Allison - The Idaho Rancher's Wife

50!

September 30, 2013 by Allison

I didn’t realize until after I had already posted my last adventure but I have done 50 posts! I have really been loving sharing the ranch with you. I have such a passion for our lifestyle and I love the chance to give you little glimpses of it. Our life here isn’t perfect, and it isn’t always picturesque (as I have shown) but there really is so much here for us.

There really is so much to capture on the ranch. And so many seasons. So many surges and lulls. You may not find it all too interesting, but it is all a part of my life as The Rancher’s Wife. I get to deal with the crazy schedule, dictated by cows, mother nature, and occaisionally the cowboys (oh, and we shouldn’t forget the BLM or Forest gurus… we could never forget them!). I try to fit in what can here and I hope you have enjoyed it thus far.

Is there anything more you want to see? What part of the ranch do you want to learn more about?

I would LOVE to have your input fellas, because even though this is my blog, its about sharing the ranching life with you!

First of the Fall Pasture

September 30, 2013 by Allison

This is the same bunch of cows that we preg checked and moved in my last few posts. These lucky critters get to be in all of my photos because they are actually where I can take a shot or two.

In fact I woke up bright and early to go out the with The Rancher and ride while Grandma watched the babies. We trailed these cows along the highway for a while until we could get on the back roads. It wasn’t too long and we made it to the first of the fall pasture. It was a nice move because there wasn’t any babies to slow us down. These cows walked hard and fast!

For a while The Rancher was up at the front to turn the cows so I got to be with some of the old cowboys. I LOVED it! These cowboys have such fun stories to tell. They talk about the days when they were just starting and getting things figured out. They have stories of one darn cow or another that had to be roped or that headed for home and had to be chased down. Maybe someday we will have some exciting stories on here to tell.

Here is The Cow Puncher again. A darn good cowboy, helping us out again.

Just a Mile or So

September 26, 2013 by Allison

It took a good part of the day to get all of the cows preg checked so when we were finished the cowboys took them down the road about a mile to a holding field until they were ready the next day. I decided to tag along for a few pictures. The Ranch Princess was having a nap which meant that I could go solo (because The Sidekick was loaded up with The Rancher). I opted for my bike… my pedal bike. I actually highly recommend it. Its a very good way to get some exercise while you are working, without the noisy 4 wheeler!

I finally have a picture or two of The Ranch Boss. Apparently he has been camera shy because I don’t have too many of him.

I should introduce you to The Rancher’s cousin. He has been really helpful the last couple of weeks. He has his own full time job but was still willing to come and help these cowboys get the work done. What a good little cow puncher… Ya, meet The Cow Puncher!

Where’s Waldo?

September 25, 2013 by Allison

Actually in this picture you won’t find Waldo. But if you used to read those books you won’t have any problems finding The Rancher. And can you find two other cowboys?

The Rancher’s Assembly Line

September 25, 2013 by Allison

We have our own type of assembly line on the ranch. No it isn’t putting headlights on the cows as they run past on a conveyer belt. But each man has a job along the way. There are the guys that keep the cows flowing. Without them the rest would be pointless… without cows there is nothing to work on. Once they get to the front we have the man running the headcatch. While there the cow is poked and prodded in all sorts of ways.

Preg checking is an important time for us. It when we learn how the next year will be. We can see when we will calve, who is calving and who isn’t. We can cull out the cows we don’t want or need to keep. We do maintenance stuff like vaccinations and new tags. This is the only time that we run the cows through and so it is important for us to run through them. Ans so we set up our assembly line.

I only have a picture of Rancher Sr. preg checking but he and The Rancher swapped on and off whenever their arms get tired. The Rancher’s Sidekick found all sorts of things to do. He pulled out the branding irons, syringes, and the pill pusher (that’s what I call it… is there any other name you need?). I was privileged to give shots. Gotta love getting out to help The Rancher!

The Cowboy Two Step

September 21, 2013 by Allison

The Rancher is a roping cowboy, as is most of these cowboys around here. My family, on the other hand, are cutting cowboys. I love when you see a horse that is knows what she is doing. She moves with the cow, understanding her every move. In so many ways it like a dance.

Usually I don’t see these boys just try to cut and sort out a cow- they just resort to roping her. Don’t get me wrong, there is NOTHING wrong with that, but this girl wants to see some cutting action once in a while. I got just a minute of it after they weaned calves.

There was an ornery cow that they were bringing in that did everything to work against them. 5 cowboys vs 1 cow. Guess who won? Well, the cowboys did eventually but she sure gave them a run for their money. In fact, they gave up on sorting her and turned to what they did best- roping. But the chase was good while it lasted!

Weaning- Mommas Out One Gate, Babies Out the Other

September 21, 2013 by Allison

Last week started the fall craziness. The Rancher has days packed of all sorts of cowboying. We started off by sorting and weaning the Forest cattle.

Random side note- the Forest cattle NEVER are in the forest… There is no forest around here. They are just called that because they are on Forest Service ground. But isn’t it kind of funny? Forest cows and no forest? Ok, sidenote over…

The best part about working these cows is that they were just down the road from us so we could zip down to hang out with our favorite cowboy. For the most part weaning is straight forward- sort the mommas one way and the babies another. It can turn into quite the party because these babies don’t want to be separated from momma. This means that these cowboys put on a good show as they cut and sort out the calves.

A Preview

September 20, 2013 by Allison

I have beans processing so I am having a late night blogging to you, dear friends. The Rancher is keeping me company. He is sleeping of course but can you blame him? He has had some really LONG days the past couple of weeks. We are heavy into weaning and everything that comes with it. Not only that but the Rancher’s Wife is also busy in the kitchen doing some canning. All of the fun fall things seem to come together at once. But we love it! All of it!

I realized today that when The Rancher has big things happening that either he needs help (I’m sure he doesn’t need me but I like to think that he does) or its worth taking pictures of. That means I put off the house stuff like laundry (who need underwear, right?) or canning or… BLOGGING?! Ya, I want to get out there to experience and capture the ranch, which means sometimes I neglect the sharing.

I guess that makes this a bit of a preview. I have LOADS of pictures. And stories. And some interesting things you might enjoy learning. Until then (hopefully that’s just tomorrow), here a picture or two to hold you over.

What do we do when we wait for dad?

September 15, 2013 by Allison

What does any little boy do? Throw rocks, of course! Last week we helped The Rancher move the cows and we had a little down time. Call it intermission- they had two different groups of cows to moves so on the in between we had some time to play. We were lucky enough that we parked the truck and trailer by the one small trickling stream that comes through the valley.

The Cenex Man

September 13, 2013 by Allison

We took a quick jaunt up to Montana to visit my folks before we all got too busy with the fall work. It had been since Christmas that The Rancher was able to make it up there so thought it was time for a road trip. We ended up going in the middle of the week, which doesn’t leave a lot of playing time since my parents both work. No matter, the Rancher’s Wife is always up for a challenge!

My dad works for CHS (Cenex Harvest States) delivering practically whatever his customers need. He does any kind of feed, mineral, salt, gates, panels, fencing materials… whatever you need he can get (usually). Currently The Cenex Man is working to get the materials for a group of ranches to build about 13 miles of fence through some of the most beautiful country. On our way up to make the delivery I had to stop to take a few pictures because it was just beautiful. These are my mountains and ranges. Yes it is all covered with the same grass and sage brush but it has a special place in my heart. Its home.