Overlook

Branding Portrait

2012-05-21T04:08:58Z

Ah... a round trip to Kaycee today and now company's here!

Thanks for the good advice yesterday!

Tonight...

A "portrait" from the other day!

****
May 20, 2011   Not Even
May 20, 2010   Wildflowers
May 20, 2009   Wordless Wednesday - "Patriotic Evening Primrose"
May 20, 2008   no entry.

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Slow Down

2012-05-20T04:59:55Z

Things are starting to get crazy here.

Yesterday's .8" of rain slowed us down a bit, but now that it's over, we're going every direction your imagination could create!

We helped a neighbor brand a few calves today as well...

I think I shall blame part of my chaos on something to do with this photo I took a while back...

Hmmm...

My problem? Clothes shopping. Blech.

I spend HOURS trying to find something new on the internet for this little event...

Even tonight, I had to find some dress to wear tomorrow for another event... and it took me forever to find something a.) that fit b.) that I liked c.) that didn't look like it came from 1978.

Then I've got company coming and my lawn sprouted with this rain and my garden isn't all the way in and my studio needs cleaned out and no one wants to work for me and Daniel's potato patch still needs rototilled and my dogs need brushed out and I'm behind on my emails and then there's this blog transfer fiasco and the basement is a wreck and I still have things up at Daniel's house and I need to transfer some plants and people still want clean clothes and meals on the table and I'm about ready to implode.

Someday...

Someday...

Maybe I can slow down...

****
May 19, 2011   Fickle Wyoming
May 19, 2010   Wordless Wednesday - "Looking for Heels"
May 19, 2009   Summer Dresses
May 19, 2008   no entry.

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

2012-05-19T04:44:32Z

More.

Counting them out the gate.

The crew.

Brandon through the heat waves and ash.

More chaps.

*Yes, you can buy prints of any of my photos. I'll put my store link back up, and you can buy them through there. Thanks for the interest!*

****

May 18, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "Seeing His Future"

May 18, 2010 Going Great Guns

May 18, 2009 Fashion Maven

May 18, 2008 no entry.

Branding

2012-05-18T04:14:34Z

I say this every year...

If only I could photograph branding instead of working, I'd have much much better photos to share! As it is... they're OK.

I was kept hopping the first bit as our first ropers were catching calves right and left.

The camera barely left my pocket.

Then as other ropers took their turns, we switched to steady, but not rushed... and I'd yank the camera out of my shirt pocket and snap a few as Vernon applied the "A's"... then I'd rush to connect the two "A's" with my bar.

Anyway... a few scenes from yesterday's branding...

One down, one to go!

Ropers leaving the pen... what a gorgeous day it was... though plenty warm!

Two on.

The Aussie, the English, and the Border.

For those of you that appreciate, uhm... chaps... and cowboys!

****
May 17, 2011   All Growed Up
May 17, 2010   Tough Call
May 17, 2009   Branded in Sepia
May 17, 2008   no entry.

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Wordless Wednesday - "Eeny Meeny Miny Mo"

2012-05-17T04:42:00Z

First Branding is Over!

For today's WW, a neighbor swings a loop... which calf will he catch?

Eeny meeny miny mo.

****

May 16, 2011 After the Show Show

May 16, 2010 Not Quite Making It

May 16, 2009 Branded

May 16, 2008 no entry.

Own Tale

2012-05-16T04:04:06Z

Well, no photos of the food I cooked, lawn I watered, laundry I washed, diapers I changed, or chickens I fed.

Thank goodness for small favors!

Needless to say, this day has been hectic.

The crew didn't have a much better day... our cows wandered out of their range... and didn't want to go back... much less onward where we'll brand tomorrow!

Adults are tired...

Kids are tired...

Horses and dogs and I...

are tired...

It's time for bed, so I can get up early and finish the cooking I failed to accomplish today.

But TOMORROW.

TOMORROW IS BRANDING.

We're hoping for cooler weather (or cloud cover), no wrecks, great workers, and good food.

Tomorrow will tell its own tale!

****

May 15, 2011 Teams

May 15, 2010 One Down!

May 15, 2009 Preparation

May 15, 2008 no entry.

Good Dirt

2012-05-15T05:33:16Z

I have done it.

I finally have a garden spot built!

The garden isn't IN, mind you... but the place is there! We still had frost this morning, so the pressure isn't on quite yet. I'd love to have a few things in the ground like potatoes and onions... and I'll accomplish that soon.

But for now...

I'll revel in the smell of good dirt!

My rototiller did well... and once I began to work with it, instead of fighting it, things moved along rather smoothly!

(Gee, Carol, kind of like working *WITH* animals... duh.)

I've been working on other flowerbeds and the yard as well...

But it's all going to get put on hold for a few days at least... because...

OUR FIRST BRANDING IS WEDNESDAY!

Yippee!

It's gonna be FUN!

****

May 14, 2011 First Branding

May 14, 2010 Tomorrow Is Another Day

May 14, 2009 Oh, So Close To A Perfect Picture

May 14, 2008 no entry.

Heads Up - continued

2012-05-14T05:28:17Z

I started this little story on irrigation preparation yesterday... You might want to read this entry first.

Vernon had to jump into the creek with his shovel... more to test the depth of what he'd already cleaned out than to actually shovel!

The dam consists of a large log which we drift into place. Supposedly, I was there to help... though Vernon decided to leave it in place... a little crooked... not near as deep as it needs to be... and with no dam material in front of it.

It seems to be slowing enough of the water up, though... so until the boys are here to help rework it... Here it shall stay!

See?

The headgate is open and water is flowing! Hopefully, it's enough for a full head of water... There're fields to irrigate!

****
May 13, 2011   Get Ready
May 13, 2010   I'm Cooking... in More Ways Than One!
May 13, 2009   Wordless Wednesday - "Heaven's Above!" (favorite photo!)
May 13, 2008   Horses

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Heads Up

2012-05-13T04:58:11Z

Ha.

I am back to being Top Hand again... just like the old days.

The boys have taken a short "break" (more on that in the future - maybe!) and so, I step back in as a pitiful and weak substitute. But I'm all Vernon has, so he makes do.

Today he was bound and determined to get some water started on some fields.

Remember, here in Wyoming, we get a grand total of 14" of rain PER YEAR. That means to grow *anything* in a field situation... you'll need to irrigate it some way or another.

Our choice is flood irrigation.

To flood irrigate, you need to take water out of ditches.

To get water out of ditches, you need a dam in the creek to back up water into your ditch.

You also need to clean out your headgate (where the water from the creek is controlled through your ditch).

Since you haven't used your ditches since last fall... when you closed that headgate down... all the silt the creek carries along has been dumped in front of your headgate.

Back in the day, you waded in, shovel in hand, and sweated while shoveling mud out of the creek bottom.

These days, you haul your spiffy little excavator to the creek bank and streeeeetch down to the headgate and clean it out in no time.

See the metal wheel to the left of the excavator's arm? That controls the headgate, and the flow of water into the ditch. Think faucet.

How many shovel fulls does one scoop equal?

Doesn't matter! This is just SO much easier!

The ditch waits for its "head" of water.

(to be continued...)

****
May 12, 2011   Driveway Gift
May 12, 2010   Wordless Wednesday - "Lingering Snows"
May 12, 2009   All Day Long (one of my favorite puppy photos)
May 12, 2008   no entry.

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Eating My Words

2012-05-12T04:51:37Z

Yesterday, I said this:

" My plans for a heritage garden have evaporated, and I'll have to buy some Early Girls in town. I'm sure they won't have Cherokee Purple tomatoes in Worland! "

So... I shoot to town this morning with a gigantic list.

The second place I stop is our little Pamida store. Although I rarely buy any plants there, I usually cruise through the tiny greenhouse just to see what I can see.

At the end of an aisle is a large sign...

HEIRLOOM TOMATOES

Really?

At *Pamida*?

I check the one side, just peppers... and none seem to be heirlooms... so I go around to the other side.

Yes, you know what is coming.

A section of CHEROKEE PURPLE HEIRLOOM TOMATOES.

They're in pretty good condition too... so, without a second thought, I snag them up... plus a Margold tomato as well.

Never never never would I have believed they would have them.

Goes to show what I know.

I continued on to two other *real* greenhouses... neither had any more heirlooms.

Barring any other stinking mice... in a couple of months... I'll enjoy eating my words!

****

May 11, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "A Little Rounder"

May 11, 2010 Enough For Her

May 11, 2009 Rush Rush

May 11, 2008 no entry.

Death to Mice!

2012-05-11T04:30:00Z

One of these days...

I, sincerely, hand on heart, am going to buy a hot tub.

A hot tub for days like today.

No, my saddle is not sore (that's next week!), but I've been trying to put in a garden.

Years ago, one existed in the same spot... but once the owner became too old to tend it, they seeded it to grass.

I'm now digging up that grass with my new rototiller and starting it all over again.

The rototiller is great, a Husqvarna with a Honda engine, but it still calls for muscles. Muscles to help it regain traction when it stalls out in "ruts". Muscles to slow it down when its power wants to pull me along. Muscles to turn its 230 pounds around in corners and edges.

And did I tell you? Mice, IN MY HOUSE!, have eaten almost all of my heritage peppers and tomatoes I had started.

Gross, eh?

I set traps all around my poor little plants, but those dirty boogers scrambled up and ate them anyway.

My plans for a heritage garden have evaporated, and I'll have to buy some Early Girls in town. I'm sure they won't have Cherokee Purple tomatoes in Worland!

GRRRRRR.

On that pleasant note, I'm taking my sore muscles to bed...

Death to Mice!

(Elsa, being the Good Dog that she is, shares my Death to Mice sentiment! Another reason to love English Shepherds!)

****
May 10, 2011   Stay Tuned
May 10, 2010   Two Down
May 10, 2009   Cody Trip 2
May 10, 2008   no entry.

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Wordless Wednesday - "You Called?"

2012-05-10T04:22:31Z

For this week's Wordless Wednesday...

My crew asks the question, "You called?"

****
May 8, 2011    Where the Laughter Remains
May 8, 2010   Questions and Answers - May Edition
May 8, 2009   Cody Trip
May 8, 2008   no entry.

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Horribly Tough Job

2012-05-09T03:24:33Z

With the weather finally kicked into summer gear, we are all running around...

trying to finish up this and start that...

repair this so that will work...

figure out how to do this and get it done before the sun goes down!

My list has grown now to include the outdoor stuff.

Last year I was determined to just finish up the house (which I have failed to do...)
and leave the yard to itself...

Now, I'm ready to jump in and fix up my yard.

I'll introduce you to a few more things as time goes on... but, as often happens here... the guys needed another hand.

That means me.

That means my list is placed on hold so I can help them.

To get going on our irrigation means spreading the pipe back out around the fields...

I get the horribly tough job of driving the four wheeler that pulls the pipe trailer!

The guys grab the appropriate size... and lay them out end to end.

I drive.

On occasion, there's a pause for "What if we do this?" "Well, wouldn't this work?" "If this was that way, we could do it."

"If the line went this way more..." "Hmmm. Good idea."

Me?

I had to recover from the kink in my neck from watching behind the four wheeler.

During discussions, I tried to soak up the sunshine.

I discovered a four wheeler makes a poor hammock.

<sigh>

I told you it was a horribly tough job.

****
May 8, 2011   3 for 3
May 8, 2010   No entry.
May 8, 2009   Wet Pups
May 8, 2008   Spring days

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Poor Owners

2012-05-08T05:02:31Z

Lucas had a ladyfriend visit today.

Lucas was very happy to see her.

Lucas put on his best behavior and tried to make Phoebe happy.

Lucas flirted the best he could.

Lucas showered her with affection.

Lucas was rebuffed.

Phoebe was barely flirting.

Phoebe was having fun investigating my yard.

Phoebe's nose was to the ground with all the new scents.

Phoebe played for a couple of seconds, then Phoebe would continue on her way.

Phoebe was not impressed nor excited by Lucas' best behavior.

Lucas was sometimes over enthusiastic.

Phoebe would sneer.

Lucas was excited.

Phoebe would give him the eye.

Lucas snuggled and tried to put his paw over her back.

Phoebe was highly offended and snapped and spun around.

Lucas wondered if NO really meant NO.

Phoebe was determined that NO did indeed mean NO.

Poor Lucas.

Poor Phoebe.

Poor owners.

No puppies.

****

May 7, 2011 Brandon's Day

May 7, 2010 Indian Room and Q and A

May 7, 2009 Gardening Dogs

May 7, 2008 Mountain Trip

Any Greener

2012-05-07T05:02:11Z

Yay!

.4" of rain and sunshine... and things are GROWING!

Lucas hides out in the wheat...

And Elsa finds the shade cast by a power pole!

I don't believe you could get any greener!

****
May 6, 2011   Questions and Answers May 2011 Edition Part Two
May 6, 2010   English Shadow
May 6, 2009   Puppy Video at 6 Weeks
May 6, 2008   Yellowbells

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Questions and Answers - May 2012 Vlog

2012-05-06T04:29:37Z

Aha!

I did it.

I'm so proud of myself.

Question and Answer May 2012 Vlog from Carol Greet on Vimeo.

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May 5, 2011 Questions and Answers - May 2011 Edition

May 5, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "Shadows Falling"

May 5, 2009 Disagreements

May 5, 2008 no entry.

Scenic View

2012-05-05T03:59:22Z

Wow.

9:30 and I can't keep my eyes open.

Forgot to upload my newest Vlog. I answered some questions the other evening after I got home from the library. The wind was howling outside and I figured it was time you saw me in something other than winter coat and baseball cap.

That was the plan for the day.

Unfortunately, I forgot that plan until 20 minutes ago.

I guess you'll have to settle for a scenic view... rough life, huh?

I'll see what I can do about my memory problem...

****

May 4, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "That Red Dirt Again"

May 4, 2010 Jeepers Keepers

May 4, 2009 Big Trails

May 4, 2008 Up The Mountain

Small Improvement

2012-05-04T04:56:15Z

While today remained overcast, at least the wind wasn't blowing!

I jumped on this project because it's a No Wind Necessary Project.

I painted the little windmill in my front yard.

We went from this:

Note the rust... and the off white flower pot below it...

Sage green legs and a brown flower pot...

Some creative taping...

The blades and fin are light grey with tips of brown...

Finished! You can't see it very well, due to the light (or lack of sunlight) but I'll take another once the flowers are doing good...

It is still a small improvement!

****

May 3, 2011 Dying Campfire

May 3, 2010 Reining Again, Part Two

May 3, 2009 Low Light

May 3, 2008 no entry.

Wordless Wednesday - "Headed to Green Grass"

2012-05-03T05:00:53Z

For Wordless Wednesday, these pairs are headed to green grass.

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May 2, 2011 What Are the Odds?

May 2, 2010 Reining Again

May 2, 2009 Past 24 Hours

May 2, 2008 no entry.

Rough Character

2012-05-02T04:56:57Z

Well, here we are, starting another new month... and I never even made my Q&A Vlog for *last* month! I think I still have my list of questions around somewhere... and I promise I'll make a new video post in a few days. At least now the weather is somewhat cooperative...

We did a little cow work today... and I mixed it with lawn work. Seems like there's so much to do!

Pick a spot and there's something to make, repair, refurbish, or create!

Then there're the cows.

And cooking.

And cleaning.

bleh.

Unfortunately, I have slacked off with the photos of my tiny projects...

So today you get the neighbor's bull. He was closely watching the Y8 cows as we trailed them by yesterday.

Kinda looks like quite the rough character, doesn't he?

****

May 1, 2011 Red Rover

May 1, 2010 May Day Wishes

May 1, 2009 Ick!

May 1, 2008 no entry.

End of an Era

2012-05-01T06:33:36Z

The eighteen wheels rolled over the red dirt, hauling its small load to the sale barn.

Calves were separated from their mothers temporarily... keeping them safe from being stepped on was better than a few hours of pitiful loneliness.

The voices left behind in the empty corral were cleared again... and again.

A glance to the side, or down to the red dirt hid the watering that a few eyes held, for this was no simple sale of old cows.

This was the end of an era.

The Y8 brand has been on many a cow in its existence.

What left today in that rumbling semi was the last of the Y8 herd. Old cows, beginning to lose their teeth, but still viable, most with calves at side... it was the owner's age and health that had played a part in this decision.

"Sure hate to see 'em go... but if you can't take care of 'em anymore..." the voice trailed off. It was a heart wrenching decision.

It seems easy on paper, or to an outsider, but these are cows you've calved yourself, moved to good grass, vaccinated, hovered over during birth, and branded her calves these past years. They've done good by you, and you by them. This has been a successful symbiotic relationship.

But now, age, health, and lack of family to carry it into the future forces the decision to move on without the old girls.

When cancer took the cows' owner, the Y8's were tended by his younger brother, and some were leased to us for a few years. They served us well.

The brother still has some of his own cows... but his older brother's Y8's will never walk through red dirt again. The blue eartags are gone. The Y8 painted on the barn roof is faded and worn. "She's a Y8, send her that way," will never be shouted at the sorting grounds again.

It's the end of an era, an era that will be missed, at least here at Big Trails, Wyoming.

(This old girl, age 12, due to calve soon, poses like the grand matriarch she is!)

*For every farmer or rancher under the age of 25, there are four who are over 75.
*Inheritance taxes often force young ranchers to sell most of the ranch to pay the taxes.
*It is prohibitively expensive to get into the ranching business for young people who have not inherited anything but the work ethic and desire to be on the land.
*Most small ranches get bought for "vacation retreats" or "hunting leases" and are often subdivided, ending their true vocation of *ranching*.
*Agriculture was recently listed as the Number 1 most useless college degree on some blog posting. Most likely by someone with a full stomach.
*Regulations, taxes, and lawsuits are all adding to the burden of the farming and ranching community.
*Should you care? Only if you eat anything you don't grow yourself.

****
April 30, 2011   More Leaning Weaning Corral
April 30, 2010   Rein, Rain, Snow
April 30, 2009   Old vs. New OOPE
April 30, 2008   Small Moments

Good morning, Mr. Mills.

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Why, People?

2012-04-30T05:03:39Z

I just had to share this.

I-25 was closed around Cheyenne to lightweight high profile vehicles due to wind gusts of 65+mph.

The area this photo was taken in was having gusts of 50+.

Other cars were quickly passing this vehicle on the road... each probably praying for safety until they were in the clear.

I know I did.

I sincerely hope they made it to their destination intact... we were just shocked at the load!

But, people, really.

Why?

****

April 29, 2011 On The Way

April 29, 2010 Getting Creative

April 29, 2009 Wordless Wednesday - "Gettin' Creative"

April 29, 2008 Quarry

We Made It

2012-04-29T04:56:30Z

Yeah.

All that about good intentions...

I really thought I'd blog last night.

From a motel room via email.

I had a plan!

Then things got all switched around, and instead of staying and spending the night... my boss and I decided to come home.

In the rain.

On the back road.

On the back DIRT road.

It was dry until we got Right On Top.

Right where if you have to turn around, a wheel (or two) is more likely to slip over the edge of the gravel-ish base to leave you high centered, hanging over the edge of a bank, or hopelessly spinning your well greased wheels!

We felt that choice was taken away... so we mushed on.

Mush being appropriate as the rain had turned to snow!

Yeehaw.

We decided if we were guys, we'd just gun the ol' Durango and rip through the mud, delighting in our girlish fearfulness. But since we are practical women, we simply sailed as gently or as forcefully as necessary through the mud and the muck, trying to keep our sliding wheels from nearing the edges of the SlipAndSlide style road.

We agreed forward progress was good.

Again, being the practical women we are, we had called ahead before even leaving Casper, warning our sleeping significant others, that had we not appeared by 2 am... they should feel free to come rescue their fair maidens in distress.

They yawned and said, "Sure thing."

We finally pulled into my driveway at 1:53 am.

I was encouraged to rush into my house, call my boss' S/O, and tell him NOT TO WORRY... SHE WOULD BE HOME IN A FEW MORE MINUTES.

We had imagined worry.

Hand wringing.

Clock watching.

Pacing.

Fingernail biting.

and *even* SLEEPLESSNESS!

The phone was fumbled, the voice, groggy. I had awakened S/O. Sharing the urgent message of not-to-worry-she's-almost-home, got me a yawn and a "Good. OK. Bye."

When I snuck into my bedroom a few minutes later... I received a sleepy "You made it."

Yes, yes, Dearest S/O's... we made it. Thanks for worrying. Thanks for sweating. Thanks for replaying in your head *what-could-be-happening*!

Ah, well... We love you, anyway.

****
April 28, 2011   Stupid Turkeys
April 28, 2010   Wordless Wednesday - "You Scratch My Back..."
April 28, 2009   Guest
April 28, 2008   They're Gone

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Strange Sight

2012-04-27T04:20:36Z

I came home from work yesterday to a strange sight.

There, in the grass, not far from my chicken tractor, was a shredded black plastic bag.

At least, that's what I thought it was.

A few steps towards it, and I questioned my initial reaction.

No, not shredded plastic.

Feathers.

Black feathers.

Black Australorp feathers.

A glance towards the chicken tractor told me part of the story.

Lucas, tail wagging, walked around the corner of the garage. I had left him in the yard that morning. The girls proceeded to bark at me from the safety of the yard.

Quick conclusion... the girls were innocent.

Lucas was not.

He hadn't eaten the chicken, just stopped it from fluttering and flapping. In his English Shepherd mind, order was restored.

We'll skip the ugly part that followed... but tonight... tonight a tough 2" wire mesh encircles the coop. If Lucas tries to go through that... I'll have a veterinary dental bill to pay!

****

April 26, 2011 My Easter Gift

April 26, 2010 Sore

April 26, 2009 Bruner Draw

April 26, 2008 no entry.

Wordless Wednesday - "Leikam Sunset"

2012-04-26T04:37:52Z

For this week's WW, I caught a gorgeous sunset over the Leikam Place.

****
April 25, 2011   Done
April 25, 2010   Blue Sky Gift
April 25, 2009   The Dogs of the Day
April 25, 2008   no entry.

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Summer Read

2012-04-25T04:55:53Z

It was another warm and wonderful day in Wyoming...

You can watch the fields grow right before your eyes!

We've all turned from cowboys into farmers... the guys getting water going and prepping the fields... me, I'm mowing my lawn, transplanting bushes, staining my gliders, and working on flowerbeds and the garden.

In between these jobs, when the ice tea in my house calls my name too loudly, I grab that cold glass, droplets sweating around its sides, sit down, and take a break with Staking Her Claim: Women Homesteading the West.

I'm finding it fascinating... I didn't realize how the early 1900's were full of "Back to the Land" movements! The government was concerned about how many people were leaving the farm for city work. Popular magazines wrote many stories on woman homesteaders, otherwise virtually forgotten by history books. I see the same things today... the rise in interest in vegetable gardening and canning, home-cooking, and "homestead" techniques, and, yes, chicken tractors!

Plus there are stories of multiple places in Wyoming... Ten Sleep and Worland included!

So if you need a summer read to go along with your ice tea... check your local library!

****

April 24, 2011 Happy Easter 2011

April 24, 2010 Heading Home

April 24, 2009 Gotta Share Photos (puppy cuteness!)

April 24, 2008 Another Family Portrait

Cowboying is Complete

2012-04-24T04:33:12Z

My company left... and literally within minutes, Vernon handed off his horse to me, and I was back "on the job."

It was a tad hot to trail cattle today!

The thermometer said 81º after we finished lunch!

Cows are wrapped in thick leather and black hair and a winter of laziness in the fields has them out of shape! They drug their "hooves" for the first uphill hike, then as it leveled out and went a smidge downhill, they were lined out and MOOVING.

The last mile is a fairly good pull and they needed a bit more encouragement to make it those last hundred yards! The gate is on the top and with a little more pushing and VOILA! our last bunch is out in the hills!

Fifty head were paired up in just a few minutes. For the most part, it was just double checking the matching eartags!

We loaded up the horses and headed home for a nice cool drink...

Cowboying is complete... for a few weeks!

****

April 23, 2011 Today on the Ranch

April 23, 2010 Called For Rain

April 23, 2009 Open

April 23, 2008 no entry.

Having a Blast

2012-04-23T05:28:14Z

My sister is here.

We work on projects together quite well.

We also can have fun!

Today was Fun Day.

What would we choose to play with today???

She took her new AR-15... I took my new .22.

(We also had throwing knives and slingshots along for backup!)

I took my little bitty spinny target with us... the kind that swings if you hit it... it's much more fun than shooting at paper!

A little while later, with a small pile of brass laying next to us... we decided maybe we should go throw some knives.

Cool.

We went to pick up my little bitty spinny target and found it shot full of holes! My .22 just dings off of it, but her .223 shells went right through!

Boy, did we laugh!

Boy, were we dumb!

I hadn't thought too much about it (obviously), but... OOPS!

So... just a FYI... even though it's still a .22 caliber... a .223 packs a hell of a lot more oomph.

We decided to take a photo of our "Redneck-edness".

Beware, Zombies!

Oh, whoa... don't lose it!

It's not *scary* if you *giggle*.

Totally lost it.

We're not scaring any Zombies now.

Nope.

It's just us... having a blast!

****

April 22, 2011 A Mighty Voice

April 22, 2010 Elsa's Day at Work

April 22, 2009 Spring Turnout

April 22, 2008 Ahorseback (one of my favorite stories)

Minute Movie: Spring Turnout

2012-04-22T05:35:47Z

Here you are, folks...

A fresh Minute Movie!

Feel the sunshine on your back, the movement of the horse under you, listen to the calves and cows bawl for each other... It's Spring Turnout Time!

Minute Movie: Spring Turnout from Carol Greet on Vimeo.

****

April 21, 2011 Through My Windshield

April 21, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "Bittersweet Sunset"

April 21, 2009 Fix Fencin'

April 21, 2008 no entry.

Excitement x 3

2012-04-21T05:19:26Z

Wow.

Where was I?

Seems like forevvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvvver that this blog actually WORKED! But it does, and I'm excited! Thanks, GoDaddy...

Then my sister... who lives in Texas... was visiting in Billings, Montana, and her truck broke down. Her son brought her down to me while it was being repaired... Two days later... it was finished and that meant a flying trip to Billings yesterday!

"Flying" being an un-technical term.

Drive four hours.

Get pickup.

Swing by Lowe's, Shipton's, and Walmart... and drive four hours home.

Arrive 1 am.

Unload groceries.

Veg.

Fall asleep!

SO *THAT'S* WHY I DIDN'T BLOG LAST NIGHT!

But I think I "left" you back around when I was getting my chickens... so, tonight, I'll introduce you!

Aren't they ca-ute?

There's the black Australorp, the white Americana, the Brown Sex Link, the Cuckoo Marans, and the speckled Americana.

My crew thinks this is weird and exciting and frustrating and confusing.

I'm just excited!

THEN...

I have to show you this, too...

Vernon found this today up in the hills...

Well, he found the whole skeleton, but just brought this home! Pretty cool.

There's just all kinds of excitement around here!

****
April 20, 2011   Wordless Wednesday - "basin Basin heart"
April 20, 2010   Not One Photo
April 20, 2009   Everyday OOPE
April 20, 2008   Spring Trail / 3 generations

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Good Grass

2012-04-19T04:24:23Z

Still not working correctly... But hopefully this will work for Wordless Wednesday!

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Continuing Education

2012-04-18T04:57:52Z

Well, this is rather going to crimp my style! I have two questions into GoDaddy to figure out what my problem is... but all of the tools that are usually here have disappeared... That means I can't upload a photo or link to past posts or change my font. And loading a video??? Forget that as well! Ah, LIFE. Isn't it just EXCITING SOMETIMES?????? After riding yesterday afternoon... which was immediately followed by a meeting last night... I ran and gathered up my five new chickens!!! Yay! Sorry I can't upload a photo, though! They're trying to figure out their new life. Ramp walking was PRETTY STINKING SCARY there for a while... Water was different... and it will be again as my waterer is leaking... but, get thirsty enough, and you figure out where water is... The dogs are ready to eat chicken for supper, though. Or lunch. Or a snack. We've had some pretty serious discussions but it's going to take a bit before I convince them that I WANT those fluffy, flappy things around! Hopefully, all five will make it through unscathed while I continue to educate my three English Shepherds. It will continue to be an education for all of us!!! (Once, again, my apologies for whatever is happening with this blog.)

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Good Grass

2012-04-17T05:51:04Z

Wow.

GoDaddy didn't show me any links... no dashboard... no controls.

I can't upload a picture or create a link.

I'm stuck.

I might have messed up something while working on it this morning before we went to work cows!

That's too bad, I had a cool photo to share from today.

I'll try to repair whatever it is before tomorrow!

My apologies!

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Storm Clouds

2012-04-16T05:24:36Z

Brandon, Megan, and Quinlan were here this weekend... Brandon was giving a talk on weeds for a Backyards/Barnyards class.

They left today and although I helped Vernon for just a bit... the rain/sleet/hail/snow set in and the rest of the day was spent ignoring the yukky weather (but great moisture!)

That basically is my excuse for STILL not making a new Vlog Q & A...

and I *WANT* to answer your questions and reply to some of your great comments!

Tomorrow, we're kicking more cows out, but I'll see if I can't get *something* done!

My new rototiller is here... my chickens are coming soon... and we're cowboying... boy, it doesn't get much better than that! Stay tuned this week for all of that fun!

I'll gift you with some storm clouds... though it sounds like you don't need this in some parts of the country!

****

April 15, 2011 My Saddle Hurts

April 15, 2010 Pairs

April 15, 2009 Test Drive OOPE

April 15, 2008 Cuteness

The Titanic Event in Pictures

2012-04-15T04:42:22Z

The lifeboat.

The awesome gangway.

King of the World!

King of the Wha?

The Iceberg.

First Class place settings... too bad the scones hadn't arrived yet! They were tasty!

Second Class place setting.

Steerage place setting.

The prizes.

A moment of silence.

****

April 14, 2011 Brudders

April 14, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "The Green Comes Creeping"

April 14, 2009 Test Drive

April 14, 2008 From Brown to Green

Titanic Event

2012-04-14T05:18:20Z

I had so much fun tonight! Yes, I know 1522+/- died... And we honored them.... But my Titanic Event night was just full of trivia and fun and interest and laughter and tea and scones and movies and documentaries and books and tickets and an awesome gangway and a hilarious photo op and spitting contest and costume contest and melt the ice cube the fastest contest and trivia scavenger hunt and the Encyclopedia Titanica dot org and my iPad app of building the Titanic and a lifeboat tied to the outside bench and lacy tablecloths and candelabra and enthusiastic kids and fun adults! Now it's late, and Brandon and Megan and Quinlan are asleep in my computer room... Hence my post via email. I'll post some pics tomorrow... But for the first time in a long time, I'm going to read something more uplifting than books about the Titanic!

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Chicken Tractor!

2012-04-13T05:06:14Z

Finally! It's here!

My chicken tractor is on home soil!

Although not quite complete, it is still "chicken move-in-able"... and that will happen fairly soon.

Well, gee, Carol... how come you converted the perfectly good chicken coop you had into a puppy coop... and then built a chicken tractor?

*I will always have more dogs than chickens.

*I'm lazy and don't want to clean a chicken coop.

*I will always have more dogs than chickens.

*I'm lazy.

I only want 5 chickens.

I want to move their coop around so the majority of their poop is simply instant fertilizer and I don't have to shovel!

If necessary, the puppy coop can be used as a chicken coop still... but the tractor will get a good workout this summer!

I hope to add a few more things: primer and paint. vents. window. better wheels.

But for now...

Isn't she cute???

More details to come...

****

April 12, 2011 Nyehnyeh on Them (oooh... gross!)

April 12, 2010 Small Details

April 12, 2009 Happy Easter!

April 12, 2008 no entry.

Wordless Wednesday - "Red Dirt World"

2012-04-12T04:53:59Z

For WW this week...

A black and white sky hovers over my Red Dirt World!

****

April 11, 2011 Bring a Promise

April 11, 2010 Peace in my Soul

April 11, 2009 Relax

April 11, 2008 no entry.

Ah, well...

2012-04-11T04:05:56Z

Bummer.

I was going to show you my new chicken tractor today... yes, you were all correct! It's finished, I just have to get it home!

But today was Cow Work.

If I'd had time this evening, I could have scooted down and maybe loaded it into the horse trailer... but we rode until 6 pm... and I threw together a basic supper... and then there was stuff to straighten out, and horses to put away, and dishes to do!

Cow Work with baby calves *ALWAYS* takes longer.

It didn't help that the cows have never been this way before.

It didn't help that it was a HOT day today.

It didn't help that babies just don't always know where their mommies are!

So the Chicken Tractor will have to wait...

I can share some teamwork photos, though!

Here's Daniel trying to read the number on the eartag to see if it is a pair...

We, of course, want the momma and baby to leave together... so care is taken to see the eartags match.

In this shot, we have an extra calf... so some horsemanship is utilized as the sneaky little turkey tries to escape over the rocks. He is turned back to find his mom, and the pair is left to head out of the bunch.

It kept us busy... and horses, dogs, and riders are all tired this evening.

Tomorrow they'll finish taking them the rest of the way to the new pasture, but I'll be hard at work in the Ten Sleep Library.

Ah, well...

****

April 10, 2011 Yippee-ki-yi-yo

April 10, 2010 Hiking

April 10, 2009 It's Quiet

April 10, 2008 Whoops

What Is It?

2012-04-10T04:28:44Z

So, the plan was...

pick up *another* new toy this evening...

but wires were crossed and tractors blew hydraulic hoses and my muscles have their limits...

so I've made it home without my new toy.

Rats.

But I know you're gonna love this one, because it had me doing the Snoopy Happy Dance!

Since I didn't get to take a photo of it completed here...

I'll go ahead and give you a sneak peek from last week's construction phase!

Can you figure out what it is???

Uh, J., I'm looking your way in the next few days!!!

Cow work tomorrow, but we'll figure something out!

More questions, anyone?

****
April 9, 2011   Stockdog History
April 9, 2010   Atlatl
April 9, 2009   Fighting the Friendliness
April 9, 2008   King of the Kalahari

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Easter Cranes

2012-04-09T05:42:28Z

Sandhill cranes are enjoying their Easter... I hope you enjoyed yours!

Any questions this month? I can answer a few about my pysanky... any one else?

****

April 8, 2011 Girls and Chaps

April 8, 2010 no entry.

April 8, 2009 Wordless Wednesday - "...Puppy Dog Tails Antithesis"

April 8, 2008 no entry.

The Easter Egg

2012-04-08T05:06:03Z

It's been a busy couple of days, with kids and grandkids all here...

But they've all left now.

Silence reigns and a neglected English Shepherd lays at my feet!

Easter Sunday just might be a smidge quiet.

While they were here, I did, with Victoria's help, manage to make you a pysanky video for your Easter Sunday morning enjoyment...

You can easily see the progression of this wax resist process.

When finally covered in dye and wax, the egg is blown, then the beeswax is melted in a low oven and wiped off.

Each design I took from Jan Brett's book, The Easter Egg.

While mine don't match exactly, I still believe the grandsons will enjoy reading this and matching the eggs to the book!

So, to W., W., and Q., Happy Easter!

(and to you, too!)

The Easter Egg from Carol Greet on Vimeo.

****

April 7, 2011 Questions and Answers - April Edition

April 7, 2010 Willow Creek

April 7, 2009 Motherhood - Pass/Fail

April 7, 2008 Family Resemblance

I Love It!

2012-04-07T04:17:36Z

So, I took Daniel, Brandon, and Matt with me after lunch to pick up my purchase from a few weeks ago...

I would have loved to have waited until I get a cement base poured for it, but that isn't going to happen for a while... so I took some muscle to go get it anyway!

There's a WONDERFUL story that goes along with it, but I guess I'll wait until it is actually in its new home before I tell it to you!

It's in pieces.

It's not cleaned up.

It's just tucked into the garage for now.

Doesn't matter...

I LOVE IT, ANYWAY!!!

****
April 6, 2011   Wordless Wednesday - "The Other Side"
April 6, 2010   One More Time
April 6, 2009   The Zone On Video
April 6, 2008   Tour

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Tomorrow

2012-04-06T04:05:33Z

Right now... I hate this blog.

No, I hate the fight I have to go through for this blog.

The hours I've spent today trying to make a header in Wordpress.

The fact that I can't seem to be smart enough to transfer my old posts into Wordpress so I can arrange or rearrange them or whatever.

Now I'm doing this post through Firefox and things again are a smidge different and I'm not happy here either! Though it does look like the font may have straightened out.

I would throw this computer if I could, but then I'd be REALLY mad.

Plus the wind just BLEW all day, like I lived in Casper... and that just made me crankier! I have things to do and I waste SO much time here.

There is a good thing happening tomorrow though... YAY!

P.S. No, guess the font is still the same, sorry. For those of you who were interested, I bought my gliders from Kilmer Creek.   They don't know who I am, or have any interest that I love their gliders... but you can go check them out, anyway!

****
April 5, 2011   Whew.
April 5, 2010   Creativity Help
April 5, 2009   Sneaky
April 5, 2008   It Seems Like Forever...

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Wordless Wednesday - "Emergency Stop"

2012-04-05T04:58:18Z

Wordless Wednesday...

Even an emergency stop amid the junk piles looks romantic with a dusting of snow!

****

April 4, 2011 Other Muse

April 4, 2010 Easter Egg / Easter Egg Part Two

April 4, 2009 Popularity

April 4, 2008 no entry.

One at a Time

2012-04-04T04:45:35Z

After the rain and snow, today was gorgeous! It wasn't near as warm, and felt much like April is "supposed" to feel like!

I measured .74 inches of moisture with this last storm (and my rain gauge doesn't handle snow very well, so it was probably more), so when the warm weather decides to return, by golly, it'll get green fast!

It's trying real hard anyway... and yesterday I decided to throw that fertilizer out on top of the snow...

Guess what?

Real wet snow likes to snowball... even onto the wheels of little fertilizer spreaders!

Yeah, I had to delay that plan... not only could I not push it, the snow blocked the spread of the fertilizer... If I have streaks in my lawn, we'll know why!

The snow was gone by afternoon and I had to show you this!

One of my new gliders!

I bought two, but have one on the south side and one on the west side of my house!

These are well built of red cedar (and I wish that smell would never go away...) and relatively inexpensive. I'm very happy! I just need to decide on clear poly or stain to protect them from the weather...

They also had a loveseat glider... and I'm so tempted!

But... I can only sit in one at a time anyway!

****

April 3, 2011 Friends of the Ten Sleep Library

April 3, 2010 Questions and Answers - April Edition

April 3, 2009 The Spring Creek Raid (for history buffs!)

April 3, 2008 no entry.

Knock on Wood

2012-04-03T04:23:38Z

Handsome.

Cow-y.

Friendly.

Quiet.

Unrelated.

Sable(!).

Yup.

He pretty much has a perfect score.

That's why... with a few other details pitched into the mix... Bubba won the spot for Dally's suitor this year!

PLUS... and this was a Big Plus... he was 2 hours away! An hour on scenic dirt roads, an hour of highway time, and boom! There we were.

I met him and talked with his owner. Then I watched him with the 14 month old daughter. I watched him some more and petted him and lifted his paws and stuck my fingers into his mouth! I scratched his belly and declared him satisfactory.

Now it was Dally's turn.

She was not overly impressed at first... and kept coming to me for reassurance, protection, or confirmation that what she wanted to do was ok by me. Giving her words of encouragement soon had her flirting and playing and barking and waving her tail in his face.

Bubba, at age 11, was a bit slower than young Hustler was last year (with his WhamBam style in my *Durango*, remember?) but they got the job done!

So...

Rimrock Rimfire Dally and Bubba (Parmely breeding) will be parents in 62 days! Knock on wood!

Woot!

****

April 2, 2011 Highway 20 Views

April 2, 2010 What's In Front

April 2, 2009 Not Puppies

April 2, 2008 no entry.

This Time

2012-04-02T04:29:04Z

It's raining, no foolin'!

I *KNEW* I should have fertilized my yard this morning, but somehow, I got caught up in other things.

Yesterday's Blogging 201 was, once again, attended by just a few brave individuals... but with Alli's input, it was an interesting and informative time! I still believe this is a program that libraries could use... and gain a larger audience. Perhaps Sheridan, Buffalo, or Casper could use us Wyoming Bloggers! <hint-hint>

Anyway, I flitted between cleaning, putting together my newest purchases, and working on my blog this morning, because I had a trip planned for this afternoon. The new purchases I'll show off in a few days... my trip?

A faint echo of this entry...

This time, not so long or far away...

This time, a much more inexpensive trip...

This time, a different handsome man!

Details tomorrow!

****

April 1, 2011 First Campfire

April 1, 2010 Blooming Snow

April 1, 2009 Wordless Wednesday - "Big Sister Babysits 11 Siblings"

April 1, 2008 no entry.

Spotted

2012-04-01T05:07:04Z

Look who I spotted?

Ha!

*Spotted!*

Dot and Two Dot!

They're growing!

****

March 31, 2011 Highway 20 Views

March 31, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "Everyday Scenery"

March 31, 2009 The Zone

March 31, 2008 no entry.

Carol Sent You

2012-03-31T05:59:44Z

For those of you in the area, Blogging 201 will be held at the Ten Sleep Library at 4 pm on Saturday, March 31, 2012.

I'll be talking for a short bit on advanced blogging skills, then a few other bloggers will help me out with a Q&A session.

I recently loosely organized a Wyoming Bloggers Group and I figure tonight was as good night as any to share some other Wyoming bloggers with you!

Not that this is an exhaustive list by any means, but it's a start!

From Ten Sleep, Alli at http://allirainey.com Alli is a professional climber, climbing coach and author. Yes, we have her books at the library. Yes, she makes me feel very out of shape and fat when I see her... not intentionally, I just do that to myself... probably because I am very out of shape and fat! Alli climbs all over the world, but loves and calls Ten Sleep home.

Also from Ten Sleep, Sarah. Artist in various media as well as the tattoo world, Sarah is a newcomer to Ten Sleep. Her blog is http://spiralunwinding.livejournal.com You might read about night lambing or her latest trip or project!

Jill has quite the following over at The Prairie Homestead. I find myself wandering through her posts like I'm visiting with a friend, just bouncing from topic to topic, learning and relating and laughing. She lives near Chugwater, remember the stories I've told about the Chugwater Formation? Someday, I'll be thrilled to meet her in person!

Just over in Worland is Mandy at www.momofcomedy.blogspot.com. I've known Mandy for YEARS... and she actually worked at the library with me for a while! Mandy's blog is humorous, choke on your spit, why-didn't-I-think of that? kind of fun!

Michell over at Girl In Air is a DIY-er deluxe. Home decor, repurposing, crafts, you name it, she does it... including TV spots on a local station! She's won recognition for her projects and I think we could collaborate quite well together! She just finished up a Fire Station for her young son... go check it out!

Then there's Miss from MissInTheKitchen over in Kaycee. She's a ranchwife who loves to cook, unlike little ol' me... and I've tried some of her recipes! They work! They're good! I LIKE that! She, too, has quite a following, and is always trying some new ingredient or cookbook.. which makes it much more interesting than a standard cooking blog!

Amanda is trying to eat organically in Wyoming, and has tips and tricks for local (and otherwise) shopping sources as well as recipes. Amanda lives in Lander and her blog is entitled Almost Organic!

In a similar vein is Millie over at RealFoodForLessMoney. She journals about her switch from a Standard American Diet into a real/whole/traditional diet. She has multiple links and even a 13 week menu plan!

Acres of Sage is our last Wyoming blogger. Molly does a great job in a simple way of conveying life in Wyoming. Inspired by nature, her writing reflects Wyoming's diverse landscapes.

Not all of us will be there tomorrow, but come on by anyway or drop by their blogs and say, Carol sent you!

****

March 30, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "The Light Behind It All"

March 30, 2010 Identity Theft (one of my best ranchlife entries!)

March 30, 2009 Blizzard

March 30, 2008 no entry.

Volunteers?

2012-03-30T04:05:00Z

I think I cannot think.

Too many things to do!

FYI:

Blogging 201 is this Saturday at the library. (I must finish my PowerPoint and emails and am I making cookies or not? PS. Remember to pick up food co-op baskets Saturday morning...)

Am I going to Shoshoni or Idaho? Ugh. A decision I must make, like, yesterday!

Am I going to buy that rototiller or not?

The Titanic Event at the library will be in 2 weeks... maybe I should start MAKING things for it!

This blog is almostalmostalmost ready to switch over. Which just kills me. To lose all my photos is like suicide for this blog... or rather like the scene in a movie where they say, "Take this poison, it'll kill you... but don't worry, we'll be here to revive you!" Yeah... right...

I have MORE moving and unpacking to do...

and shoveling out of my chicken coop/studio...

and moving of random pieces of junk from around this place... so I can mow without risking life, limb, or mower... things are getting green!

I need a hired hand.

One that would think for me as well.

Volunteers?

****

March 29, 2011 Buy One

March 29, 2010 OCDog

March 29, 2009 Heifer Vaccination

March 29, 2008 no entry.

Wordless Wednesday - "Take Me Home..."

2012-03-29T04:52:05Z

For Wordless Wednesday...

Take me home...

****

March 28, 2011 Sex and the Country

March 28, 2010 Craig Johnson

March 28, 2009 Even Though...

March 28, 2008 no entry.

Good Timing

2012-03-28T04:13:38Z

Grasshoppa,

Are you ready?

Here is the birth of the calf that I teased you with the other day.

I did not edit this, because I wanted you to see the delivery in real time. This is cow 437 (though I had told Vernon 431... oops!) and so this should be her 7th calf.

Old hat.

Just squirt 'em right out.

Well, ok... after being in labor a while...

After filming my Vlog, I had walked to the Durango and thought, "Hmmm... I wonder how close she is?"

She had been laying down when I arrived to film, and only when she stood up during filming did I notice the water sac.

I started the car, rolled down the window, and started to film. Once I zoomed in, I could see she was close, so I stayed. Sure enough, it wasn't long til she pushed the head out, then the rib cage.

I left my car then, trying to get closer to make sure the sac was off of its nose so it could breathe. blehblehbleh, yucky jumpy video... but then, whoosh! I paused and zoomed in again, and could see the eye blinking and the sac was gone... so I just stopped and let momma do her thing.

You can hear the guys coming on the four wheeler for their afternoon rounds... a few minutes later they were checking out "my" baby!

We had good timing, folks!

A Calf Is Born from Carol Greet on Vimeo.

****

March 27, 2011 Passing Inspection

March 27, 2010 Picnic

March 27, 2009 Big Sister

March 27, 2008 No entry.

Hide Out

2012-03-27T05:09:34Z

Good grief, what a windstorm we had today!

I measured a gust of 53 mph! Most of the day it held right around 25, though...

It blew dust and limbs and evidently part of our calving shed tin off...

I had plans to do some landscaping, but, heavens!

I weinied out. (how *DO* you spell that?)

I hid inside and cleaned and cooked and occasionally snuck in some work on some pysanky.

At one point, I glanced outside and my chain link fence was solid with leaves. So much for what raking I've accomplished...

I heard one big bang, and assumed a limb had fallen out of the cottonwood. Turned out the corner support post for my tiny porch overhang fell over. Why it did not fall into my dining room window, I do not know! I figured if the wind wanted to take off the overhang as well, I'd just let it! I'm not strong enough to fight the Wyoming Wind!

It's on days like today, I'm very glad I can hide out in the house!

(this photo is obviously from the other day... when there was NO WIND!)

****

March 26, 2011 Significant Other

March 26, 2010 Antler Hunting

March 26, 2009 Two Days Old

March 26, 2008 no entry.

Red Dirt Shirts

2012-03-26T05:21:54Z

I tried this earlier... on a tshirt for a friend, then on a canvas bag. Remember those Dirt Bags?

I wasn't happy.

So I had to try again.

I went and bought just a men's white tshirt.

I threw some mud at it and look what happened!

(before washing it...)

Now I'm wishing I'd bought a heavyweight tshirt, because this one's more of the undershirt type... and I'd actually wear this thing in public if it was a bit nicer!

I'm very happy!

If only there were a career in tshirts and mud... Red Dirt Shirts, anyone?

(after washing it)

****

March 25, 2011 Cooling Down

March 25, 2010 Chain Cow Continues Her Adventures

March 25, 2009 Wordless Wednesday - "All Eleven Puppies"

March 25, 2008 Focus

Look! Twins!

2012-03-25T04:44:00Z

I know.

That was mean...

Obviously, it's not my twin grandsons... who happen to be here right now... but our 3rd set of twins this year! And this time they're both alive!

Cool.

And an answer to a question from Part Two of my last Vlog... as a matter of fact, I *DID* film the birth of that calf from Part Two!

It'll be up as soon as I make it into a movie!

Patience, Grasshopper!

****

March 24, 2011 Gettin' Bare

March 24, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "The Guardian"

March 24, 2009 Puppies/ Puppies 2/ Puppies 3/ Puppies 4/ Puppies - The Rest of 'Em

March 24, 2008 Playing Catchup

Yellow Interruption

2012-03-24T04:08:38Z

I've got a house full of kids and grandkids...

so I'm leaving you with a shot of yesterday's work.

Trailing 60 head down the highway to a new little pasture, we were interrupted by a bright yellow bus... and for some reason... this photo just stood out from all the others!

I don't really know why...

****

March 23, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "Marvel Photos"

March 23, 2010 Sigh...

March 23, 2009 Half Pint

March 23, 2008 no entry.

Question and Answer March 2012 VLOG (Pt. 2)

2012-03-23T04:19:01Z

Part two of the Questions and Answers...

and I must say...

I am *such* a dork!

No editing.

This is me.

My apologies!

March Vlog 2012 Part Two from Carol Greet on Vimeo.

****

March 22, 2011 Marvel (I love this one...)

March 22, 2010 A Growing Collection

March 22, 2009 Two Days and Counting

March 22, 2008 no entry.

Wordless Wednesday - "Brand New"

2012-03-22T03:23:52Z

Wordless Wednesday.

A momma cleans off her brand new baby...

****

March 21, 2011 The Casper Look

March 21, 2010 Consistently Inconsistent

March 21, 2009 The First Five Minutes

March 21, 2008 no entry.

Question and Answer March 2012 VLOG (Pt.1)

2012-03-21T04:30:17Z

Finally...

Here's Part One... too many questions, so I divided this in half.

March 2012 Vlog from Carol Greet on Vimeo.

****

March 20, 2011 Hopping

March 20, 2010 Same Color

March 20, 2009 Lucas' Ride

March 20, 2008 no entry.

Awesome, Girls

2012-03-20T04:16:30Z

Wyoming felt the need to celebrate the spring equinox with a snowstorm, so once again, my world was white!

How quickly we become used to 60 degree weather and the return to the 30's is a painful one.

It was a wet snow, and our mud that went to dust is now mud again... but with the return of warmth, I bet the grass will attempt to grow. Real spring may still be a ways away... but who knows?

I taught my pysanky class tonight... six students had a wonderful time with beeswax and dye and I just *had* to share!

I thought they were all very successful!

We all started with the same design, but we all did a different take on it, whether it was size or detail or color.

Pretty awesome, girls! Give me a call should you want to do more!

****

March 19, 2011 Moon Shadow

March 19, 2010 Sigh

March 19, 2009 A Ride

March 19, 2008 no entry.

Ukrainian Pysanky

2012-03-19T05:44:18Z

I hope you got the memo.

Pysanky Class tomorrow at the library!

Yes, Easter will be here before you know it and you better start melting that beeswax! There's nothing like the sweet smell of beeswax to get you in that Easter-ish mood!

I had planned to film my vlog answers for you... but the winds never quit up here all day... just not too conducive to film production!

The smell of rain was thick in the air, but barely any made an appearance. I guess the low pressure helped our cows along... We had 22 calves today! That's a lot of calves! With luck, they'll be the backdrop for my vlog when I get the chance!

Until then, your kistka is getting cold! Light that candle! Melt that wax!

(Four stages of the Ukrainian egg dyeing process using wax resist technique aka Pysanky)

March 18, 2011 Baby Shower

March 18, 2010 Photo Test and The New Toy

March 18, 2009 Wordless Wednesday (No Title!)

March 18, 2008 no entry.

Commute

2012-03-18T04:45:11Z

My little Blogging 101 Class was indeed "little"... but those who attended, I believe, learned a few things. I hope they decided it was worth their while...

But on the way home... what should I spy?

A little bunch of ten elk...

next to the road!

Cool.

For your enjoyment!

What kind of wildlife do you get to see on your commute home??

I like these guys!

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March 17, 2011 Traffic Report

March 17, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "A Rancher's Abandoned Steed"

March 17, 2009 Herding Cats

March 17, 2008 no entry.

Self Portrait in Reflection

2012-03-17T04:30:54Z

I worked full time at the library this week... thank God for Daylight Savings Time or I never would have had a chance for the couple of walks I managed to squeeze in! My dogs are about to go bananas... as am I... and I'd be looking forward to Saturday, but it is pretty well planned, too.

See, I'm putting on a Blogging 101 class at the library.

Like I know what I'm doing!

I *will* say I've learned a lot these past years... and I'm very willing to share that bit of knowledge. I did call it Blogging *101*, y'know...

The Basics.

Blogging 201 is in a couple of weeks... with other guest Wyoming Bloggers in a panel type discussion... Kind of a Q&A Advanced Class with differing viewpoints! That will be a kick in the pants... as I'm trying to get organized and form a Wyoming Bloggers Group!

So, I'm off to finish up my Powerpoint notes...

Here's my "Self Portrait in Reflection"

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March 16, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - " Hay, Girl"

March 16, 2010 Hello, Everyone

March 16, 2009 Eight Days and Counting

March 16, 2009 no entry.

Minute Movie : Babies

2012-03-16T03:44:47Z

Aha...

just go back to the old Vimeo and everything works great!

Cool.

Now I can go ahead and make my next Vlog with the Q and A!

For tonight...

BABIES!!!!

Minute Movie : Babies from Carol Greet on Vimeo.

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March 15, 2011 Webcam Update

March 15, 2010 Rust Colors

March 15, 2009 The Bunkhouse

March 15, 2008 no entry.

Wordless Wednesday - "Silence"

2012-03-15T03:05:45Z

For this Wordless Wednesday...

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March 14, 2011 Almost

March 14, 2010 Bottle Baby

March 14, 2009 Ten Days and Counting

March 14, 2008 no entry.

Tuesday Frustration

2012-03-14T03:06:29Z

I've been trying to get my latest Minute Movie up and going... doing the exact same steps I've done before... and somehow it just isn't going to work.

I even tried to upload it to Youtube instead...

No go.

After only a few hours of sleep due to this cough... I'm not in the mood to figure things out!

So, after waxing on and on last night... tonight I am going to leave you with just this...

Turkeys and Whitetails.

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March 13, 2011 Stylish Blogger Award

March 13, 2010 Nice Kitty, Kitty

March 13, 2009 Those Old Tales

March 13, 2008 Newbie

All Because of a Cookie

2012-03-13T05:16:06Z

All because of a cookie.

That was the first title that popped into my head for this post... because that's what people think. It's all about the cookies.

That's what they write about... the cost of cookies... the division of cookie money... the pushing of little girls into promoting an irresistible product.

Oh, my, oh, my...

How little you know of Girl Scouting.

Since today is, marvelously, the 100th anniversary of Juliette (Daisy) Low's founding meeting... K.J. and I, at work today, celebrated by having a display of a teensy bit of our "vintage" Girl Scout items. I'm a "Lifer". A lifetime member of GSUSA. K.J. and I have spent hours upon hours upon hours of our lives together, living and sharing Daisy's Dream.

We could have sat down and told our storiesstoriesstories and talked to anyone within hearing distance ALL DAY and not finished our tales of adventure and growth and misadventure! I can't type them all out either... but here in no particular order are the things I learned in and from Girl Scouting.

* How to plan. In GS, it's called "program". (It's what rich people can hire an event planner to do for them.) Grab your theme, come up with creative ideas for lively games, food, sit down activities, decorations, music, place settings, prizes, and even, costumes. Don't forget publicity, invitations, and posters for advertising. Be able to do this for less than the annual budget of California. Make some of it <gasp> BY HAND!

* How to set a goal and reach it. By golly, tell me what it's gonna take to get that badge and I'm your girl. I'd work hard for that little piece of embroidered fabric. The best part? When I discovered you could Make Your Own Badge. Talk about breaking it down into steps covering all different facets of a topic... This step by step process would do many people a great deal of good...

* How to organize. Which girl goes with which parent on which day. Who was present when we did the 3rd requirement. Ordering cases of cookies for troops of enthusiastic and determined little saleswomen. Remembering this girl is diabetic and that one is allergic to peanuts.

* How to be enthusiastic (especially in unenthusiastic circumstances). Case in point... I remember leading songs in the pouring rain with hundreds of GSs! Let's try something new! Let's go this way! Let's look at that over there! Wow, this water *IS* cold! Yes, this *IS* a long hike, but look at that pretty bird!

* How to sell. Yup. Thank you, cookies. People want professionals to have an "elevator speech"... try selling cookies as a door is being closed in your face! This is closely tied with goal setting... see above. Those cookies bought me A LOT of memories in the activities they paid for!

* How to learn and appreciate different cultures. Way before I declared Anthropology as my major in college, I knew about other cultures because we'd investigate them on Thinking Day or for a badge or World Friendship Day. Besides, Girl Guiding/Scouting is found is 145 countries today!

* How to sing! There's nothing more haunting than those last quiet songs around a campfire. How to lead and teach a song. Yes, it's a skill. How many songs can you entertain large groups with??? Goosebump moment: Girl Scout National Convention in Kansas City with my *daughter*... being led by the indomitable Barby Pulliam. 5,000 attendees and 3,000 extras biding time while Tipper Gore was late to the party. We should have kept singing...

* How to camp. I mean, CAMP. Not in cabins or tents. Primitive. Solar cooking. Bean pots. Fire building. Lashing. Edible wild foods. Backpacking. Horsepacking. Pack out your trash! Plant/bird identification. Real camping. REAL FUN! (If the end of the world comes in December... I hope you're with a GS! )

* How to be Safe. Good grief. I just can't see some activities these days without cringing at the lack of preparation... it's not that we didn't do things with some risk, but by golly, we'd taken what precautions were necessary and thought things through! Yup, that was the beginning of my First Aid training and K.J.'s lifeguarding skills!

* How to lead girls without pushing or pulling. How to follow without pushing or pulling. How to stand up against those who push or pull, who may just prefer to run over the top of me.

* How to be FLEXIBLE. Car broke down. Pow Wow dancers are late. Mother/driver doesn't show up for field trip. How to work around your tight budget because some people don't come through on their end. How to make stew when the rain is ruining your solar cooking demonstration. How to do a Camp Skills training inside because the RAIN WON'T QUIT.

* How to be creative. (See program above) Watching and surrounding yourself with creative people makes it easier when the creativity is left up to you. How many things can you do with a bandana?

* How to give service to your community. Always. Forever. The hours of community service quietly given by the GS to their towns, states, and country, is amazing. Decorate graves on Memorial Day, raise pennies for Make A Wish, donate pet food to shelters, make quilts for babies and homeless shelters, plant trees. All done quietly and without fanfare. Because you should make the world a better place.

* How to be empowered. THE buzzword there for a while... but I felt it years earlier... those years when being a GS was hard to do. Middle school. High school. When people pointed fingers and snickered... it ain't easy being green... but I'd stick out my chin and charge on. I *liked* GS. I *liked* spending summers camping. How dare *they* tell me what I should like! I was, unknowingly... EMPOWERED.

I'm going to quit now.

I could keep on... but I think you get the idea.

I am who I am because of Girl Scouting. I am who I am because of women who had a dream. Not just Daisy. But all women who stood up for young girls. Before women had the right to vote... before so many things we take for granted even existed. In my lifetime, it was my leaders and counselors who urged me onward. Mrs. D. and Sarge. J.T. and Smiley at Camp Sacajawea. J.W. and S. D. at Girl Scout National Center West. W.M., you were something!, and J. S., especially (oh, what a mentor and friend you have been to me!) Always and forever, K.J., who has remained my friend since we were 19!

Is it all because of a cookie? Sure. If you think so!

Happy 100th Birthday, GSUSA!

****

March 12, 2011 It's a Start

March 12, 2010 What Is It? Video

March 12, 2009 Spring Returns

March 12, 2008 no entry.

Anyweigh

2012-03-12T04:38:47Z

Dog gone it!

I made you a Minute Movie today... then got interrupted and didn't realize til JUST NOW, I forgot to upload it to Vimeo.

Rats.

Well, then...

Let's *talk* about calves.

We've always weighed our heifer calves... they're in the shed, they're handy, and we've had a scale in there FOREVER. Time was beginning to tell on the Old Scale, though... and we decided to get a New One.

Which turned out a little bit more difficult than we'd assumed. Nothing was quite the way we wanted... (get it?)

But we finally settled on this!

It's a little more work than getting them to walk onto our Old Scale... You have to get their front feet in the hole, then wrap them with the webbing... then lift the rope onto the hook.

This is, obviously, nothing I will be doing by myself!

I told Vernon he needed a ramp he could walk them up, then have his scale on a swing arm he could swing out and away to let them dangle in mid air. (I'm thinking that would also double as great fun for the grandsons in about 5 years!)

With this setup, you have to make sure those little hooves aren't dragging on the ground!

Anyweigh, who needs Disneyland?

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Keep sending in questions... I'll kick this cough SOMEDAY!

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March 11, 2011 What Say You?

March 11, 2010 What Is It Winner

March 11, 2009 Wordless Wednesday - "Snug as a Bug"

March 11, 2008 no entry.

There From Here

2012-03-11T05:24:57Z

As Daniel and Johnny went to a bull sale today... I became a hired hand once again.

The weather is absolutely brilliant... We have too much snow to just *instantly* disappear... so you *will* slip and slide... either on ice, slush, or mud! Before too long, you're shedding layers. It was definitely tshirt weather today.

We ran to Worland yesterday... and there were farmers out planting grain! Here our fields are still covered in white and too soupy to drive a tractor on unless you do it early in the morning while they're still frozen! Many times people have encouraged us to feed in the afternoon with the belief it cuts down on night calving. That's all well and good so long as you can feed on a dry field, but we must feed first thing or we'd just tear up our fields with our tractor! Guess we'll just continue to get up and calve at night!

Multiple times today I caught myself wondering, "What *IS* that noise?" I'd soon realize I was hearing rushing water in every little swale.

This is Willow Creek. Ten months of the year, Willow Creek has no water in it. One and a half months out of the year, Willow Creek has little puddles scattered along its stretch... then there's times like this.

Hopefully, we won't be short of water in our reservoirs this year! So far, so good.

I wish I could put a message in a bottle and send it down to the Gulf of Mexico.

I wonder how long it would take to get there from here?

****

It's Q&A time, folks... Post your questions, as soon as I can talk without coughing, I'll answer them!

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March 10, 2011 Vernon's Pet

March 10, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "Guess What?"

March 10, 2009 Spring Storm

March 10, 2008 no entry.

Have Milk...

2012-03-10T05:28:14Z

You know that house that everyone in the neighborhood used to like to go visit...

just because there was always fresh cookies for everyone?

Yeah.

#044... she's like that.

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March 9, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "Soaking Up the Sunshine"

March 9, 2010 Twisted

March 9, 2009 Photographer/Artist/Friend (who, by the way, just released his THIRD book!)

March 9, 2008 Coolin' Off

Say "Hi!"

2012-03-09T04:57:36Z

While I had plenty of things to work on in the house, today was gorgeous, so I abandoned ship and went and took you some baby pictures!

We have over 30 babies so far...

each one irresistible.

Only two are baldies.

Baldies get names.

The guys call this one Dot.

So... I'm calling this one... Two Dot!

Two Dot is soaking up the sunshine... contented. Relaxed.

Everyone say, "HI!!!!"

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Hey, time for Q&A! Post your questions!

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March 8, 2011 Questions and Answers - March Edition

March 8, 2010 Fossil Cliffhanger - Part Two

March 8, 2009 Puppies

March 8, 2008 94 Years Young

Wordless Wednesday - "Else"

2012-03-08T05:54:55Z

For this WW, a pic of one of my dogs...

What else?

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March 7, 2011 After Birth - the Video

March 7, 2010 Fossil Cliffhanger

March 7, 2009 Heifer Story 2 (good one)

March 7, 2008 Sweetheart

Dirt Bag

2012-03-07T04:59:58Z

So...

I found out that you can paint with Red Dirt.

I found out I needed to improve my artistry... perhaps profiles would be easier?

I really really really wanted, though, to have my three dogs on a canvas bag. I use canvas bags all the time... or recycled feed bags

So, I gave it a whirl.

Well, Lucas is better... Elsa is wonky... Dally is too dark to tell!

After washing... and I knew this would happen... the bag is VERY wrinkled and much softer.

All the paint I had to put on to get it to absorb into the canvas, due to its sizing or treatment, has faded away TOO MUCH.

Well, since I've ironed it, it doesn't look too bad... still faint. I'm going to try again. The sizing is gone, maybe it'll take the dirt easier now.

I paint over it... trying to fix some things... testing to see which "layer" will show through...

Hmmm.

My conclusions?

Canvas bags, due to their rough texture and sizing, probably should be used for large logos or silhouettes... not detailed portraits like I have here.

RATS!

Dirt is an interesting medium... Kind of hard to control... but I'm getting better.

Within minutes, I'd pulled out a tshirt... and was going for a finished product!

When I finish THAT one... I'll share!

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March 6, 2011 After Birth 3

March 6, 2010 Gettin' The Job Done

March 6, 2009 Heifer Story

March 6, 2008 no entry.

Red Dirt Medium

2012-03-06T04:49:17Z

Well, I was going to answer your good wishes one by one, but evidently GoDaddy and I are on different pages at the moment. To each of you that sent well wishes, thank you! It is just a head cold... and orange juice and neti pots and hot baths seem to be working...

Let's return to my T-zer from the other day.

Red Dirt Shirts.

Handpainted with, uh, Red Dirt!

Time to test my theory. I grabbed my used tshirt and applied mud.

Not bad.

Not good.

But not bad.

His left eye is wonky. There is no "eraser" for red dirt.

Let's wash it a few times and see what happens...

Yeh... needs work.

Let's do this to make the Muses happy... My friend sent me a picture of her Boston Terrier.

I tried this.

I got her face too narrow.

bleh.

I obviously need to work on my artistic skills... but the real fact is...

YOU CAN PAINT WITH RED DIRT AS YOUR MEDIUM. (don't mind the occasional piece of grass or root...)

My next trial...

painting the dogs of Rimrock English Shepherds on a canvas bag...

Can I do it?

Tune in tomorrow.

****

March 5, 2011 What Cuties

March 5, 2010 Mud

March 5, 2009 Heifers 4

March 5, 2008 Favorite Model

sorrysorry

2012-03-05T02:53:25Z

Sorry.

I've caught the crud.

I'm headed to bed.

See you tomorrow.

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March 4, 2011 After Birth 2

March 4, 2010 Questions and Answers

March 4, 2009 Heifers 3

March 4, 2008 Agility

T-zer

2012-03-04T04:44:39Z

If you've been here any amount of time...

You know I love Red Dirt!

I named my book and my blog, Red Dirt In My Soul.

But, not only is Red Dirt in my soul... it is also...

in my laundry.

Yeah.

Good ol' red dirt.

It stays in laundry Very Well.

So well, in fact, that for years people have made Red Dirt Shirts of one sort or another. I have one... the softest shade of Red Dirt, with a simple line drawing of a horse on it... made by friends. Kinda like tie dying but with dirt!

It works.

This idea has been hanging around since last summer... and I've wanted to get more creative with it. Knowing someone's gonna beat me to it... because, honestly, it's not that original...

I wanted to step it up a bit.

I didn't want to just tie dye or wash it in gorgeous red mud... I wanted to CREATE!

So my sister-in-law, C., and I went to work!

I wanted paw prints on my shirt. Which is easy enough to do in August. I made some mud... had my dogs walk through it and over the t-shirt I'd laid on the ground. Their paw prints looked like smudges. Ugly! Not paw print-like at all!

Fine.

I'd paint my own. Then I painted some Indian pictographs. Then I painted some feathers. Then I painted some "bead-like" dots on the sleeve. I tried some arrowheads, some yucca... Some wonderful red chugwaters... I was just playing. Test-driving the intensity and detail I could get with Red Dirt.

C., on the other hand (who is a MUCHMUCHMUCH better artist than I) went for a finished look with her first t-shirt. She used leaves and stenciled around them. We left a clean area for a "logo" or nametag...

All with Red Dirt.

My mind started racing with all the possibilities... because... after we had painted on the mud... and let them dry.

And washed them.

Twice.

The Red Dirt was STILL THERE.

Not as bright... but the intensity, the saturation of the dirt... translated very well.

So, fast forward 6 months... and I FINALLYFINALLY get around to creating my "serious" t-shirt.

And it has to do with the photo below.

And I think I shall leave my t-zer at that!

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March 3, 2011 After Birth

March 3, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "Going, Going, Gone"

March 3, 2009 Heifers 2

March 3, 2008 Scrambled

Storm Beauty

2012-03-03T06:29:28Z

I'm sending prayers to all of those impacted by all the horrible storms and tornadoes today. It sure makes our little snowstorms seem miniscule by comparison.

I hope you can find beauty in all the destruction... somewhere... somehow.

Jot down in your calendar...

March 12 Girl Scout 100th Anniv. Open House at the Ten Sleep Library, 3-5 pm

March 17 Blogging 101 at the Ten Sleep Library 4 pm (put on by ME!)

March 19 Friends Meeting 1 pm

Pysanky Class 6 pm $5 charge (taught by ME!)

March 20 Last Book discussion at the TSL

March 31 Blogging 201 at the TSL, 4pm. Some local Wyoming bloggers will be in attendance to answer your questions, including ME!

It's a busy month at the Ten Sleep Library!!!

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March 2, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "Babyface"

March 2, 2010 Great Reward

March 2, 2009 Heifers Step 1

March 2, 2008 No entry.

Family Tree

2012-03-02T06:13:09Z

Not long ago, I shared the beginnings of an undertaking with you... in As Time Goes By.

It is my version of the Pinterest project usually called "painted family tree" or some such title.

Like I said earlier, this is an ongoing job, as our family grows... so will these photo walls.

I'm looking for some pics of Vernon as a boy.

I have one of my great-grandmother ready to add.

While I've hung my great-grandfather's photo in my Indian room, I might have to make a copy and show his Choctaw heritage again.

So, here we are... the tree expanding to the left of the trunk around my Indian room door.

To the right.

And then across the wall actually opposite the trunk!

It keeps on growing...

We have awfully nice decorations on our Family Tree!

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March 1, 2011 Dog Training Tip 1

March 1, 2010 The Bar Part Two

March 1, 2009 Busy Days... and Nights

March 1, 2008 Yawn

Wordless Wednesday - "Fresh Snowfall"

2012-03-01T05:31:01Z

Here's today's WW... and with 13"... Dally had plenty of fresh snow to enjoy!

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February 29, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008... No entries!!!

P.S. A Very Happy Birthday to my cousin J.! Are you 15 today????

Calf Cam Spying

2012-02-29T05:59:16Z

I sit here, spying on my son...

The Calf Cam is in great form.

The baldy cow had a baldy calf... and I LOVE baldy calves! To me, there's more chance for "character"... or at least a name! Every other calf that's pure black is just... black. Hard to tell one from the other. (Well, you can, it's just harder!)

Daniel watched... checked to see if the calf was figuring out which end to go find the faucets on...

Then he moved them to another pen.

Aha.

With all my wisdom and experience, I quickly deduced, another heifer must be calving!

Daniel cleaned the pen.

And reloaded.

Whoops, ladies... just the one that's calving!

Figures.

We received 10 inches of snow today... maybe more... I kept forgetting to go measure it... so perhaps *this storm* is bringing The Onslaught!

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February 28, 2011 A Walk

February 28, 2010 The Bar

February 28, 2009 Busy Busy

February 28, 2008 no entry.

Un-onslaught

2012-02-28T05:52:37Z

I keep waiting for it to "HIT".

The rush of baby calves.

The flow of amniotic fluid... the grunts of labor... the slimywetcuterthansnot black babies that (hopefully) slip into this world... the steam that rises from their backs... the first shake of a head and blow of a nose... the mother's soft "meh" accompanied by a rough tongue's caress... the staggering dt's as the calf tries to stand... the instinct to stand then nurse... the laughter as the calf tries the "wrong end"... the tongue's fumbling attempts at capturing the flimsy tit on a moving mother that's trying to see where her baby is going (my, how simple it would be with hands and opposable thumbs!)...

Somehow...

It all comes together and it works.

We have four, or is it five?, calves on the ground. That's hardly an onslaught.

What will tomorrow bring?

****

A photo using a flash from the other night... Snowflakes highlighted, heifers unfocused. I actually like it!

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February 27, 2011 Shop Away

February 27, 2010 Spring Calves

February 27, 2009 Dally at Work

February 27, 2008 Nights

Voice

2012-02-27T05:44:57Z

I know you're probably wondering, "When will Red Dirt In My Soul ever switch over to its new format?" Well, I'm still chugging along at printing off all my blog entries.

I shouldn't have started... because now I don't want to quit! But I do, too, because it is taking forever!

I have 2008 done.

And 2009.

2010 is halfway there...

I'm not telling how much I've spent on ink. I'm cheap enough that I decided to use the back of the paper... which made for its own complications! I guessed if I printed off through June, then flip over and use the other side... I'd come out close to December, right?

No. Not really.

And I had to figure out how to print everything in order, because the printer liked to print last pages first... so I had to figure how to change that... adding another step!

Ugh.

But, by golly, I'm going to get there.

But, seriously, what was I thinking when an entry can take 13 pages to print all those photographs?????????????????

I'm SOOOOOOO ready to switch over to a new setup!

While I'm browsing around looking at old blog posts, I realized I should be doing something else.

The BlogHer Voices of the Year contest is going on. I was recognized last year, and my readership level shot up! Anyone who is registered over at BlogHer can nominate someone, and honestly, I nominated myself last year. (It's legal!)

I'm going to do it again, but how do I compete with the story of Snake, the Bald Eagle?

If you have a favorite post of mine from February of 2011 to January of 2012... something that's unique (in photos and/or story), let me know. They have 6 categories... Heart, Humor, Identity, OpEd, Parenting, and Visuals. Visuals is where I was chosen last year.

This is my life... and while I know it's more and more unique as ranches dwindle away... sometimes it's hard to decide what might resonate with people "outside" of agriculture.

I have a few favorites. Sex and the Country was hysterical to me, but reading the single post doesn't convey the entire story very well. Widdle Calfie Pooh is sweet... definitely the "ahhhh" factor. The video, Pups and Panama... again, kind of "ahhhhh". Into the Blue I thought was well written, though I don't know into what category it would fall. Western Conference is unique. Marvel I will submit to the Parenting category.

My best photos I usually saved for Wordless Wednesday... can one great photo be better than 5?

Which post touched your heart? made you laugh? gave you insight into ME? (forget the OpEd... you know me and controversy!) caught a moment in the journey of parenting? or visually was a reflection of my "voice"?

I need help!

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February 26, 2011 Into the Blue

February 26, 2010 Darkness, Rah!

February 26, 2009 Inspiration - Stoves and Eggs

February 26, 2008 no entry.

Heifer Checkin'

2012-02-26T06:20:51Z

For a change, I did the ten o'clock shift with the heifers tonight.

Daniel is gone, and for the price of two kisses, I told him I'd could probably manage to cover for him. He gave me a peck on each cheek... so I ended up hours later... bundling up at 10 pm, heading out into a *snowstorm*, and driving the 4 miles to the other place!

I expected to see some "action".

Nothing like a falling barometer to expedite delivery!

Nothing seemed to be happening.

Vernon will check at 2 am. Surely something will be going on. If so, a quick trip to Daniel's house to call me may be in store.

Just in case he needs help.

So why am I still up?

To share this photo with you!

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February 25, 2011 Widdle Calfie-Poohs

February 25, 2010 Part of the Circle

February 25, 2009 Sweet Thang

February 25, 2008 A Quiet Moment

The Job Everyone Ha- Doesn't Care For

2012-02-25T05:52:03Z

"The job everyone hates."

That's the way Daniel described his afternoon chore of grinding grain.

We feed our calves extra grain rations during the winter... it helps them grow big and strong! If we only fed them hay, like their mothers, they would put much of that energy into keeping warm and not grow as much.

Think of it as the protein shakes a body builder might drink... the extra calories transform into more muscle.

Since we grow our own grain, we must grind our own grain. Grinding breaks down hard outer "shell" of the grain, letting them get at the "good stuff" inside.

Grinding grain is messy work.

Although the grain grinder machine does the work, there is no way to avoid the dust!

Itchy dust.

Icky-it-makes-me-break-into-hives kind of dust.

Dust that gets in your nose and lungs.

Dust that covers your clothes.

Dust that powders every little bit of facial hair.

See?

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February 24, 2011 In the Mood for Babies

February 24, 2010 Wordless Wednesday - "Both Branches"

February 24, 2009 Spring Day

February 24, 2008 Calving Season

Fruit Blizzard

2012-02-24T05:54:20Z

While the road report for the state of Wyoming looked like this today...

and outside my door looked like this today...

I somehow found it within myself to stay inside. I've put in my time being out in blech like this... I found things to do.

I printed off more blog entries.

I cleaned my house... though my floor remains in its semi-disgusting state.

I did laundry.

I planned my garden some more... and looked at *another* garden catalog.

I called my sister.

Just a little FYI... I was gonna keep finding stuff to keep me in this warm house!

Then I decided to be productive and dehydrate some food!

I have a tendency to get fresh produce, especially fruit, and then find no one eating it. My guys are meat and potato eaters... throw in a veggie and they'll eat that too... but fresh fruit sitting on the counter? Neh. Not so much.

HOWEVER. Dehydrate those apples, throw them in a baggie, and leave them in the pickup...

GONE!

BAM!

MAGIC!

Back in the day, I could live on apples, cheese, and crackers. Now with my loss of sweetness, apples are just bleh. And if they're mealy apples... yech! I've got to have CRISP apples! BUT, if I dehydrate them... the flavor intensifies, and the mealiness goes away! SCORE!

No waste!

Gotta love it.

Today I dehydrated tomatoes, apples (with cinnamon sugar on them!), mangoes, parsley, and some corn! I bought this Excalibur dehydrator last year... and just love it. I have a big jar of mixed fruit in my cupboard, and the guys just come along and grab a handful. I do separate out the bananas. I hate bananas. They ruin the rest of the fruit. I hate bananas. I have lots of dehydrated tomatoes hanging around, and my stash of herbs has grown into pint jars instead of miniscule containers. I hate bananas.

Whoops. My mom's voice in my head says "I don't care for bananas." So, forget that I said "I hate bananas." I was raised to say, "I don't care for bananas."

Oh, those voices in my head.

Back to my dehydrator. Best thing I've ever dehydrated? Watermelon. I kid you not! Slice it up just like anything else, dehydrate it down to a fruit leather slice of heaven. Yum.

If you find yourself wasting too many fruits and vegetables... you might want to think about dehydrating them instead of tossing them!

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February 23, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "Ice Falling"

February 23, 2010 Elsa, Dear

February 23, 2009 Cousin Robb 4

February 23, 2008 My Guys

Wordless Wednesday - "Reflections"

2012-02-23T03:42:57Z

Wintry reflections compose this week's WW entry.

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February 22, 2011 Pretty Stinking Cool

February 22, 2010 Petite Partner

February 22, 2009 Bob

February 22, 2008 Runoff

"Read Ingredients"

2012-02-22T05:48:11Z

I've been going to mention the book discussion I've been participating in the past few weeks. The topic was "Read Ingredients". It is sponsored by the Wyoming Council for the Humanities. They chose the books! We just read them!

Tonight was our third meeting and this week's choice was Food Of A Younger Land by Mark Kurlansky. It was all based on the WPA's work done in the 1940's collecting regional food stories and recipes. It was interesting to an extent... though recipes have never been a great interest of mine.

I cook because I have to feed my family... who work very hard and need a good meal. Working all day on a little bowl of oatmeal or a salad for lunch, isn't gonna cut it around here!

People brought spoon bread, cornbread, sopa bread pudding, and pasties tonight... all recipes from the Food book. No one brought blue crabs, clams, possum, or squirrel. Neither did persimmon pudding, pumpkin soup, gumbo, or Waldorf salad make an appearance. We were all out of lamb fries and Rocky Mountain oysters, although we'd all eaten THOSE!

We had a fun time discussing what we'd eaten that was included in the book, or strange things that weren't. (I've eaten seal, caribou, and "muktuk", whale blubber... I think I won the "weird" category)

I had no idea about this project (and others) through Roosevelt's WPA. I know of the work of the CCC, but had no idea the government hired writers to give them jobs. Same with artists.

The other books we've already read and discussed are Second Hoeing by Hope Williams Sykes and Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver. In two weeks we'll finish with My Life in France by Julia Child.

It's been fun to do... I would never have chosen to read these books.

What are *you* reading?

P.S. Thanks for the tips on rototillers... I took notes!

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February 21, 2011 Any Ideas Part II

February 21, 2010 Every Morning (so you WANT to live on a ranch?)

February 21, 2009 It Has Begun...

February 21, 2008 It's Disgusting... (Are you SURE you want to be a ranchwife?)

Here's Looking at You!

2012-02-21T06:10:29Z

In between cleaning and cooking... I browsed my seed catalogs... and made my decisions.

Though my garden is non-existent at this point in time... I will get my act together.

Even if it means calling in Vernon and his tractors to rip up the spot for me!

Back in the day, M. had a wonderful garden here. I think she was probably 85 or older before they seeded it to grass and she had to give up her garden. I usually FAIL at having a great garden... just one good enough. However, since I seem to have more time on my hands... and with Brandon coming home after graduation to help out even more around here, perhaps I will be able to keep up with it.

Time will tell.

The seed order will be going in soon.

I need your help though... I want a new rototiller. I'm tired of the humongous tank that has no reverse and runs only when you hold your mouth just right. You're my experts... so, what do you use?

Troy-built, Mantis, what?

What do you like and dislike about them?

Are they heavy?

Front tine or rear?

Thanks for your advice!

Rio had to follow me around like my dogs today... Here's looking at you, buddy boy!

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February 20, 2011 Any Ideas

February 20, 2010 Spirit Wind (cool photos!)

February 20, 2009 My Desktop Background

February 20, 2008 Reflections and Shadows

Bag It 2!

2012-02-20T05:50:49Z

In Bag It! I showed you how to cut out a feed sack in anticipation of making a fun shopping bag. Then, I ran into J., who showed me a quicker and easier way instead of what I WAS doing.

I'll show you both ways... and hopefully, you won't get too confused.

Go ahead and cut your feed sack into what resembles the bottom half of the letter H. Turn it inside out and wash. Fold in the legs and tape them into place. You can pin them if you want, I just had tape handy!

Once you've got them in position, sew the overlapped area together.

Stitch the long seams twice. Since I wasn't using heavy duty thread, it seemed only right to double stitch!

The handles are made 2" wide and as long as you like them! Some people like long handles to throw the sack over your shoulder... others prefer to carry them by their sides. I folded them into 1/3 and stitched along the length. One bag I sewed the handles twice, which makes them stiffer.

Sew the handles on wherever you like... I like mine at the "corners". Zig zag back and forth for strength.

Then fold the top edge down. Now fold it down again. That gives you a nice clean hem. Sew into place, making sure your handles get sewed in the "UP" position. Be careful not to break a needle while sewing through the handles and doubled over bag edge... it's THICK!

J.'S WAY:

Cut the bottom seam off of your bag.

Turn it wrong side out and wash.

Sew a double seam across this opening. (See first photo)

Take the corner you've just created and with some smashing around get it to "peak" like the top of an "A". (Do not do this while your husband is asleep!) (Unless you WANT him to wake up!)

Here's the cool thing about J.'s design. If you want to make a wide bag, you just sew farther up along the side! I'm making this about equal to a grocery paper sack. Sew closer to the point and you get a narrower bag. Farther away from the point... a fatter bag. Get it?

Do your handles the same way... and, voila!

You've bagged it!

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February 19, 2011 Happy With It

February 19, 2010 Heifer Check, Check? Right...

February 19, 2009 More Preparations

February 19, 2008 Preparations

Only Fair

2012-02-19T05:32:22Z

I rolled out this morning to help Vernon again.

But this time there was a different twist, for it's my Bountiful Basket morning... meaning our food co-op was delivering. I had to disappoint my dogs, telling them, "No. Stay in the yard."

What disappointed looks!

I drove my Durango to help feed, then took off for Ten Sleep. I was filling my laundry basket with pink oranges and apples and spinach and other such goodies, when a friend of mine waved something in my face.

"Ha! I beat you by two weeks!" J. said.

She showed me her gorgeous bag.

A feedsack bag.

A CHICKEN feedsack bag.

It was cool.

OF COURSE, we had to compare methods. I happened to have my bag with me, full of goodies and snacks for a friend going on a trip this week. So with some thought, we figured out each other's techniques.

I'll give it to J.

I think her method is easier.

So.

Here's the deal.

Tomorrow, hopefully with some creative work, I'll compare the two styles... and you can choose whichever one will work for you.

It's only fair!

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February 18, 2011 Promise!

February 18, 2010 Ten O'clock Shift

February 18, 2009 Subtle Signs

February 18, 2008 no entry.

I Interrupt This Lesson... For Ranchlife

2012-02-18T05:19:00Z

Ooops.

Yeah, the sewing machine never made it out of my basement.

Due to the breakdown of some equipment... I was called into action today.

We grained the peewee calves...

And fed some cows.

And chopped some ice.

Why, yes, I *DO* live on a ranch... thanks for the reminder!

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February 17, 2011 Red Dirt of Home

February 17, 2010 Home (the last photo made it into the English Shepherd calendar!)

February 17, 2009 Axe-ident (oh, my! >blushes<

February 17, 2008 No entry.

Bag It!

2012-02-17T06:24:17Z

To begin your "feed bag", cut off the bottom seam of your feed sack of choice. Make sure you're even with the lettering... stay fairly close to the seam.

Create "legs"... leaving the folded edges of your sack alone, just cut up and over, removing a rectangle from the front and back. Hopefully, the image won't be too distorted from this! No slicing through heads of animals. Yuck.

Your "legs" must overlap in the middle. I have PLENTY of overlap... I could have backed off a bit and had my legs a little shorter (and shown more of that pretty palomino - oops) The overlap helps with the strength of the bag, so you don't want just a quarter of an inch, unless you're carrying feathers or quilt batting.

Along the top edge, cut two strips about 2" wide. These will become your handles.

Now...

Go wash that sack out. You might like the smell of horse cake or dog food... but the person you're giving this to, may not! (Then again, why are you giving it to THEM?) Let's just say, those crumbs will be hard on your sewing machine!

Go wash... let dry... pull out your sewing machine and come back tomorrow.

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February 16, 2011 Wordless Wednesday - "Boomer the Mouser"

February 16, 2010 I'm Back... and There Was No Axe-ident

February 16, 2009 Neighborly OOPE

February 16, 2008 Working Dogs Video

Wordless Wednesday - "Last Stop Before Home"

2012-02-16T05:41:21Z

WW for this week...

The last stop before home... the gate is thrown open... ready to drive on in.

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February 15, 2011 Smiling Here

February 15, 2011 No entry.

February 15, 2010 Meanwhile... Back at the Ranch

February 15, 2009 No entry.

Bag It Up!

2012-02-15T06:01:26Z

Here's an easy peasy craft for you...

Got a "plastic" bag that your dog food comes in? (Or chicken feed, horse feed, cow cake, or pig protein?)

Maybe you have a big sack of salt for your water softener or potting soil?

If it is woven reinforced plastic, not paper, GO GET IT!

Here's mine.

We're going to create this...

A shopping/beach/overnight/work bag!

All you need is the bag, scissors, marker, yardstick, and your sewing machine!

If you're happy with the angled bottom, you can sew a ribbon right over the paper seal to conceal it! (ha!) Cut it in half (taller would be too tall for most uses) plus you could sew two bags out of one. You could use different handle material... like rope or braided twine... and simply sew a seam on the top edge. Ta-da! You're done.

I had to be different.

First: I wanted a flat bottom on my shopping bag.

Second: I want to use the pretty picture... What's the point if the horse's head is cut in half? Yuck. That's kind of Godfather-ish, don't you think?

Third: I wanted handles made out of the same bag...

Tune in Thursday for step by step instructions!

Hope you had a great Valentine's Day!

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February 14, 2011 Valentine Volunteer

February 14, 2010 No entry.

February 14, 2009 The Winner Is...

February 14, 2008 No entry.

As Time Goes By

2012-02-14T06:29:26Z

Boy.

It's difficult to blog without my camera anymore.

*I* was ready for my dog walk/heifer checking/craftiness today... but I had a DEAD camera.

Absolutely lifeless.

No AED was gonna revive it.

Sure, I had other cameras AT HOME... but that didn't help out with today's events.

I listlessly plugged it into the wall on my return... and moved off to other projects.

I accomplished some things...

I dehydrated the borderline veggies and fruit in my fridge. I actually enjoy that. Knowing that instead of pitching them in a few days... I've preserved them for later use, not waste! Far from being a Prepper, I do believe in being Prepared. I live a long ways from the store, which is another reason I chose to be an Emergency Essentials affiliate, too! See the sidebar...

I sewed a great little bag today... perhaps a photo in the daylight tomorrow?... just a cute idea I just HAD to try...

Then, for those of you who are Pinterest-aholics... You may have seen various versions of the "Family Tree Wall". I wasn't going to share this quite yet, because I'm not done enough... but since none of the other photos worked out...

Here's my beginning...

You see this from my dining room. Victoria's photo of a gnarled old cedar tree... and my painting.

I kinda like it.

I've extended the limbs clear around the entire hallway... not exactly true-to-life, but who cares? The photos I've been hanging are NOT visible from the dining room, at least so far.

I was planning to do this anyway... but thanks to Pinterest, I have a cool "theme" that keeps it all together!

I'll share more photos as time goes by... or my camera dies... whichever comes first!

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February 13, 2011 Entertainment

February 13, 2010 No entry.

February 13, 2009 Long Day Off the Ranch

February 13, 2008 No entry.

Question and Answer February 2012 VLOG

2012-02-13T05:01:29Z

This is getting to be fun...

Here ya go!

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February 12, 2011 Fever

February 12, 2010 No entry.

February 12, 2009 Pysanky Monochrome

February 12, 2008 Tractors

Minute Movie: Bull Sale

2012-02-12T06:03:24Z

The trip back from Nebraska was long...

The interstate was agreeable for driving if you were a lone car... unfortunately, that's not the case on I-25, and the blowing snow whiteout condition would envelope you whenever another vehicle was nearby.

It stunk.

Bleh.

I was extremely glad Vernon was driving (as he did heading down... so, NO, I DID NOT TAKE PHOTOS WHILE DRIVING 75 DOWN THE INTERSTATE)

Not that I haven't taken photos out my car window...

Anyway...

I don't know how he does it... the guy that falls asleep at 7 pm in his recliner can drive us all the way home late at night. However, it took him 23.6 seconds after getting in bed at midnight to reach the snoring stage. Me? I get a crick in my neck from falling asleep while I should be looking for deer like a Good Shotgunner.

I managed to throw a quick Minute Movie together for you...

We leave the sunset over the Laramie peaks, spending the night in Cheyenne, with a nice visit with Brandon, Megan, and Quinlan at the Outback Steakhouse.

The next morning finds us flying east to Dix, Nebraska. We've never been to the McConnell Angus bull sale before. As usual, the guys have debated over the catalog, and we check out the ones they've circled as possibles. I'm not too crazy about a few of them, Vernon's not too crazy about some of them... He does stop and scratch #3's face... the catalog said he was friendly and that was true! My pick was #37, but Vernon, at first, dismissed him as too small.

Looking over the sale day info... turns out he wasn't as small as Vernon thought... and a great PAP score with some "new blood" as well. He took a second look... and put him on our short list.

Yay!

We'd bid on a couple unsuccessfully, and watched a few others go up way too fast for us to even be included in the bidding... before the long wait for #37. Why he was stashed closer to the end, I don't know.

The video shows how fast a bull sale goes... and we didn't win the bidding war. He went to someone else, we did manage to get a bull there... just not him!

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February 11, 2011 Haydogs

February 11, 2010 I'm Off Again...

February 11, 2009 Pysanky - Nontraditional

February 11, 2008 Snow walkers

Heartbeat

2012-02-10T04:54:45Z

I know.

I had a plan.

Another Vlog answering your questions.

Well... Vernon decided to go to a bull sale in Nebraska... So here I sit in a motel in Cheyenne, without the ability to make my Vlog and answer those questions!

The Good News is you have another couple of days to submit questions... The Bad News is it might be Sunday or Monday before I get it done!

If nothing else, you must be flexible in your plans as a rancher... Depending on animals, weather, or husbands, your agenda can change in a heartbeat!

Below is a photo of the Laramie Range... And I say it's pretty stinking good for going 75 down the interstate!

Copyright Red Dirt In My Soul

Wordless Wednesday - "Cloud Kiss"

2012-02-09T05:41:34Z

For this Wordless Wednesday...

Clouds kiss the top of Ten Sleep Canyon.

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February 8, 2011 Feeding Two Video

February 8, 2010 Remember the Mills Place?

February 8, 2009 Pysanky Continued

February 8, 2008 no entry