole suite was a loft setup and the living room was all ours - we didn't have to share!  We arrived about 2:30 Friday afternoon and settled in to enjoy the quiet.  Around 4:30 we went into Sonoita for a steak dinner and a little live after dinner music.  Friday we headed into Empire Ranch where Steve and John hung out all day getting their pictures taken and adding ambiance to the event.  They love just hanging out playing cowboy. 

 They provided hayrides throughout the day.  The location was absolutely beautiful.



            This windmill was on the edge of the property.  The moon was still up at 9:30 in the morning.  There were lectures on different aspects of western life, demonstrations, food, hay rides, trick riding, and lots of other fun stuff.  It is really worth the visit.  This event was to help raise funds to restore the ranch.  You can find out more by visiting their website.  Rita and I wandered around for about an hour or so, then went back to the bed and breakfast to hang out til dinnertime, when we met the guys at the steakhouse.

 



These guys were pretty good at roping!  It was fun to watch them.  Steve and John looked pretty good, don't you think?

Meanwhile, back at the bed and breakfast, we saw some "wildlife".  Steve enjoyed watching Mama and baby having breakfast in the parking lot on Saturday morning.  On Sunday, we caught these butterflies, and MANY more, hanging out on the skunk bush.  All in all, it was a great weekend and I am already looking forward to returning next year!  You'll have to forgive the haphazard arrangement of the pictures.  Evidently I have not yet mastered blogging!