Cowgirl Fashion Photo Shoot: Adam Kimmel

Last week, I was photographed by our friend Larry, to try out for a modeling job at a fashion photo shoot that was coming to the ranch. I expected them to just pass me by and show up with two blonds, but they decided to hire me! I was very excited! I checked out the designer's website ahead of time, and found some great outfits. I couldn't wait to see what designer fashions I would get to wear!

On Monday, Larry brought part of the crew down to scout the locations. I met Adam Kimmel, the designer; Jim Krantz, the photographer, and his wife Susan; Lynn, the producer; and a couple other crew members. They told me they had changed my schedule to Wednesday instead of Tuesday. We had a very nice visit. I asked Adam if I should wear my glasses or contacts, and he said, "Whatever you feel most comfortable in. Whenever I wear glasses with a cowboy hat it looks silly." I said, "I guess I should start looking in the mirror."

On Tuesday, I went out to the photo shoot site to see how it was going and talked to the producer, Lynn, about what time I should be there, etc. I asked her if there would be a makeup person, and she said, "No, they just want you au naturale." It really is a good thing Jenny taught me how to do natural-looking makeup!

Lynn told me to bring my cowboy "hats." Well, my dad commandeered my black Stetson a number of years ago and stretched it out. Number One took my brown cowboy hat and shrunk it, and I wasn't sure I could stretch it by 5AM the following morning. I haven't been anywhere to get a new hat yet. So I panicked a bit. Then I remembered that our dear friend Jean-Claude left his hat at CG's house, to ensure that he'll come back someday. I went up and tried it on, and if fit perfectly! Problem solved. I gathered the rest of my gear, my chinks, my two pairs of boots, contacts & saline solution, etc.

On the morning of the shoot, I woke up at 3:30am. I tried to sleep again until 4, but wasn't very successful.

At 4:00AM, I kicked Number One out of bed to go turn on the generator. We made coffee, and I got ready for my very first modeling job! We were scheduled to meet around 5:15AM, down at the Marlboro Corral. When you're the first person at the shoot, you have to open the gate. The moon was still out, but my little point and shoot doesn't take very good night pictures.


It's called the Marlboro Corral because it was built by some guys from Marlboro. It's quite rickety, so it's not very useful, but it is picturesque. Incidentally, it's not in any of the pictures that I saw being taken. And I didn't take any pictures of it either.

Below you can see the first car coming down the road to the photo shoot site.


Number One brought over some horses for us to use.


After everyone arrived, it was getting to be daylight. There was coffee (thank goodness) and breakfast sandwiches, fruit, etc.

They decided that they didn't want to shoot me (the girl) on a horse. So I just had to wait some more, but it was fun.


The male "cowboy/model" took off on a horse named Pete so they could take photos of him riding on a ridge. He was having trouble with the horse, getting more and more agitated (during which time the photographer, Jim Krantz, got some awesome shots of the horse rearing). The producer asked me to take the "cowboy/model" a different horse. I put a bridle on Zack, hopped on and rode while leading another horse over and up to where Pete and the "cowboy/model" were having their tiff. (and I didn't have my camera with me)

The "cowboy/model" saddled the second horse, hopped on and attempted to take off. I stayed up on the ridge, but out of the camera shot, just in case he needed anything else. The horse, having not yet been ridden, did not take kindly to the "cowboy/model's" spurs. He really should have warmed up the horse a bit before trying to gallop towards a cliff edge, but he didn't.

The horses could feel his anxiety and his anger. This "cowboy/model" was nervous about being bucked off, saying things like "I'm too old to fall on these rocks" and he started to make comments about our horses, and he was just plain angry. He also cussed in my presence. Not that I've never heard it before, but still he should have been more professional. I was trying to settle the horses down, calm them down, and here he was just being a jerk to them and then getting pissed and wondering why they weren't responding to him.

He even made a comment about the care of the horses, even though HE was the last person to ride them the day before and didn't brush them down after. I was not impressed with this man at all, which is why he doesn't deserve to be named here and the term "cowboy" is in quotes along with "model" because in my opinion, this jerk is neither.

So after the second horse (surprise!) didn't respond to him after 30 seconds, he wanted Zack, the horse with my saddle on. The photographer and entire crew were down there waiting, and he wanted to switch saddles. AGAIN. So we did. Larry walked all the way up the ridge to see what was going on.

With Larry, I led the horses down the rocky slope and out of the camera shot. I told Larry that guy should have brought his own horses. I pet the horses and apologized to them for that guy's behavior, and led them to a bunch of delicious grass.

Then Lynn, the producer, came to get me and take me to wardrobe to get dressed. I put on a luxuriously soft black sweater with embroidered steer heads on the front of the shoulders, along with my own Levi's, chinks, and boots. I asked the wardrobe ladies, Sabine (I think) and Natasha what it was made of, and Sabine said, "I don't know, probably cashmere." It was very warm and comfortable. We drove back over to the other ridge where they were shooting.

They decided that they wanted to get some pictures of me walking down a ridge, leading a horse. I walked UP the road and back down the ridge at least 6 times. Let me just tell you, it's not that easy walking down a ridge in the desert and avoiding cactus, rocks, sagebrush while "keeping your head up and looking around." I'm not sure how many pictures Jim took, but there were some really great ones.

In the meantime, the crew was setting up this muslin screen for "LookBook" shots.


I did some modeling for the LookBook photos, similar to the guy above. Just sort of walking in front of the screen, moving around in front of the screen. It was pretty fun. First I modeled the black steer head sweater. They told me they were just going to have me model the one outfit.

But then, they decided to put me in another outfit! Woohoo, time for wardrobe change. I do have to say it's a little strange to change clothes in front of a bunch of other people, but whatever, it was still fun. I wore a blue striped shirt, another probably cashmere cardigan, and tried on some unbelievably soft suspender pants in a gray sweatpant (but much softer) material. The gray pants didn't fit well, so back into my Levi's, chinks and boots. And of course the hat.

During the second outfit, it was really windy, but this made some nice effects with my hair flying around. There are some excellent shots of this outfit as well. Unfortunately, I don't have any to show you right now. But Jim and Susan are going to send me some, or eventually some might make it into Adam's 2010 LookBook!

When the crew broke for lunch and headed back to town, I went home. They were coming back around 4:30pm for another session. Number One had to take the horses back to the location, and he said they had invited us to have dinner with them at the corral. I got H-Bomb and Sawed Off dressed (in pants, even!) and headed over there.


The boys had a great time exploring in the desert, and Jim took some awesome family photos. He said he's going to send us some prints.

They took more LookBook photos of different models, including CG, and then took photos of Adam Kimmel himself. (center, facing the camera)


We had a dinner catered by a local restaurant, and everyone commented how cute H-Bomb and Sawed Off were in their cowboy hats and boots. And they tormented Natasha with a huge flying beetle they caught.

As the sun was starting to set, they got four male "cowboy/models" on horses, and started up the smoke machines. There will be some amazing photos from this shoot. I got a couple decent shots with my little digital.


It was a fantastic day, out of the ordinary, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I met some great people, and I wish them all the best. I'm so happy I was able to be a part of Adam Kimmel's LookBook 2010. The photos are on their way to Italy and/or Paris for a show in about a week, and I can't wait to see myself on his website!

A Canyonful of Balloons

On Monday night, Wifey said some guy was going to park his RV out in the field where Marlboro usually sets up. She said some folks were going to travel down the canyon in a hot air balloon the next morning. I didn't know anything about it.

Tuesday morning, we woke up and I decided we all needed to go out in the field and watch. And wait. The balloon was supposed to float by around 7:30am, so we took some lawn chairs and coffee and dry granola for H-Bomb and Sawed Off out to the field. Then we waited. At around 7:40am, Wifey ran back to get some blankets and waffles.

I don't know how much longer we waited, until we saw this:


And we thought, man, he's flying kind of low. It was cool and all, but sort of anticlimactic, since he didn't crash land in the reservoir or anything.

Until we saw another balloon.

And another.

And they just kept coming.

There were about 8 balloons in all. I didn't get digital pictures of all of them because of course my camera battery died. I was also taking pictures with my 35mm (so you have something to look forward to). At some point I had to run back to the lawn chairs and get more film.


We watched the balloons for a very long time, much longer than I had intended since it was a school day for H-Bomb and no one was even dressed yet.



As we watched the balloons drift by, I also couldn't help but think of Stephanie and Christian Nielson. I don't think I have mentioned them on this blog before, but they have been constantly in my thoughts and in my heart since August, when they became survivors of a small plane crash in which the pilot died. Both Stephanie and Christian suffered severe burns, hers much worse than his, and both remain in critical condition in an Arizona burn unit. You may have heard about their accident, or about Stephanie's lovely blog, the NieNie Dialogues, both of which were covered nationally as well as by The New York Times and the Today Show.

The Nielsons have a family tradition of releasing balloons with hopes attached to them, to celebrate occasions in the lives of themselves and their four young children. Of course I thought of them. How could I not. And all my hopes for them were attached to these balloons that passed right over the ranch. Great Big Hopes, with Great Big Balloons.

If you would like to learn more about Stephanie and Christian's recovery, or contribute to their exponentially growing medical bills, you may read C Jane Enjoy It (written by Stephanie's loving sister, Courtney), where there are several ways to contribute. Fundraising efforts are also in full swing on the Nie Recovery website. Please at the very least keep good thoughts for them in your heart, they are very powerful things.


A couple of the balloons flew right over our heads, down the middle of the canyon. The horses and cows noticed the balloons too. They started running around the fields, confused.

The horses galloped over to us, "Are you guys SEEING this?"

And then they stood quietly and watched the balloons float away.

A balloon team (do you call them teams? a pilot and the crew?) drove in, testing the wind, watching their friends fly by. A couple of the balloons (including the first one) flew very low, over the reservoir. One guy touched down in the reservoir, in the water, and the balloon team suggested he had done a "Splash & Dash." But one of them said it may not have been on purpose. Then the possible splash & dasher touched down in the field, very close to a dead tree, and took off again. We don't know if he was playing around or having problems.

The balloon team decided to try to launch, right from the drive! It was exciting to watch them set up the basket, unpack the balloon, try to inflate it. And then they ultimately decided that it was too windy to launch. They were trying to gently deflate the balloon and set it back down on the tarp, but they asked for more weight. I ran over and tried to help them hold the basket down, control its location, while they were working on getting the balloon set down. It was really cool. A whole new world.

H-Bomb got to learn about what makes the fire (propane, like our heaters) and he and Sawed Off got to watch the whole thing up close.

Back in Michigan, we used to see occasional hot air balloons, but not like this. Not this close. Or this many. When my pictures are developed, I will post more from the set-up at the ranch headquarters entrance, and more of the balloons in flight.

At some point I ran back to the house to get the van, and we drove the van back when I decided we couldn't possibly stay any longer and still make it to school on time. We usually leave around 10:am, but because of all the balloon excitement and running around, I decided I needed a quick shower at 10:am. We still made it to school on time, with stories for H-Bomb to tell.

Open Range

The horses got out yesterday. One of GBNP's rangers came driving in, and told me they were on the road. Perfect. Of course Number One is up on the mountain. Wifey came to watch the boys, and I grabbed a halter, and took off to try to get them in.

The only problem with this scenario? I didn't know where to put them. I wasn't sure where they had gotten out, and I was not entirely sure where they had been. I had seen them earlier in the field by CG's house, but none of those gates to the road were open.

I parked the van in the road by a curve, with the hazard lights going, and took off on foot. Of course none of them wanted to come near me. I finally got a halter around one, and he followed me all the way to the gate, into the field. I put him in, closed one gate, but left the other gate open and went back for more. It was hot walking on that pavement!

This is a busy season, traffic-wise, lots of tourons (tourist + moron = touron!) driving too fast in a rush to "See It All--Now!" So I wondered not only if the horses might get hit, but if my van would. Luckily nothing got hit. I got behind our miniature horse, Bilbo, and he started running. I ran behind the others, encouraging them by slapping my legs and yelling, and they all headed right in the gate. I still didn't know where they belonged, but there were off the road.

I cruised the fence line, found a gate that looked like it may have been cut (not much wire to fasten it) and managed to fasten it with the only tool I had: my fingers. Good thing I have pretty strong fingers. No other gates were open.

I was headed out on foot to check a couple other gates through the fields when I realized: I have to go through some tall brush. There might be snakes in there. I am wearing my sparkly sandals. I hopped in Number One's jeep and maneuvered it through the fields. I didn't know which gates were supposed to be open, which gates closed, but I figured if the horses could get to water, they'd be fine.

I sent Number One, up on the mountain, several text messages asking what to do, where the horses should be, etc. (In case you're wondering...no, we still don't have phone service of any kind down here. There is spotty cell service on the mountain, so I can email Number One from the computer, he receives it as a text, and then texts me back, which I receive as an email. It's basically emailing between cell phone and computer. It confuses some people. I'm honestly not sure why...)

This morning. A couple more park rangers drive in. The horses are on the road! First I said "Again?" And then I asked "Where?" Because the gate was open to the "Open Range" section--I knew the horses could get water at the creek, so when I found it open I left it open.

For those of you who aren't familiar with the term, "Open Range," it basically means an unfenced area through which a road runs, which isn't fenced so the animals are free to "range" back and forth on both sides of the road. This allows sections of land with no water (on one side of the road) to be connected to sections of land with water (on the other side of the road) so the land can be put to better use. It is well-marked with signs, so people have been warned. If they drive too fast, they are putting their own vehicles at risk--you don't want to hit a cow or a horse unless you want your car totaled.

The ladies said the horses were in the open range section. I said, "Okay, good, that's fine." But they wouldn't let it go. "People drive so fast! That little one is going to get hit! The chances! Oh, I just know one of them is going to get hit!"

"Yeah, yeah, I don't know what you want me to do about it. It's clearly marked open range, people need to slow down, cows get hit all the time because people drive too fast" I said.

They wouldn't stop. I kept repeating, "well, people need to slow down and look out" and finally they sort of threw up their hands and left. Honestly. They're our horses, right? It would be sad if one got hit, but of what concern is it to you? I'm not going to sit and argue with you when our horses and cows have a legal right to be where they are, when there are signs clearly stating Open Range. (Except for one time, someone put "W" stickers over all the R's on the signs, so the sign actually said, "Open Wange." Number One and I thought it was hilarious!)

I went inside, where I then got a text message/email from Number One. He said the horses were supposed to be in the pastures near the houses. Not in the open range. So I had to go get them in. I tried to find Wifey but she wasn't around. I packed up the boys in the minivan, grabbed a hat and took off. The halter from yesterday was still in the van.

I figured the horses would be right there, near the gate so I could just push them in. But NO. Where did I find them?


THREE MILES down the road. And guess where the four wheeler is? On the mountain. And I'm in a minivan, with two boys in the back. No off-road horse chasing with that thing.


I got behind the horses, parked the van and got out. There was a ton of traffic to watch the show. I whooped and hollered and ran after them, got them all herded up and headed in the right direction. I ran after them for a little while, then ran back to the van and drove ahead, yelling and honking from inside the van. I'm sure it was a sight.


I had to stop the van and get out and run behind them three or four times, but finally, in their own meandering, roundabout way, the horses just kept running in the right direction. Thank goodness, because the road veered away from their path at one point and they were a good half-mile or so away from me. No way I'm running through the desert that far in my sparkly sandals. (Yes, I wear them everyday. No, I didn't think to change my shoes before I left. I honestly thought it would be a piece of cake. I didn't envision I would be running through the desert and down the road so far in my sparkly sandals)


So, the horses kept running, me following beside them now, 1/2 mile away, still yelling and honking, waving cars past me. And I see Wifey, driving her truck down the trail, about right where the horses are headed! I really hoped she would see the horses running toward her, and park out of their path. Thankfully, she did.


The horses stopped at the irrigation ditch for a drink, and I drove down there, got out of the van again and herded them out of the ditch. They knew right where they were supposed to go, and ran right through the gate into the field. I ran after them and attempted to close the gate behind them.


I don't know what is up with this gate, but I couldn't close it correctly. I tried for a long time, but finally I just had to use my fingers again, and wrap a loop of wire around the bottom. At least it gives the horses and cows an "idea" of a gate. They could get through it if they wanted to, but I bet they won't.


Wifey had been picking flowers for her and I, some kind of lovely weeds. And she saw all of these hummingbird moths on the flowers, so I took some pictures.



The horses were right where they were supposed to be when I got home. And I got enough exercise for the week!