OLR Developments

Since our photography business started with this blog, I thought that y'all should be the first to know about some recent developments with Our Little Ranch.

Do you remember when we changed our logo and blog design? Well we have not been 100% sold on our recent blog design and are about to get a complete overhaul with our blog. We cannot wait to show it to you! We think that it is great and very new and fresh.

1) Our future blog will be hosted within our photography web site.

2) It will better portray our sense of style and the way we would like to portray our business.

3) We have a few new ideas that we will let you in on once we get our new blog ready.

4) I don't think that I have a #4.

So, hang in there and do not like the excitement push you over the edge.

In the mean time, I was out playing with the camera, trying to perfect my exposure skills. Wilma happened to be my subject and she was not wanting to cooperate. She had other ideas. Like chasing the butterflies in the flower garden or playing in the sprinkler.

I used a few elements from our new blog design to jazz up her picture.

Anyone have any guesses to what our new blog theme will look like?

Stay tuned. We should have the new blog up and running any day now!

That'll be $0.40 extra

First off, the weather up here in Indiana is wonderful! It has been in the 70's the past two days and we have had the windows open and the cool breeze is blowing through the house. I think that it is going to get back into the 90's tomorrow, but then cool off again.

Secondly, we (mainly I) have been busy going to all my old stomping grounds. It is nice to see how things have changed since I moved to Texas. I have also been running into some old friends. Just last night, Catherine and I met up with one of my old friends Chrissie Cartmell. She now works for John Deere in Kansas City, but she was making a trip back for a wedding and happened to be coming through our area last night. When Chrissie called me she asked if we could meet for dinner. I was thinking that we would meet at a nice steakhouse or someplace upscale. Instead her suggestion was to meet at the Lindy Freeze. The Lindy Freeze is a quaint little building that serves things like hamburgers, fried tenderloin sandwiches, chili cheese fries, sweet corn nuggets and other eats like that. It also has a great selection of ice cream treats, although I was rather depressed that they have done away with the slushy machine since I last visited. We shared a great meal, many laughs and an ice cream cone all whilst sitting on a rickety picnic table on a cool Indiana evening.

Thirdly, and the subject of this post, is while ordering my sandwich I was made aware that the Lindy Freeze now wants to nickel and dime you. When I ordered my sandwich I asked for a Breaded Tenderloin Sandwich with tomato and cheese. The girl who was taking my order said "It will be 40 cents extra for the cheese and 30 cents extra for the tomato."

WHAT!!!!!! Are you kidding me?

It drives me crazy when restaurants want to try and charge you for everything. Is a slice of cheese really $.40? or a tomato $.30? I guess if they want to charge extra for a condiment, they should tack on that expense to the sandwich or just be happy to get our business when there is other places we could go for our dinner.

I appreciate when businesses take care of their customers. For example at our local pizza joint you can have all the toppings you want for the same price. That is service! It is also nice when you go to a restaurant and the owner or manager is there and they want you to sample one of their dishes. It makes you feel like the appreciate your business, and rightfully so.

So to add insult to injury, once we finished our meal, both Catherine and I wanted to get a refill on our tea. Again we were met with "That'll be $.50!" So I just threw my cup in the trash and said "Forget This!," but Catherine was dying of thirst and she wanted to pay the extra money for a refill on tea. So I threw two quarters all the way to the back of the room and while they were getting the change, I stole the ice cream machine. That will teach them to charge me for cheese, tomatoes, and a tea refill. So if anyone wants to come by for the ice cream social later today, please do! We have lots of ice cream to get rid of.

Finally, while we were having internet problems yesterday, I walked about and took a couple pictures just around the house. Nothing special, just random shots to pass the time. If you scroll down any further to look at the pictures, that'll be $.40 extra!

This was a recent addition to our basement cave we stay in. And when I say "cave" it is a good thing. My mom had put in a new stained glass window in the door that leads into the basement, or so I thought. It is actually just a piece of plastic that has a pattern printed on it. It looks real and I had to touch it to make sure it wasn't an actual stained glass window. I think that I am going to "stain glass" all our windows when we get back.

I liked the flower, not sure what kind it is, and I took a picture of it. Then I cut it and put it around Wilma's neck. Then Wilma danced a flamenco.

This was the first day we got here. Mid 80's. We liked that, but now it is 67!!!!!

Finally, my mom has acquired a pineapple plant. Yes this is real and I am stealing it and taking it back to Texas. It is not the same pineapple we eat, but same family. I am still kinda fascinated by this.

That's all we got!

Random Facts about Luke

It seems like today everyone and their brother has a blog. Which is great! I love reading other people blogs and keeping up with what is going on in their lives. Our Little Ranch's blog started as just a way for us to be able to keep in touch with my family in Indiana, now it has grown into a developing photography business.

I really enjoy when bloggers blog with personal stories and not just boring, mundane, dull stuff. I like being able to read someone's blogs and feel like I know them. We try to keep our blog casual and personal, not professional and lifeless. So, keeping with that train of thought and in honor of my birthday, I am going to share some random facts about myself. This way you can feel like we are more than just a blogger and a blog reader. We are actually friends who could strike up a conversation and have stuff to talk about.

Here goes nothing!

1) I can never remember which hand my Aggie ring goes on and which hand my wedding ring goes on. I have to look at others to see where their rings are.

2) I hate being wet. I like swimming, and bathing, but when I get done I want to immediately be dry. I have contemplated installing a wind tunnel or trying to get those things in the car wash that dries your car when you get done.

3) The noise that a bathroom fan makes, makes me anxious and jittery. Don't ask why. I don't know.

4) I am horrified of snakes.

5) I have a tendency to be scared of the dark. Mainly because I am a rather skittish person and don't like being surprised and think that something is always lurking in the shadows. For this reason when I was younger I carried a pitchfork with me to and from the barn when I went out there at dark.

5) I think that tea tree shampoo is life changing.

6) I consider myself to be rather knowledgable about food, a foodie, if you will.

7) I can't spell or punctuate to save my life. I can't do math that well without a calculator.

8) Christmas music puts me in a better mood regardless of season. I listen to it year-round.

9) I still have a blankie. I don't sleep with it like I used to, but I know where it is at all times. Catherine has attempted to hide/steal it and it results in all out warfare.

10) I practice signing my name in various different ways about 34 times per day. I have an infatuation with handwriting and people signatures. I would say that my first impression of people is based off of their handwriting. So if I ask you for a sample, please don't be alarmed.

11) I hate hot weather. I would rather be wrapped in a parka in the middle of the frozen tundra than feel a bead of sweat roll down my forehead.

12) I love Disney music and movies. Also, Celtic/Riverdance stuff and instrumental music, but mainly Disney. Unless you throw in Star Wars, which is my favorite! My previous email was lukeskywalker58@… I am that into Star Wars.

13) My feet sweat like nobody's bid-ness. My parents had to cut out the feet portion of my pajamas when I was younger.

14) Kraft Mac & Cheese is king, Tropical Punch Kool-aid is queen.

15) I have always felt like I could have magical powers, I just don't know how to use them.

16) Miracle Whip is far superior to that nasty mayonnaise stuff.

17) I really want to travel to Australia, England, Scotland and Ireland.

18) I don't like to read. I have maybe read 10 books in my lifetime and they had a lot of pictures.

19) I don't like to shave. I maybe shave once a week.

20) I do like Kraft Mac & Cheese and kool-aid! Did you already know that?

21) Nursing homes and hospitals scare me. I just feel very uncomfortable and not sure what to do or say.

22) I am not a very shy person, but I am never the one to start a conversation with a stranger. I also never talk about my feelings or emotions. I just shut down and say nothing. I guess I am not a touchy-feely type person.

23) My sense of humor tends to be sarcastic in nature. Something that Catherine can't pick up on quite yet.

24) I think that video games should not be based on killing people. What happened to jumping on killer mushrooms and throwing turtle shells at people?

25) I wore braces for 6 years.

26) I am a fast walker and have no patience for slow walkers.

27) I wear a size 13 shoe.

28) When I hear a song I like, I can listen to it over and over with our tiring of it. I will usual sing along if no one else is around. I cannot sing in public. It horrifies me!

29) I have never had chicken pox.

30) I like to make people laugh.

31) I’m great with kids. I’m like a kid magnet. Kids love me for some reason. Seriously!

31) The first thing I do when I wake up is reach for my mobile phone.

32) Whenever I see a character holding his/her breathe in a movie or on television, I always attempt to hold my breathe in for as long as he/she can.

33) I still enjoy building and playing with Lego sets.

34) I think that is enough for now.

Now you know a little bit more about me. I can tell that our friendship is growing. Catherine and I are leaving for Indiana in the morning, taking pictures along the way, so be sure to check back for updates.

Have a great afternoon!

Janak Family Photo Session

Alright, alright! I know that I said I would post the pictures tomorrow, but we had something very tragic happen at Our Little Ranch. Both Catherine and I thought that there was a snake in our cabinet beneath the sink. Do you know what that does to a person?

Here is how it went down.

Catherine and I were watching something random on the tele. We both noticed that the cat, Dixie, was running back and forth in front of the cabinet below the sink. It should be said that I think the cat chases butterflies too, ones that we cannot see. So we just chalked it up to the cat being nuts.

However, this behavior went on for almost an hour. Then Catherine and I figured there was a mouse under the sink. You see, we have had mice under the sink and always set traps and catch them. They can sneak in through a hole that is by a pipe that goes underneath the house. (Why that hole has not been patched is beyond me.) After thinking that is was just a mouse, a lightbulb went off over our heads. Yes, a real light bulb, just like the cartoons. We both thought what if it was a snake looking for a mouse under the sink.

This caused us to go into a panic. I cannot stand a snake. I am horrified. Horrified!!

We had to come up with an action plan as to how we would open the cabinet to look, and if there was a snake, how we would terminate it. In the process of trying to figure out how we will get rid of this snake, I was in the kitchen cleaning off the counter tops. While I was doing this, Catherine screams out "OH S*^|!!!!, there it is!!"

This causes a panic. A. PANIC!

I think that my fight or flight mechanism needs to be oiled or something. Maybe I was just frozen with fear. I was not sure what was going on. I was thinking "Serpent, Attack, Must Run for Life!" but all that happened was I stood there.

Finally I was able to get my motor skills back. I bolted out of that kitchen high-stepping like a Tennessee Walking Horse with tears running down my face, mess in my britches, and no plan as to where I was going, just someplace else! I was convinced that the snake was in fact a huge Anaconda that escaped from the zoo and had a huge hunger for one Lucas B. Neumayr.

When I was flying past Catherine who was sitting at the dining room table I noticed that she was rolling with laughter. Wait, what the? How could she be laughing when our lives were in danger?

Turns out, she was laughing because there was no snake, not even a mouse. She made the whole thing up and thought it would be funny to try and scare the mess outta me. Well it worked! I thought I was a goner. But I got my revenge, while laughing like a Hyena at me, Catherine peed her pants!

Now back to the real issue, is there a snake under the sink or not. I was not going back into the kitchen again without a game plan. So I gathered up the following:

1) a baseball bat autographed by Carlos Lee with the Astros.
2) a machete
3) a broom

And here is what the plan was.

I would climb on the island and pull open the cabinet with the baseball bat. Then when the man-eating serpent came out, I would smash its head with the bat and while I had its head pinned against the floor, Catherine would chop it up with the machete. You follow?

The broom was a back up incase the snake broke past the initial resistance and we had to sweep it out from behind the couch or something.

So the plan was put into effect. I climbed on top of the island and shakily extended my arm with the baseball bat and slowly opened the cabinet. Care to guess what was in there? A huge, big, fat, slimy, scary nothing! Yeah, nothing was in there. No snake, no mouse, no gnome, nothing!

So I still have all my fingers and toes intact and I didn't have to engage in face-to-face combat with a serpent.

Wait, what is the title of this post? Oh yeah, the Janak's pictures. So here you go. Just disregard the previous stuff.
























This family was a blast to shoot, as you can tell from the pictures, they are a very happy family!

Janak Family Sneak Peek

We had a blast taking pictures today with the Janak family! They have such a great home with all the animals you could want. They have two dogs, two goats, and a donkey named Wally. As I was going through the pictures we took, I really liked this one and wanted to share it with you tonight.



Enjoy this little sneak peek, and check back tomorrow for the rest of the photos!

So I wanted to let you get your fill of yodeling before I posted a new blog.

We have had a lot of stuff happening around here recently and I don't even know where to start. It has been so hot, that I am counting the seconds until we get to leave this inferno again to head north. It will be warm during the days, but just wait until the sun goes down. I mean the temps drop quick and I may need a jacket. I am going to wear one, just to try to convince myself that it is cold.

I have a bunch of photos to show you from our trip to Colorado. Why I have not put those up yet, I don't know. I really don't. Something to do with the heat.

Catherine and I are about to head out the door to take a family session tonight. I will post those tomorrow, I promise.

Until then!

Jodeling!

I have a guilty obsession. Anytime I am bored on the computer, you can bet money on what I will be doing. YouTube-ing and more specifically listening to my favorite yodelers! Or more specifically "jodelers" in it's native tongue.

So I will take the liberty to enrich your lives with some classic tunes that I have discovered in my years of YouTube-ing. Once you watch these gems I am sure you will be trying to belt out some "Old Little Lady Who's" too!

Now before you go out and buy one of those ridiculous outfits and head to the Swiss Alps be sure you let Herr und Frau Neumayr (that's Mr. and Mrs Neumayr for your information) know of your plans so we can go too!

Also, from now on, please refer to me as Herr Neumayr. Make sure to us a German accent when you say it. You can also make your kids, family members, or talking parrot do the same.

bis morgen,
Herr Neumayr

From the road... Part Deux

So far our family vacation with Catherine's parents has been great. Just relaxed, simple fun! Yesterday we drove up to Estes Park and the temperature was a cool and comfortable 62 degrees. My oh my, how I have been waiting for temperatures like that. We are going to make the trek back up the mountain again today and visit all the shops and see what treasures we can find.

After sleeping until about 9 this morning, I got up and started to look at my pictures that I have taken so far. I picked the ones that I liked so far, and I have posted them below. I took these pictures while we were driving down the road, so some of them are a little blurry, but you can get the idea.

After I get done with this blog, we are going to get ready and head out for another day of being a complete tourist. Last night before dinner, we stopped at a Christmas shop and I found something that I am not sure I can live without. Well that is until I saw the price. At the Spruce House (Christmas 24-7-365) they had these amazing LED icicle lights that were 42 inches long and put on an amazing cascading light show. I had a total Griswold family Christmas in mind! I grabbed the price tag and turned it over. Then I feel out and had to be carried out on a stretcher and revived with smelling salts. Care to guess what the price on those stupid things were? $440.00!!!!!! What the! Scratch that idea, I will just stick to tinsel and spray snow.

Here are the pictures from the trip thus far. Be sure to check back for more later on. The scenery out here is amazing and I think that Our Little Ranch is going to pack up our headquarters and relocate up here.

Can you see why we had to leave? This was the temp when we left!

Seeing this made me a little nervous.

Gatorade Orange, our preferred drink of the trip. Catherine, Wilma and me all enjoyed an ice cold gatorade at each pit stop we made.

You could see for miles. I wish that I had a house out in the middle of nowhere like this so I could just sit on the porch and not worry about anyone coming to bother me. I think I could turn into a hermit in the future.

There's the beef! The whole trip I was waiting to see the first feed yard in west Texas. I think that it is something to do with all the trips that we made to feed yards on the judging team at A&M. Regardless, I really like feed yards and think that they are rather neat. I kind of wish I owned one. Kind of.

Wilma dog, Dilmer dog, Wilma wog, was the best travelling partner you could ask for. She just slept the whole time. She would wake up when she needed a pit stop, but otherwise she would be sleeping or entertaining herself in the back gnawing on a huge bone that her Grandma Luann got her.

Does this remind anyone else of the movie Tremors? You know the one with the giant man-eating worms. I envisioned myself running for my life and setting up camp on the top of a rock until Heather (Reba McEntire) and Burt (Michael Gross) could come rescue me.

We're almost there!

Whilst on this trip I have developed a fascination with wind farms. Just watching these huge yet majestic propellers mesmerized me.

Ha! This was a sign at one the RV parks that Catherine's parents stopped at with their trailer. I thought it was kinda neat, so I took a picture.

Finally some trifoam suds from the car wash. When we go to a car wash, we open up the vents and blow the fan as hard as we can to get the great bubblegum/fresh smell of this great colored foam.

Alright, off to scale the mountain side!

From the road...

We have so much to talk about, and so little time. I would like to say that we have had a good excuse for the lack of blog posting we have been doing. The heat? The phase of the moon perhaps? Actually the past few days we have been traveling with Catherine's family up to the cooler mountains of Colorado. We had to escape the broiling sun and the crazies (another blog). But the thing is, Catherine's parents drive slow, want to stop early and take advantage of every early bird special they can find. We have been on this trip now for three days and we just now made it into Colorado.

While on the trip we have been taking a lot of pictures from the road. Mainly of the neat landscape we see, a tumbleweed or two, a camel, and a cool RV Resort sign. Once we get settled in to our hotel tonight (we only have three more hours of driving + the speed of two slow drivers = we should get to our hotel some time mid-March.) I will try to let you in on the beautiful sights we have been seeing while on our trip.

Also, you may already know this but two nights ago Catherine started an Our Little Ranch Photography fan page on Facebook. We were a little hesitant to start this because we thought "What if we only get 25 friends?" We now have 452 people! Does that seem like insanity to anyone else. We are floored with the popularity of our work and all the kind words that people have been saying. So if you are not a fan of us on Facebook, please do so. You can just search for "Our Little Ranch Photography" and it will take you to our page.

I am about to get in the shower (TMI?) and then drag Catherine and Wilma to the car so we can go get with the slow drivers and try to spur them along. Until I can get the pictures from our trip up, I will leave you with my most recent favorite picture.

This is Ky Yackel from the Yackel family shoot that we did before we left. I will post the rest of the pictures later, but I cannot get over that I am the one that took this picture. I mean I feel like I really accomplished something when I look at this shot!



Ok got to go, Wilma is carrying my shoes down the hallway at the hotel.