A few days ago in the midst of an afternoon walk, I stopped. The hillsides were covered in snow, the road I had walked on was ice. But a different sound was literally underlying the countryside. It took a minute to distinguish it. An unseen river was melting underneath my feet. The snow was melting and running…
It’s Disgusting…
People have told me that the reason ranchers get married is to have someone along in the pickup to open gates. I’ve always laughed at that true statement… and since I wasn’t raised on a ranch, I really never had a true idea what living on a ranch would be like. A small tip sheet…
Preparations
The past few days have been filled with preparations. We begin our calving season soon. Our first due date will be on the 23rd, so we are trying to get ready. The days have been extraordinarily nice with the temperature reaching well into the 40’s. While that sounds, and is, a luxurious warmth, it has…
Working Dogs Video
Elsa pushes up some cows through deep snow. I’m not giving her direction beyond her first “Get ’em up!” partly because I’m breathing so hard from walking through the deep snow! She does gather them, even recovering the one I thought she had left. She follows them around the corner of the road, and then…
Tractors
Elsa bunny hunting. When we get used to anything, it becomes an instant frustration when it doesn’t work the way it was designed. You turn the faucet, the water should come out. You flip the switch the light should come on. You start the tractor the diesel engine should growl right along. This morning it…
Snow walkers
Lucas, Elsa, Dally, and I took a walk. The day was warm and softening the snow, burning it off of the south facing hillsides. Today was a good day for black and white! I didn’t get as many good pictures as I wanted. Dally is a fast little girl. She weighs 17 pounds and had…
Ponies II
Our ponies are waiting for their hay allotment on this grey day!
Ponies
Each morning as we feed calves, cows, and bulls…we also slow down and feed our horses. We wouldn’t be much of a ranch if we didn’t have horses…and each has their own story. Happy. Not so happy, oftentimes cranky, retired horse of Vernon’s. He liked to be in the front of the bunch and would…
Every Morning
Every morning I manage to crawl from bed…morning person I am not…and thankfully I have a husband that can cook breakfast! Pancakes and coffee kick me out the door and we begin winter chores. I feed my puppy and throw a little extra to the big dogs, to keep them warm in the cold and…
Glimpses
Glimpses Saw two coyotes head over the rimrock this morning, unhurried, curious, yet wise enough to leave the territory. Dally must be locked up the past few mornings, or she follows us, eager to learn and I am unable to watch her carefully around the hay trailer, yearlings, and soon-to-be momma cows. She must learn…
A Different Calling
Today Lucas and I finally got a chance to be something else besides stockdog and owner. We became a Therapy Dog Team at Ten Sleep School. I have worked towards this day for over a year. We began when Lucas was a puppy and not yet old enough to be registered as a Therapy Dog. …