At the Ranch - The Idaho Rancher's Wife

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!

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.

The Color Green

September 6, 2013 by Allison

The Ranch Boss, The Rancher’s grandpa, was looking over the hay fields and commented how he loved that color of green. We looked out across with him at the new seeding that was just popping up through the dirt. He turned to the other end of the field and commented with an air of satisfaction that the only color of green better is the rich color of the growing alfalfa hay.

He is right. Nature’s shades of green are so beautiful, but especially these shades. This color of green is more than a hue. It shows the hard work, diligence and commitment these men have had to grow their crops, especially in the midst of a drought. The straight continuous lines of sprouting grain give hope of a new harvest. I think mostly this kind of green means success and satisfaction.

I guess we like to GO GREEN after all, just not the green most think of.

More Than a Milk Cow

August 29, 2013 by Allison

We have two milk cows on the ranch. One dear old cow has been around for 10+ years. She is called Jersey, even though she is actually like a Brown Swiss not a Jersey. She is more of a pet than anything else. Kids all over the valley know Jersey because she has gone to school where they have learned all about a dairy cow. The Rancher’s Sidekick always says that he will be the one to get her into the barn when milking time rolls around.

We have had a few others but currently we have a Holstein that I like to call Millie. You know, Millie the Milk Cow. She is isn’t so pet like but still a pretty chill cow. But poor thing, she doesn’t have a tail…

Jersey has mostly been used as a milk cow for the family but recently they have been used as nurse maids for the bum calves we get. It is so much easier and cheaper to have a surrogate momma than to buy/mix/feed powdered milk. It is amazing how many calves these cows milk for! I actually feel bad for them a little. Ow… Ya, that’s all I have to say… Ow.

A Cool Summer Night

August 10, 2013 by Allison

We love the long summer evenings because there is just so much fun stuff to do around the ranch and around our little valley. A favorite is always saddling up the horses and heading to the arena.

One night The Rancher needed to practice roping with his partner for the upcoming rodeo (that has since come and gone… yep, I need to post them too… I know) so we made a family night of it. With so many kids, horses, steers, and dogs, how could we NOT have a good time?!

There are so many reasons I love being a rancher’s wife and having so much to enjoy from our lifestyle. You want to come visit now, don’t you? Well come on over!

Gotta Hurry Home!

July 27, 2013 by Allison

The association cowboys gathered up the forest cows to move to the next of their summer pasture early Saturday morning. It was a beautiful morning for a ride.

A bike ride that is.

I too headed out on the road, thinking that these cowboys were pushing the herd back across all of the fields instead of down the lovely paved highway that I had chosen to peddle my bike down.

As I just about to turn around I got a call from The Rancher. He casually asked what I was doing and where I was. I responded that I riding my bike down the road. Why? Well, they were heading down the road with the cows, were almost to the house and if I didn’t hurry I was going to get caught in the midst of them.

I should get a medal for how fast I turned that bike around and peddled back to the house. Just as rolled into my driveway the first of the cows came across. Phew… I made it.

And just in time for pictures too!

I quickly changed out of my stinky exercise clothes and into my stinky cowgirl clothes, loaded up The Rancher’s Sidekick and The Ranch Princess to follow the cow trail. Its kinda hard to miss… they leave digested bread crumbs along the way. Another good reason to not be riding down the road with the cows.

Putting up the Grain

July 25, 2013 by Allison

Remember this spring when I posted pictures of the newly sprouting grain? Well it has sprouted, grown, been swathed, raked, and baled. I was super lucky to get a few snaps before it all ended up in the stack yard.

There is something about men that when you say, “Tell me when you are going to ____ (fill the blank with whatever) let me know so that I can take some pictures.” that it totally escapes them. Cowboy Pete had just started swathing the last field when The Rancher called to say that if I wanted to get any picture it had to be NOW. But I must admit, I am grateful that he called. I really should give him a break because coming out to take pictures is a new thing this year. And I know that when there is a job to get done the work must go on, even if the picture taker isn’t ready.

Sadly, I didn’t get any of the baling… Yep we missed that… You will have to look forward to it next year.

Here is the grain, just sprouting.

And here it is again as it is being cut down.

This is a crazy photo but I was trying to show just how tall it had grown. But several factors kept it from turning out how I would have liked. And it was too tall to get all of it if I took the shot from the ground like a did for the springtime picture.

Cowboys Pete and E

July 22, 2013 by Allison

One fine day I found these cowboys down at the arena ~~messing~~ horsing around (ha ha ha! Ok, I know its not funny…). They had loaded up the roping steers, put on the horn wraps, and rigged the shoot to open with some baling twine. A few friends had come over so naturally the crew had made their way to the arena.

I was really supposed to something domestic like dusting, laundry, dinner… But I didn’t want to so I meandered down there to take some pictures.

Now remember that I am not a photographer so these aren’t the best, but they do show what a fun time they had and what a good group of kids they are.

PS- if anyone out knows how to take a STELLAR picture of cowboys roping I would love to learn. They are just so fast that I can’t keep them in focus…

Cowboy E decided that these were more than just roping steers. Oh no, they are more like multi-purpose steers and that maybe he should bulldog one of them. Sadly we don’t have a bull doggin’ horse so instead of bailing off the horse he grabs a hold of the steer as it is coming out of the chute. That starts him with a disadvantage, don’t you think? Regardless of who is winning he still looks like he is in control for this picture. Do you think that he flipped the steer? You will have to ask him!

Cowboy Pete tried for the steer wrestling too. His turn didn’t end too swell… But at least his faithful pup is there to console him. (Just so you know, everything is OK- no serious injuries… we think)

The girls opted for using this multi-purpose steer for… I don’t know.. a trick steer? a bucking steer? I’m not really sure, but at least they are cute doing it!

What’s a Rancher Without His Cow Dog?

July 13, 2013 by Allison

Have you stopped to think about that question? Any good rancher has at least one cow dog, but more like three or four. And usually those dogs are good enough to move the cows without any help. Well that might be over stating it, but we rarely work cows without The Rancher’s Dog. Even when we are working them through the squeeze chute it is the dog’s responsibility to move the cows along.

Quick side story*
When we were in college The Rancher’s Dog took a spill out of the back of the truck and broke both of his back legs. We weren’t sure what to do but when I looked at The Rancher I knew that we were NOT putting this dog down. We began by splinting it but that didn’t keep the bones aligned well enough. The options were to either do surgery and pin it or surgery and amputate it. We opted for the pin. He seems to do well. Occaisonally we see a little limp and I’m afraid he will end up with arthritis but I don’t think we really could have seen that dog go. That day was the nearest I have ever seen The Rancher cry.

But on a happier note, he is alive with all of his legs and is a master cow chaser. When we were moving cows to Badger Hole the heifers were really on the fight. I didn’t get a great picture of the dogs getting the cows but some other fun ones.