Why I Love Wyoming

Both of my parents grew up here in Evanston, so for as long as I can remember I've been coming to this place for family reunions and such. This place - the Diamond X ranch - has come to feel like a second home to me. I can remember feeding the bum lambs, sleigh rides and Christmases, riding horses and rafting down the "crick" and walking around with cousins. Even though I have lived most of my life in rainy western Washington and love the beauty there, I love the different sort of beauty that part of Wyoming as well. The pure ranch beauty is impossible to describe and wonderful to experience. Some of my earliest memories are from this place; I can remember going on horse rides and hay rides, getting out of the heat in the summer and into the warm in the winter. Campfire songs and bonfires, camping out and looking at the stars -- it's all part of the Wyoming experience that I have come to love and cherish.

History of the Diamond X

Our great-grandfather, Hight Proffit, owned the Diamond X brand. He moved to Wyoming from North Carolina and was very proud of being a real rancher. The Diamond X is part of the Bear River Ranch and Retreat, which is to this day a real working ranch. I (Cecelia) can remember visiting the ranch when I was very little and being with "Ranch Grandpa." Ranch Grandpa died in 2002, but we his family are proud to continue his legacy and introduce others to the ranching lifestyle through the Diamond X. My Dad and his siblings grew up on the Proffit Ranch and so it is a very special place for our family. In 2006 my grandpa Larry purchased part of the adjoining ranch and partnered with his brother Don to create the Diamond X Guest Ranch and Retreat. Since then our family has had a place to gather on a regular basis, bringing us closer together. Our goal is to help other families and groups experience the western Wyoming lifestyle that is so important to us. As Tim Hansel said, "More of life should be like this, I think... Living on the edge always has it's own reward. Fullness. Richness. All the senses alive!" For more information, visit diamondxguestranch.com
For more on my Ranch Grandpa, read this post: http://famouspeopleihaveknown.blogspot.com/2008/09/hight-proffit.html

Happy New Year!

Our family has a tradition of all gathering together twice a year at the ranch for an awesome time. In the summer, we have everyone come out and either camp on the ranch or stay in the house. Everyone in the family is invited, including grandpa's cousins and their families. In the winter, however, it's just us - Pat and Larry, all their kids, and all their grandkids. Pretty crowded and noisy, but super fun. This winter is the first time in a long time we've had the entire family all together in one house. This morning we took the opportunity to take family photos. The winter scene was the perfect background - though the sun was extremely bright and it was a bit cold outside... :D This afternoon we all went on a sleigh ride around the Proffit Ranch. Earlier in the week we went sledding as a family. Some of the adults and older kids went cross-country skiing around the property, about an hour-long trip. We've also been enjoying the use of the large kitchen and dining area. Mary Bright made an awesome table with a real rustic look, and from the glass doors you can look out onto the beautiful wyoming landscape. The scenery in the winter is just breathtaking. We've also gone into town to the Evanston Recreation Center for swimming, basketball, and wrestling. The Diamond X is located just 10 miles from the actual town of Evanston so it's easy enough to go in to WalMart or whatever for groceries, but you still feel removed from the busy world and in a more peaceful place. Even when the little kids are screaming. :D In previous years, our family has gone ice skating on a pond near the Proffit Ranch House. And of course, in a large family like ours, there's never a boring moment. There are games to play, cousins to play them with, and all the time in the world to do it. Until we go home. January 2nd is the worst day of the year for us...