Ranch Wife's Slant

Cowboys, kids, and ranch life

Tag: South Dakota

  • Bringing in 2011 The SMC Way

    One of the best ways to bring in a New Year is to spend it at a place you love or celebrate it in a way you enjoy. Or go all out and do both. This year my family and I brought in the New Year at Storm Mountain Center (SMC), which is located near…

  • A Renewing Place

    Can you feel your mind, body and soul relaxing? This is Outlaw Ranch, and it will do that to you if you aren’t paying attention. I am fortunate in that Outlaw is only a 20 minute drive from my home. I’ve been here many times since my first church camp experience during my confirmation years…

  • Harvesting Ivory in South Dakota

    My husband collects teeth. Not just anybody’s teeth, but elk teeth. He doesn’t do anything with them he just likes keeping them and will get them out occasionally to show the kids, relatives, friends, or just look them over. Elk hunters know what I’m talking about and probably do the same thing. My dad inlaid…

  • Women in Ag Get Together for More Than Just Agriculture

    Inspiring conference speakers, informative sessions, and educational workshops are all worthy reasons for ranch women to gather every September, but for many, it’s the chance to get away, catch one’s breath, and let the family be self sufficient for 24 hours. Ranch women know they’ll walk away from the conference with useful information they can…

  • Braggin’ Rights Fit For a Fourteen Year Old

    Last Friday was opening day of elk hunting for rifle hunters in the Black Hills. I was attending the Women in Ag conference all day in Spearfish, but when I pulled in the driveway, I could see our red Doge pickup off in the distance headed up the neighbor’s road. It was easy to tell…

  • ROBB’S is a Steal

      Nothing delights me more than getting away with something, especially when it’s normally really expensive at full price.   ROBB’S is one of my wonderful little secrets and shopping there is like going on a treasure hunt for me. That should indicate that it doesn’t take much to amuse me. Several years ago, I…

  • What’s Buzzing in the Black Hills?

      If you’re planning a visit to the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, then you definitely need to sign up to receive the Black Hills Buzz newsletter. Someone was kind enough to add me to Black Hills Buzz’ e-mailing list and whoever it was I want to thank them profusely. While here, you’re going to…

  • 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…

  • What Fairburn, South Dakota Means to Me

    Every summer my husband’s extended family has a family reunion at a different location around the southern Black Hills; usually in one of the small towns where different relatives who volunteered to host, live or once  lived. It’s always held in the summertime, oftentimes around the Fourth of July or Memorial Day.   This year family…

  • Roads Less Traveled

    On the road trip my daughter and I took while my son was at camp, I experienced some lost and found moments. My daughter and I spent our time getting lost and making discoveries. I intentionally picked rural routes to travel on in order to get acquainted with other farm and ranch communities in South…