Category: Kirk Kids
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Our Summer Tradition
For most of the summer, my kids have slept outside. It’s become a tradition my son started a loooong time ago. Once the nighttime temperatures in the Black Hills hovers around 50Ëš or higher that’d generally be around the end of June I join my kids. Luckily, the mosquitoes haven’t been a major problem this…
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The Mother of All Branding Day Stain Removers
The mere sight of my son’s Wranglers would’ve killed a normal mom. To most mothers, the mixture of boy, mud, and calf wrestling would’ve rendered his jeans laundry mission impossible. Mud wants company and has a hard time being left alone. It likes a clean car, but loves a pair of boys’ good clean Wranglers…
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Name That Baby!
When my due date got closer with my first pregnancy, if people asked us whether we wanted a boy or girl, I gave them the standard answer; I just wanted a baby with a name my husband and I agreed on. By the looks of me, there was no question the baby would be healthy….
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Eighth Wonder of the World
Most people aren’t aware that South Dakota has two wonders of the world; Mount Rushmore and our Herford cow Annabelle the eighth wonder of the world. A neighboring rancher told my husband once that a Hereford cow that doesn’t get pinkeye or sunburned udders and doesn’t prolapse is the eighth wonder of the world. Hereford…
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Miracle Wire
For a while, our son was convinced my husband made miracles happen with wire. As a three-year old, he believed baling wire produced miracles because his dad used it a lot and called it miracle wire. The nickname stuck with our son because he witnessed bailing wire saving the day many times when my husband…
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Ranching Career Trainees
Our kids’ instincts to ranch were evident at an early age. They preferred helping with outside chores over inside ones and recognized a good incentive package. Each milestone they met meant they were on their way to a ranching career. At one and two, our little rancher trainees wanted to go with dad and be…
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Calling Cattle Names
The only cows we name are any calves that are born from the kids’ cow Annabelle, and our butcher critters. (Although there are a few that gain a reputation and get named.) Our kids’ cow herd started out seven years ago with a bottle calf they named Annabelle. After Annabelle was old enough to get…
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Eat Like an Animal
There are days when I would rather feed our heifer calves than my family. For me, cooking is oftentimes more trying than parenting or ranching. I strive to have supper ready at a time when we can all sit down together and I try to make wholesome, home-cooked meals that nourish and satisfy, but I…
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How I Survive December
I used to feel like the time between Thanksgiving and December 25th was a month-long winter storm. I anticipated the Christmas season with dread. The last few years I’ve adopted strategies to lessen my worry, stress, and pressures associated with the season. Now I give up, cheat, and put off. This lazy attitude makes me…
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The Kirk Family Christmas Tree
Living in the Black Hills has drawbacks because it’s a vacation destination but one of perks I love the most about living here is being able to go into the woods and pick out our own Christmas tree. The Forest Service sells Christmas tree permits that are a third of the cost of buying one,…