Freshman Year

I remember the day I moved to Purdue. It was my 19th birthday and Mom and Dad hauled me up in our red Ford truck. Mom told me to behave and shook my hand, per usual. Dad kissed my cheek and told me he loved me. I remember being more excited than I was scared and I remember being more scared than I let on. 

I remember wondering what I’d gotten myself into and also being thankful I had a friend, Krista, to start the journey with me. 

I remember wondering if I had anything straight out of Greens Fork worth talking about and wondering if I’d find people who liked me for...well, simply me. I remember thinking, as I laid in my bunk bed that first night, “You’ve just started a journey and you have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into....”

I also remember the first time I posted on Jean’s Boots. 

It will be one year ago tomorrow, July 14, that I started this journey with all of you. 

I remember my sister-in-law asking if I had any interest in learning how to start a blog. I remember thinking, as we drove to the workshop, that going with her to learn how to use some sort of online journal was probably the biggest waste of vacation hours ever known to mankind. 

I remember wondering if I had anything straight out of Greens Fork worth talking about and wondering if I’d find people who liked me for...well, simply me. I remember thinking, as I wrote my first post, “You’ve just started a journey and you have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into....”

Many thanks to those who read Jean’s Boots - it’s been one heck of a year.

Welcome to a unique Wordless Wednesday. On this anniversary week I’m showcasing some of my favorite photos I’ve taken over the last year. And, I may not be so wordless...I know you’re shocked. 

Thanks for getting me through my “freshman” year of blogging. I can promise you I’m off to a better start here than I was at Purdue. Of course, this go-round I don’t have a 7:30am chemistry lab or a desire to live only for Thursday nights.....

Enjoy. 

BSG hauling cows around the country block

Nothing speaks love like a Mother holding her son on Easter Sunday

Hops, being grown for home brew, grow as the moon sets into the Indiana sky

Simple Beauty

Only a farm gal can appreciate chipped nail polish and grass hay

 My goodness, think about the things Grandpa's hands have seen in 60 years compared to what this baby will see in her time...

An old school house in rugged Wyoming. The lessons taught, the memories lost when they shut this place down

My incredible nephew, Harrison. He is such a source of joy in my life

 The Story of Christmas, on Christmas Eve, from Grandpa, as you wear footie pajamas - 

Can you beat this?

 Black cattle and snowy Wyoming Mountains

 Waitin' on a woman....

 Herefords, one of America's greatest breeds, on the 4th of July

Young and wild and free - like Texas in 1880

 

"What is on my hand?....."

 Exploring the old Moyer barn, where Great-Grandma grew up

God Bless America. And special thanks to the inventors of classic cotton dresses 

and good, full-bodied beer

 I love this photo, taken as three sisters (can you tell by the hair?) join their cousin at the old Moyer homestead, where their parents were born decades ago

God made dirt (and manure) and dirt don't hurt

Her first look at a Holstein with a Grandma who has years of cattle advice under her belt

 A New Day at BSG

Sister and Brother celebrate before she weds

Young bulls at BSG

I thought I was talented when I could write in cursive...

Nothing like a best friend

To the barn she only wears cotton dresses....my kind of seven year old

These heifers sell September 2, 2011 at BSG's Annual Bred Heifer Production Sale

And finally, my favorite photo taken during Jean's Boots freshman year...

Oh, the anticipation of running into Grandpa's arms....

Many thanks to you - for supporting my passion and fueling my dreams. 

And, for giving me something worth writing about.