Tag: ranch life
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On The Road Again
Being on the road again makes me weary. I might enjoy it if it were to go somewhere fun, but driving errant cows on back roads at a resistant cow’s pace is tiresome. Our cows have been through enough routine pasture moves that they’re trained to know which back roads, shortcuts, and trails we use…
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Reading What I Write
Like other people who are in the business of writing: authors, journalists, poets, bloggers, etc., I try to read other columnist’s work that’s similar to mine. It helps me feel like I’m part of a community; one that pertains to agriculture, humor, and column writing. I read other columnists that inspire me, have a unique voice…
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Summer Commute
There’s a reason why we drive beat up little four-wheel drive pickups. Our summertime commute is not full-size pickup, sedan, or new vehicle friendly. Getting to stock tanks on summer range or to salt locations requires using Forest Service roads. The ones we frequent are a little more than a two-lane cow trail. Driving on…
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The Face of Terror
Last Tuesday, the family spent the day moving our cows to a different pasture. We loaded up our horses and drove to our starting point to gather cows, which was a twenty minute drive from home. Our son followed in his pickup because he and my husband planned to gather up and move salt…
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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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Sticking with the Tradition of Neighbors
A calf table is modern ranch equipment that’s safer, easier, and a more convenient way to brand calves without the need for extra people. That’s why they’re really boring too. We still brand the hard way with the use of neighbors. Eliminating the need for people eliminates getting together with neighbors to drink beer and…
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Branding Day Protocol
If you’ve ever been to a western South Dakota branding that served Rocky Mountain oysters cooked on a branding stove, you may not think such an event requires etiquette but there are certain expectations that go with branding. According to an undocumented branding policy, if you want to help gather cattle, don’t be late. Special…
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Branding Day Protocol
If you’ve ever been to a western South Dakota branding that served Rocky Mountain oysters cooked on a branding stove, you may not think such an event requires etiquette but there are certain expectations that go with branding. According to an undocumented branding policy, if you want to help gather cattle, don’t be late. Special…
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Branding Day 2010
If you want to find out who your real neighbors and friends are, just put on a branding when the weather is at its worst and see who shows up. Our neighbors were put to the test when we branded this past weekend despite 25 mph wind with gusts up to 40 mph and an…
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Sponsor A Ranch Wife
If you are looking for a worthwhile, trustworthy charity to donate to, consider the benefits of sponsoring or donating money to a ranch wife (me and I’m flexible on either method). Since ranch wives don’t get a paycheck, regular days off, or even a safety award for being injury free, accepting charitable donations would be…