The Real Life of a Ranch Hand's Wife

Days gone by...

    I promised you some pictures of the Teamsters that I took, but first I have to tell you about it. Maybe then you can appreciate how I felt as I took these pictures. After all, isn't that the goal of a good photo? Capturing not only the moment, but the feeling?

    I first saw them cutting a field right next to the main road while I was on my way back from town. This was one of the only times I didn't have my camera, so I ran home, and came back to snap a few. I got to talking with them and they invited me to come to a different field in the coming weeks that would promise to be more scenic. I agreed that the major road construction was a draw back.

    When we were finally able to connect, it was a joy. I was met at the gate by Robin, a tiny pixie little thing (it's a wonder she isn't given bus tickets to keep in her pocket for when the Wyoming wind blows her to Nebraska and she needs a ride home), tough as nails, leading this giant team in one hand. I've been around draft horses before, mostly just in the dude string, so it's been a while. You forget how little 5'3" is, till you try to bridle one. I remember those moments of pleading with a giant horse to just cooperate with you. It really is pleading, because there really isn't much you can do to force a draft horse into dropping their head. I always found that talking helps. Makes you look like a crazy person, yes, but usually gets the job done.

    As I watched Robin bridle the horses, I snapped a few pictures. I couldn't help but wonder how many times a person has to hook up a team before first, not getting lost in all the leather lines or tangled for that matter, and second, it actually going smoothly and not taking half the day before you actually get hooked to what you intend to pull. This is where the movie started to play in my head of all the ways I would tangle myself and end up pulling the wrong thing and find myself cinched up under the horses' belly getting ready to hold on to an almost one ton runaway with hooves of fury. Seriously, these are the things I think about.

    When I made it to the field, everyone was in full swing of cutting hay. All three teams were going strong. These gentle giants were hard not to love, especially with names like Doug, Ted and Molly, just to name a few. The quiet was enveloping. It was everything that I love about Wyoming. The slight breeze whispering through the grass, bringing a whiff of sagebrush every now and then. The warm sun shining down while puffy summer clouds roll in over the hill.

    There was hardly a sound to be heard. The giant horses were light as feathers across the field, barely even bending the grass as they walked through. While snapping pictures, I waited for the noise. There really wasn't any. A few creaks here and there from the old metal mowers, the occasional sneeze from a horse, and only when they got close could you hear the chatter from the mower's teeth. The grass fell to the ground as silent as it once grew.

   Maybe it's not as soothing or as romantic when you're actually driving a team. I'd like to think that it is. Otherwise why would anyone go to the trouble when there's plenty of tractors hanging around? I think the answer is the same as why we still use horses instead of 4 wheelers for most of the ranch work. The Cowboy and I have both said many times that having a team would be nice, especially during the winter. When it's cold, a team always starts. Those cows get a little cranky when having to wait for breakfast because it's too cold for the tractor to start. I would love the sounds of it. The creaking of an old hay wagon, the swishing of the hay, the crunching of the snow packing under the horses' feet, and the munching from the crowding cows. It's the little things.

 

 

 

 

 

Oh yes I almost forgot, well not really, but I had to keep you guessing. We had our ultra-sound last week. So here's the result, since so many of you wanted to know....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ironic

    So I have some updating to do before I get to share my thoughts on a recent matter that has been plaguing my thoughts. I'd like to thank everyone for helping me chose a picture to put in the art show. Unfortunately, I was notified that it has been canceled due to lack of sponsorship. So after I cried in my chips and salsa for a while, I've moved on. Now I'll just have to find another one to get accepted into and go with that one! Thanks again for your help though!

    This is the thought that has been haunting me of late.....it's butcher time. My chickens are big, healthy and are ready for butchering. Now I'm not sure if I've shared this fact with all of you or not, but I've never butchered a chicken....well anything for that matter. I've cut and wrapped deer and elk before, but not actually been present for the whole process. A few weeks ago, I shared this fact with my sister and her mother-in-law. I got more than a few raised eyebrows and laughs.

    You see, not only have I never done it before, but I've never seen it done either. One of my first memories as a child involve butchering chickens. I was about 3 and was convinced that the rooster was chasing me without a head all the way down the driveway. Needless to say, I didn't stick around for the rest of the process or exactly take notes for future reference. 

    I also have developed a less than strong stomach since being pregnant. I realized this a few months ago while helping the Cowboy doctor a lamb that had prolapsed. It really is harder than you'd think to hold a lamb while dry heaving. I thought maybe it was just the more sensitive beginning months and that by butcher time I'd be fine, until yesterday. One of the barn kittens got an "owie" and it was infected, complete with 2 huge maggots under the skin on it's leg. I managed to hold it together long enough to take the kitten to the Cowboy. He then was removing the nastiness when I yelled for him to hold the cat while I ran away dry heaving. 

    It hit me at about heave #4, crap, I've got to kill and gut chickens. How the heck am I gonna do that, when I can't help a cute fuzzy cuddly kitten? The Cowboy asked why I couldn't help, and what would I have done if he wasn't there. I told him, big yellow kitchen gloves, and pliers or something other than my fingers for sure! (by the way, I'm itching all over right now just thinking about those squirming little bastards under that cats skin.....ahhhhhhh) Seriously people, this could get ugly.

    If you thought all that was great, I've got one better. You can ask my husband and mother-in-law about this one as they are first-hand witnesses. When Thanksgiving rolls around, I delegate the bird washing duties to one of them. I CAN'T STAND TO CLEAN THE INSIDE OF THE TURKEY! I can't even do it with gloves on. It's the terrible sucking, slurping, and hollow nasty noises that get to me every time. How am I going to gut a chicken?

    It's ok for you to laugh at me, everyone else does. It really is pretty funny and very ironic if you think about it. The person that can't really handle these things came up with the great idea to raise butcher chickens not only for the family, but to sell. Now do you see why these thoughts have been plaguing me? 

    I had a butcher date of the last week of July set for myself. I'm looking out my window, and I see white chickens wandering my yard and surrounding pastures. It's August in case you forgot. At this rate, it's going to take me a few weeks just to get the nerve up. I'm not sure I'm up for this self-inflicted Ranch Wife journey. I'm sure I'll let you know if I make it out alive or I run away screaming like that 3 year old I once was. Wish me luck.... 

   

Picture Dilemma

     So I have a problem and I need some help. Who better to help than complete strangers that I pour my soul out to from time to time, right? Right. So as some of you might remember, this year I had a Bucket List of sorts. You know, things to accomplish in 2011. Well it's time to check another one off, and then I need your expert advice.

    I was accepted into the Heart of the West Invitational Art Show. So that means that my pictures will hang in a real-life, where people go to see this stuff on purpose, actual gallery for an entire week. I've known for a couple months and I can still barely wrap my head around it. I think mostly because it's hard to think of myself as an "artist". Are you crazy? I'm just a ranch-wife! =)

    So anywhoooo, I can only pick 2 pictures to hang for the show. The first one I've already chose, "Wall-eyed Fit", but the second, I'm up in the air about. I have a few contenders in mind, but not a front-runner. So this is where you, my loyal readers come in. I need to decide in the next week so I can finalize my choice with the coordinators. So please please please HELP! =)

    Just go to this link to my photography site, and comment under the one that's your favorite. Or you can comment here, either way, I'll see it. It doesn't have to be of horses, it can be in any of the galleries, except people. I really appreciate it, and thanks a million! You guys are the best!!!!! 

Get back up

     Recently, I've been busy trying to keep up. It hasn't been working out all that well for me. I'm starting to get some energy back, but it's still not coming quickly enough for me.

    I'd like to report that my house is spotless, the laundry is clean and put away, the yard is smelling of fabulous flowers that greet the sun each morning with smiles, my thoughts of a porch remodel are becoming a reality, I ride every day with the Cowboy checking cows, but alas, none of that is happening. Not really even close. I'm hoping for another wave of "nesting" will hit so I can see and feel like I'm actually getting something done.

    A few days ago, I saw a quick question asked on Facebook. It was something along the lines of, "what advice would you give new ranch wives". My answer was basically this in a nutshell, "You've got to roll with the punches. You can't control anything that happens on a ranch, so don't try."

    So I said all that to say this, I need a dose of my own medicine. I've got to roll with the punches, but the important part, is to get back up. I feel like I've been "rolling" just fine lately, now I've got to get up! So wish me luck over the next few days, as I try to get up, and in turn get some crap done! =)

 

   I thought I'd leave you with this image. This is a wild stud I came across one day while driving to see my sister. He was covered in mud, had dred-lock hair, getting his butt kicked by another stud, but was still fabulous (and posed for me to prove the point). He got back up....

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!

 

The Neighbors

    I looked at the clock; it was 4:30 in the morning. I had just put the munchkin back to bed. I guess potty-training is going better than I thought. Not only is she not having any accidents during the day, but now she wakes me up to go at night. My reasoning doesn't really work at these small hours of the morning, so I can never seem to understand why she can't just utilize the diaper I put on her for the expressed purpose of not getting up at 4:30 in the morning. When I tuck her back into bed, I yawn. "What? Need nap Mommy?" Yes, I need a nap at 4:30 in the morning.

    I lied there awake. I hate being up before the birds. A little light was coming through the window and then the little tweet tweets started in. Now how am I supposed to get back to sleep with all those cheerful little tweets hanging around? Ugh. Now my brain is awake. I hate that even more than the tweet tweets. I had all the intention in the world of getting up and opening my computer. Might as well, I wasn't sleeping. My body said no, although now I was starting to get hungry....

    I had a wave of terrible guilt and a giant cricket conscience with a huge voice that flooded my head like the mighty Oz, "You should be blogging". Then as I was trying to talk myself out of getting out of bed, I saw a reoccurring theme. I was going over all the things that have happened on the ranch of late (since my last post, 12,000 years ago), and the thought of neighbors kept popping in my head. Some neighbors are good some are not so good. In ranching, "neighbor" is a loose term. It might be the person who lives next to you, but that might be 20 or 30 miles down the road, or more! In our case, it's not that far, just a few miles to get to the good ones. =)

    Last week we branded our first bunch of calves and it went off without a major hitch. After finishing up some last minute food items, I zipped over to the branding pen. When I pulled up things were just getting going and some mommas were being sorted off. The kiddos were hanging out on a flatbed trailer out of the way and perfectly content. The calves were bawling in the pen, the mommas were milling around and bawling outside the pen. The horses were tied up outside the pen with a couple hobbled, while everyone was getting things set. 

    The combination of a few of these things is what started the chain of events. A momma cow trying to find her calf a little too close for a colt's comfort, the colt in turn starting to crow-hop through the row of tied up horses, which in turn freaked out said cow who ran away, thus freaking out the other colt that was hobbled, who in turn showed everyone how easy it is for a horse to not only run, but buck with hobbles on and subsequently cover quite a bit of county without much effort. The first colt continued on his path of hops and squeals heading for the flatbed trailer.

    Maybe I would have been a better horse-woman, or tougher ranch wife if I had stepped in front of the horse and grabbed a rein and held him. Well, I didn't. I jumped on the flat bed, pushed the munchkin and her 2 year old buddy behind me, and pulled up another little man onto the trailer and behind me, and then I threw a hand up to catch the attention of closer hopping colt to divert his direction. Not heroic by any means, just mother-hen paranoid about my little chicks.

    Anyway, it was all over and done and no one was worse for the ware. A little while later, horses were back in place, and calves were being roped, wrestled, vaccinated and branded. I wasn't able to stay too long, as I had to get back to finish up the food and setting up for hungry cowboys and cowgirls.  It was nice to see some friends and neighbors that we, or at least I, hadn't seen in a while. It was also nice to hear little squeals and kids playing and running amuck in the back yard since the munchkin doesn't get to play with others her age every day.

    We ate lunch, laughed, swapped stories, and sat around enjoying the sunshine and great weather. The beer held out long enough that some stayed for round 2 and we grilled up some more burgers and ate again.  It was a great time all around and it's too bad that branding season only comes around once a year. It's great to have such wonderful neighbors.

    On the other hand it's not so great to have not so great neighbors. A couple of days ago was a very long, busy day on the ranch. One of those days that you leave in the dark and come home at dusk, only to turn around and leave again and not get home till well after dark. The Cowboy, "J" and "Red" were busy sorting, shipping and receiving new pairs (mommas and babies). All week it had been raining and snowing, so it was difficult for the trucks (semi's to haul the cattle) to get in and out. It was a mess. The guys were wet, cold, muddy and tired.

    It was then that they were reminded that not all neighbors are as helpful or as friendly as those that we were with exactly one week prior. The neighbor was mad about all the trucks in and out and threw a fit over an easement that we use (FYI, the trucks didn't even use the easement, they were on the main road). The piece of dirt in question is only about 1 foot wide. When you are faced with situations like this, standing next to the police officer, it just makes you more thankful for the good neighbors.

    Neighbors that bring you 20 pounds of potatoes just because someone gave them too many. Or neighbors that call you up to grill burgers, but don't forget your horse because we're going to rope first. Or when someone just shows up and brings you plants from their garden because they heard you were starting one and thought you'd need some help with yours on the first year. Or when they volunteer to watch your little munchkin so you can have a "date" that involves gathering and trailing cows off the mountain.

    We've been very blessed to have some great neighbors in the different places we've lived. Here is no different. I think that's one of the great things about ranching (and farming!). Even if you haven't known your neighbors for very long, it's a great comfort to know, that they are there if you need them, and you'll be there for them too. It's such a wonderful feeling for people like the Cowboy and I (and the other ranch hands, J and his wife, and Red) that don't always have family close by.

   

    Neighbors become family.

 

(sorry no pictures yet, still working on them, computer has been a little funky lately)

 

 

On the fritz

Sorry everyone, my internet has been on the fritz. Bad weather lately. I will update soon! I promise!

The Latest Around Here

    Rain. It's all the rage these days. We're already at risk for flooding and the snow-pack hasn't even melted. We need the moisture as always, but it would be nice to see the sun every once in a while. I could never live in Seattle or somewhere like that. If I go 2 days with no sun I start to freak out. Right now it's just a little inconvenient since there's so much to do. We were going to try to brand this weekend, but now everything is covered in water or 12,000 feet of mud.

    We have a few more foals on the ground. Sorry, no good pics yet. The wild horses pose better for me than those cranky mommies. All in good time I guess. lol. We also have about 10 stud colts to geld. Again with the muddy corrals, not going to happen soon. I miss having so many horses in my back yard. We moved the bulls out, along with a few horses since the stock water pond dried up. We still have last year's babies and a couple saddle horses handy, but it seems a bit empty around here.

    As most of you know by now, we were out of town for a while for my uncle's funeral. It was a quick trip with many hours in the car. Our truck is in the shop, so we had to take a rental. Turns out hitting a bovine at 10 miles an hour can still do $7,000 in damage to the truck, while said bovine walks off chewing a cud. My hands are clean on that one, talk to The Cowboy. hahahaha At any rate, the rental is the nicest vehicle my butt has sat in, in quite some time. Although the buttons on the steering wheel are the DEVIL. Not only does The Cowboy have control of the car, but also the radio. Yes, it's annoying beyond belief.

    So other than being super tired, and playing catch-up on just about everything, all is well here. Here's a few pics of the happier festivities that have been happening around here.

Easter

 

Munchkin Turns 3!

 

They're Here!(otherwise known as Baby Kickens)

 

 

 

Finishing the Coup(aka the Kicken House)