Cowboys + Horses + Montana + Small Town = Horse Drive

Last year around this time I wrote about the annual Horse Roundup and Horse Drive that can only be experienced in small town Montana.  You can read my post here.   Last weekend it was that time again and I was bound and determined not to miss it this year.  So we arrived way early and enjoyed the day basking in the sun and warm temps (the first nice temps of the year so far).

This roundup and drive attracts cowboys from all over the world who participate in this 4-day event where they roundup the horses from their wintering pasture and drive them back to the Mantle Ranch where they will be sent out to other areas around Montana where they are used for horseback trail rides.

While waiting for the horses to arrive we walked around town and visited the many vendors.  We enjoyed listening to the live band, eating good food and people watched (my favorite past-time).  I took many photos which pretty much speak for themselves.
 

We are hanging out in front of the historical Sacajawea Hotel

This looks like fun!

Dear Hubby 

The horses finally arrive being led by these cowboys

There were about 300 horses that are being driven through town.  

These horses are beautiful!

They were taken to a pasture on the other side of town where they would be staying the night before moving on the next day

I just LOVE Horses!

And here we are together

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After the horse drive we went on a short drive to a nearby river area.  It really was a gorgeous day.  

I loved this bridge

Lots of Bees and this Pheasant

Some people might think gophers are a pest but I think they are cute!

This little guy was posing for me

And then we stopped by the Three Forks ponds and got to see these Pelicans

I have never seen pelicans in real life before

So Awesome!

Last weekend was the perfect weekend.  Not only was the weather perfect, but it was Easter, and it was so very nice to get out and enjoy the outdoors!  My next post will cover what we did on Easter Sunday, so look for that coming up soon.  

Memories of Easter's in the Past

Easter growing up and still to this day is going to my grandma's house in Hinckley, Utah. The Hinckley town park held their annual Easter Egg hunt Saturday morning. I remember how much fun that was, having all my cousins around and finding (at that time) real hard boiled Easter eggs along with all the other kids in town.

After the hunt was over we would all gather back at Grandma's house and while the adults prepared our Easter dinner, all of us kids would take turns hiding the eggs and finding them over and over again. We had so much fun. I still love hiding and finding eggs. It's something I look forward to every year.

Many years, if the weather was decent, we would pack picnic lunches and head to the sand dunes. We would roll Easter eggs down the dunes and have contests to see whose egg would get to the bottom first. We rode ATV's, flew kites, and played in the sand. We always hoped the weather for Easter weekend would be nice enough so we could go to the dunes.

If we didn't go to the dunes, the Jubilee store in town of Delta which is about 5 miles from Hinckley sells Hot Dogs, Cotton candy, drinks, ice cream for 10 cents each over the Easter weekend. So we would always take the whole family down there and get lunch for the whole family for pretty darn cheap. I still look forward to that also. There is something about the hot dogs they make, even a person who doesn't like hot dogs (me), would like these ones. It's a fun tradition.

On Easter Sunday, the Easter Bunny would hide our Easter baskets and we would have to search for them. Along with Easter baskets filled with goodies, we would usually get a dress and sandals. We would get dressed up in our new clothes and go to church with the whole family.

What wonderful traditions and memories those traditions hold for me year after year and for which I have carried on for my own children. However, this year is not keeping to tradition because my kids are in Cedar City and none of the extended family will be going to Hinckley either, due to other things going on in their lives. So I guess I will be enjoying a quiet weekend with my husband, we will go to church and my siblings who live in the area will gather at my parents home on Sunday afternoon for Easter dinner. We got together today at my sisters house and colored Easter eggs, ate pizza and watched movies. So that's something and it was fun but it was different then what I am used to.

While I think about Easter I also want to remember what Easter is really about. I am so grateful for my brother Jesus Christ, for his sacrifice, for the knowledge I have that he died for me, and that he was resurrected so that me may all return to our Father in Heaven some day. Let us all remember the true meaning of Easter and be thankful to Jesus Christ our Savior for his death and his Resurrection.

It has been really good to reminisce about the old days. I cherish all the wonderful memories I have of past Easters. What are your past Easter memories and traditions?