4th of July at the Nesbitt Ranch!

We made the trip down to Ola, Idaho for the Nesbitt family reunion. It's an eight hour trip for us with the last hour on a curvy gravel road. All the NON-DRIVERS in my family decided we should leave in the middle of the night so they could all sleep and we could arrive earlier in the day. Easy decision for them!! So, off we went at 2am... ...and actually is was the greatest four and a half hours of pure silence I can ever remember!!
I reallly enjoyed watching the sunrise! After only 3 or 4 wrong turns we made our way down into the beautiful valley that we so fondly remember from years past, and we were instantly transformed into cowboys! (or so we like to think) :) Grandma and Grandpa were there to greet us. We hadn't seen them in so long but after a few short minutes it was like no time had past at all!
The next day the 4th of July festivities commenced! Included: cattle drives, roping, calf branding, tagging, inoculations,and castrating! "I know! Now you REALLY feel that you missed out!"

We rode all around the area on horseback and 4-wheeler. People got to try things they hadn't ever done and go places they've waited their whole lives to go. It is a beautiful place that, at times, feels and looks like Heaven on Earth. To cool off from the blistering heat and wash the sweaty dirt off our bodies, there was the ever popular swimming hole that I just can't believe is still there! Nothing changes at the Ranch. When we are there we feel like we've stepped into another world. Many fond memories for me from spending time out there as a kid; now hoping to create some of those kinds of memories for my children.