Lifes curve balls

It seemed as though we went from August to December in one day. I think at times craziness attracts more craziness. We took our two grandbabies to Seattle to my sisters wedding reception and to see the ocean for the first time. August 12 -14.Got home our house was flooded from a broken washing machine hose. 92 days later we changed the locks and said we will finish. During that time our babies moved to Wyoming so we had a practice horse show as they would be gone during fair. In September the husband gave away his sister at her wedding in Austin, Neveda. He had a heart episode again after we got home spent some time in  mm ER. We celebrated our 30th anniversary on the road during this. Sadly a week later my mother in-law passed away after a long illness. We had our yearly company from Wisconsin, still living in half of our house. Made it the rest of the way through October. November 8 Husband got hurt at work. Thinks he will be OK. Headed to Portland for my other little sisters wedding traveling with our grown up kids ,brothers sisters etc.Rented a house together good time. Went through the holidays kids and grandkids home for Christmas. Priceless.

Haying Season

July has almost passed me up. Having the collectible antiquated collection of ranch equipment we have the beginning of haying season always seems to prove challenging. The swather broke a tooth then a belt. Fixed cut hay. The rake weld came undone, Fixed raked hay. The baler broke a gauge (soft bales). Fixed. The baler broke a little 1/4" guard not easily located. Fixed. Baler adjustment off. Fixed. Hay baled.  Stack wagon arguing but working. Swather pivoting around and around not so good. 3 days until dark fixed. Husband and I now know the manuel by heart and can take off drive chains , master links and sproket adjustments while in inches of thick gooey gear oil. All though most of the fixes and all the welding are done by the husband, when I get home we work together. Fresh eyes or talking through trouble shooting usually does the trick. It is hard to describe the complex feeling of having completed yet another trial together. The time spent head to head is actually very satisfying. I love to be a part of all things the knowledge I gain as he teaches me is so very valuable. Now the first crop is almost completed and looking at the stacks with a grin he tells me the hay looks pretty good this year. I see pride in his eyes and hear satisfaction in his voice. It is being able to see the end result that keeps you going. And a sense of humor that keeps the season bearable.

Frog Hunt

It is the frog hunt that started the journey through the fields as Nana changed irrigation dams. But the water they walked through was to enticing and begged to be splashed in and then followed. They explored every corner, finding mud to slid in and ditches to follow. Then after hours of exploring, Nanas dams were the perfect soaking spot to relax and giggle. I think this is the part of life we should bring with us. Sunshine and laughter not a care in the world a few moments at a time.

Childhood Summers

   In the moments of sunshine in between light rain showers, we walked to change waters. What child can resist a sprinkler. It started so innocently just standing on the edge letting the water sprinkle their toes. Then bending their heads forward they received sprinkles in their hair. Inch by inch they got closer, looking back to see my reaction. Seeing my smiles at the antics they were playing out was all the encouragement they needed. Fully dressed spontaneous fun. Childhood summers.

Garden Water

The husband decided I needed to have a frost free water faucet in the garden. After years of fence climbing to turn water off and on I of course am very happy. He used the back hoe to dig the trench and I hand shoveled under the fence put the line in and water!!!!!!! Sounds so easy. :) This is the real truth. Honey lets put a faucet in the garden we got everything so we can do it in a few hours. :) :) As he dug the trench the back hoe struck a line that wasn't marked (uuuuggggghhhhh) We decided to finish the line then get the part on Monday to fix broken part. Called to pickup faucet- The man who had it for me had it stolen out of his truck. So new faucet, new line, 2 days later. WATER IN THE GARDEN!!!!!!!!! I shall be sore for a few days after this odd shoveling. But so worth it. THANK YOU HUBBY FOR THE WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

P.P.S. (protective papa syndrome)

As I went to the top to feed baby I spied the geese that had been nesting. Papa had been chasing off other geese so I took my camera. As I approached both parents laid as flat as possible in the grass I could hear very low sounds like a gurgle and a hiss the babies obeyed and climbed under and around mama. All except one! He couldn't help himself. He kept popping up to see what I looked like. Everytime the sounds got louder and he would duck down but was short before popping back up. Finally just like any other exasperated new parents Mama jumped up waked him on the head with her beak and headed out calling the others. Papa jumped up hissing deciding to set the perimeter with me. I was way to anxious for baby to get done with his bottle. Anyone that has been around a protective goose knows its gonna hurt. I headed out goose in tow then after 100 feet or so he went back to his family. I could hear them get louder as they walked side by side. I think little guy was still in trouble. The curious young , the cranky mama and the protective papa life cycles are so familiar in so many species. :) :)

Bottle Baby

Everyone gets lovies.

 Bertha had her little guy and the kids are thrilled she is their cow and they love to feed the baby. It is cute when they are here. But as Bertha is Bertha she always takes her baby to the top so I can walk my happy ____ uphill carrying a bottle of milk. When I'm half way there she meets and walks with me calling for baby to come to supper. We have a system she calls the shots and I do as told. :) :) When we are all done she walks me back to the house with baby in tow to bed down. Totally satisfied. :) :)

Garden Prep

   This years seedlings are going crazy. After starting them in mini greenhouses (containers strawberries and cookies from the store come in) they sprouted and are taking over. I make my transplant pots out of newspapers. So I guess I better buy another sunday paper. :) I hope we can have room to wait for planting time. It's been 3 weeks and most are about 5" tall. Yeah! Doing Farmers Market this year.  Granddaughter says we need green beans and flowers, Grandson says we need Pickles and Strawberries !

Green-It's Green I say

 Walking around the fences yesterday was so beautiful and cleansing. Iwalked along the creek and there it was green in full force. Yah!!! While I see green beginnings up and down this is  the tallest.

 While walking we stopped to pick up some barnches in the field and seen this birds nest built so sturdy and cleaverly inside the hallow protected from all.

 Walking back to the house at the end of a beautiful day the sun just going behind the mountains. Our side of the valley is spring the other still looks cold. But it makes a beautiful picture.

 Well these were yesterday and now I'm heading out to another beautiful day.

FINE FURRY FRIENDS -NOT

   This is one of those things in life that you know but your in a hurry. Fast, fast feed the girls they are all telling me the what to and I them. I grab a bucket and scoop the scratch but it moved with me and came up my hand UUUUUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!  And it's hairy. The girls are flying up on the can with all the commotion. They spy a protein diet. I can't get rid of the hebe geebees. I grabbed my camera to take a picture of this horrible start to my morning. Download complete. Feeling a little odd he is so tiny and cute in the picture. Not so in real time. :) :)

Springish

   The beginnings of spring are apparent this week. The thaw has begun. Lots of water over the road this last week letting up as the temperatures got a little colder. This will work good if it is cold, warm,cold, warm

 So the girls went through the check list;
                                   Real longer days ( Sunshine not fake lights)
                                   Green visible
                                   Mama threatening Chicken Soup
                                   Yep time to start laying again!
(It was nice to cook breakfast with farm fresh eggs again not pale yellow store bought. Glad they got busy.)

                                   Fluff is my favorite little girl. She is the smallest of the flock with the biggest attitude. She is all about the business. When we picked up our chicks 2 years ago, there were 6 oddball chicks left. They asked if we would buy them, so of course we did. It has been fun seeing what they grew up to be as no one knew when we bought them.

 #25 has a heart on his forehead. So cute. He was born in Febuary of course.  

Martha

 After months of sleep lacking nights and severe exhausted state of mind, a successful depredation hunt. Even though they were being shot at they would not leave. I guess those rubber bullets demistified the fear they once had. It occured to me as we were disposing off the outer casing , that maybe they needed proof to really understand. So I named it Martha and set it on the fence. I explained "Look what happened when Martha ate Mamas hay!" Since I know they understand and read ( the only explanation why they come only during none shooting hours). As I did my bihourly check there they all were looking and talking about Martha. They left. Day 3 a power sleep night and still no damage this week. Oh the sweet sleep of success. I know my nights are numbered but for now. Yeah!!!  (There will be no pictures for this post due to the graphic nature)

One Legged Breed

       One day my daughter had a friend out to the ranch. He was standing outside watching the girls run around clucking. He says " Look at that poor chicken she only has one leg." Then he looked around and seen we had others. His face was a little red and he says " Oh, I didn't know it was a breed." Then as she puts that foot down and pulls up the other to get warm, his face was very red. :) :0  He looked at us and said you are never going to forget this are you? Nope. Thought I would share a little ranch humor with everyone

Cow In The House

    There are, on occasion, times when you have to allow the outdoors in. This little bull calf was so large his feet were curled. It was cold and I couldn't get his joints stretched. So in he came. The babies couldn't believe it. My bulldogs made short work of licking him and laying by him to warm him. We stretched his joints and rubbed him down, hoofs under the wood stove. When he stood it was several tries to get his balance without his feet curling. I just held his joints (hind ones) and the husband balanced his body. Then out to mama we went. My husband held the calf and had me milk mama a little to get him sucking. All is well. When we came back in my grandaughter said " Nana tell Papa no more cows in the house. He made a mess and now you have to clean it up!" Such a girlie girl sometimes. I told her why we did it she said we are very goofy. That may be how the world sees us. :) :) :)

OF COURSE IT WAS TODAY

    It's 20 below and the Red Cow that has been thinking about labor for 3 days has decided it is time. My assumption was, it is the convulsive shaking in this cold weather helping it along. (Probably not though, it's me shaking)

She is struggling, and after a long night of Elk (who were especially destructive last night) we are cold and wary. It is day break now, we can turn off our flashlights. She is pushing and grunting we see the 2 little feet that have been peeking out appear further then we see it is backwards. Great. It explains why she is struggling. (It's her 7th so quite unusual to struggle) We have been waiting with sheets, gloves and rope, in case we have to intervene. While waiting for Red , #8 White cow delivered hers fast and quiet. After all clean and dry, mama is ready to eat. We covered her baby with straw in this weather, as we are finishing Red delivers a huge red ball face calf. The husband lifts it from the hind and shakes to clear the lungs as it was backwards and things don't always clean out good that way. I clean out its mouth. We get a little of it dry then mama says back off. All is well. We will wait to tag and band the bull calves until they get time to get up. It is way to cold. I took pictures, they are a little blurry due to the camera (or me) keeps freezing . Time for a very warm cup of coffee.

P.M.S. Ranch Style

     P.M.S. Ranch Style (Protective Mother Syndrome) Ranch Style. During calving it is natural for my girls to be protective of their little ones. It is with great care and soft talking we tag and band if necessary (bull calves) we pet baby and walk away always talking soft. Mama sniffs her young, sees it's still alive and continues on. But we have #14 The Devil. She suffers from P.M.S. Extreme. With her it doesn't matter whos baby, she will defend it from all and if shes having a bad day she will take it from mom and decide when to give it back.  This year the extreme has hit a new level. Moving her and hers to a seperate pen with a few young cows for our own safety. Perfect plan.:) :) After 20 harrowing minutes of horn knocking foam spitting pissed we managed to get baby moved then she followed. Ahh calm. Fixing fence- not to her liking jumping pen #2 fence running over babies slamming mamas at the complete injustice of being moved. The bawl from pissed #14 is one you will respect.  She hits the fence when I feed so each day. I will use great care and when baby is old enough #14 shall be gone. That day will be one of great celebration.

First Calf

     Last night was a blizzard could hardly drive home. Winter was back in full force. This morning the sun came up to be a beautiful morning. Quite warm for winter again today. The husband came around the corner and told me our first calf arrived. Out of a first time calver none the less. Mama and the little bull calf are doing good. When you look at that adorable little white face calf it is clear Ducky was around. Couldn't have picked a better day.

Nanas Babies

"Feedn chikns" with Kallie dog the protector.

      I am very lucky my grandchildren love Nana & Papas ranch. At this age they bail out of bed when they hear the door, they want to feed "the chikns"( I need to record that). They have to feed Ducky the bull and check for baby cows so they can give a bottle. I hate to break their heart but I truly hope we don't have a bottle baby this year. We are all blessed to be here. They take the sleds outside the shop and sled up and down the mini hill. They make snow angels and trails and then run in to get warm and have hot chocolate. Not many children have the outdoor freedom ranch kids have.

Natures Artistic Places

K Mountain

        I view "K" mountain out front of the house, from my kitchen window and from my garden. It is beautiful in the winter as the K stands out with snow. It is actually rock then outlined with trees. It amazes me man had nothing to do with this. A few years ago we had a forest fire adjacent to K. I remember sitting on the porch drinking coffee hoping and praying it was spared. The fire itself was a dramatic thing to watch how fast it ran through the mountains.

Spring Teaser Makes Work

     I love love love January thaw. It was the perfect day. All the frost free waterers are WORKING! Lots of physical and mental working together. We put up more fences in more places. As we were working the elk walked back and forth on the hillside, watching, making their game plan. I actually felt (feel) like we are sparring. My anticipation to see the night thru and see if we won tonights efforts or not is probably odd to most. I am doing my hourly checks so far so good.
     I was in fence building mode so started on garden. I went to the creek bottom and started thinning out the willows and brought them up and wove them thru the fence. Concept is high enough the jumpers stay out and into the ground enough the girls stay out. I enjoy the calming busyness of the girls when I work the dirt and they work by me, digging and scratching. I thought to myself WOW not everyone gets this.

Then just as written in the book about the little red hen. Those who work in the garden harvest the garden. I guess the girls didn't think I put much time in. :) :) So we are going to be a little more one sided this year. But as I am learning, it is a watch and do as you go world out here on the ranch.

      I so knew I didn't weed eat all the way for a reason (other than I never found the energy). This Pheasant Rooster is enjoying the seeds left on the weeds. Winter food.

      Supposed to be 15 below tonight I hope not. But the wood is piled high and everyone has extra food to keep their body temp up. So very glad we don't calve in January. It was very cloudy and snowy today but every now and then the sun peaked. I could see all the elk waiting me out. The wolf call only lasted a couple of hours last night. Oh well small price to pay for living on this beautiful ranch.

Wildside

       This Bald Eagle was kind enough to let me snap his photo as he watched over my girls eating. Not sure his intentions are in my girls best interest. Amazing strength in those claws and beak.
       As I was leaving the drive way I watched the scattering of the little flock of mallard ducks. Then I saw a hawk swoop in and try to grab a hen. Never knew they would get a bird that big. I was in his way so she survived. An interesting world we live in.

Trouble In Paradise

    Well in the wee hours of the morning a ruckus broke out and much to my dismay my girls were being killed. Kallie our beloved flower dog ( such a hippy) pushed open the door and was having a fit. Thanks to her our loses were minimal. I am a really good shot under stress. A very large raccoon was maiming all our hens and had one killed. I knew they could be mean, but when he turned at me and hissed with those fangs my instinct finished the fight. I haven't used the gun to do anything but shoot rubber bullets to get the elk out of hay, so was glad I still could.
       On a better note the waters are thawed except the auto frost free ones and the animals are all in pens with water. A little less work in the cold. :) :) My son got a wolf call and being as that is what pushes them in to us we haven't seen any tonight since we played it may have to sleep all night tonight. :) :)

My poor little girl and the evil predator.

January 4, 2011

Yesterday was 14 below today 5 above. Waters are froze outside. One should always be careful what they want from the New Year. I wanted to get more fit. :) :) So now I get to haul 5 gallon buckets of water and throw hay bales. God has a sense of humor as my friend tells me. Next Year I may not be so vocal or obvious. Day 9 of cold and flu. Think I need to get to happy place to kick this.

"Ducky"

"A few of the hairy girls"

"The girls"

A little warmer today only zero. Not much protesting. A lot of damage to the hay stack last night. The husband and I put up a zig zag of metal panels to detour the "Elk". The girls were happy to see their winter food supply being saved. The pheasants were in the yard today a little braver all the time. My bulldog Annie was not impressed. She tends to get a little territorial. I wonder where she gets that from :) :) :). Ducky the bull (our very own Ferdinand) has the saddest cry for such a big fella, it's almost comical. Thought he should get out of jail (Bull pen away from the girls) and eat more today but not happening.

from the ranch

 

My view walking out to feed.

While there are days when my girls both hairy (cows) and feathered (chickens) are comforting and peaceful to be around, today was not it. At 10 below this morning I was taken to task as though I  personally had something to do with it. My sassy hens were cranky and bickering and my timid girls not far behind, the poor boys just kept tilting there heads a little vocal but they know who runs the coop. The cows flung their heads in protest making sure I acknowledged their despair. Once fed all was well again. And while I enjoy the world outside and time with my girls my fire inside was to nice to venture far away from. The night is bringing in the elk again everytime I stoke the fire I open the door and scare them out of the hay. The mule deer left a horn yesterday will make a good candle holder. I see the medium white tail buck has only 1 horn, on a warmer day will see where he left it.