Ranch Wife's Slant

Cowboys, kids, and ranch life

Category: My Columns

  • Disadvantaged Ranch Family

    Life can be tough out on a ranch. Some think we’re disadvantaged because we miss out on so much due to our lifestyle. Some people act apologetic when I tell them how far I am from the conveniences of the nearest town (Custer Pringle’s conveniences are few) or city (Rapid City). Living so far away…

  • Revisiting Ranch Country

    It’s time for a trip back to ranch country which means another lesson in the country’s language. The following are more words and popular slang terms used by natives of ranch country. Gather: To scatter in all directions or spread out. By doing so, horseback riders can search for cows in a large area. As…

  • Learn the Language

    Anytime someone visits a different country and culture, it’s helpful to learn the native language. The following is a language lesson covering some of the most commonly used words in ranch country. It’s a complicated language that’s similar to English but has room for misinterpretation. Slick calf/cow: A calf or cow that is NOT slippery…

  • Imperfect Christmas Trees

    A big part of our Christmas traditions is getting the tree, which always creates unique memories. We’re fortunate enough to harvest our own in the woods of the Black Hills. Most years we’ve gathered a pine tree right off our property. A few times I insisted on a spruce, which entailed getting a tree permit…

  • Ranch Life Suits A Gemini

    Horoscopes seems hokey to me, but I find ranching and my Gemini characteristics perfectly suited for each other. Both are chock full of the unexpected, and our unpredictable lifestyle is well-matched to my mercurial nature and penchant for adventure. Work on a ranch takes place outside and requires a lot of physical activity a Gemini’s…

  • Tis The Season to be Hairy

    Biting wind and freezing temperatures forewarn me it’s going to happen, but when my husband decides to grow a beard, it takes me a while to warm up to the idea. I’m often resistant to the changes of his facial hair even though I like the end result. By the time I get used to…

  • Man’s Best Soap

    My most recent column is about Lava soap. I give a humorous perspective on Lava, or man soap as I refer to it in my column. I had originally planned to do a blog post about Lava soap but came up with enough material that I decided to use it for a column. It should…

  • Work Mess Code

    At different times in the past, I held short-lived jobs requiring dress clothes.  Picking out different outfits for inside work was by far, the toughest part of those jobs. Making a decision on slacks and tops everyday was no Sunday picnic for me, and I developed withdrawals from jeans and sweatshirt comfort. That’s why the…

  • Cowboy Shirts That Fit

    I can still remember the shirt my husband wore on our first date like it was yesterday. That’s because he was wearing it yesterday. Upon close examination of the long-sleeved western shirts that hang in a cowboy’s closet, one might see how ranching cowboys’ (different from PRCA rodeo cowboys in my opinion) loyalty to things…

  • Stress-Free Environments

    I’ve read several articles recently, suggesting ideas for reducing stress and shrinkage in calves but none address the stress-related concerns I have. Some articles mention minimal handling, eliminating hot shots, whips, and sorting sticks while others suggest trying plastic nose clips (on the calves) or fence line weaning. What I want to know is how…