What Fun it is to Ride and Sing a Sleighing Song Today

We spent a snowy Saturday (the 16th) with the Elwood Clan (the local ones, anyway) at Hardware Ranch (Callie called it "the Hard Ranch") at the top of Blacksmith Fork Canyon.  We enjoyed a sleigh ride (not exactly dashing through the snow on our "two-horse-open-sleigh" but quite thrilling nonetheless) to see the elk that feed there during the winter up close.  After our ride (and requisite sleighing song), we gathered in the chilly classroom shack near the visitor's center for our "inside picnic ".  The Hardware Ranch people told my dad the room would be open (it has tables and chairs for people like us to use) and heated, but it turned out that only one of those features was true.  But we dined on shake 'n' bake chicken, potato salad, chips, rolls, rice crispy treats and egg nog sugar cookies (oh yes, they were the bomb - thanks to Mel for that one!) in the cold anyway.  At least it was dry in there!  A fun day in the snow with the fam - just like old times.

There were a few in the herd with some good-sized
antlers.  Unfortunately I didn't really capture
any with my phone camera.  Just use your
imagination, I guess.

And one more of some elk and snow, because I like it.

Family shot by the horses.
(Yes, my eyes are closed.  Yes, I'm used to it.)

I'm terrible, but I can't remember the horses' names!
(I think one was Belle?)

"Those horses are very strong!"

This one makes me chuckle - it's like all those model-or-just-regular-
person-who-wants-to-be-glamorous-looking-away-from-the-camera
photos I see all the time on intagram.  But with a horse!