Happy New Year

Where have I been? Well I got snowed in at my boyfriends, who doesn't have Internet. Then we went to the very disapointing Denver Broncos game for his birthday and New Years (my surprise gift to him). I had a post scheduled for about four days ago, but apparently my limited technology abilities prohibited that from happening, somehow.
Anyway, Happy New Year!
The above photo is some of my photography and writing from the last year. A big THANK YOU to everyone for all the support, business, compliments and suggestions. 2011 was a great year for me, and all of you had a big part of making it that way. I really appreciate it!
Very excited to dive into 2012 full tilt, and make it an even better year!

Misc. Photos

If you come here for the photos, I apologize for the lack of them in recent weeks. Hopefully my Internet issues are permanently fixed. Here are a few random shots I've taken in the last few weeks for you to enjoy!

A New Chapter

The sun set on my days as an assistant editor last Friday, and I am so relieved and happy. These major work related decisions are never easy, and this one was no exception. I certainly did not plan to leave the paper after a year and half, but, I am confident it was the right choice, especially after the last month since I gave my notice I was leaving.
The last few days have included a weekend at the guys house, meeting his dad and brother, unpacking more stuff than my Acura knew it could hold, fencing, making freelance writing phone calls, booking the first photography job since quitting at the paper, cleaning up the ol' personal Dell computer and a pluthera of other activities. It's been fun, fast paced, and relatively stress free, all things considered.
I am now fully inbedded in ranch work, photography work and diving into the world of freelance writing.

Hello

Hello hello. I have had several new people follow and comment on my blog in the past few weeks. Thank you all so much! I've enjoyed hearing from you, and about where you're from and what you do. I've been to several of your blogs and loved reading your stories and looking at your pictures as well.
I recently saw a post where a girl went through the ABC's to describe herself. She had great little questions for each letter, and I didn't save it and can't find it again. But, I thought the idea would be a relatively quick and easy to tell you a little about me if you're new to reading this.

A- Agriculture. It's how I was raised and encompasses my life, as it has generations of my family before me. It's also the primary focus of this blog.

B- Blonde. I'm a natural blonde. (you can take that any way you wish)

C- Cattle. I love cattle, and am especially fascinated with genetics and using them to improve cattle. I head up anything regarding genetic selection on our operation, and raising cattle is my favorite thing to do.

D- Dogs. I have two, a mini Aussie named Emmie Lou and a mini Dachshund name Pearl.

E- Expectations. I expect a lot out of other people. But, no matter who you are and what the situation is, I always expect the most out of myself, in every instance.

F- Family/Faith. I have a very strong family. We are a great team and love and support each other through everything. I also believe in God wholly, and know, without a doubt, that the only way I've achieved what I have is with God's help.

G- Government. I am very conservative, and believe less is more when it comes to government. I also believe if you want to run for president you should have served in our military. If you want to be in charge of our country you should be willing to fight for, and die, to protect it. I also have no sympathy for people who complain about government, but who don't vote. This is the only place in the world with this form of democratic government, if you don't like having that right, feel free to move somewhere where it doesn't exist.

H- Heather Hamilton. That's me, and the name Hamilton encompasses a lot of hard working, ambitious people that I'm proud to be related to. I have a family that keeps track of their history, and we can trace our ancestors back to before they came to America, and tell you what they did, and how we came to be where and what we are. It's fascinating to know where you came from in my opinion.

I- Impatient. I do not have patience.

J- Journal. I keep a journal so I can remember what I've done, where I've been, who I've met and what I've seen when I'm not living this sometimes fast-paced life I currently have. It's just a short entry each day, depicting the days events, and I would recommend trying it. I enjoy glancing back through it from time to time, remembering trips and people.

K- Kids. No, I don't have any, yes I do want them, someday. I would like to have a big family in the future, and, in typical girl fashion, I have names I picked out for both boys and girls.

L- Lattes. I love lattes. Not black coffee - lattes. I have my own (cheap) espresso machine, coffee bean grinder and syrups, and make my own pretty much every day. Making your own is considerably cheaper than making a trip to Starbucks every morning, and I enjoy trying different kinds of beans and syrup flavors.

M- Music. I love music and am much more likely to have music playing instead of the tv at my house. I listen to Texas Country a lot. I also enjoy modern and older country and rock. I listen to the more pop/rap stuff when I'm running. My favorite instrument is the piano.

N- NyQuil. I have an awful time sleeping, especially in town. This is my go-to nighttime sleep aid, when I choose to take something.

O- Occupation. My jobs include being the assistant editor of a statewide weekly ag newspaper in Wyoming, my photography business, and working on the family ranch. Certainly keeps me occupied most of the time.

P- Photography. I truly enjoy it, and after cattle it's my favorite past time. I literally have a camera with me 24-7, except when gathering cattle on a horse.

Q- Quarter Horses. I have two horses, and enjoy using them. I do not trail ride, or anything like that. However, some of my favorite activities include sorting pairs and moving cattle horseback.

R- Reader. I love to read, especially fiction, and anything that deals with cattle reproduction or nutrition.

S- Short. I am 5' 2 1/2" tall, and I am quite proud of that extra 1/2' - at my height you have to take every little bit you can get : )

T-Thrifty. I enjoy thrift store shopping, and hunting for that perfect piece of furniture or decor at a fraction of the cost new. I also enjoy antiques, and other old items, which adds fuel to the fire in this area. While were on it, I pretty much love shopping in any form.

U- University of Wyoming. This is where I got my bachelors degree, in Animal Science.

V- Vacation. Yes please! I've been all over the U.S., to Canada once and Mexico twice. I love to travel and see new places and am hopeful I can plan a trip to somewhere new sometime this year.

W- Wyoming. This is where I was born and raised, and I love it here. As mentioned, I've traveled a lot, and lived in other parts of the U.S. I feel it's important to be well-traveled, to make sure where you end up is where you belong. I've enjoyed seeing many new and exciting places, but this is, and always will be, home.

X- hmm...how about my mom's family. Another example of a hard-working group of people. My grandparents did everything from own trailer courts, gas stations and an excavating company to managing and maintaining now famous ski resorts in Colorado. My grandpa is also a veteran and worked as miner for decades, and my grandma was the secretary at the high school.

Y- Yacker. My dad says my sister is just like me, she gets going and just, "yacks, yacks, yacks." While I'm not that talkative if I don't know you, or around a big group, I talk a lot around my friends and close family, and get teased about it regularly.

Z- I've got nothing, but since it didn't make it anywhere else I would like to mention I am one of those people with lots of acquaintances, but very few really close friends. My best friend is like a sister, and I'm so blessed to have her in my life.

Wednesday shots

Here are a few photos from last weekend for you to look through. Several of these have also been sent off to be considered for ads and whatnot in a magazine, which is why so many of them are verticals - per their request.

Happy Friday!

I am headed to Torrington for an oil and gas development workshop tomorrow, and am going home from there!

I talked to my dad this morning, who laughingly told me to get all caught up on my sleep, because I wouldn't be getting much while home as I will be in charge of calving heifers, and he is leaving to haul hay.

I told him to bring it on :)

Hope you all have a great Friday, and weekend!

This photo was recently taken at my family's place, and is an old sheep barn that we will be replacing in the near future (that means in the next few years).

February Cold

Here are some images from my February 19th and 20th trip home. It was a cold, foggy and snowy weekend, which made for lots of feeding and some great pictures! Have a great Monday!

Heifers are red...

Violets are blue... and you can take it from there.
In honor of Valentines Day I have some red heifer pictures for you. Without a man in my life this is as romantic as it gets for this year :)
They belong to our neighbor, and were right on road when I went by yesterday evening. I couldn't resist stopping for a few minutes.
Hope you have a wonderful Valentines Day!

Welcome Weekend!

The sun is setting on another week. Hope you all have a blessed weekend!

Shirley Basin Sunset

I drove to Laramie and back yesterday to conduct two interviews for the Roundup. My trip home coincided perfectly with the beautiful Wyoming sunset.

Business update

In case you want to see more of my pictures, or would prefer to see just my pictures without my opinion, you can check out the Double H Photography facebook page where there a couple weddings and variety of other pictures. I just added another wedding yesterday.
I haven't done a very good job of keeping the site updated, but am going to work much harder at it this year! I am open to feedback on the site. I went with a facebook page for now because that's what the majority of my past clients indicated they liked for a web presence. Any thoughts and/or ideas are welcome.
If you, or someone you know, is getting married, or needs engagement, senior or family portraits, now is the time to book them. I am still taking pictures as my newspaper schedule allows, and would be happy to send you a quote. I am also willing to travel. The big thing for me right now is planning in advance, so I can fit as much photography work into my schedule as possible!
I thought I would share all of this information because I have had a few people call/text/facebook/email me in the last week asking these questions. Feel free to ask more if you have them.
Otherwise have a good day and I hope you enjoy the photos!

Christmas break

Tomorrow I will be heading north, and east, to my grandmas house in the black hills for the start of a week-long vacation. To say I'm excited would be a mild understatement.
We do a family get-together at my grandma's on Christmas Eve day, and have a big lunch and gift exchange. Tomorrow night is another family Christmas party (the Livingston one, in case I forget later), and I will be in attendance for the first time in several years.
I have called my grandma and made reservations to stay with her tomorrow night. She assured my that "my room" would be ready, and she would open the door and let it warm up. Thank goodness! That room is beyond brisk, and would pose serious issues during the winter if there were any water pipes in its walls. Fortunately the pellet stove is right outside the door, and my grandma is a firm believer in electric blankets! Add to that a heavy pair of socks and sweats, a dose of NyQuil, and I'll sleep like a baby...I hope.
Following all that fun and excitement, I will be headed home for Christmas, and a week long reprieve from typing stories, sitting at a desk and making phone calls. Bring on feeding hay and cake, chopping ice, discussing how the cows look, seeing the calves and whatever else comes up!
Wrapping up my vacation will be a bridal shower in Cheyenne, if the weather cooperates!
I'm ready to see this view, these cows, and to drive this road that is almost totally devoid of traffic, beyond that of the bovine variety. I am ready to out of cell service range, away from people, and surrounded by home.
In preparation for my week off, I have been busy freeing up space on memory cards (I have 12 GB of storage cleared up, and my computers are groaning at having all those pictures now saved on them), charging my camera's batteries, gathering up all my winter work gear and wrapping presents. I have added a whole new play list to my ipod, laced heavily with the Scott Wiggins Band, Cory Morrow and other Texas Country artists mixed with a little mainstream country and rock.
Tonight I need to wash my dishes, clean out my fridge (it looks like a science project), wrap one last gift, pack, load the car, and make sure to remember the Apples to Apples game and my old espresso maker!
Whew! So much to do, so much fun!
Hope you all have a Merry Christmas! While I'm sure there be other posts later in the day.. I am siting at my desk this week... I wanted to make sure I told everyone happy holidays! May God bless you and yours as we all celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in a couple days!

One more trip

Here are a batch of photos taken during my last trip to the Kaycee area for Winter Cattlemen's interviews last week.