Allison - The Idaho Rancher's Wife

Bringing the Party Home- Team Branding in Malad

August 20, 2014 by Allison

Team branding. By this time of the summer we are counting down how many are left. If the heifers could count, I’m pretty sure that they, too, would be on the count down. The team branding for our fair has to be one of the favorites for me.

Part of it is because we don’t have to travel a long ways. Phew… For once the stock contractor doesn’t out drive the cowboys. But the best part that since it is local we see so many of our great friends and neighbors! Normally at the end I am just praying for these things to get over because we are all tired, cranky, bored, and someone has most likely gotten hurt. But not in Malad. I’m so stinking busy doing fair board stuff, helping with the heifers, taking pictures, visiting with friends and watching my own kids. Scratch that last one… with so many friends around, everyone else is playing with my babies that it seems like I hardly see them!

Prepare yourselves for a lot of pictures. Not all are that fantastic… I blame the light and the timing. If only I could be in charge of the timing of this shin-dig… But alas, I’m not. So deal with it. I would rather share these photos that might not be my best than not show them at all! 🙂

Click “Read more” for the other pictures…

A Day at the Races

August 18, 2014 by Allison

This last week was kinda a big deal for me. It was fair week. Normally I only hang out at the fair to support the kids and watch the rodeos. I have no babies doing projects yet and even though I enter some pictures, nothing is really high stakes. Being on the fair board this year meant that fair was a whole new ball game this year. And I am so happy to report that not only did we survive it but we rocked it! I don’t think that I had a single melt down and The Rancher still loves me. Sure I heard a few grumbles of the incompetency of the fair board and I did have one lady take a go at me… But we are still in one piece and after a few days of napping I think I’m ready to go again!

We always start the Oneida County Fair with the horse races. I wasn’t able to go to the first weekend of races because we were too busy playing wedding with The Buckaroo. (Ps, anybody want to hear about that? Good, because you will… later…). The next weekend I was sure to make it to the track. Especially since I have never EVER been to a race. It would be a good idea to know what we are talking about when we get the “races” part of the agenda.

By the time the races were done I had a few things figured out, like only cut through the beer gallery if you aren’t in a hurry. Nothing crazy happened this year (last year the man in the water truck got a great show from the ladies…) but there are always funny comments or people making a fool of themselves.

Most of the jockeys were Mexican and I would have given anything for a Spanish/English dictionary (or just The Rancher available for translation at all times!) to hear what their little wives were telling them. I knew just enough to know when they were saying they were so proud or the times when they were telling them to man up. But you might not need any translating for that…

I know for next year that if you want a good spot to watch and take pictures you better park your can for the duration. There’s no calling “place-back” or “saved-spot”. To that end I don’t have tons of pictures. I used my charm to peek my camera through the track gate just after the finish line to get a few fun shots. But even then there were some crazy ladies hovering over me that got a little too close for this girl’s comfort!

These horse are incredible and crazy at the same time. They are so fast and strong and wound up SO TIGHT! The race is only a quarter of the track, but we need the rest of it to get the darn things stopped. I like to watch them, but I don’t want to take them home! Hmmm, that’s what I say about other people’s kids…

Before I let you go (because you are totally enthralled with my awesome whit, right?) I have one more funny to share. As a member of the fair board I helped present the winners with a horse blanket in the winner’s circle and smile for a picture. By the last race I had learned that I just hold out the blanket and the families with the trainer, jockey, and owner quick jump in and hold it. As I went to step back this man grabbed me around the waist, “Oh no, pretty lady! You stay her by me!” Ok man, I’ll stand here. I’ll flatter you for the sake of the picture and maybe it will keep you quiet.

But oh boy he kept going, “You want a beer?” “No, I’m good” “Soda? Water? I buy for you pretty girl!” I should have asked if it was ok to invite my husband… Maybe then he would have let go for the picture. Lets just say that he had a great time in the beer gardens and was having an even better time that they had just won! Then there was something about showing the picture to his girlfriend of him by a pretty blonde… And that he was sure we would have to ask for forgiveness. All I could think was, “Take the darn picture already- his hands are sweaty!” What a great way to initiate The Rancher’s Wife to a day at the races!

Sample Post With Threaded Comments

August 18, 2014 by Allison

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Haying on the Ranch

August 11, 2014 by Allison

The Rancher is out baling tonight. I told him that I was going to bed… but I have some pictures that just need to be put. Its 10:30 pm and he’s out baling, while I’m in bed writing about it.

We started second crop last week, slowly. We have been blessed rain this week. Not a lot, but enough to slow down progress. We did have a little hay down-its what happens when the weather man cries wolf too many times. He says that its going to rain, it doesn’t, we cut hay. Most of the time that works out but not this week.

94.7% of the time we have to work around Mother Nature’s unplanned schedule. We work around the storms, rake and clean up after the wind, and bale at night when the dew is on (or should be on… Its why I never have baling pictures!). We could just do it when things are convenient. The boys would get a lot more sleep, but we believe in doing things right. Even when Mother Nature tries to throw a kink in the mix.

2014 Stone Rodeo

August 6, 2014 by Allison

Raise your hand if you have heard of the Stone rodeo. Ok, don’t really. Someone is going to think you are crazy… but good for you if you have! If you haven’t, now you are!

The Stone rodeo, practically a Holy Day in this area. Stone, Idaho is the tiny gathering of homes and ranches near Snowville, Utah and good ol’ Holbrook. The community is so small that there isn’t a single church, bar, post office, or gas station. But any good town full of cowboys will have some rodeo grounds! But don’t let the small town setting make you think that this isn’t a quality rodeo. Or the fact that the square arena is closer to an egg shaped! Amateur rodeo or not, they ride hard, rope hard, and sometimes fall hard!

These rodeo grounds are used just the two nights of the Stone rodeo. Now days the bleachers are all permanent, but back in the day they had to haul in seating. Except for those that bring their own, and I don’t mean a camp or lawn chair. Days before the rodeo, the arena is lined with pick-ups reserving their spot and getting them front row seats!

The events at the rodeo are entertaining for everyone to watch or participate. We have roping for all the hometown cowboys, rough stock for the crazies and dreamers (aka The Buckaroo), milk calves for the kids, and wild horse riding for the brave (or drunk…)! Every year I can guarantee two nights of hand-clapping-side-ache-laughing-country-good-time-fun!

Team Branding at Bancroft

July 25, 2014 by Allison

Our weekends have been busy- like something every weekend. Family reunions, parties, and of course, team brandings. One of The Rancher’s favorite team brandings is at small town Bancroft, Idaho.

Being in such a remote area with nothing around it but farms and ranches, you can see why he likes it. Only the real cowboys come out, and even though it’s competitive roping, those cowboys make it a good time.

I might have mentioned before that I’m working in my roping. I want to be a REAL cowgirl, so I figure I better get this roping thing down. The Rancher thought that this would be a great time to give it a try. “I’ll put her right in your loop, babe. It’ll be easy!” Ya… I said no… I got a little stage fright. I better practice up a little more before I put some money down. And if your gonna lose (which I most likely would) you better look good doing it, and I’m pretty sure I would have just looked like a fool! Turns out it was a good choice to not rope because a big ol’ storm came through with some crazy wind. I could just see me roping myself with that kind of wind…

But next year… I’ll get all practiced up and next year I’ll do it!

Making the Cut When it Counts

July 22, 2014 by Allison

This summer is just flying by! I feel like we just barely moved cows up to Badger Hole last week… Ya, they are already long gone from that range! Sadly, I am just now getting to share it to you.

The ride to Badger Hole is pretty easy. That’s why The Rancher’s Sidekick got to go… They just follow the road for a few miles and then, ta da! We’re there.

Once we get there the cows bury their heads in the grass and totally forget about their calves. Ya, know… the typical thing they do once they get to greener feed. We like to hold them there at the water for a bit until they settle in and remember their calves. We’ll sort the pairs off slowly to make sure that all the calves have found their mommas.

Towards the end of sorting we have the less than smart cows left that try to give us a fight. Those ornery cows just don’t want to be bothered! Crazy at it may sound, it makes it a little fun. The cowboys have a chance to do a little cutting and show off some real cowboy skills! There is such a rush when you take off after a cow and have to stop in an instant to change directions. With a good horse that knows how to move you just slide down in the saddle, glue yourself in, and let her do all the work! I love watching a horse that knows what to do. You can see it in how she follows the cow with her ears pinned back, how she spins on her back feet or stops on a dime. Mmm… It makes me swoon just thinking about it!

Cutting athleticism at its finest! Watching a cowboy and his horse working together, making split second decisions and moving fast and smooth out on the range, watching out in God’s arena the way it was meant to be- making the cut when it matters.

Water Slides Rancher Style

July 20, 2014 by Allison

Over the 4^th of July weekend, my family had a reunion out on the ranch. And let’s be honest, what better place is there?! We shot guns, had a massive water fight, visited the ranch animals (and some milked a cow for this first time!) and enjoyed Malad’s 4^th of July parade and firework show.

But the most fun we had was at the water slide… park… thing. This isn’t your typical water slide. No twisting slides splashing you into the pool. No slides that dump you straight down and give you an atomic wedgy. Oh no, these are much cooler!

When you drive up there you might be a little unimpressed. In the midst of the hay fields is a nice size hill with two; massive tarps running the length of the hill. At the top of each tarp is a small hose running water down. Something so simple couldn’t be that amazing, right? Man, this is the most fantastic thing ever! You can go down the slide on your knee/bum/tummy or these have a plethora of inner tubes (my personal favorite!). You start sliding down the hill, pick up some speed, and get spinning along the way.

About half way through we had the bright idea to do a train everybody holding onto each other’s tubes so that we all went down together. We must have had 5 or 6 tubes loaded up with kids, parents and even grandpa! The first time we went down was the most memorable. My brother and I were the caboose to our little train. We grabbed onto the tube in front of us. Actually to be more specific, we grabbed onto riders of the tube in front of us- my other brother and my 7 year old niece. In retrospect, my niece wasn’t the best to hold on to. Grandpa was at the front, the steam engine you could say. Once he started down, the rest of the train followed… except us. The tube in front of us took off and instead of my niece pulling us along, we just pulled her off! It was just like in the movies where the tube was ripped right out from under her and she was left sitting! We laughed and laughed as we jumped on to follow the train.

Never doubt a farmer and his ingenious ideas. You might think that a simple tarp down a few hills in the middle of a few fields is lame… and you would be wrong!

Cowboy Engagements: The Buckaroo’s Engagement Photos

July 16, 2014 by Allison

So did I tell you my brother-in-law is getting married? The Buckaroo has found himself a fine little filly and they’ve decided to get hitched! We are so stinking excited! Partly… nope mostly because we are finally getting the gender scale balanced. These boys have lived too long with too little estrogen in the air!

I’vve told these boys that I must approve before get all romantic and thus far they have done well getting me some good sisters. I especially love it when they bring home girls that will get out on the ranch with us. There isn’t much sweeter than a girl out roping the cowboys!!

But back to The Buckaroo and his almost Mrs. Buckaroo… When it came time for their engagement pictures they really wanted pictures done on the ranch, cowboy style. So they called me! We took an evening out through our private range land (the place that actually has a few trees!) and took ourselves some cowboy engagement pictures.

5 Ways How Being a Rancher’s Wife Makes me an Awesome Camper

July 14, 2014 by Allison

Are you wondering where I’ve gone? A whole week of nothing from The Rancher’s Wife… That’s, like, unheard of. I’m probably the chattiest girl in the valley!

But I have been gone this last week. To Girls Camp. We camped out near Soda Springs with about 150 other girls and leaders. And not to pat myself on the back, but I have to tell you that I rocked it. It wasn’t long after getting up there that I realized we had a bunch of city girls in our midst! Boy, was I grateful to be a rancher’s wife and new a little bit about surviving in the wild. Now I don’t know if I learned these things from life on the ranch or life living in the country. Either way, they are certainly worthy of sharing with you today. Here are my “5 Ways How Being a Rancher’s Wife Makes me an Awesome Camper!”

1. I know how to set up a tent. Seriously, you would think that such a basic camping essential would be high on the list of knowing BEFORE you go camping, but for some it wasn’t. For as long as I can remember, I have known how to set up a tent. Growing up we would throw the tent up in the yard ALL the time. Or we would load up the camping gear and campout somewhere on the ranch. Since being married, The Rancher and I have even had the awesome opportunity to do overnight cattle drives where we camped along the way. Yep, this girl doesn’t need anyone setting a tent up for her!

2. I’m not afraid of bugs. I wish I had a dollar for every time I had to squash a bug or save some helpless girl from her impending doom. I’ll admit, I’m not a bug person. Especially the extra buzzy ones, but these girls were something else. It was almost like they had never been told there would be bugs!

3. I know how to tie knots and to use knives. Last minute I was asked to help teach some basic skills with knots and knives. It only took a quick look at the manual to know just what I was supposed to be teaching and we were on our way. I do have to give credit to my father-in-law, Rancher Sr., for being willing to help (he was there to cook all week). There were a few knots that I was sure everyone would know. Ya know, the ones we use almost daily to tie something together or up to the trailer. But no. A lot of them didn’t even know what a square knot was. But I guess that’s why they were there…

4. I took my cowgirl boots to camp in. Everyone has their favorite pair of shoes or hiking boots to camp in. For some crazy it is their flip flops…. Mine are my boots. They have kept me clean and dry all over the ranch and did the same camping. I didn’t suffer from stubbed-toe-itis, nasty-dirty-toenail-itis, or soaked-foot-itis. I love my cowgirl boots, especially when they can be functional and fashionable!

5. I can cook over a fire. And when I say I can cook over a fire I don’t mean a hot dog on a stick. Don’ get me wrong, I love a good tube steak. But camping should be more than just a weiny roast or tinfoil dinners. We enjoyed BBQ ribs, cheesy bacon potatoes, corn on the cob, and dutch oven cobbler. That’s pretty close to the same menu we had branding this spring. Cooking on the desert for the cowboys is all too similar to cooking at camp. But wherever we eat camping out, it’s in style!

Ok, I have to share a bonus. The last bit to share about how my ranch life has helped me be an awesome camper is dealing with the dirtiness of camping. From the dusty sock line to the greasy hair I was totally ok that I hadn’t showered all week. Don’t be grossed out. Please. I pride myself in being ok with doing my hair once and leaving it up for the week, having spraying on tan of dirt, and wearing no makeup. Working on the ranch has taught me to appreciate crazy hair, dustiness, and make-up-less face!

My list isn’t anything crazy… No secret tips on how to camp rancher style. But it’s crazy how many skills I use for camping I have learned from the ranch!