The 2011 Women Warriors & The Cowgirls ~ A Women Veterans Retreat

The Cowgirl Co-op was once again honored to host a retreat for women combat veterans.  The end of May 30 women warriors and 8 counselors came to the ranch for a weekend of fun, healing and connecting. We played together, broke bread together, cried together and came away with renewed strenght and new found friendships.

The weekend centered around horses, art and gardening. All endeavors that connect us with the healing powers of animals, creativity and the earth.  Thanks to assistance from the Spokane Vet Center, Red Cross and VA Medical Center the 2011 Women Warriors retreat was another succesful veteran event. Just see for yourself below….

 

Smiling Faces were how the weekend ended and this is how it all started…

 

The Women Warriors are almost to the ranch! Nestled in a valley on the back side of Green Bluff, WA the ranch is a peacful setting for healing.

Up the ranch drive  in giant trucks, the arriving women warriors just weren’t quite sure what to expect for the weekend!

De-trucking and ready for adventure.

“Commander cowgirl” Jill gives the first briefing and threatens to keep everyone in line with her blue fluff whip!

 

The first instruction on horses came from THE Cowgirl Shannon mounted on her trusty steed, Raven.

Intently learning horses!

 

 

Next experience was learning how to fire the pottery raku kiln!

After serious horse and art talk…. the cowgirls got out the industrial strength egg launcher! Launching and throwing raw eggs was fun for all! Sometimes you just have to break down and do something “eggxactly” ridiculous!

 Time for lunch and a chance to relax and break bread together.

Next it’s saddle up and get ready to ride!

Cowgirl Shannon ‘saddles’ her dog.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time to ride those ponies!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another class was into heavy metal! Cutting out metal signs and designs with the plasma tourch and instructor Sean.

 

 

 

 

Then there was the wild and crazy raku firing area!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The raku kiln area was raucous with laughter the whole weekend as women warriors painted and fired pottery bowls and did the “raku rock” to get them through the whole firey process.

Working with clay and then conquering the potters wheel was also a popular endeavor. Instructors Colista and Virginia were right there to offer suggestions and support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next up…….cooking!

A class on working and cooking with herbs taught by well known cook Alison was also popular.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Out on the range, Dutch oven cooking is the way of the day. Instructor Connie gave a great demo that left mouths watering!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fly fishing is a rapidly growing sport for women. Instructor Nancy came to help the Women Warriors launch a perfect cast!

Who can resist an impromptu game of jump rope. Cowgirls always have lots of rope handy!

Other classes centered around gardening and sustainability.

The horses were right there for counseling help and loved the hugs, pets and kisses.

Plenty of time was left for talking and connecting.

Last ride of the day, a great Dutch oven cooked diner and then a heart felt campfire around which to reflect, relate and connect.

Night was spent at the Green Bluff Community Center and was peaceful until midnight when the water pipes broke and flooded the basement sleeping area! No problem….Women Warriors and Cowgirls take everything in stride and just grabed their gear and moved upstairs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Breakfast was scrumptious and made up for the water-filled adventure of the night before!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Load up the transport trucks and back to the ranch for another wild west fun day!

The horse corrals were ready for action … ride’m cowgirl!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Horses and fun horsing around!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The drawing horses class taught by nationaly known artist, Janene Grende,  created many warrior women artists!

The “healthy cooking” class taught by Krisha Charbonneau was a hit and a delicious treat for those who attended.

The pottery classes were off and throwing pots.

Who knew “mud” could be so much fun?!

 

 

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Over in the front garden, our Cowgirl Gardener, Lou, was giving instruction on sustainable gardening.

Herbs were there for each woman warrior to make their own herb garden and take it home. A living rememberance of the weekend

To add some art to the garden, Sean Smith was teaching classes on making cement stepping stones.

 

Each women warrior could take  a step home to remember the connecting steps that happened at the retreat.

Nationally known writer and poet, Nance Van Winckel, came to teach a diary and journaling class to the warriors.

Learning about keeping chickens and bunnies was a hands on feathers and fur session with Mandy! Ooooo, baby goats too!

Meanwhile things were still rock and rolling hot over at the raku kiln!

Grab those pots out of the hot fire!

Painting pots and doing the raku rock! Friendships sealed by fire!

Then came lunch! The whole weekend was deliciously catered and prepared on site in Dutch ovens and Bar-B-Ques by cowgirls Janene  and Connie. Cowgirl style eatin’ and was it ever good and plenty!

 

Dishin’ up the grub!

 

A precious moment by Women Warrior Precious!

Nationally known writer and poet, Nance Van Winckel, recited some of her poems for lunchtime entertainment.

A few more activities and then it was time to load up and leave the ranch. The Women Warriors proudly rode in the Spokane Armed Forces  Torchlight Parade that night  to the cheers of thousands of people lining the streets to honor our military.

Sunday breakfast was hosted by the Green Bluff Grange and literally stuffed us all with generous eggs, sausage and pancakes!

Lots of laughter and weekend memories flowed at each table.

 

Spokane mayor, Mary Verner, came and spent time with each women veteran to hear their stories and offer her thanks for what they have done for their country.

Mayor Verner and the Cowgirls all wish to thank these fearless Women Warriors for what they have  done and what they continue to do. We were honored to have you at the ranch for the weekend.

What was the weekend really about? Healing, connecting and making new friends and doing it through creative challenges, the feel of a horse, fingers in the soil of the earth and breaking bread together. Peace.

We heartily wish to thank the following for the generous support they gave this project. It couldn’t have happened without you!

Spokane Vet Center

Spokane Veterans Hospital

Wounded Warrior Project

Spokane Red Cross

Trading Company Stores

RnR RV Center

Generous Individual Donations

The faces of new friends!

Yee Haw!