Ranch Wife's Slant

Cowboys, kids, and ranch life

Category: My Columns

  • Motivationally Speaking

    Of the most influential motivational speakers I’ve heard, ranchers top my list. The general public may not categorize ranchers with such speakers but cattlemen have equally influential communication skills. The purpose of a motivational presentation may include persuading workers that they’re capable of doing challenging tasks, provoking a specific reaction, or spurring attendees into action….

  • Baby Fix

    I don’t miss changing truckloads of dirty diapers, feeling half comatose all the time, and smelling like a dairy barn everyday, but I do occasionally get baby pangs. Spring calving is my oddball way of getting my baby fix. Unlike my husband, I’ve always enjoyed the newborn stage when our kids were tiny and dependant…

  • Labor Pains

    Sometimes the labor involved to help a cow out that’s in trouble is nothing but a big pain. I can relate to the motherly instincts cows have, just not their impulse to calve alone and unassisted. If a cow’s a first-timer, having complications during calving, or the calf is in jeopardy, her unwillingness to cooperate…

  • I Feel Like a Ranch Wife

    My husband feels like he’s truer to the cowboy way and a better cowboy when he’s saddled up to get a cow in, and I can relate. The way a person goes about doing an activity or job can invoke certain feelings. In her song, Man! I Feel like A Woman! Shania Twain feels like…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • 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…

  • My (Husband’s) Little Pony

    Some of my stories gather a lot of interest but not to the degree that my husband sometimes does. He draws a lot of attention and gets all kinds of looks over his car. It’s a sweet little ride called Pinkie Pie. Named so for its color and the My Little Pony toy horse our…