Jackson

Jackson works in the custom framing department of our new Hobby Lobby.  His artistic eye makes him perfect for this job.  (If you have any custom framing needs, you definitely need to go talk to Jackson and check out all that Hobby Lobby has to offer!)  Jackson got hired last August when they were preparing to open the store and then was offered the position in the framing department.  Daddy recently purchased one of Jackson's photos of the Tetons and, of course, he knew right where to take it to get it custom framed.  Jackson worked up the order and helped Daddy decide exactly what the frame should look like.  We were all pretty excited to see the final product!

Daddy and Jackson both went to the store to pick up the frame when it was finished.  Although Jackson does build frames, his supervisor Marcus built this one due to company policy about framing for relatives.  :)

Jackson, Marcus, and Paul (another co-worker)

Here it is hanging on the wall at Mama and Daddy's house!  Isn't it beautiful??

We call this 'the two cathedrals'... Jackson with his photo of the Tetons next to a picture of Salisbury Cathedral that Mama and Daddy purchased years ago in England.

You can follow Jackson's photography on facebook at Willis Creek Photography -
https://www.facebook.com/WillisCreekPhotography/

Or at his website for Willis Creek Photography - http://jacksonmann.wixsite.com/wcphotography


Updated to add this new photo showing the verse that Jackson added for Mama.  This is a very meaningful verse to Mama as her mother recited this verse often while homesteading in the Big Horn Basin of Wyoming.

Psalm 121:1

Perfect!

Jackson's birthday dinner

January 28, 2018
My firstborn is 22 years old!  How can that be?  :)  We celebrated Jackson with a big family dinner the night before his actual birthday.  (He had to work on his birthday.)  What a great evening with dear family celebrating a young man that we are all so proud of.

Nax, Cody, Hannah, Shonda, Jeremy, Brianna, Jackson, Mama, Daddy, Marvin, Jonathan

Cody, Hannah, Shonda, Jeremy, Brianna, Jackson, Mama, Daddy, Laura, Marvin, Jonathan

he is chuckling because he sees what his gift is...

we got him this shirt for Christmas but it shrunk up horribly in the wash

He loved it, though, so we got a replacement - and threw in a new one in a different color, too.  :)

Shonda and Jeremy

Brianna and Jackson 

Mama and Daddy

Laura and Marvin 

Cody and Hannah

Jonathan and Nax (we will miss Nax when he leaves in a few weeks to return to Panama)

Brianna, Jackson, Mama, and Daddy

Shonda, Brianna, Laura, Jackson, Marvin, Jeremy

Random

Random snippets from January and February.

It was a stunning sunset that accompanied my evening drive to Columbia one Sunday in January.  A blessed, peaceful sign.

We enjoyed an evening out with dear friends.

Jackson, Brianna, Carrie, and Joey

This still makes me laugh!  Gail used Joey to 'hide' from the camera.  :) 

Gail, Marvin, Jonathan, Laura, Karen

My friend, Marti, posted a shelf for sale on swap shop back when I was in Mississippi for my aunts funeral.  I told her then that I wanted it, but it took about a month for everything to work out for us to pick it up.  We did a little rearranging in our dining room and I am really happy with the result.  Yes, nothing matches (I call that eclectic style...) ;) but I have much better space for my Instant Pots and accessories now with Marti's shelf.  I love it!  :)

Marti's shelf is on the left.

You can see the bottom two shelves hold my IP's and accessories well.

Love this selfie of Anna and Grandpa enjoying Smoothie King.  :)

And back to my friend, Marti.  She and her family have moved back to Colorado for Chris's new job.  While we wish them well and are happy for their success, we are sure going to miss having them around!  We took this selfie the night she came to Bible study to say a quick goodbye to all the ladies.

Marti and Laura

Dear Carrie and Joey bought a house in our 'neighborhood'!  :)  We are so excited for them and couldn't wait to get over there to see it.  Marvin and I just love their house and can envision them there for many happy years to come.  I wanted a photo of them in front of their fireplace and took note of the lighter Joey used to light the fire... like a little rifle.  We suggested he hang it above the mantle.  ;)  ha!!

A wonderful couple - Joey and Carrie 

Fort Chariton

I had never been out to Fort Chariton until mid-January.  And now I have been twice!  :)  Brenda and I decided to go out there for lunch one Saturday after hearing about folks seeing bald eagles in that area.  We made the drive out to Yarrow and immediately noticed folks standing on the bridge looking over the Chariton River.  Sure enough, there were many bald eagles in the trees along the river and on the ice on the river itself.  Bald eagles are so regal!  What a joy to watch them!  I wish I had a better lens on the camera (or had walked down alongside the river instead of staying on the bridge) but we sure enjoyed our eagle sightings.

Next, we went to the restaurant, Fort Chariton, and enjoyed a lovely lunch.  I had the breaded tenderloin and Brenda had a burger.  Both were very good.  I loved all the memorabilia on display in the restaurant including many historic photos of Yarrow and the surrounding area, as well as many paintings by Clara Straight.  I am a sucker for local history and Fort Chariton is preserving it well.  I am intrigued by the campground with full hookup sites right behind the restaurant.  I can see that being a fun weekend jaunt, for sure.

A few weeks later my Grace Girls group decided to have lunch there.  We missed Susie since she was traveling to Texas that weekend.  Everyone enjoyed their food and happily, we weren't rushed out the door, but allowed to sit and visit for a long time.  :)  We will all be back!

Brenda, Deb, Chris, Karen, Sheryl, Laura

Winter visitors at Willis Creek Ranch

The weather this winter has been a bit odd.  We had brutally cold temperatures for an extended period of time throughout the holidays.  We have had several bits of snow, but no blizzards or heavy coverings.  We have had a few instances of ice, but thankfully, nothing bad.  And, more than once, we have done that weird 50 degree temperature change in 48 hours that we seem to be known for.  I think the animals have been a bit confused (with good reason).  I saw my first robin in mid-January.  They didn't stay around long, but I saw more than one and heard from several others who also caught sight of them at that time. The geese have flown in, flown out, and returned again.  And we have seen 2 bald eagles fly over our house on multiple occasions.  In all the years that I have lived out on this property, this is the first year I remember seeing bald eagles here at Willis Creek Ranch.  As I type this we had snow this morning that covered the ground, but now it is sunny and warmer with a high of near 50.  :)  Below are a few photos of some winter visitors that I have spotted the last couple of weeks.

this herd of deer have been spotted along the roadway and in fields nearby

on this day we had about 20 geese land on our pond

they are all gone now

Updating this post to add this...  :D  Just for posterity.  :D  :D  :D

Cornerstone Ladies Soup Supper

Friday, January 12, 2018
I had been looking forward to the Cornerstone Ladies soup supper and was so glad that I was well and able to attend.  (that flu over the holidays really knocked me out)  I had to laugh when I saw how many Instant Pots were present for the dinner.  :)  We all enjoyed sampling a variety of yummy soups.  A perfect get together meal!!  This was also the night of the big reveal of our secret sister pairings.  I can't believe I didn't get a photo of me with my secret sister (turned out to be dear Teresa) or with Toni, the recipient of my gifts.  It was a great evening with wonderful ladies.

this is how you sample many soups... little cups  :)

Brandi, Trista, Lora, Shonda, Stephanie

Tiffany, Hannah, Kara, Laura, Rachel, Toni

Teresa R. (my secret sister), Susan, Susie, Marti, Teresa L.

Ashley, Sarah, Jami, Kris, Kristi