The Real Life of a Ranch Hand's Wife

Cow Camp

A picture journey....(so it might take a minute to load)

This is where we unloaded the cows and calves on the mountain. They can wander about as far as the eye can see, but this was the starting point.

 
 

    The first truck was unloaded with a ramp, but the last few cows broke it, so like all good Cowboys, there was improvising going on for the rest of the trucks... move the truck so they didn't have to jump as far...

 

    Meanwhile, the guys were holding the herd to make sure the mommas found the right babies. If you don't keep them all together till they "mother-up", then they will wonder all over and get into all kinds of trouble.

 

    After everyone was settled in, the guys took them over the hill to water.

 

    A little different country than they're used to....

 

    Spreading out, and looking for the good grass.

 

    Meanwhile, behind me was a little girl picking flowers, not caring about cows.

 

    Since the cows were settled, it was time to set up camp. But before that, there was a couple minutes for a ride. It was long enough to freak Momma out, since this wasn't our back yard or an arena. Miles and miles before you hit a fence, so I was a little more on edge than usual with visions of a horse taking off with my daughter. Don't worry, he didn't though...good pony, good pony...obviously he knew I'd kill him if he thought of a different outcome!

 

    The road is too rough for a trailer, so I drove in the supplies with a truck, while the guys rode in while they ponied their re-mounts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

    Coming into Cow Camp

 

    The welcoming committee....

 

    It's a tough view to look at, I know, but at least I took a picture to share it...

 

    Thanks guys for setting up a great photo for me, couldn't have planned that one if I tried....

 

    Horses are unsaddled and hobbled, now who's cooking dinner?

 

Gourmet Hot Dogs

   

    I really believe that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. In the same sense, (haha pun intended) the term "gourmet" is in the taste of the taster's buds. I say this for a couple reasons. As most of you know by now, I'm pregnant, and yes, with that comes cravings. Last week I spoke of nesting, but I'm soooo over that...for now anyway. This train of thought started with hot dogs and ramen noodles. I promise, it will all come together, just follow along with a hormone crazed pregnant woman and you'll see. lol

   The Cowboy and "J" (ranch-hand) were headed up to cow-camp to set up the camper, take a look around and make general preparations for this coming week of shipping cows. Cow-camp is about an hour from the main ranch, through town, and "over the hill" so-ta-speak. Since they'd be there for a while, Shell (J's wife) and I drove up with the munchkin to check it out, and have supper with them.

    We were chatting, as us girls are always so good at, when a familiar story popped in my brain. She told me that the Cowboy stopped in at their house, and J was fixing a snack and my Cowboy preceded to steal it from him, forcing J to make another packet of Ramen Noodles. Don't worry, it's a universal cowboy thing, they're always hungry. I can't tell you the times that my fridge has been raided, or have been given that fore lorn look of "please have pity on me and FEED me".

    So anyway, the Cowboy pulled rank, and took the already prepared noodles, secured a hot dog and was asking Shell for a can of corn. No corn could be found, so just the noodles and hot dogs were enough. When Shell relayed this story, my pregnant stomach cringed, but knew where it came from. I then told her the detailed "back story" to Hot Dogs and Ramen Noodles.

    The Cowboy and I had been married just shy of 2 years and as most cowboys are, we were broke. He had a great opportunity training horses with an up-and-coming trainer. So while he trained horses, I mucked stalls and we got by. We had 2 dogs and 1 cat in a 32 foot motorhome. No power, no running water, parked in an open pasture a couple miles from the main ranch. We hauled irrigation water to flush the toilet and drinking water from the horse barn. I REFUSED to bath in irrigation water, so that too was hauled from the barn. Funny how terrible that must sound to some of you, but I don't remember being miserable at all.

    We came home one evening, a few days away from payday (we all know how that is) and began to look through the cupboards and coolers (no fridge, remember). The Cowboy announced he would cook dinner. Ramen Noodles, Hot Dogs, and a can of Corn. I was less than thrilled. I've hated hot dogs since I was about 10. I try to only eat about 2 a year, any more than that, and I'd better have a gun to my head. So needless to say, he was a little hurt at my lack of enthusiasm over his "gourmet meal".

    You see, when the Cowboy was very little, he thought this was his favorite meal. He didn't know until much later in life that it was a meal of necessity. Till he was about 5, he was raised by a very hard working single mom. She went without so he could have his fill, even if all there was on the menu was Ramen Noodles and Hot Dogs. I don't know of a good parent that wouldn't sacrifice something for their child, we've all done it. It's just a parent thing.

    I was not aware of the story behind this meal, until he told me, and then called his mom to relay the memory of the meal. At that moment, I was a very ungrateful wife. Sometimes you just have to choke down a freakin hot dog already! So I did.

    Now I look in my freezer and realize that I'm blessed. We have a freezer full of home-raised beef, lamb, pork and soon will have chickens. Beats the heck outta hot dogs, which ironically are the munchkin's favorite.

    Everyone needs some tough times to appreciate the good times and the times of plenty. Sometimes to appreciate the steak in front of me, I have to remember, I've had to choke down alot of hot dogs and I'm no worse for the wear. In the paper yesterday, I noticed hot dogs are on sale....

Nesting

    I'm a terrible blogger! It seems like it's been years since I sat down and actually wrote something out. Ok so it's only been a couple weeks, but still, I've missed all of you!

    I think I can safely blame my absence on fatigue. I don't remember being this tired while carrying the Munchkin, course I wasn't chasing her around then either. She's been so good about me being so tired though. She's content to snuggle up on the couch with me, her blankie, blue bear, some milk, and "tartoons". I've also been treasuring these moments, even if I am half asleep. Then there's the poke in the eye, the pull of an eyelid, and those 3 little words.... "Wake up Mommy!"

    For those of you that might be procrastinators, or are just set back by circumstances, have no fear....there is a person worse than you! Between the Cowboy and myself, we've got ya covered. I'd love to say that my garden is knee high and looking so gorgeous, but it's not. Haven't even plowed it yet. Yes, in case you were wondering, it is in fact June 13th. (can you tell I'm not bitter?)

    I can say that the "nesting" bug has set in. I looked at my living room the other day and was terribly annoyed. So out came the vacuum (for under the furniture that hadn't been moved in 6 months -- I'm sooooo not that person that every time I vacuum I pull out the furniture!), and I tore up the living room. Normally, this would have just been an hour or so project, but with interruptions such as, I'm hungry every 5 seconds, tired every 15 seconds, and going to help the Cowboy work cows (I just pushed them to the chute, nothing glamorous), it took most of the day.

    As I sat in my newly arranged living room, I looked toward my kitchen and was deeply, deeply annoyed. So the kitchen was tackled yesterday. I even finished it off with a hands and knees scrub of the floor. This is the #1 reason why I know this is nesting that I'm feeling. I say this because, if you knew me and showed up at my house on a regular basis, you would know how out of character that last move was for me!

    Now I'm looking at my porch and wondering how long it would take us to remodel and make it into usable space....hmmmm? Ok ok so maybe the nesting bug will pass, but while it's here, I kinda like getting this stuff done.

    I know it was forever ago, but I did promise to post some baby-horse pics. I finally got them off my camera, so here's just a couple.

    I love me a red-head! (I'm not kidding. My husband, favorite dogs, and favorite horse are all red-heads!)

 

This is why mommies "nest", to protect and cherish our little ones!