This morning we got a phone call. "I have some good news..." it began. The voice was cheerful and happy, for today Jerry and his beloved Berta are reunited in heaven.The one defining thing about Jerry and Berta is their deep love for each other. We say 'is' because it does live on. And today, while sad that both Jerry and Berta have died, we also rejoice that they are now together again. It has been just a little over a year since Jerry passed into eternity and Berta has spent the last few years in a home with severe alzheimers. She was a strong, healthy woman and it seemed like she might live on and on without him and without concious understanding. But God is gracious and we can also imagine that Jerry was whispering in her ear to hurry up and catch that bus for heaven 'cause he was waiting.
They met in New England while Jerry, a California boy, was in the military. We remember them telling us how he was taken to Berta's house to be set up with her friend, or was it a sister? Whoever it was she did not matter and it was Berta who instantly caught Jerry's heart. What we remember most about them telling us the story, many years later, was the way they looked at each other and smiled. Their gaze connected and solidified somehow and we could almost see their hearts swell with love.
They lived a full life loving Jesus and each other. Raised 3 daughters, got some son-in laws, had grandkids to dote on. Enjoyed creation, family, friends, and work. Jerry and Berta really knew how to work. After retiring from farming, they lived in this house we are now in, and many of the cows we tend were cows they tended.
Upon hearing of Berta's death this morning we sensed Jerry and Berta's prescence sitting by the fire, just like we found them, so many times on cold, rainy mornings such as this. A reunion of souls.
We love you both.
We recently received some wonderful drenching rain. I no longer keep a range gauge, because I always worry we 
A few months ago Eric the Bold bought this little heifer for his sweetheart and when the rains began back in October I offered her the use of the barn. The calf not the sweetheart! Of course, that means I am doing the twice a day bottle feedings most of the time. I like the little heifer even though she is a little introverted and unfriendly. Although she is quite taken with Charlie and follows him everywhere. He needed a new sidekick. His sweetheart, Charity, the filly with the broken hip, was accepted by a local animal rescue and the Kidd A and Kidd B are in the freezer and Frank the male goat is off working at the dairy goat farm and Flower the female goat is soon to go back to her old home. Whew. That is 
This was our view this morning as we headed out on a road trip to go visit our daughter and son-in-law in 
We didn't make it to Vegas today. We had some unexpected delays along the way and stopped in Reno and... 
went ice skating outside. That was a first. The outside part, not the skating. Although it has been 15 or 20 years ago.
We were just glad we didn't break a hip!
If you need a hint, 
Instead, it will be another post about riding. Have you figured out yet, that I love horses! Here is the herd. I am no longer counting. So don't you either. I will add that 4 are not mine. But that still leaves an awful lot, and this photo doesn't even show all of them! Now that I have them all turned out on the ranch, I call them the "
This photo shows how to capture handsome head shots of your horse. Johanna is optional, something to shake is not. 
After grooming all the 
Off the road now we head up a draw. The quiet fall surrounds us. No wind noise here. The earth smells rich and musty. We are quiet. 
A 
Along the ridge we had a dramatic change in climate with wind blowing and the fog flowing. Jo decided to try and fly, I think. 
Donkeys in the mist. Macho ain't named "macho' for nothin. He tried to work his moves on us, but we weren't having it, I tell ya.
Evening came quick and we headed back. Another beautiful ride in paradise. 
Of course, you aren't really done until the fat lady sings. Or perhaps the skinny lady! Sequoyah wasn't quite sure he liked the song, but he did wait around to listen.
We have fairly mild winters here in the pacific northwest and we are told by other ranchers that fall is a good time to have calving. The fall rains bring up the new grass and the fairly warm 
I worry that the cows could use more protein to make richer milk, so I like to supplement with a little hay. Or at least that is what I say, mostly I like giving them some hay at this time because their young are so dang cute and I really like hanging out with the cows too. I find that their 
The cows are really beginning to accept me as part of their herd, so the really daring calves will come up and give me a good look, or maybe a lick! 
Sometime they venture close only to then dart off 
Here is another aged couple that I snapped a shot of at Brian and April's wedding. Perhaps you recognize one of them. The one with the grey beard? LOL. The other is Mark's best buddy and they always have a great time together. On this particular day they were sipping beer and hoping that their deep pit worked and that they would have meat to feed the 200 guests that were waiting. Luckily, it did. Almost 130 pounds of beef was eaten that day by only 200 people. Wow. They must have liked it. I like their aprons. Don't you? So cute! So special.
(photos taken at Humboldt Bay after an afternoon of shopping)
