One Room School House

I am amazed at the number of folks in the blogesphere that home school their kids. Somehow, as much as I love my mother I couldn't imagine her attempting to wrangle the kids and home school us. It is a job she would not apply for. Now, I realize there is wealth of resources available today that were not available in my day (notice I didn't say the number of years ago!) so, maybe some aspects of it would be easier for her. For a variety of reasons, I believe the home school parent is much like a one room school house teacher. I love hearing stories about one room school houses and home schooling. Life is an adventure - the curriculum and life experience that home schooling provides is phenomenal - from traveling the world to working cattle some home schoolers are living the life!

Difference in Time

Have you noticed the light changing as fall approaches? Or spring depending on where you are? It is always interesting to see how weather, time of day, light effects the landscape -

Treats for Me!

Jet loves carrots and anytime you go in the tack room he peaks his head in hoping you will open the fridge and bring him a carrot. If you don't have a fridge in the tack room I highly recommend it for not only for carrots, medicine but also for refreshments! If one is not careful two of the horses will actually come in the tack room both of which can manage to turn around in the space above! As you know, Jet got hurt a few months ago and Studley Dudley reported it. Jet has recovered nicely and actually has been sold but not picked up. Though he doesn't have shoes I am supposed to put the first ride him "since I'm lighter than Hollywood" and see how he does. Wish me luck!

Love Clouds!

Cumulus clouds really do make for a nice picture or stratus clouds - though stratus clouds are difficult to capture without the right kind of backdrop! Thank you to everyone for all your kind comments and compliments about my photography. Here is a link to a little cloud game to help you learn your clouds!

Rainbow at the Ranch

Could you hear me singing? In case, you want to sing along.....

Isn't This Classic?

I snapped this photo in Northern New Mexico. I just had to stop the truck and take a picture!

Look at the New Horse I Bought!

Isn't he fancy? Dudley is already sulking. Just kidding. This is a childhood friend that did really well in the NRHA finals last year - I believe she was second in the novice horse division. Don't you love the look of concentration on her face!

Wide Open Spaces.....

I think Duck is saying, "Now where did you park the trailer? Should you paint it pink so I can see it better? Well at least this pasture doesn't have any hills!"

If Things Could Talk....

Have you ever wondered if objects, horses, cats, dogs could talk just what would they say? What would this old tree say What would Duck say? I sometimes say things that I would expect to hear Dudley say for instance "One Cowgirl you just missed the turn to the barn.. this ain't the way home..haven't we done nough today..I am not chasing anymore bulls"

Cattle Drive 101

Dudley is still whining about not having a passport. I told him I will inquire next time I'm at the post office. I think he only whined because two of us moved so many cows on Fri. & Sat. and he was thinking an international vacation is in order. Saturday would of been easier had there been more than two of us moving cows but there was loads of country- over 100 pairs- many places for the cattle to hide and the cattle decided to spread out! It was tricky gathering them together and keeping them all moving at the same time - I'd get part of them started and then ride upto Hollywood then ones at the other end where I started driving them would stop...at one point we'd got started again and lo and behold its a mtn. in the middle of their path - some decide to cut right, some cut left, some decided grazing up high on the mtn was the answer to not going any further - we just split 'em down the middle and off we went pushing them on either side of the mtn...it was alot of riding but I had fun.

Destination Beijing

In case you are like me and love watching here is the main NBC link to the Olympic Equestrian Teams!
Here is an interesting article of how the horses are transported - and best of all here is one of the slidshows of globe trotting beasts! They actually have horse passports. Dudley is already ringing me asking me when is he going to get his. How many of you have horse's that have passports? Here is an article about a 67 year Japanese man competing in the Olympics! A true inspiration - remember girls we will never be too old to ride!

Mask in the Mudroom

My mother has a huge collection of masks from all over the world - eclectic and exotic. Now, the mask above I picked up in Ponce, Puerto Rico years ago when I was working on a project there. The mask parade every year in Ponce is Puerto Rico's answer to Mardi Gras.
The vejigantes are the undisputed stars of this show, but what, exactly, are they? In a word, they're demons. More to the point, the vejigante is a figure straight out of a centuries-old folklore that blends African, Spanish, and Caribbean cultures. The name originates from vejiga, which means "bladder" in Spanish. The traditional vejigante costume requires three basic components: mask, cape, and suit. The mask is the most iconic and colorful of these essentials, and even it has rules and regulations: The vejigante mask has a conflagration of teeth and horns. Just like mine! Like Mardi Gras, the carnival has its roots in Catholicism. The vejigantes, armed with their vejigas (inflated cow bladders), go around whacking children and other innocents, ostensibly to beat away any evil spirits that are lingering around them. However, given that they are known to target attractive women, these spiritual motives might be suspect. The festival ends with the Entierro de la Sardina, or "Burial of the Sardine." This mock funeral, complete with dummy-laden coffin, is in honor of the coming season of lent. Coffin and dummy are set on fire, to symbolize the burning away of the sins of the flesh. If you are planning a trip to Mardi Gras or Rio de Janerio for Carnival you may want to consider Ponce instead!

Sea of Cows

I just love it when we get to move lots of cattle but you all know that already. Its even better when the cattle know where they are going!

OPps!

Stud Dud here. Boy OneCowgirl is madd at me. Seems thats my eare in the picture! Sometimes I just get tired of her snapin here there ande everwhere. She pulls up on thosey reins (steering apparatus as we horses call 'em) and expects me to stop so she can take a picture. Well I got her - I just raise my heade and put my ears in her pickture. Pretty clever don't you think?

Rain

It is absolutely amazing what a little rain can do for this country. I won't bore you with cow moving stories today.

Reuniting......

I love it when you can re-unite a momma with her baby. My task was to go move two pair out of the riparian area (it’s a major no no for cattle to be in this area) and into one of the adjoining pastures. Seems the momma’s had escaped thru one of the water gaps with all the recent rains. I saddled up Studley Dudley and off we went with our small task to complete. The first pair took off running when they saw me and then another cow joined them in the run. The mesquite was thick and I am wondering where on earth is second the calf. The pair and the lone cow took off across the dirt road and upto the fence line of one of the pastures. I followed to make sure I knew which direction they where going hoping they were headed toward the closer gate. Then I circled back to look for the calf - thinking well maybe momma has her stashed under a tree for a morning nap. But no sign of the calf. I go back to the cows thinking maybe she’s dry and doesn’t have a calf. Nope she’s got a big full udder. Then I notice momma is near the fence line bellowing out to all the cows and calves in the pasture as if she really has a lot to say but one little calf seems somewhat interested in her bellowing. So, I think well if I move momma down the fence line maybe her baby may follow and then I’ll know for sure if it’s her baby. I try to herd momma toward the other pair and she wants nothing to do with moving away from this particular spot on the fence line. So, I have at least confirmed her calf is on the other side of the fence. Of course, there is not gate nearby and I’ve got to move her down the fence line. Finally, after much conversing with momma – the baby calf follows momma down the fence line. The calf had to cross a ravine which was difficult for the little bugger but he managed – Studley Dudley was incredibly tired of the ravine since he got to cross it multiple times on his side of the fence in the process. I got to the gate, go off and opened the gate, remounted and pushed the pair & caring momma thru the gate!

Moving Cows

Have you ever had the pleasure of rounding up and moving a herd of cows? I must say it is one of my most favorite things to do in the whole wide world. Even if it is nothing like you expect and the cows don't cooperate. At times it is very unpredictable. Ok, there are few things I that might choose to do instead like a 10 day African Safari on horseback but other than that I can't think of anything else at the moment. I often wonder if I'll ever be able to just ride a horse for pleasure again without having a mission of some sort ...like riding fence line, checking water lines or hunting for stray cows.

Rain Finally!

Its not often that we get to move cows through water on this ranch! Well there is one small creek behind the house. Can't you tell Hollywood looks really concerned that we may not be able to get all the cows across this raging river! It was the morning of the babysitters club so keeping track of the number pairs was a bit difficult. You do know what a babysitters cow club isn't don't you? Seriously, momma cows will go off and leave with their calves with one momma cow to watch. The largest baby sitters club I've ever seen in one cow and six calves. I think she was licensed.

Phone Booth

Hollywood doesn't like to do phone but this is his phone booth. If he parks his truck just so by the cattle chute he can sometimes get a signal.

Smiley Dog Rules

This Shadow - she earned her name because she follows you around like your very own shadow. I call her Smiley Dog because she likes to show her teeth.

Yippie!!

The word is that later this week we will be moving cows out of my favorite pasture on the ranch! It is a really, really pretty pasture - last year we only had cows in it during the winter but unfortunately, this year because of the drought conditions we hauled some cows back to it a few months ago because it had some forage.

Those Black Dots are Cows!

Sometimes you have to go out and just hunt for one cow.....the task on this day was to find a cow that had prolapsed. It often feels like that you are hunting for a needle in a haystack. We eventually found the cow with her very large calf with the help from jefe. Seems she had decided to start watering at another tank. We brought her in, took her to the vet and she is doing well.

A Little Color in the Desert.....

Did you know that ages ago a National Geographic Photographer used to carry around a red windbreaker to whip out and put on his subjects in the photos - adding a splash of color and perspective with the person in the photo. I just love it when Hollywood wears these Olathe boots - I just can't take enough photos. He orders them from Errol at South Texas Prime Boots. I adore talking to Errol - he has one of those luscious South Texas drawls that is like music to my ears. Hollywood raves about how comfortable his Olathe boots are and he is in the midst of ordering another pair.

Charlies Angel

We call this mountain Fara. Get it?

Did you lock the horses in?

It's embarrassing when you have to call jefe and say "the horses didn't come in this mornin so I'll be a little late" Most of the ranch is in desperate need of rain but we've had almost an inch over the past two months so there is a little green coming up.....yes, we celebrate in 1/10ths....so the horses being the smart critters that they are say to each other "if we stay out here this morning maybe they'll leave us a little hay at the corral and we won't have to go to work" And unlike dogs they don't come when you call them! Its frustrating when you can spot them and they just stay on the hill and don't even bother to move. Now, if the sun was going down and you were calling them it would be a whole different story. Moral of the story: Lock 'em up at night.

My Grandfather & His Chief......

Big Dogs run in the family........

Happy Father's Day!!

As my mother instilled in me the love of horses, my father instilled in me the love of travel. By example he taught me to be a good tourist, how to read a map, how to decipher what one needs to see & do...how to find the local eateries, the cock fights, the local market -he is A GREAT TOUR GUIDE. Many funny stories and wonderful memories. Happy Father's Day.

A Kiss Goodbye.........

From my Cousin: As many of you know, our wonderful Anatolian Shepherd Chief was recently diagnosed with bone cancer. Unfortunately it was terminal, so we made the grueling decision to put him down. Although we are filled with great sadness about our tremendous loss, we know he has gone to Heaven and is enjoying a pain-free new life. Hug your family, friends and pets and say a little prayer for our Chief.

I Like to Color!

I especially like colorful crayons and prefer coloring outside the lines........and you?

I would rather ride than drive....

Sometimes you have to commend the Dept. of Transportation, road planners etc. - this is a painted underpass in Southern New Mexico. But I do wonder why some underpasses get more attention than others. Don't you like this?

Fixing Windmills

The other day we had to return a pair down this canyon and when we got then driven to the tank we found the windmill more or less working but the water was going outside the tank - Hollywood and I got it fixed but it always makes my mind race with bizarre thoughts - what if he falls off that windmill - how will I get him out of here and my little mind races with all these different scenarios .....

Listen Up Man......

What do you think these two bulls are saying? Are they talking about that cow in the background? Or is she talking to them?

Proomise I Tried to Stay Cleane!

Howdy OneCowgirly! Hope ya don't mind I am postin...thanks for bathe....as you can see I kept one side of me clean!! Now, don't listene to Hollywood when he saays the othere horses are ranche horses & don't needies a bathe - Ike, Duck & Jetster all tolde me they wante a bathe just likee mee! Thanke for makin me loooke sooo preeety!

Potato King Dies........

I was cruising thru the lastest issue of the Beef Cow/Calf weekly on line and saw this obit - occasionally I read obits - I don't know why and I doubt I'm the only one that reads about people they don't know - this guy had an amazing life and I bet you've never heard his name - so read on.......

J.R. Simplot, Idaho's legendary billionaire potato king, cattle feeder and entrepreneur, passed away on Sunday. He was 99.
He dropped out of school when he was 14 to rent and farm 40 acres of land. He made his initial fortune of $100,000 in the hog business, which he parlayed into new investments in potato storage houses. That led to the construction of more potato houses, and eventually into shipping of Idaho potatoes.
At the advent of World War II, he figured out how to freeze-dry potatoes for shipment overseas to hungry U.S. troops. From potato processing, he began expanding his empire to include beef cattle, cheese and fertilizer Production. The Simplot cattle-feeding enterprise includes operations in Idaho and Washington turning out about 400,000 head of cattle per year.
Simplot pioneered the first commercial frozen French fry in the late 1940s, eventually becoming a major supplier to McDonald's and other fast-food chains. He said the secret to success was his willingness to work, reinvest and never sell out.
Read more about this amazing man at: www.simplot.com/company/jr_simplot.cfm.

Some Kids Play with Toys

...others play with calf nuts! No one on this ranch particularly likes calf fries or should I say no one offers to cook them...so the other day once the dogs had their fill of nuts...the calf nuts were still flying thru the air ... well, these kids took to seriously playing with them. It was pretty funny. One father commented, "I spent $200. on toys at Christmas what was I thinking?" Of course, I supplied a plastic bag to one kid that wanted to take home the nuts - hope they didn't leave the bag in their parents SUV! Now, please forgive me if I've grossed you out with this post. Some kids play with toys, some kids play with calf nuts!

Leader of the Pack

Here is Dudley followed by Ike with just a hint of Duck in the picture all running in for dinner. I gave the all the horses their West Nile & Flu vaccinations last night. - Dr. OneCowgirl