The Idaho Rancher's Wife

The Ranch From the Wife's Perspective

Headed to Fall Pasture

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Calling it fall pasture now sounds wrong that it is currently covered with a sheet of white snow, but since the calendar still calls this time of year fall we will go with it.  Fall pasture.  That’s where we headed a week ago. The Rancher asked me one of my favorite questions- do you wanna ride?  Um… YES! 

It really was a fabulous day and a fabulous day for a ride.  Unfortunately… there was one part of that day that wasn’t so fabulous- I didn’t bring my camera!  I was so busy getting kids together and getting out before the cowboys left me that it slipped my mind.  But in some ways it made for a different kind of ride.

I always enjoy being out for a ride and I love capturing the scenes of the day.  But as I’ve been riding and photographing at the same time, I realized that as much as I take in with my camera I don’t personally it take in.  I look around seeing my next photo or noticing some exciting action and then I take the picture instead of internalizing what’s happening.  And that is exactly what I did this ride.

We gathered in the forest cattle, the same bunch we had brought in twice already.  This time it was to sort off all of our remaining cows to head over a couple of hills to the fall pasture.  Luckily they pretty well sorted themselves… a few of them were a little hot and if too many were that feisty it might have made for a bad day…  When they take on the horse in front of them rather than running through the gate, you can see that there was plenty of fun that day.  Once we got all of our cows out The Rancher, Cowboy E and I started moving them down the road. 

It was uneventful.  The cows moved slow because they were busy eating all along the way.  The air was chilly but the sun beating down was warm and comfortable.  We commented about how good and fat the cows looked.  And we called for the dog keep the cows moving (NEVER move cows without a good cow dog… he’s worth his weight in gold!). It was nice to have a moment to connect to what we were doing and take it all in.  The creak in my saddle, the cow’s hooves on the gravel, and the dog running were the only things to really take my attention.

This little uneventful ride helped me realize how beautiful of a life we live, in its simplicity and in its intensity.  We have times of the year that we fall into bed exhausted only to wake up early again the next morning.  Then there are the days that The Rancher gets done early enough to saddle up the horse for the kids to ride.  In all of it we get to live a life where we work as a family to raise beef to help feed the world.  We work hard, play hard, and have beauties all around.  On this ride to fall pasture I didn’t capture the day with my camera, but I certainly captured it with my heart.  If only I could help you to see the imprint it has left on this rancher’s wife.  

Why Ranchers Don’t Need a Personal Trainer

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I just got done spending a few days helping The Rancher fence.  Mostly by accident.  Like, my kids took off trekking down the busy road to find their dad and I followed after in my sweats.  And of course once I got there I got put to work.  And boy was it work, actually more of a workout.  I tease The Rancher from time to time that he had better get doing some exercises before he has to move his buckle down a notch.  But in reality, his daily living is enough of a workout that he doesn’t need to exercise.

Well, I take that back.  As an exervise science major I believe that everyone needs to exercise, everyday.  But hanging out with a rancher provides enough core building, heart racing, strength training exercises that you won’t have to hit the gym at the end of the day.

For example, take the job of tamping- using a narrow, 15 pound bar to pound and pack the dirt around a fence post.  And since nothing done on the ranch is slow, you do it fast, as fast as you can.  You squeeze your core tight as it will go to stabilize your shoulders as they slowly begin to burn from lifting the bar over and over again.

Moving hand lines.  In the days when I was a pipe mover I always considered it to be my morning exercise routine.  Squatting with an extra 50+ pounds stretching out 15 feet off each side is a great for a little balance work, especially while the water is still running up and down the pipe.

Roping… oh boy roping…  I’ve learned this last year what a great workout this is.  Keeping your elbow, swinging at just the right rhythm and then still having the strength to throw is so much harder than what it looks.  In fact, I have yet to even remotely come close to figuring this out…  But I have gotten sore, super sore. 

And then there are all of the sledge hammers.  Big, little, tall, short- they all have one thing in common.  They are all heavy.  So heavy that you don’t slam them down as much as swing them up and then just let them fall on whatever it is you are hitting.  While they are doing whatever damage you need, they are building some beautiful core, shoulder, and even back muscles.

I really could keep going on… ranching is a physical job.  So much so that even with my intense morning workouts, I still get sore after a long day with The Rancher.  If ever you were looking for a change in your exercise routine, come spend the day with a rancher!

The Chicken Fiasco

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I had to buy eggs today. It’s the first time in like five years because we always had our own chickens. Even when we were poor-starving-college-students we had a few hens that provided “golden” eggs. Moving to the ranch only meant more eggs for us because when you have 18 hens and three families the eggs get shared around fast.

But it seems that every fall we have some sort of chicken drama. It was this time a year ago that the calves found their way into the chicken coop and scattered those crazy chickens all over the ranch yard. We spent all day gathering up those darn critters to try and keep them from the drooling dog that stalked them from the shed to the shop to the tractor…  This year, though, we couldn’t save them from such an end. 
Yep, you heard right. The chickens are gone, dead, no longer laying eggs!  Fortunately for the dog, he wasn’t the one to get them (I’m pretty sure he would be done for too!) and it wasn’t because the calves crashed down the door. The intruder was much more stealthy- coming in the night and nabbing a few at a time. After the first couple nights of losing a few hens we guessed there was a weasel or racoon that had tunneled into the coop and moved the hens. 
But it didn’t stop that ninja critter. 
We tried to get one step ahead of the hunter to save the few chickens we had left- the four remaining chickens. We put them in the horse trailer and left them there for days. The Ranch Boss set traps hoping to nab the intruder and let us feel safe to put the chickies back. But we never caught him. For weeks we didn’t catch him. By this point we figured he had gotten frustrated and moved on. 
So we put the chickens back. They were happy and we were happy to have the few eggs they were laying. The kids and I were stalwart in doing the nightly egg gather and chicken lock up, always careful make sure there was no way a chicken could escape or a creeper to get in. 
But one morning we heard the bad news- the last of the chickens had been attacked and killed. We felt defeated. We lost all 18 chickens. And all this boiled down to one conclusion- no more fresh eggs. 
To appease your curiosity, we did find what got the chickens.  There was a mink that had escaped the mink farm in town and trekked down to our chicken coop. 
Now we know that we need to beef up our chicken coop to prevent any unwelcome visitors for getting their dinner. And until next spring when the next batch of chickens comes in we will buy eggs, coloring eggs as The Rancher’s Sidekick calls them (apparently white store eggs have only one purpose!). 

Integrity in the Middle of Nowhere

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I realized something new this fall.  Outside from all of the awesomeness that comes with the riding and gathering on such beautiful fall days there is an incredible bond between the ranching men in this valley.  On one particular morning it was evident what kind of men we are privileged to work with.
 
All of our cows are run with other ranches, several ranches which means that there is plenty of man power when it is time to work them.  But one large bunch (all the bunches are large when you run nearly 800 cows!) we have only runs with one other ranch.  Most years we have plenty of extra help but this year we felt pretty lucky to not have a disaster with as few guys as we had.  Kids grow up and go to school and others really grow up and go on missions.  Some get other jobs.  Before we know it we are spread far and thin between, but still getting the job done.
 
When we got to the corrals where we were sorting I noticed that there were a lot more trucks and trailers and cowboys than what we had left.  Cool.  Some help.  But really, I was sure that they were only there to get their few calves that end up in our group.  Strays happen because that saying of the grass being greener on the other side is really true!  So we sort out the strays.  And no one really leaves.  We start weaning the big group of cows and everyone jumps in.  Even as a big storm came in and soaked everyone that didn’t bring a rain coat (me… plus a few others) they all stuck around. 
 
After a while I decided that their time and effort was really a demonstration of their character.  They work until the work is done.  They help their neighbor simply because they know they need help.  They don’t expect to be paid and would never hold it over our head.  And because of their willingness to help we turn around and help them whenever we can.  When they say they are coming we know it will happen because these men stay true to their word.
 
What incredible character, right?  I aspire to keep that kind of legacy alive in the ranch we run, in the family I raise and in the person I strive to become.
 

Weaning Anxiety

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Oh weaning… A time that we love and hate. I should say I and not speak for the others. I love the days out riding, sorting and working the cattle through the chute. It’s awesome to see the growth that they’ve had over the summer and the satisfaction to see your hard work paying off.

But there is a flip side. Weaning is stressful on calves. It can be super stressful. Ideally you don’t change terrain or feed too much. You try to not work them too hard or even haul them long distances if you can manage. But when your calves are NOT at the home ranch you bite the bullet and do all those things. The hard thing is stressed calves can turn into sick calves. Sick calves don’t eat so well. Sick calves can become super sick calves. And super sick calves can die. What we don’t want… 
Whatever we are doing, whether it’s sorting, moving, vaccinating or feeding, we take care to keep these calves running healthy. We only have to make it 45 days (give or take) and in that time we pack on the pounds and keep all healthy so we can turn a good profit. These calves are our payday… Now dont think I’m talking about getting rich off these babies. What I’m really talking about is earning enough to keep doing what we love. 
So for the next month or so, there is a little more tension, a little more anxiety, and a lot more prayers that our efforts everyday haven’t been in vain and that we can continue this cowboy living. 

First Wean at 13

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Seriously, who names corrals or pastures 13?  Forever The Rancher would say, “We’re going down to 13…” and it was supposed to mean something to me.  But now I know.  13- the corrals and fields nestled behind the reservoir, only 14 glorious minutes away instead of the agonizing hours it seems to take to Black Pine (don’t worry, I  know you don’t know where that is…).  And 13 is where we began the crazy fall work this year.

Nearly a week ago, on a hazy cool morning, we saddled up and headed out to gather in the cows on the Forest Service ground.  These cows have been difficult all summer long, so it was awesome to get the buggers done and out of the way first.  Of course they were spread out on the very edges of the field.  And of course they had to turn and chase the dogs every chance they could.  And of course the only time they hurried along was when they were headed in the WRONG direction.  But we were ready for them and brought lots of help, and in reality, we didn’t have all that far to go to.

After our quick 45 minute gather began the real fun of sorting off the cows from the calves.  These cowboys work cows so different than I ever did growing up.  I was always taught the approach of less is more- quieter, calmer, less guys… Maybe some of that was just because we didn’t have so many cows or man power.  Still, very different.  With these Curlew Cowboys we start sorting from both ends, each grabbing a bunch and sorting off calves out one gate and cows out the other, sometimes pushing against each other.  I went on the end where we pushed the cows out and kept calves in.  I have to admit that the first few minutes were stressful for me.  It was chaos.  Pure chaos.  There was no organization, no plan, just get ’em and go.  Fortunately my anxiety simmered down and I jumped into the chaotic, sorting groove.  Before long we were done… mostly.

A few calves had managed to slip the gate man that needed sorting back out.  And a few bulls needed bringing out.  And some of the neighbor cows needed pulling out too.  So not really done, but that gave me the perfect opportunity to take a few pictures.  I have to admit that I didn’t take any when the good sorting was going on, but that was simply because I was too busy doing my other job…

With the sorting done, all that was left was to wait our turn to get all the calves loaded and head home.  And in the meantime while I was waiting, I enjoyed my moments of bliss on the back of the horse with my camera, conversation my new sis-in-law, and a little kid free time.  I was almost sad when we loaded up the third and final semi-full of calves.  But alas, all good things must come to an end.  Until the next time we wean- oh wait, that’s tomorrow!

 

Oneida County Steer Show

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Tonight we are hitting up the Easter Idaho State Fair, a big highlight of our fall.  I’m not sure why we love fairs so much- maybe its the food, or the free entertainment, or that we can wear our cowboy duds and totally fit in.  Whatever it is, we can’t get enough and hit up as many of the local fairs as we possibly can!  In fact, it will be our 4th fair in just about as many weeks! 

I big believer in fairs… obviously as now I am on our country fair board.  I really feel like it has a lot to give it the community and especially its youth.  The time, effort, sacrifice, and responsibility it takes for kids to commit and then follow through on all of their projects is huge.  Parents and leaders put in a lot of time to help teach skills to the up and coming generation of ranchers, gardeners, sewers, bakers, photographers, canners, and hopefully leaders.  Yep, I’m sounding a little stuffy and frumpy… but when you take away the rides and rodeos, what you have left is kids learning and showing what they can do.  I love it!

Every year I look forward to the steer show.  I was big into showing (can you imagine me NOT going big in anything I do?!).  I loved taking the time to wash, clip and fit  my steer.  The show ring meant game time and I wanted to win.  And sometimes I did.  Now that I don’t get to (their really frown upon a grown woman commandeering the steer show!), I like to jump in and help give a few of my tips and tricks to the next group of showman.  Who knows if they even want to hear what I have to say, but at least I feel like I get to keep my foot in the ring one way! 

But really, these kids don’t need me.  They (hopefully!) have been working and preparing all summer for this day, and as you can see, one way or another, they nailed it!

Cowboy Engagements: The Buckaroo’s Engagement Photos

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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

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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!                                               

DIY Pallet Shelf

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Pallet crafts.  You see them all over Pinterest.  Everyone is coming up with crazy creative ideas to use the only-good-for-fire-wood pallets for something so beautiful and useful.  At first I though they were crazy and weird.  Sorry, sista… I have seen way too many of these to want to put one in my house, thank you very much.

But then I gave in.

When I saw the PILES of pallets around the ranch I started thinking of ways I could make something awesome out of them too.  The need for one came as The Ranch Princess emptied out my purse for the umpteenth time.  Please can I just have a little shelf that I can hang my purse and camera and mom-bag from that looks cute!

Light. Bulb.

I should make one… from a pallet!  So I went to Pinterest, and really didn’t find what I wanted.  But… that didn’t stop me.  I went to the pile, found the best pallet of the bunch and headed to the shop where the power tools were (oh, and The Rancher…).  I explained to him what I wanted and he said, “…ok.”  Very enthusiastic.  All I really needed from him was to tell me where the saws-all was and to let me have at it.

I cut off the first section of pallet and then the a second board to go across the top for my shelf.  With the pieces cut out (and the rest cleaned up- I do my part to keep the shop clean!) I headed for a sander.  Now I know the fun of a pallet craft is that it is from a pallet and therefore has some character.  But my OCD-ness wouldn’t let me NOT sand the darn thing… just a little.

Sanding really was the most time consuming thing, not because it took super long, but because the rest of it went so fast.  I didn’t sand it off terribly smooth, just enough that when I would be taking my hand across it I wouldn’t get any slivers.  We try to avoid pain like that if we can…

Next step- stain.  With so many options it was almost hard to know how to go with this part of my project.  I ended up taking a cherry brown stain and loved the results.  On the first coat the grain started to come to life and I LOVED it.  In fact, I only put the one coat on because it was exactly what I was looking for.  It had a little dark color to it without being overwhelming or distracting.  Awesome!  I did do a quick sealant coat to help keep it’s awesome-ness.

After letting the stain dry I dug through The Rancher’s toolbox to find myself a hammer (maybe I should get my own tools!!) and nails.  Since the shelf was from a pallet it wasn’t too square, which means I can blame any unlevel/unsquare issues on it, right?  Actually it was a little tough to keep it square while I was putting it together just because it was a little awkward to try and hold together on my own.  But never fear, I got it together! 

And a shelf is born!

The last bits to add were my dollar drawer pulls from Home Depot (LOVE that store!).  For Father’s Day I was the awesome wife that got her husband a new drill set and I finally had a chance to use it.  I drilled myself a few little holes, put the screws in and I was done.

The coolest part of this project was when The Rancher saw it in the room.  He was seriously impressed and is even thinking of places to put for his hat and gloves… Yes, earned myself more rancher’s wife stripes!  Now, honey, could you please help me hang this up?

About Me

Hello! I'm Allison, The Rancher's Wife! There's nothing I love more than being out on the ranch with my husband and kids. Join me for a look at what goes on here at the ranch and the life being a rancher's wife!

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