It’s Time for Another Adventure

I miss the morning routine most of all.

If there’s one thing I miss most about being at Eatons’ Ranch, it’s the morning routine.

The first thing you should know about me is that I’m not naturally a morning person. I’ve always been more of a middle-of-the-day—or even late-night—creator. Most of the sunrises I’ve seen over the years came at the end of long nights, not the beginning of early mornings.

But something shifts in Wyoming.

Every morning at Eatons’ Ranch, I wake up eager to greet the day just as the sky begins to soften with light. The first thing I do is look out the window to see what the clouds have planned for us. And immediately, the anticipation builds. Will this be the morning the light does something extraordinary? Will today be the day I make that image?

I pull on my clothes and head out to meet the group. The light is barely a glimmer above the horizon as we make our way toward Chocolate Drop, a vast mountain pasture tucked into the Big Horn Mountains. We scramble up the hill well before the wranglers leave the barn. The air is crisp. The excitement is unmistakable.

Some of the horses are already there, curious and calm, wandering over to see what we’re up to—offering the occasional nuzzle. Others are scattered far across the pasture. With nearly 200 horses to gather each morning, it takes time. As the sky slowly fills with light, we talk, share stories, and take in the sheer scale of the landscape around us.

And then, almost like magic, the sun crests the mountain just as the horses begin moving past us.

The air feels impossibly fresh. Standing there with a group of like-minded artists—people who are fully present, curious, and open—fills my heart in a way that’s hard to describe. Every morning, I find myself quietly grateful for the opportunity to create a workshop where others can experience this same sense of awe, connection, and appreciation for the world we live in.

“The purpose of life, after all, is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”
— Eleanor Roosevelt

When I’m standing at the base of the Big Horn Mountains, photographing hundreds of horses rushing past, fully immersed in the moment, everything feels simple and clear. This is where I’m happiest.

Editing those photographs now brings me right back to those mornings. I’ve even printed one and taped it near my computer—a quiet reminder of how important it is to break free from routine, travel to new places, make new friends, and do the things that truly feed the soul.

Every year, I look forward to this Wyoming adventure. And I’m deeply honored to share it with others. If you’d like to meet me up on Chocolate Drop at 6:30 a.m., I’d love to see you there.

What do you think? Tell me the adventures in your life have have brought you the most joy?

Be well….be creative,

Clare

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