Adventures on the Hard Way Ranch

Spring is here and the wildflowers are blooming, so I had the itch to go out in the meadow at The Ranch for a picnic.  I always worry that we will wait too long and will miss the flowers at their peak.  We planned a picnic with my parents for Friday afternoon.  The weather was cloudy and breezy but we decided to go out anyway.    As you can see it is still too early to drive out into the meadow. 

The adobe clay is very unforgiving, it has been known to take the soles off boots.  I should probably mention that this is not the first time (nor will it be the last time) that vehicles have gotten stuck in the meadow.  It can happen even when someone promises we won't get stuck!

We tried our best to push, maneuver and power our way through, but no luck.  We were stuck.  Steve and my dad headed back to the house to get the tractor to pull us out so we could continue on with our picnic.

Grandma put the flowers in her hair, adorable!

The girls decided to make the best of it and enjoy the flowers right where we were.  

We passed the time smelling the flowers, listening to the birds (and a few turkey hunters) and enjoying the beautiful day.

Owls Clover and Cream Sacks

Soon Steve appeared on the 4 Wheeler (brought out more for the fun of riding it than anything else)

Steve asked Allyson if she wanted to go for a ride, she didn't even hesitate. She loved it!

Grandpa was close behind Steve with the Tractor.  We were cautiously optimistic that the tractor would pull us out and we would be on with the fun.

 Here on the Hard Way Ranch, nothing is that simple.  Once they got Tractor in place the couldn't get it to start again.  Thankfully we still had the 4 wheeler that worked.  My dad took that back to the house to get the Trailblazer to rescue us.

Meadow Barn

I love this picture!

They used the Trailblazer to jump the Tractor battery, so they tractor could then pull the truck out of the mud.  Miraculously it worked!  

By the time we were unstuck it was getting cool and the sun was about to go behind the hills.  We abandoned the picnic in favor of dinner at the gas station.  Because really, what better way to end a crazy adventure than to have Prime Rib at the Gas Station!