Red Dirt in My Soul
Ranch Life In Wyoming
Carol, Wyoming Ranch Wife
This blog is my photographic journal of daily life on a Wyoming Centennial Ranch... 100 years in the same family! The dogs are English Shepherds, the cattle are Angus, the stories true! Also find me at www.rimrockenglishshepherds.com.
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Feed List
Awards
Overlook
One Fish...
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May 21, 2011 Here It Comes
May 21, 2010 Indian Room - Finished
May 21, 2009 Puppy Walk
May 21, 2008 no entry.
Branding Portrait
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!
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May 20, 2011 Not Even
May 20, 2010 Wildflowers
May 20, 2009 Wordless Wednesday - "Patriotic Evening Primrose"
May 20, 2008 no entry.
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.
Slow Down
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.
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.
More
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!*
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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
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!
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May 17, 2011 All Growed Up
May 17, 2010 Tough Call
May 17, 2009 Branded in Sepia
May 17, 2008 no entry.
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.
Wordless Wednesday - "Eeny Meeny Miny Mo"
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
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!
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May 15, 2011 Teams
May 15, 2010 One Down!
May 15, 2009 Preparation
May 15, 2008 no entry.
Good Dirt
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!
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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
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
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
Heads Up
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.
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.