FRIENDS AND FAMILY REUNION

After months of planning and getting Rainbow Ranch in Utah's beautiful Ogden Valley in shape, 80+ people gathered for three and one-half days of togetherness. People traveled from both cosats and many points in between. Some rented condos and houses in the Valley, some brought RVs and stayed at the ranch, and we had a family who pitched a tent at the ranch.

As hosts, Collie and I enjoyed watching so much positive interaction among several branches of several families, all of whom contributed monetarily, by being present and by just having fun with each other.

Even though the winds were hot and strong, we managed to feed everyone three wonderful meals at the ranch, moving all the tables and chairs into the garage for the BBQ. In addition, sbout 50+ enjoyed a Dutch Oven dinner at Red Cliff Ranch in the Monte Cristo area, a kind of dude ranch in a beautiful canyon the night before the official start of the reunion. The children got a chance to meet friendly horses, dogs and see large trout in a beautiful pond at sunset.

During the day, guests enjoyed hiking, wake boarding, fishing, kayaking, horseback riding and swimming, lawn games and visiting at the ranch. A big thanks to our Ogden Valley friends and neighbors for hosting wake boarding, kayaking, and horseback rides for the children. I even mounted up for a couple of turns around the paddock. It felt good until the saddle slipped and jared my trick knee. It is healing nicely.