Ranch Wife's Slant

Cowboys, kids, and ranch life

Month: June 2011

  • My Inspiration File

    I am constantly on the lookout for new column topic ideas. I have a special folder dedicated to newspaper clippings, ideas, notes and observations I’ve jotted down that could inspire or trigger a column topic.   Periodically I get stuck on what to write about and peruse through my inspiration file. It contains mostly articles…

  • Dr. Val Farmer: A Professional Who Knows

    Many people think living on a farm or ranch sounds romantic but there are stresses that are unique to the farming and ranching lifestyle that families commonly struggle with. I have always been a Val Farmer fan because he specializes in rural mental health issues that families in agriculture commonly experience. He shares his insights and…

  • It’s Rhubarb Season!

      One of my favorite summer treats is having rhubarb. For those who have never experienced tasting rhubarb, it’s very tart, and like chokecherries, it’s consumed after it’s been cooked with sugar. Rhubarb is an easy to grow perennial plant that’s popular in our area and freezes really well. It has a very distinct, unforgettable…

  • Prairie Berry Winery: A Black Hills Attraction for Adults

    I’m more of a steak and beer chick but if there’s an opportunity to sample and learn about other varieties of alcohol for free I’m no dummy, I’m going to call up a friend or two, enjoy a little wine tasting, and eat lunch there. A frugal knows a good deal when she finds one….

  • Signs of Summer

    After a long Black Hills South Dakota winter, the thought of spring seems like a dream and summer an illusion. Too many times we’ve been fooled by wonderful spring weather only to get clobbered by a late spring snowstorm to remind us that Mother Nature’s in charge of when it’s spring and summer. That’s why…

  • Our Annual Family Picnic

    When we move our cows to summer range every June, I pack a picnic lunch for our family to enjoy afterwards. It’s made the annual cow-moving trek a family tradition. Sadly, we rarely have picnics, which I need to change. When our kids were younger, the thought of food (mostly a can of pop and…

  • What I’ve Learned About My Husband

    My husband and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary. After sixteen years, I’ve discovered a few things about him and marriage in general. Namely, that I started out married to a perfect stranger. The following are ten things I’ve learned about my spouse in sixteen years. Do not, under any circumstances, wake him up even…

  • The .25 Room

    I’m going to talk about a topic that may make some of you uncomfortable. It’s a subject that’s not normally discussed in public but is a fact of life. The bathroom. We ranch, therefore my family and I live in an old house with old updates, and is the reason why our home is paid…

  • A Lovely Little Collection From Nature

    The first time I found a heart-shaped rock (the biggest one pictured) was when I was cleaning up around our yard. I was sure it had to be lucky because it was perfectly heart-shaped and I’d never seen one before. I’ve always had a thing for heart-shaped objects, especially ones nature created. I considered the…

  • Going Out To Pasture

    Moving cows to summer range is my favorite day of the year. It’s better than Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. I don’t go to bed regretting eating too much like I do with the other holidays and moving cows onto Forest Service takes place in the summer not in the middle of winter….