Ranch Wife's Slant

Cowboys, kids, and ranch life

Author: Amy

  • My Elk Hunting Trophy

    I’ve gone to our county library for many things but never to learn how properly brag about the bull elk I harvested. Obviously, this is not an impressive way to show off the bull I shot. My elk horns are used mostly for hanging junk on the shop. The head librarian at our library is…

  • Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On

    One of the books I used to read to my kids when they were tots was Why Cowboys Sleep with Their Boots On, about a cowpuncher named Slim Jim Watkins; written by Laurie Lazzaro Knowlton and illustrated by James Rice. I liked this story because I could relate to Slim Jim Watkins and I liked…

  • Cheap Dates

    There are two kinds of dates: the cheap ones and the spendy ones. Going out can get expensive for both parties. Guys should not complain about spending their paychecks on dates because the money women spend to impress a guy has been shelled out prior to the date. Before getting married, women will buy the…

  • Opposites Attract

    Depending on one’s definition, opposites attract, could describe my marriage. In recent years, the only opposites I possess that appear worthy of my husband’s attention are my bad habits. When we were newlyweds, I appreciated that his personality traits were opposite of mine. It didn’t take me long to realize that my weaknesses were his…

  • Ranchdaze

    I’ve been frequenting a new blog site lately called Ranchdaze by a fellow ranch wife, friend, co-worker, girlfriend trip cohort, and mother of boys. My friend JoAnn recently started her own blog and it’s full of humor, photos, stories and a handful of quotes. It’s worth a click and a browse. I got acquainted with…

  • Producers and Their Cows

    Part of the reason people don’t know much about cattle handling practices is because the cattlemen are busy spending time with their cows. Ranchers are committed to raising and caring for their stock to the best of their ability which means getting frequent updates on their herd. Numbered ear tags serve as an identification and…

  • Trade Skills

    My husband’s trade skills are more attractive than the pickups we trade-in. When we decide it’s time to upgrade a ranch pickup, he uses clever strategies to trade off our trade-ins. We try to get every penny’s worth and more out of a pickup by using them long after they’ve been depreciated out. As a…

  • A Different Kind of Church Service

    Whether my family is on our way to first service church or we’re on our way to feed cows on a Sunday morning, I enjoy listening to Father Joe Breighner’s Country Roads  weekly radio show on KOUT 98.7 out of Rapid City, South Dakota in the car or pickup. Even though I’m not Catholic (I call myself…

  • A Book Race

    At the beginning of each new year, I set up goals in different areas of my life that I want to achieve over the course of 365 days. I’ve found that New Year’s Resolutions are a sure curse of doomed failure for me so I don’t do resolutions. Setting goals works better for me. This…

  • Thinking Outside the Box on Romance

    With Valentine’s Day coming up, it’s important for me to think outside the box on the subject of romance. If I don’t, I’m destined for disappointment. I already know my spouse is different from other men because of his chosen occupation, the way he views the world, and how he handles different situations. His idea…