The Ranch on Salmon Creek

A Week in Pictures and a few words....

2012-01-17T20:05:00.000-08:00

My dad has recovered. He is now officially discharged from hospice. Never heard of that before. Hospice told him that they originally thought he had weeks left to live, now they might give him years. Miraculous. My mom's mental condition continues to deteriorate unfortunately. For 3 months she was on an Alzheimer drug and we didn't see any real improvement. We did see high blood pressure and ugly aggression, so we pulled her off of them a week ago. Thankfully she is sweet again. Sweet and forgetful we can handle, the mean and ugly we would rather forget. We aren't sure how long we will continue to live with them as we are in the process of trying to assess their needs and hire help. My dad would like to stay in his home through summer, so my mom can grow a garden one more time.

Had a lovely week's vacation at home, even if I was sick! Mark was able to work on some corrals, prune the orchard and grapes and feed cattle. I drove the kubota and rode a horse around the ranch making sure all the cattle were accounted for; a roll call of sorts. I got Molly back from the trainer and was so impressed I sent Belle, my paint mare, back home with her. I have never used a professional trainer before, now I see how valuable they can be. Thanks again April Moore.

Simple Serenity

2011-12-13T20:05:00.000-08:00

Molly's Makeover

2011-12-12T20:41:00.000-08:00

Stormy

Molly

I decided to invest the money I received from selling Stormy, who has bad arthritis, to getting some training for Molly; the ex brood mare, toss Mark in the ditch horse. It might be throwing money away, but I wanted to give her a decent shot at being a good horse. She is not very pretty, but I rode her quite a bit this summer and she has a delightful way of moving and an innate lightness. A real joy to ride. She does have a couple of hangups though. One being herd bound. For a while I had a very difficult time getting her to leave her friends, but she has improved a lot in this area and I know she can overcome this. Her big hangup though is trailering. I fed her in the trailer for a month this summer and she would enter and eat, but I never felt confident that I could load her and I was afraid of getting hurt, so I never attempted loading. Molly had some bad experiences in the trailer before us and has a real phobia. I am hoping the trainer can help her get over this. We will see. It took her (the trainer is an awesome young lady) an hour and half to load her today. I was amazed at the trainer's calm and patience. Poor Molly has met her match in stubbornness I think.

Watching Molly fear today made me think of my own hangups. The things that I avoid because I get a cold sweat and my heart races. Should I avoid them, or should I force my way through, like Molly had to do? My hangups limit me, but sometimes I think it is OK to have acceptance and give myself a little grace. Or at least have a little tranquilizer to take. I had to do that for a while for flying and going to the dentist. Eventually I overcame both ridiculous fears. Of course there are other fears that are realistic ones. Fear is there to protect us from danger and to dismiss it would be foolhardy. It is just difficult sometimes sorting out between the two.

Squash Anyone?

2011-12-11T21:18:00.001-08:00

I missed harvest. It made me cry a little, but I was happy to be able to go out and gather the winter squash and I even found a couple of eggplants and some peppers. We have a lot more cleaning to ready the garden for winter, but we got a good start on it today.

I missed all of the pears as well, but there are a few apples left. These little tiny apples taste wonderful, and thier size is just right for a quick bite or two.

I mostly have been trying to spend my time with the horses, cleaning them up and riding. Being away from them for almost 3 months has made me realize what a horse gal I am. It is interesting how I am so much more decisive about what I like and don't like. I am beginning to realize how fleeting life is and how important it is to enjoy today the best that you can. Even if that means pausing a time or two for a big cry.

I need a few more big cries before we head south, as I realize that I have been repressing emotions for a while now. As I am an emotional girl, my vessel is plumb full needs to drain. The horses and the plants don't seem to mind.

Mama's Home

2011-12-11T04:28:00.000-08:00

It warmed my heart seeing the horses run to me and, for the record, I didn't even have hay. We are back on the ranch ranch for a few days of R&R. While it isn't physically hard caring for my parents, it is restricting and draining, and I was getting very emotional and neurotic. Our oldest son volunteered took to fill in for us and, by all accounts, is doing a great job. It relieves my mind knowing that we now have a back up caretaker.

The weather and beauty of these Humboldt hills are a blessing and I have been spending my time enjoying the view from my living room window and also from the back of a horse.

Give Thanks

2011-11-23T21:46:00.001-08:00

Recently, some friends here in our old hometown had their house burn down. To the ground. So many things are just things and can be replaced or just done without. But other family heirlooms passed down from one generation to the next flew into the heavens never to be seen again. Gone. It is hard to see such loss.

It is easy when one is young to think that this or that makes one a success or one's life worth living. But as we age we find that our thinking changes. Sometimes daily. Life is worth living when we live it; with our eyes and hearts open.

This Thanksgiving Day, transcend your limitations, your problems, your aches and pains, lay aside all of your wants and give thanks. You are alive and you are known by a creator God who wants to commune with you.

Longing for Humboldt, but enjoying the view here too.

Another Week Away

2011-11-12T13:30:00.001-08:00

It is easy to do the right thing when one feels noble and proud, it is harder when time goes by and you begin to feel the cold, wet, dirt of the trenches. I am sure many men who enlisted felt the same way. I feel a bit like that now.

My dad was drafted half way through his senior year of high school because he had enough credits to graduate. He left behind his home, his baseball team and probably a sweet heart or two. The army trained him to be small arms mechanic and when he arrived in Germany right after the war ended, there wasn't much need for gun repair, so they slapped some sergeant stripes on him and made him in charge of the motor pool. He said it was a pretty easy gig. He has lots of fun stories, but he said nothing can erase the smell from the concentration camps or the blank looks on peoples faces.

Here is a photo of him right before he left the States. What youth. Now he sits quietly at 84, unable to walk or talk much, even though his mind is still sharp. A whole lifetime between that photo and now and he has no real regrets or apologies to make because he always lived very ethically and yet he still wonders where he will end up after he dies, or will he end up anywhere at all.

Unlike me, my dad is an agnostic. He was raised Baptist, but was blinded by all the hypocrisy. Growing up he always said I could believe in whatever I wanted, so I went around town visiting all my friend's churches. I prayed nightly. For a time, in Jr. High, I connected to my mom's heritage and went to the Catholic Church. It was during this time, sitting all alone in a church full of people, that my faith started to grow. I lit candles and prayed for a dying uncle, I believed. God was close. Later, as a young parent I went to a Lutheran church, and still later to a non denominational church. Now, I don't attend church as regularly, but Jesus is still close. His hand never lets me go.

I ask my dad how it feels to enter the shadow of death without faith in something Higher. I know I couldn't do it.

This post was supposed to be about missing the ranch, which I do, but it surprised me and went somewhere else. Instead of fixing it and changing it and re-titling it, I think I will just publish.

Kate and the Calves

2011-11-09T12:00:00.000-08:00

Johanna sent me a short video of my dog Kate with her little bottle fed calves. It looks like they were having fun. I miss my Kate, but know that she would not like it here and my parents have a little dog who would not definitely NOT like her enthusiasm.

Dreamin' of Home

2011-11-05T19:38:00.000-07:00

Small town America ain't bad, but it isn't home. Mark and I walk everyday, miles and miles in between helping my parents and we are enjoying the FLAT ground. Flat ground seems novel, new to us. Where did the incline go? We decided to go over an overpass yesterday, to add a little bit of a hill climb, but it really was a pitifully small hill. We didn't even feel a burn. We feel pretty powerful down here. With walking anyway.

I never thought I could do the things that I am doing in caring for my dying dad. Neither one of us thought we could do this, but the grace of God is sufficient. We have found that it really is true that you don't get what you need until you need it, so there really is no need to worry about the future, just deal with today. It says that somewhere in the Bible and I have read it many times, but I never lived it until now. Powerful stuff we are learning.

I found this quote attributed to Buddha and it says basically the same thing:
The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.

We are trying to do this daily, but I do dream of home. So I open up my computer and look at photos. I have a lot of photos and I find a whole set of them that I really should post about.

Right before I left I reconnected with my maid of honor from my wedding; my childhood sidekick, riding partner and best friend. We had lost contact for almost 30 years. She ran away from our hometown as fast as she could and I burrowed in to raise my family. Facebook brought us back together and we discovered we lived only a few hours apart. A weekend at the ranch was planned and we had a great time . She hadn't ridden horses in years and was worried she had forgotten how. Ha. Never.

Belle came right up to her when she arrived. Love at first sight. (photo by my friend)

We rode under a beautiful sky and her partner Bob joined us.

We rode and rode. And went on photography expeditions. Photography is her passion.She took a lot of beautiful sunset shots and scenery and, of course, of horses. She took this following photo of Stormy that brought about Stormy's sale on Craigslist.I have had Stormy on craiglist many times without too much interest. But now Stormy is living the good life down on the flats, by the beach. And with her arthritic knees it is the perfect place to be. She has a 3 acre pasture and a 3 horse stall. Stormy who usually is quite alpha with the other horses has a pony as her pasture friend and she has taken on the mothering role. Happy trails for Stormy and all brought about by my friend's great photos. Thanks T for being a friend then and now.

Until next time,

Enjoy today.

Status Update

2011-10-25T13:40:00.000-07:00

My dad is 84 and his body is wearing out. His systems just keep letting him down. Currently he is home and my mom and I are taking care of him, which is his wishes. Hospice is supposed to be contacting us soon. This is a difficult time, but so rewarding too. Mark has recently arrived to help and it is great having his brawn and my dad was able to sit up for about 30 minutes on his favorite couch. I don't have internet at the house and only get away for short times. Right now I am having a great cup of coffee at a Starbucks, but soon I need to return to my childhood home. To compound the situation, my mom has dementia. Till next time.

The Plague of Flies

2011-10-12T18:30:00.000-07:00

Our house keeps filling up with flies. It is bizarre. And we had a six legged calf born. Look it up on google, apparently it isn't as odd as you would think and is just a weird genetic glitch. It is called conjoined or parasitic twins and happens because the twins don't separate properly. While many six legged calves live, ours had to be put down because she couldn't breathe when she stood up. (the extra legs were attached to her spine near her shoulders.) It was hard. She was a cute little thing, with a sweet temperment and innocence. We also had a cow lose a newborn in birth. All in the same day. Big Bummer. So we went this morning and got a couple little Holstein bull calves from a dairy to try to put on the mamas who lost their little ones. These are called drop calves, and the dairies don't have any use for them. This is our first attempt at this, and so far, it doesn't look like it will work. We tried all the tricks that all the 'cattle folk' gave us, (tieing on the dead calves tail, using vicks on the cows nose, etc) but the only nursing that has taken place has been when the mama cow is in the chute. But folks told us it could take awhile, so time will tell. Otherwise, Johanna is excited at the prospect of having a couple little ones to bottle feed, and she is now in charge of the cattle, because I have to leave again. While I was in Las Vegas, my dad was hospitalized. He has since been discharged, but today things took a turn for the worse, and I have to go down there and help them. I don't know how long I will be gone. So, it could be a while before we have another post. Until then, enjoy your days.

While I Was Away

2011-10-10T09:03:00.001-07:00

Mark apparently enjoyed a lovely sunset. ( Photos found on his camera)

And fed some cows.
And wrote some poems. Here's one:

In the silence
There is no quiet
I hear your smile
I feel your laughter
The ache of your fears
The peace of our love.

(ahhh)

and he cut and delivered many loads of firewood!

Now a steady rain falls outside and I hope to get caught up on a few things that didn't get done while I was away. Like bills. UGH.

Las Vegas Baby

2011-10-07T08:47:00.000-07:00

I've been away visiting my grandson in Las Vegas and while the Mark of this blog was home on the ranch, he didn't have any time to update our blog. He is behind in firewood deliveries and we have already gotten our first 4 inches of rain, so he has some unhappy customers.

My grandson is wonderful and I loved Vegas this time. I never once visited a casino, but spent my days enjoying my 'baby', my daughter and taking evening walks with their adorable dog Bella. I also got to help organize and rearrange my daughter's new Kindergarten room. I once taught preschool, so I loved being back in a classroom and felt useful.

Now I am heading home. I turned on my computer for the first time (can you believe it) to do my flight check in and thought I should do a quick update.

Here is the view from my window here in Vegas. Snowy mountains in the background that house a ski resort. A ski resort in Vegas? Who knew.

Once I get home, I should be back on my normal every day online status. I look forward to visiting all the blogs I have missed while I was away.

she's got spunk

2011-09-25T21:10:00.000-07:00

This morning Flower spent a good 10 minutes trying to wear our young bull down with her insistent head butting. It was hilarious. He would look at her incredulously and then play along until he decides to just push her under the barn. But then Flower would run out and go at him again. He would try to ignore her, but she would look him in the eye and line her head up on his. I thought she wanted his grain, but she never did eat it, so I think she just finally found a
worthy opponent.

Sheriff Likes Lamb

2011-09-22T21:30:00.001-07:00

Everything on this plate is home grown. Couldn't have been better except if we could have shared it with our friend, the sheriff. He, like me, loves eating lamb. This leg of lamb was slow roasted at 275 degrees for about 3 hours and embedded with home grown garlic. So this photo is for you Mike. It is the best we could do.

Storing Up

2011-09-21T21:08:00.000-07:00

We purchased some lovely large grass bales and have them all stored away. We also purchased some grass alfalfa hay and stored it too. Prices were high this year for alfalfa/grass. We didn't get very much of it. I feel a bit insecure not having our barns full this year. Not having an overabundance, not having more than enough. We have enough, unless...., unless.... unless.

Isn't that how our lives go? We often have enough and yet we still want more. And more. And more. When Mark and I started out we had a house and a half a beef a year for free and we made 700. a month and it was enough. But we wanted more. And later we had more. Then later again, more. Now, we have even more. But still I have this tendency to want. Why? To feel secure I think. Greed perhaps.

We read the Bible every morning. We pray. We try to live by love and faith. But my want contradicts my faith I think.

I read this the other morning, sitting in the hot tub under a clear blue sky, (Seriously, could it get any better?) and I got goose bumps because it was not my voice I heard, but Jesus.

Then He said to them, "Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions."

And He told them a parable saying, "The land of a rich man was very productive. And he began reasoning to himself, saying, 'What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?'

Then he said, 'This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.

And I will say to my soul, "Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry."'

But God said to him, 'You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?'

So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God."

I always remember this verse too:
For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.

What do you treasure? I have been pondering this all week. Perhaps it is time for me to do a little realignment.

What's This?

2011-09-20T21:03:00.000-07:00

HORNET'S HOME. Luckily for me they seemed to all be out shopping. I don't need any more stings after last week's encounter with the ground bees.

Johnson

2011-09-19T20:47:00.000-07:00

l
Mark named the new yearling bull Johnson after the rancher we got him from. He is a Ray-Mar bull and Mr. Johnson brought a trailer load of bulls home from their recent sale and offered to sell/trade one to us. I picked from 3 bulls that he was willing to sell. One I didn't like at all. Too feminine. I almost picked a different beefier looking bull, but we didn't like his rounded butt, so Johnson was the lucky winner. I hope he will grow into a good bull, right now he seems a tad small. His EPD numbers look good though (Expected Progeny Difference). He is supposed to throw babies with good marbeling, small size at birth but with good growth. He scored in the top 25% for Angus in many categories, but he doesn't quite look that good yet to me. We will know more when he becomes a papa. For now he is hanging out in my steer pen eating hay and grain (we fatten a few on corn each year for buyers who want grain finished). Johanna has been seen hand feeding him and was talking of halter training. I am not quite sure if it was for him or Eric.

Fall Calving

2011-09-19T20:45:00.001-07:00

has begun.

Horse Hoarder Needs Intervention

2011-09-18T07:28:00.001-07:00

We have a problem on the ranch. Horse Hoarding. My horse hoarding. I keep talking about wanting to get rid of horses, but instead I get more. Like this lovely lady. Eric and Jo picked up Belle to resell and who do you think they ended up selling her to. Yours truly. So now instead of having less horses, I have more. Six to be exact and Eric and Jo have four. This is too many horses, they are tearing up the ground.

I woke up this morning and decided I have got to try and find new homes. Only thing is I love them all and they all have pros and cons, which make deciding on who goes difficult. The one I cannot imagine losing is my mustang and Mark loves riding Sweet William and Charlie is 30. He is not going anywhere until he dies. So, that leaves the mares. I sort of tried to place them last year, but kept talking people out of it. LOL. I just couldn't let them go, but I am going to try again. Really I am. First thing I need to do is get some good photos, I just browsed my photos from this spring and summer and this is all I really found. Belle, papered paint age 10. Pros: Well trained, kind, gets along well with others. I love to ride her No vices. Cons: flat feet, paddles and can be a bit herd bound at times.
Molly, age 11. Pros: a fantastic brood mare and has had many paints. Fantastic feet, runs across the rocks barefoot with no problems. Sweet. Very handy on hills and a good mover. Gets along well with others. Cons: difficult to load, sometimes difficult to ride away from herd. Lacks confidence on her own and acts pissy when you saddle her.
Stormy, papered paint breeding stock, age 17. Pros: Completely bomb proof, a grab and go kind of ride, my go to horse with the cattle. Cons: beginning to get arthritis in front knees, hard to catch and is aggressive to others at feeding.

Ok, you horse people out there, give me suggestions for poses and how to word an add. Do I list cons or wait until a prospective buyer shows up? Where should I put the listing, do I make flyers for feed stores? I know horse prices are low, what might be reasonable, or should I just adopt them out? Should I do youtube videos of me riding them? Thanks for your intervention help.....

Spectacular Sky Today

2011-09-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Bringing Home the Strays

2011-09-14T12:15:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday we got a call that some black cows sporting yellow piercings were spotted trespassing. "They aren't causing any problems", the neighbor said, "Just cruisin the waist high deep prairies eating the grass."

Saturday was the first day that we didn't have something already scheduled, so we headed out early ( well, eight o'clock is early for us gentleman ranchers) on the quads. We had previously called and gotten permission to cut across neighbors property, but it is still a good hour ride to get where our cows were last spotted. It was hot. Steamy hot. Unusually hot. Hard to breathe hot. We should have left at 'real' rancher hours.

We passed a pond with a great blue heron,

and it flew away.

At this point we are looking for our cows across the canyon. I hollered my, "Come On, Ladies", hoping that the cows would answer and hurry across the creek. Unfortunately silence.

We headed cross country and passed by a place we would just as soon forget.

That pointy rock is the one that cracked Mark's head last year when he made a hasty dismount. Mark rode across the rocky dry creek confidently on the quad, but I started thinking that I might fall. I'm not too good on a quad.

But I made it and away we went.

Another creek crossing. Again, I hesitated, due to my poor quad riding and I got stalled in the middle and Mark had to come rescue me. Laughable when I look at this photo and how easy this crossing became by Monday.

Up and up we rode, past some houses and chickens and dogs. Said hi to neighbors who directed us in the direction of last seen suspects. That is our ranch in the far distance.

Zoomed in a bit in this shot. Our cows sure go a long way. It's the grass that calls them.

We were told that they were last seen by the runway. Yes folks, this is a airplane runway. But I wouldn't want to use it.
Here is the another view from which to stand and holler and call in the cows. But all we heard was nothing. Not even a gentle 'whish' from the wind. Remember it was hot. We rode on and on. Every little road, every little hollow. Nothing. Saw some old signs that the cows had been there, but nothing really fresh. Visiting with some more nice people and got really hot in the sun. Perhaps our cows had gone home? Wishful thinking. We were hungry and hot, so we rode home. The creek crossing was easier.

Saturday evening we got a call. The cows are back. Ugh. I was off at a roller derby bout, so Mark decided to not go over because the cows don't love him as much. Ha.

Sunday we got up and were in for a surprise. It was cold. Really cold. I should have worn a coat cold. This is so Humboldt. If you don't like the weather wait a moment because it will change.

We rode past where the buffalo roam. Took a little shortcut.

Another view from the far side of the canyon.

Note the clouds and fog. Still cold. I hollered. I hiked the prairies. Back and forth, back and forth down the hillside I went until I got to the creek. I called, I begged, I bribed. No answer. Apparently someone was hiding. Eventually we gave up and went home. Creek crossing was even faster. I began to understand barn sour horses.

Monday morning was just right. Not too hot and not too cold and we had just received a phone call from the neighbors that the cows were spotted and he would trail them on foot until we got there.

I was irritated at all the days these strays were wasting. I didn't take any scenic shots. We rode fast. Didn't even notice the creek crossing. No stopping to say hi to the neighbors. We were on a mission. When we got to the cows I called and they didn't answer, but they took one look at us and headed home. Immediately. They knew they were busted. So we followed on foot. And walked,
and walked,
and walked. This was when I missed a horse. But it takes so long to ride across the creek and riding in unknown terrain hasn't always worked for us.
So we walked.
Finally we are on our property. We can see our barn from here. One of us heads up the hill directly and the other follows the cows. They apparently have a scenic route. Crossing a dry gully they take off at a run bucking and kicking. Ground bees attack and the cows get away, but not without getting stung I am sure. I know a human got stung and had to streak up the hill at a run waving their clothes like a banner trying to get the bees out. Good times...not. Funny though.

Eventually though the cows came home all sweet and gentle and begged for a little hay in the manger. We gave it to them and then loaded them up and traded them for a young, papered Angus bull.

Because, everyone knows that bulls stay home...

I do miss my cows though. Bye Dora, Emma and Peaches. Enjoy your new ranch. May you live long and fruitful.

Wayward Cattle Teaser

2011-09-12T20:05:00.001-07:00

After 3 tries we finally got some wayward cattle home. One of us though ended up bare-chested and running up the hill to get away from some ground dwelling bees that were intent on stinging. More to follow after we recuperate from miles of quad riding, hiking and maybe a little cursing.

Bluegrass Music and Farmer's Market

2011-09-09T20:51:00.000-07:00

Mark has been extremely busy with the firewood business, so for the second time this year, I battled my hidden shyness and went alone to sell our grassfed beef at the farmers market. Albeit a bit nervously and with some trepidation. I always worry about things. Any thing. But, I had a great time at the market today. Good conversations and a lot of very positive feedback on our beef. But the best thing was the bluegrass group playing right beside me. I danced and toe tapped and smiled the whole, live, long day. I had one customer even tell me that I was glowing. "It's the music", I said. And it was. Music is good for the soul and I happen to love bluegrass. I wish I knew how to pick a fiddle or banjo or even sing in tune. Singing in tune would be good. Bluegrass is music that just begs for more participants. I guess I did my part by dancing a little and clapping. I was surprised when some of the customers didn't like the music. "It's all the same", some said, and "like fingernails on a chalkboard". WHAT! I was shocked. Yet, I shouldn't be. Different strokes for different folks, and all that.

All in all a good day. Apparently a happy, smiling face is good for sales too. I almost sold out.

Around the Garden Today

2011-09-07T20:44:00.001-07:00

A variety of color and shape and texture and taste. How wonderful a garden is on a warm, no make that HOT, late summer day.

Sun Flowers

2011-09-06T22:28:00.000-07:00

They come in a variety of shades and follow the sun. I still like the traditional yellow and brown ones best, but these sunset colored ones are nice too. If only I remembered their name. I thought I saved all of the seed packets, but now, when I finally have flowers and vegetables to identify, I cannot seem to locate them.

Summer was a long time in coming, but it feels like it is giving us a great big hug now. The days are very warm and golden and peaceful. Time seems to stretch out a bit more under the warmth.

I went for a bareback horse ride today in shorts under the hot noon sun and it brought back teenage feelings long forgotten. The sky bloomed bright and blue overhead with the road wide open.

It is a good thing I rode my faithful mustang Buddy, as this much older body isn't quite what it used to be and I only re-lived in my mind riding at full throttle over mountain roads to my grandparent's house. Today, I took the roads at a leisurely walk. More time to smell the fir trees and the dirt and the dried grasses giving off their perfume. More time to raise my face, like the sunflowers, and follow the Son.

Our Oldest is Thirty

2011-09-05T20:04:00.001-07:00

We wondered how it happened. How did our boy turn thirty? Just the other day he was climbing trees and making booby traps and reading, always reading, amidst his daily activities. When he was a baby I remember him just laying in his crib gazing inward. He looked like he was deep in thought trying to solve the problems of the world. We called him Little Z then. At preschool he once brought a globe to share with his classmates and talked about the drought in Africa and how kids were starving. Later, I remember him telling me how an anti gravity train would work, and it sounded doable. And he taught me how to understand the language of basic math, when he was in first grade. LOL. Always a thinker. He is a doer too. He has traveled in South America, run a marathon, acted in plays, played sports, learned street fighting,(Jiu jitzu) had numerous interesting jobs in interesting places. People love him. Now, he is thirty and engaged to be married in the spring. A man. He is kind and generous and loving to his neighbor. A son we are proud of. Congratulations Zac on the BIG 3-0! Glad we could be there for your fun party. And happy that so many people joined in for the fun. You are loved. BELOVED.

Zac and his fiance, Cristina (Teeny)

Watch out for the Crabs!

2011-09-01T09:47:00.000-07:00

More memories from our recent trip to Shelter Cove.

Sea Treasures

2011-08-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

The Sea's Treasures

In swept the sea

With a swirl and a swish,

It shimmered and whispered,

'Choose what you wish.'

And the sea showed its treasures

At the edge of the shore,

Shining bright pebbles

And shells by the score.

Long ribbons of seaweed

That shone gold and red,

'I'll share them, I'll share,'

The sea softly said.

Daphne Lister

Monday Horse Ride

2011-08-29T15:36:00.001-07:00

The buckeyes are heralding in AUTUMN with some branches bare and leaves turning golden in the mid day light. The weather so cool that it was perfectly acceptable to take off riding at lunch time.

We headed up to the top road and got a bird's eye view of our ranch and across the canyon.

Johanna, looking lovely as usual on Chica.

We passed some everlasts. They smell like butterscotch to me and look lovely dried in a vase all winter. WINTER! Let's not even think about that yet.

This burned area is just completely taken over by white thorn a nasty bush with nasty thorns, but they do have lovely white flowers in the spring. Can't forget the SPRING.

We were thankful for the road of sorts to ride through. These ears belong to Molly. This is the mare Mark fell/jumped off of last year. I have been riding her almost everyday in August and she is beginning to be a respectable horse.

Grand Finale. The giant redwood tree, (giant for our ranch anyway) and then back home to barbecue some London Broil, boil some new potatoes and eat a bunch of chips and salsa. Now I head back to the barn to untie Molly, as POST time is on her schedule each day as well. Then perhaps we will head down to the falls for a swim because we aren't quite ready yet to let SUMMER go.

Mystery Sound Revealed

2011-08-28T08:45:00.000-07:00

Lodgepole guessed correctly. This sound is made by quail apparently to call the covey together because shortly after I stopped recording a whole bunch of them flew in and then the whole group flew off.

Lodgepole, if you would like a prize, you win a trip to the falls. Email us.

Mikey, I can't give you a PAID vacation, but do come visit.

What Sound is THIS?

2011-08-27T12:11:00.000-07:00

Turn up your volume and listen carefully?

Morning Serenade, AKA: Hens' Cackling

2011-08-25T09:32:00.000-07:00

Mark and I sit in the hot tub most mornings and read a bit of the Bible and other spiritual writings and we are often serenaded by hens who have just laid an egg. We wondered why they do that and learned that the noise is termed "cackling," and done to announce to the rooster that they ain't in the mood. Apparently right after laying an egg isn't the best time for fertilization. You can listen
to this video and hear what we are talking about.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

It's all my fault!

2011-08-23T22:08:00.001-07:00

I've been on a camera hiatus. Not sure why. But things have still been happening around the ranch.

Like the other night. We were sitting in the house sipping on a nice glass of wine when I heard a single hen squawking. Oops. I had forgotten to close their pen up at sunset. I ran out of the house yelling and ran directly into a raised garden bed. Ouch. Should have brought a flashlight. About this time Mark shot a gun hoping to scare the critter away. I make it to the hen house at the bottom of the garden and hear a quiet scuffling. Can't see a darn thing. I'm sure not going in there. The critter might have big teeth and a claws and red glowing eyes. I holler for Mark to put the gun away and bring a light. He does and we immediately see a single hen in the pen, on the ground, hunkered down. She looks alive. Inside the hen house is a big opossum happily eating eggs I hadn't picked up yet. I think perhaps it was like a nice glass of wine to him. All the other hens were quiet on their roosts up above with their eyes glued on the strange creature. They didn't make a peep. I guess the noise I heard was from the hen in the pen. She probably was roosting in a box and the strange creature with the big teeth and claws and red glowing eyes showed up. I would have squawked too. Well, At this point I have to say Mark whacked him in the head with the back of the flashlight and the possum then took a flying leap ( with a little lift from his tail) over the fence and onto an adjacent roof of the now empty sheep pen. Where he still lays, playing possum. I guess he won't be eating eggs again. I feel kind of bad though. If only I had closed the pen at the correct time none of this would have happened. (And the hens seem to have taken this in stride as a normal evening occurance.) I wonder what they think of us... or flashlights?

Sunday Stills: Day at the Races

2011-08-21T11:23:00.001-07:00

Basement Cleaning

2011-08-17T21:10:00.000-07:00

Here is our basement empty.
Over the years we had collected a lot of nonsense. And the folks before us did too. And the people before them as well. I see a trend. Last year we had a leaky shower and the basement and its contents became moldy, which is a problem for an asthmatic like myself.

Here is all the stuff after it had been hauled up the stairs and into the light of day. I'm exhausted and my friends who helped probably are too. Thanks Mike, Julie, Caleb, and Noah.
One thing we hauled up was about 600 pounds of stored wheat.

and beans and corn and rice. Mark's parents stored all of this stuff in the 80's and 90's and it is still, by all accounts, good.

There was a few boxes of moldy old bottles found on the property, I assume.

And a few critters hiding among the tombs.
And lots and lots of moldy candles.
What in the world is this candle? I am thinking perhaps a telephone.

Well, all day I sorted through the junk and have small piles of what to keep and a car full of what to give away and a trailer full of JUNK. (Something is wrong with this picture.) A fan is going in the basement 24/7 to dry things out some more and my friends are returning on Friday to paint.

I am very excited at the prospect of finally having a clean basement.

Klammath River Whale

2011-08-16T11:58:00.001-07:00

Traveling back from Oregon we took this photo off of the bridge that crosses the Klammath River. We had heard about and seen photos of this whale and her calf for most of the summer. In the beginning people seemed excited and happy that a whale had swam upstream with her calf, but over time it became apparent that something was wrong. When this photo was snapped the mother grey whale was alone and the mood on the bridge somber and quiet as it was obvious she was not OK. Her calf had recently left her side and was spotted back in the ocean where it belonged. They tried herding the cow back to sea with boats and fire hoses and load noises. All to no avail. She just endlessly circled under the bridge and yesterday she beached herself. I was hoping to post this photo with a happy ending, but it was not to be. This morning at 4:19 she breathed her last breath.

Sunday Stills

2011-08-15T22:36:00.000-07:00

We've been hopping around lately. In more ways than one. We headed south and attended my 30th reunion for High School this weekend. I talked all night and had a great time. I deserted my poor husband a little, but he knew plenty of people to talk to as well and had a good time. I think.

I've been looking back at my upbringing and peer influences and I think it is helping me see myself a bit more clearly (although do any of us really see ourselves or others as they really are?), and focusing my thoughts on who I want to be and the direction I hope to go. Often we go forward in life and react to happenings without really knowing why. We are all somewhat a child of our culture and this can sometimes make it difficult to understand others perspectives and confusion and disagreements can arise. Just look at the world, people.

It is great to be back home on the ranch and we feel very blessed to have good health and each other and we recognize that laughter is the best medicine and a journey shared is multiplied joy.

Men go abroad to wonder at the heights of mountains, at the huge waves of the sea, at the long courses of rivers, at the vast compass of the ocean, at the circular motions of the stars; and they pass by themselves without wondering. -Augustine

Renaisy Daisy Comes To Visit

2011-08-12T20:56:00.000-07:00

RenaisyDaisy on a camera safari captures us hearts...and all. Check it out. The photos capture the essence of who we are and how we see this place. Her post really touched our hearts. Good job Renee.

Redneck Dogdoor

2011-08-09T08:06:00.001-07:00

While the dogs think it is the greatest, we are a little less than thrilled. Kate saw something outside that she wanted to bark at and just ran right through.

Ducks are Dead....or missing

2011-08-08T08:57:00.000-07:00

I have had "butcher ducks" on my white board to do list for about 3 weeks, but just couldn't do it. Chickens yes, my sweet, funny ducks. Um, maybe not. Decided that I really needed to at least take them to one of the ponds and let them have a real swim before they enter a frozen rest. Hadn't gotten around to doing it yet. Last night they didn't come into the hen house to go to sleep. Looked around the yard and vicinity and couldn't find them. Weird. It was already getting dark, so I thought they had perhaps bedded down somewhere I didn't look and thought they might show up this morning. Alas, they didn't and I found one outside the yard crammed into some bushes with a broken neck. Hardly a feather ruffled. I don't know where the other 2 are. In some animal's belly I suppose. It is strange though that one was left behind. Perhaps it ran away and inadvertantly broke its neck in the brush. I will never know. I wish now I had taken them swimming at the pond. Poor duckies.

Live life, don't wait for tomorrow. It may not come.

The only swimming our ducks ever did:

Flowers Revealed

2011-08-06T21:37:00.001-07:00

On yesterday's little mystery....
I wish I had a prize for Reddunappy as she almost got all of the up close flowers.

1. Squash, a delicato squash to be exact.
2. Sweet Pea, of the wild, free roaming variety.
3. A fully opened rose.
4. California poppy with out of focus bee (oops).
5. Green onion going to seed with another out of focus bee. (I think garlic is close enough, don't you, Reddunappy?)
6. Potato, standard garden variety.
7. Tomatillo, these grow like weeds and you can make the best green sauce. Yummy.
8. Sunflower that sprouted up under our bird feeder.

Up Close: Name that Flower

2011-08-05T20:52:00.001-07:00

I wandered around the back yard today and shot photos of flowering plants.

How many do you recognize?

1.

Babysitting in Bend

2011-08-04T11:19:00.000-07:00

We recently returned from a baby sitting foray in Bend, Oregon. These dear friends, family really, were traveling off to Chicago for an interview with a mission board and needed us to watch their oldest two children.
They took with them their recently arrived bundle of JOY. He is a darling baby. At 2 months he already sleeps through the night and smiles all the time and hardly every fusses.

They thought their children would be safe with us. I bet they didn't know there would be sword fights.
And wild walks along the sidewalk with baby.

And lots of chocolate milk,
and tea.

We also got some training wheels for the bike and taught him how to leave black skid marks.

We fed ducks,

and then 50 feet later along the trail we learned we had broke the law. OOPS.
Blowing bubbles was fun but....

they were more fun in the wading pool.

An outing to a playground brought lots of smiles. Like this.

or this. And legos were made into all kinds of amazing creations. This boy can build!

And sleep. I have to admit at the end of the day we enjoyed our sleep too.

Happy 21st Birthday Johanna

2011-08-03T11:32:00.000-07:00

Today is Jo's 21st birthday and in honor of that her husband, Eric the Bold, went all out and got her a handy-dandy beer belt. Just what every girl needs. Her sister went all out too and gave her a new niece!

We all love Jo for her amazing blend of sweetness and grit. Blessings on your birthday and have a good time.

Lovely Lavendar

2011-07-29T22:05:00.001-07:00

Then and Now

2011-07-27T08:13:00.000-07:00

I started most of our garden from seed this year. Here were our lovely pepper plants at the end of May. I planted them in the garden and they were doing well.
Now they look like this. The ducks found them. I should have realized ducks eat everything green.

So, now the ducks are behind chain link fence and I think they are going to be invited to Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner.
Luckily they don't like tomatoes. Here were our tomato plants at the end of May,
and here they are today. They are loaded with lots of tomatoes, but none are ripe yet. I am excited to see all sizes and shapes. I have no idea what I planted as I bought one seed packet that was labeled "the best of the show" and the other was "heirlooms". I love a good surprise.

Rubbing Elbows

2011-07-26T11:34:00.001-07:00

The *hunting clients got a kick out of my redneck sign (which was my intention) and had Mark and Eric pose carrying it Sherpa style so they could get a photo. They seemed to be having a good time. It might have been the local micro brews or it might have been the change of pace and lifestyle. We are pretty sure they are gizillionaires or something.

They flew in on their own private jet. The pilot came to the ranch too and he has to enjoy his job. Another, while now retired, is part owner of a very well known company. The other has a large commercial construction business. He was the one with the plane and pilot. And they all seemed to have homes and properties in numerous places.

I only met them under a blanket of stars on a warm summer night. Couldn't even tell you what they looked like or what age they were. We were waiting for the recently killed buck to be brought up the hill. They seemed very nice. Good vibe. Mark spent a little more time with them and enjoyed their company very much. Eric and Jo said they were the nicest clients ever. Of course, it might be because they were invited to come visit sometime at the lodge one has on a ski resort somewhere in Colorado. But I think not.

Rubbing elbow with the rich makes one realize that people are people. There are nice ones and bad ones in all the economic brackets.

I talked with my daughter-in-law, Jo, a bit about what it might be like to be rich. Her response, "Look out the window. We are rich!"

Amen to that.

*This is Eric's second season working for Arrow 5 Outfitters, who specialize in bow hunting. They offer hunts here on the North Coast as well as some parts of the southwest and Mexico.

Uncle Jerry and Aunt Rosie

2011-07-25T12:00:00.001-07:00

My uncle and aunt and their DIL rolled into town to check out the ranch and the local car show. My cousin, Harvey, who I hadn't seen in years was here showing his car. My uncle and aunt still travel around a lot and are an inspiration on how to age gracefully.

My uncle at 80 drives better than me and doesn't seem to mind the 8 hour drive to get here. My aunt and uncle were the only ones in our extended families to come to last years reception for Eric and Jo. That means a lot to us and we really enjoy their company too. They are a kick in the pants and know how to have fun.
My uncle began playing saxophone as an adolescent and played with adult dance bands at 13. My grandma had to travel around with him. Later he was drafted and the army put him in the band. He traveled all over the Europe playing in a band. After the war he was offered a job with Les Brown, but turned it down to become a butcher. He said life on the road wasn't a life for a family man. My aunt appreciated it. They raised 4 children. My aunt worked at the elementary school as an aide and then later in the library. While she may have retired, she hasn't given up trying out new things. Here she is trying out a hammock for the very first time. It looks like she liked it and she told my uncle they needed one for their backyard.
We really enjoyed our family visiting and the stories we shared of days gone by. My cousin and I decided we need to plan a heritage tour to St. George in the Azores, and my aunt piped in saying that she was ready to go too.

Sunday Stills

2011-07-24T09:29:00.000-07:00

Our Meat and Potatoes

2011-07-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

With alfalfa at $300 plus a ton we decided to buy more grass bales this year. The grass hay cost us $100 a ton. We also downsized our cattle herd, because the price is good, and I felt our land had been grazed a little too hard in the last few years. Although, really it is the 9 horses that often seem hardest on it. Our goal is to get to 6 horses before the winter rains, but it is hard letting go of the horses.
I dug some of the potatoes this week. Some of the vines hadn't died down yet, so I will have more digging in a week or so. We love fresh potatoes and we keep them in our basement, so they store pretty well too. I did discover that the beds planted with seed potatoes did about 3 times better than the potatoes that I saved.

Still butchering chickens. A few weeks ago, one of my joints in my right hand became inflamed and it still is hurting. It appears to be arthritis! YIKES. It has really slowed my down with the chicken harvest. I do about 4 chickens every other day or so. My hand can't take anymore. Aspirin helps, but geez, I don't want to be popping those everyday.

This year I ordered some special chicken freezer bags and found that submerging the filled bags in water takes most of the air out.

A few years ago while we were in Mexico we bought barbecued chicken that were split down the breasts like this. They were great, so some of our chickens I prepared this way. It really made it easy to clean the insides.

I always soak my chickens in a little salted water for about 10 or 15 minutes as it helps remove blood and makes them look extra clean.

I couldn't resist posting one grisly photo.

I actually string up a line and hang about 4 chickens at a time on it and then thank them for their life as I quickly cut off their heads. It is the hardest part for me, but then I think that every piece of meat any of us eat was once living and was killed. I feel that it is important for meat eaters to think about this and appreciate the life that died to give you nutrition and to also make sure and not waste it.

If you are interested< Check out this post for more detailed instructions on home butchering of chickens.

Let Us Hike Over Yonder

2011-07-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Summer Update

2011-07-20T08:38:00.000-07:00

Bow season starts this weekend and Eric the Bold has been busy putting up tree stands and watching the patterns of the bucks as he has clients coming. Mark has been hauling some lovely grass hay from the Tooby Park. I have been busy chopping off chicken heads and eating all the wonderful goodies Jo has been baking with all of the black cap raspberries she's been picking. Yes, I do wash my hands. And we've had rain and cold weather. Very strange for summer. I think I just need to forget the garden this year. It ain't happening. At least not much.

Inside our Home

2011-07-18T10:58:00.000-07:00

Last Monday I gave you a look at the outside of our home. This week I thought I would give you a look at the inside. Kind of strange maybe, but I thought that you might find it interesting.

This house was built in the 30's by a man named Rossi. Well, he probably didn't do the work, but had it done. I really don't know. I believe his first name was Joe. The house itself has had very little updates and has weathered the years very well.

When you come up the brick steps and enter through the front door this is what you see. When we moved in we redid these wood floors.

Yes, we have a hammock in the dining room. Great place to read and watch the sunsets.

The kitchen was updated by a caretaker during the late 70's. I would like to resurface the counter tops, but can't decide what would be 30's era appropriate. The laminate floors were done by Mark's parents sometime in the 80's.

This is the breakfast nook. The french doors go out onto a deck.

This is the laundry room and behind the little door is our pantry. There is an amazing big sky light over this room. Even on the darkest day in winter you don't need a light in here during the day.

I love this bathroom and its bold color. The toilet and the shower each have their own little room with cool glass and metal doors. They are along the wall to the left. We recently had to redo the shower pan, but otherwise all of the fixtures are original and still working.

From the bathroom (there are no halls in this house) you step into the vanity room. I originally thought this room was a bit odd, but I love it and use it everyday.

From the vanity you enter both bedrooms. This is the guest bedroom, although because it has a propane heater, Mark and I tend to make it our winter room.

There is no door from the vanity into the master bedroom. While we hope to someday fashion one for the arched entry, at this time I have a curtain. We also refinished these floors. We love the old wood floors.

From our room you reenter the living room and are back at the front door. The house is basically a square with the washroom in the middle. A bit odd perhaps but we love it. It has lots of light and terrific views. Thank you for visiting. Come again.

Sunday Stills

2011-07-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

Twins?

Cornish Cross Meat Chickens at 6 Weeks

2011-07-15T21:10:00.000-07:00

Are you getting tired of seeing our meat birds yet? I am. Soon I will no longer have to look at them as they are destined for our freezer.
Here is a bird at 6 weeks. Each bird is a good two handfuls now.

It is hard to believe that 6 weeks ago they were adorable little puff balls.
Then at 2 weeks:

Then awkward adolescents at 4:

By the 8 week mark most of them should be harvested. My plan is to do some each week starting tomorrow.

This last 2 weeks they ate 160 pounds of food. That puts the total for 29 birds at 285 pounds. Each bag of organic food costs 24.15 for 40 pounds. So, each bird has ingested (so far) a little under 10 pounds of food. Including the shipping, each bird was 2 bucks. To my calculations that puts us 8 dollars in for each bird, not counting the energy costs to keep their heat lamp on for the first 4 weeks. It seemed like pretty pricey chicken until we traded some beef for an organic chicken at the farmers market. It was priced at $26.00. Now, our birds seem thrifty. The main reason we raise our own though is that we feel better knowing where are meat comes from and how it has been fed and handled.

By the way, some of these meat birds have gotten bold and taken to going outside each day to take in the sun's rays and peck at the bugs. Of course, many of them just sit in the opening lazing around.

To see a previous year's old fashioned harvest click on this oldie. I have to tell you though.... It is not for the faint of heart.

Abe and Abbie Visit the Ranch

2011-07-13T20:44:00.000-07:00

Abbie and Abe Visit the Ranch

2011-07-13T18:02:00.001-07:00

Abe and Abbie came for a 24 hour visit that began with pillow fights!

And frogs found in boots

Abe spent lots of time riding, brushing and feeding Charlie and Flower and Abbie spent most of her time driving the Kubota.

They also each caught their very first fish and went canoeing.

While they both did all my morning chores of feeding the critters, Abe also spent 2 hours cleaning out our trailer. Way to go guys. We enjoyed your visit and look forward to next time.

Our Home in Summer

2011-07-11T16:47:00.000-07:00

I have a short loop walk I often follow and the view from above our home always warms my heart. I like how it is nestled into the hillside with an expansive view to the south.

Sunday Stills: Shades of Summer

2011-07-10T08:42:00.001-07:00

Cool greens and blues at the creek

Warm greens and yellows in the grass under the trees

Dry prairie grasses of gold

Good Morning

2011-07-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Summer Rhythm

2011-07-08T09:02:00.000-07:00

All is quiet on the home front this week. Mark has been busy making firewood each day while I get jobs done around the house that needed to be done. We have been relaxing by the falls in the late afternoon when the shadows grow long and the pools are at their warmest for the day. We have been sleeping in a tad too.

So often our life is surprisingly busy and chaotic. Run here, go there, fix that, feed those. We jump from one small 'fire' to another without a general plan or rhythm to our days. I hate it. I love schedules and order. I love doing things with pauses in between to enjoy. We are trying to make changes and learning to say 'no' to help achieve this. We are examining our life and hope to be more intentional. We do this periodically, of course, have good intentions, then eventually we realize our life is careening off the chosen path again. The nice thing is that most of the time in life you can just get back on it.

An unexamined life is not worth living. Socrates.

Grilled Grass Fed Steak and Veggies

2011-07-06T12:26:00.000-07:00

On the 4th, Eric the Bold grilled us some terrific steak and veggies. He finally told me his secret for fantastic steaks. He thaws steaks and lets them age for up to a week in the refrigerator. He then seasons them heavily with a locally made seasoning mix called, Ted and Barney's and brings them to room temperature. He grills them on a low heat and for the extra something special he dips them in melted butter and olive oil with sauteed garlic when they are done. He wraps the serving tray with foil and lets them rest for few minutes before serving. Maybe not the healthiest with all the oil and butter, but they are melt in your mouth FANTASTIC!

For the veggies, I pop them in a plastic bag or bowl and marinade overnight in Italian dressing. (I really like the Italian dressing seasonings packets that mix with olive oil, vinegar and water. I use a combination of Mrs Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar and a Balsamic vinegar. My extra special ingredient is a little squirt of Agave Nectar.) The following day we wrap the bottom of the veggie grilling basket with foil, to trap the juices, and grill that way for a while before flipping the basket over. YUMMY. My favorite is always the mushrooms, but any vegetable can be grilled like this.

Cow Horn Tipping

2011-07-05T08:59:00.001-07:00

Lakia had a problem, she came to us for help.
Eric brought his sawzall.

She gave an audible sigh of thanks.

A little spray for fly protection.

And the job was done and Lakia went back to grazing.

We have no idea how her horn grew so much since April when we gave her her vaccinations.

Independence Day

2011-07-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

Hope your fireworks were friendly and your barbecue good....

Firecracker weed and feet

My favorite kind of fireworks. You can stand real close and nothing gets burned.

Sunday Stills

2011-07-03T08:18:00.001-07:00

Grass - Fed Beef

2011-07-02T17:00:00.000-07:00

It's that time again. These 20 month old steers are slated to be someone's dinner. Very soon. If you would like a split half, side of beef, or a whole beef drop us an email or give us a call.

If you would like to just purchase some individual cuts drop by the farmers market in Garberville. We are there every other week starting yesterday, July first. We will also try to be at the Miranda Market on every other Tuesday as well, starting this Tuesday. Hope to see you there.

PS- you can also find our meat at Chautauqua Natural Foods Store in Garberville and at The Avenue Cafe in Miranda.

Cornish Cross Chickens at 4 Weeks

2011-06-30T21:11:00.001-07:00

Here is what the little cornish cross chick looked like upon arrival at about day 2 of its life. Cute.

Here is one at 2 weeks old.

Now here is a chick at 4 weeks of age. Not so cute anymore.
Almost completely covered with
feathers and quite a handful.
As of tonight they will be without a light for heat.

I have moved them into the big house that has a little door to the outside world.

Not that they care much. So far, no one has been brave enough to go outside.

They just sit and look outside or enjoy the rays of the sun shining in.

During the first 2 weeks
they ate one 40 pound bag of organic chick starter\grower.
In the last 2 weeks they ate two bags plus 5 pounds of a new bag.
So, total food ingested thus far by 29 birds is 125 pounds.
They are now drinking 4 gallons of water a day,
plus whatever they drink out of the automatic waterer.

I have only had to clean their pen out once so far,
but I know that this will change very rapidly,
because the more they eat the more they poop.

Spice

2011-06-26T19:22:00.000-07:00

Eric got Spice as a puppy and has enjoyed training her. As well as retrieving ducks, she has a lot of other tricks too. She is a smart and obedient. This winter when we were dog sitting for Eric and Jo, she would even discipline the other dogs when they tried to get on our sofa. It was cute and a big help. She is a good friend and we all enjoy having her around the ranch and look forward to seeing what caliber of hunting dog she develops into.

Sunday Stills

2011-06-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Like Mother Like Daughter

2011-06-25T16:18:00.000-07:00

Here is a mother and daughter duo that hid during our recent roundup. The one on the right is the mother. She's smart. But I'm smarter. I found them hiding under a big bay tree and coaxed them into a near by portable pen. From there we hauled them in the trailer to our holding pen. They had two nice big boys. Funny thing is that one was marked as a heifer and it still had its testicles. Someone made a mistake last spring! We put the bull through the chute and we used the big bander and he is now back running around our ranch till next time. I think that he will make someone an excellent steak or burger.

Bull:1/ Tj: 0

2011-06-22T22:22:00.000-07:00

I never work with the bulls. They are big, I am small. They are fast, I am slow. I am scared and they know it. I do fairly well with the cows and calves. Honestly, they could run me over just as easy, but for whatever reason, they don't intimidate me much. The bulls do. But, this evening, pushed for time and over confident, I broke my rule and one big bull could have broke me.

It was a long day. Got up at 5:00. Fed the animals around the house, posted a new blog (OK, I am kind of sick). Sorted and loaded calves. Took the calves to the auction. Hung around town until the sale, watched our calves sell (they did well) got the check and put it in the bank. Yay. Delivered ground beef to our local restaurant, ate dinner there, picked up our mail and drove towards home. Almost home and the truck died. Eric and Jo were following in their truck, so Eric delivered Jo and I to the ranch, unhooked his trailer, picked up a new fuel filter and went back to tow his dad if necessary.

Jo and I walked down the mountain to where the front cows were penned to sort out some that we decided to not preg check tomorrow. There were some bulls there too. First pen we sorted went smooth. No problems with the cows or the two young bulls.

The guys showed up, our truck was running with the new fuel filter installed. Yay. However, after loading bulls up to take to bull pen, truck won't start. Boo.

It was getting dark so we headed to the middle barn to sort those cows while the guys figured out the truck. Put some hay in the sorting pen to coax the cattle in and then got started sorting. First cows cut off easy as pie. I was thinking that Jo and I were really good at this. Women Rule!

Then Clay, our old, sweet, gentle spirited bull decided he didn't like his cows leaving. He started getting agitated. OK, I thought, I will just move him into a different area to get him out of my way. Broke the bull rule again, but hey, I did fine last time. He started walking well for me, then later balked. I let him go back to the cows. I tried sorting the cows around him again and he got agitated once more and headed down the walkway. I decided to make another attempt to move him to another pen. This time when he decided to turn around I tried being just slightly forceful and I shook my paddle at him. He walked a bit further. Yeah, I thought. I'm the woman.

Then he turned around and walked right at me. Good time to jump on the fence, I thought. Only my legs were tired and I twisted my ankle and I did not land on the fence but right along side the fence with a big bull staring me in the eye. Without even a wink or a how are you he bumped his big, black head right in my thigh. I fell down, I think mostly from fright. From somewhere I heard a girlish scream. The bull walked right over me carefully and I swore I heard a chuckle.

I could have died or been broken or something. Instead, I am just a little shaken. Thank you Lord.

The guys showed up and they got the bulls out and then I did sort the cows. Very poorly I might add because I was still full of nerves and my poor cows could sense it. And I might have been a little sharp with my family. Oh well. Live and learn. And suddenly both of those seem very important.

Summer Round Up

2011-06-22T05:31:00.000-07:00

It is just starting to get light outside and I am taking a moment to have a cup of coffee before we head over to the corrals to sort the calves from their mothers. We haven't been keeping gentleman rancher hours the last few days, but as of Monday evening all of the cattle were gathered. Well, there was the one little mishap with 2 spring calves that got away and Eric the Bold getting ran over and the panels welds didn't hold and they broke across his knee and then there was another mishap he had while we were banding a big bull that I missed gathering in the spring that flung his head and somehow Eric again got his arm smashed and twisted and it could be fractured and I lost my phone. But still, all the cattle are fine (they followed me in record time) the fall calves look pretty good and soon we will load the trailers and head to town. We took one load in last night and the animals seemed happy to enter into the coastal weather as it has finally (yay) become hot here. Tomorrow the preg check will take place and then all the cows will be turned out and I can quit being their hay slave. They bellow and I beckon or perhaps it is the other way around.

Happy Father's Day

2011-06-19T09:13:00.000-07:00

Our kids might have flown the coop, but our ducklings stay close.
And they sure are cute taking their bath.

Mark says they are enthusiastic but not very smart.

They think Kate is their personal body guard and I have a suspicion Kate thinks they are dinner.

Get You Cowboy Boots On

2011-06-18T08:14:00.000-07:00

Today is our local Rodeo in the Redwoods, AKA Garberville Rodeo. It is very small and fun. Parade in town at 11, Jr. Rodeo and Kids Games at 1:3o. Steak barbecue starts at 4:30 followed by a PRCA Rodeo at 7. I got these flashy boots at a second hand store and have been wearing them for years. They are comfy and fun.

I will probably be wearing them too for gathering our cattle, which starts tomorrow. UGH! I should enjoy gathering, but I don't. Every June we sell some of the fall calves at the Humboldt Auction Yard (saving others for next years grass finished beef). I hate the mamas bawling for their babies and the way they all trust me and follow me into the pen. Well, it is good they trust me because it keeps their stress down and what used to take a week to do, now takes 3 days. One day I bring in the west ridge herd; the next the front herds and on the third day we go out and push in or capture in portable panels the ones who got missed. But I don't look forward to this work at all. I don't think I am cut out to be a cattle rancher. At least not the selling part. Hahaha. I like the raising part. I'm good at that. Of course, we couldn't do the raising part very well without the selling part. There is always a catch somewhere.

But for this morning I am going to enjoy the sun and work on our Three Sisters Gard en, which consists of corn, squash and beans combined in hills. And later, The Rodeo.

Lovely Water Lillies

2011-06-17T12:02:00.000-07:00

We have a lovely gold fish pond that was originally built back in the 1930's. It has a little bridge that Kate likes to stand on to watch the goldfish from. Ironically, I feed the fish dry cat food.
When we moved in here, I dug out the old pots with the overcrowded lily bulbs and re-potted them.
They bloomed that June.
And they continue to bloom every year since. Soon I will need to re-pot them again. If you would like some bulbs and live nearby, let me know.

Raising Cornish Cross Meat Chickens

2011-06-16T20:35:00.001-07:00

This was the size of the meat birds on day 2 of their lives.

Here is a chick on day 14. Quite a lot bigger.

Out of the 30 chicks, one died, I don't know why. Usually though, I lose a few, so its death isn't unusual. So far, the chicks have eaten one 40 pound bag of organic chick starter/grower.

On day 2 they bounced around like pin balls but now they move at a more sedate pace. I only use the 250 watt heat lamp for night and it is now hanging 22 inches above the floor. During the day I use a plain 100 watt light bulb. Soon I will discontinue the heat lamp altogether. Which will be good because the generator has had to run most evenings for a couple of hours to keep our batteries charged up. (We are completely off the grid and generate our electricity from the sun and water.) They will be moving into larger accommodations soon and will have access to the outdoors.

Another update coming at day 28. I bet I will have to use 2 hands to hold one then.

To view my first post on Raising Cornish Cross Meat Birds click HERE.

Craigslist Anonymous

2011-06-14T17:18:00.000-07:00

There is an Alcoholics Anonymous and an Overeaters Anonymous and apparently their is a Sex Addicts Anonymous that a certain senator will probably be attending. But I can't find a listing for Craigslist Anonymous. It might be needed here.

The trip to Montana (Country Cowgirl was correct) was to buy some firewood making equipment found on Craigslist and on our recent trip to the bay area for a wedding we came back with a cattle sweep, alley and chute. Also, found on Craigslist.
Here the Craigslist addict busy searching for a good deal. Check out the glasses. I think he thinks they give him power to find the 'good deal'. They must be working.

Lani Moo says HI

2011-06-13T11:43:00.000-07:00

(Cow named by Momma Em who used to blog from Hawaii, so give the Moo to o sounds)

Where in the World?

2011-06-11T11:45:00.000-07:00

I found these following photos on Mark's camera after he was missing for a couple of days. I am not sure what was up, but apparently this man was involved.

And they traveled through some pretty amazing scenery apparently.

But it looks like he might have been thinking about me once. Check out the sign.
All of the photos appear to have been taken at high speed. Perhaps he was being chased?
I'm not sure. But I am glad he is home.
And he has been sawing logs ever since. It must have been a heck of a trip.

Gardening update.

2011-06-10T11:33:00.000-07:00

The potatoes are doing well. They are just starting to bloom.
The tomatoes don't look too good. Still a little yellow and small, but with the recent warm up I am sure they will improve.
Flowers here and there are beginning to bloom and I moved out some flower starts from the green house today and got them planted too as well as 24 bell pepper plants. What are we possibly going to do with that many bell peppers.
Happy gardening! Happy Day.

A Day in the Sun

2011-06-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

The sun finally came. YES. Full days of sunshine and 70 degree temps are lined up in a row on the accuweather page. It has been a long winter.

One of my favorite things to do in the sun is ride around checking on the cattle. It isn't important or anything, but it sure is enjoyable.

The cows all seem glad to have grass that is finally full of vitality. By 10 am they are already having their first coffee break, AKA as chewing their cuds. When the grass is weak, they spend a lot more time eating. These cows name's are Peaches, Emma and Purty and their calves were laying in the shade behind me.

This calf got his first kiss from Kate. Kate loves to stand still and call in the unsuspecting for a brief kiss before she goes in for a little grip. Of course, the cows are on to her, but their older calves are fair game. But not the babies. I don't let her play games with them and their mamas would come after Kate even if I did let her. We have too many coyotes and most of the cows defend their youngsters.

These are the twins that were born this spring. (We are bad ranchers and haven't gotten everyone on the same calving schedule.) These two really got us mixed up when they were first born. We saw one at a time with the mother, but not together. Then a few weeks later, saw both of them with their mother and we had another cow that apparently was missing a calf. Mark thought it was a case of calf nabbing. We have had over maternal cows take on the calf of a less than maternal mother. I sat around watching and waiting and eventually all was accounted for as the missing calf showed up and we realized we had a set of twins. They are cute and they do everything together.

No ride would be complete without a stop to lay in the grass and do a little posey picking. Ahh, summer is coming. Hallelujah and AMEN.

Stats

2011-06-07T17:19:00.000-07:00

We never installed any kind of statistical device on our blog. We were afraid it might change what we write about. Our primary purpose here is to remember and keep track of life and to share it with others. We think of our audience as being those we know or come to know through their blogs and comments. But this all changed recently when I noticed the tab that is entitled, 'Stats'. Apparently, we no longer need to add this program. I clicked it and discovered that people from all over the world have checked out this little blog. (BTW- Where is Bhutan?) This feels me with a bit of trepidation and wonder. Really? You like to see what we are doing. Wow. Neato. Awesome. And apparently quite a few people each week, averaging about 50, would like to know how to cook mountain oysters. Type in 'how to cook mountain oysters' on Google search and this is what you'll find. Top hit. Amazing.

Then I discovered the URLs and websites that referred folks to us and I was surprised again.

Our number one reference was Google, because of those mountain oysters I presume, but I also discovered that the Northcoast Journal has us listed on their blogwatch. Pretty cool. The Journal is a free local paper that is top rate and takes an in depth look at many issues that are important to the north coast. A couple more local blogs that refer to us are the Redheaded Blackbelt and Sohum Parlance II. Kym, a red haired black belt, who is also our neighbor, has a very popular and informative blog. During the Japanese disaster, she often posted news ahead of the syndicated stations. Sohum Parlance is fun to read for political views and the lively comments. And a big thanks and shout out to Mikey in Arizona as she comes in second for references to our blog. Mikey must have a huge following. She lives a crazy life with her hubby Wade and adorable daughter Mercy. Most posts are about horses, dogs and all the bizarre things that make her life great. A new blog I follow is 5 Starr's Farm and I feel like I could really be friends with this blogger. If only she lived on this side of the mountains. I love her photos and her down home sentiment. Another supporter is GunDiva. She is a gun shooting, horse riding, and tale spinning gal from Colorado who has many fantastic stories from her days as a dude string leader. I encourage you to check all these blogs out.

Stats. Who knew? Now I just have to be careful and not let it influence me. Too much.

Horse Sales

2011-06-06T18:30:00.000-07:00

Rosa came to Eric and Jo from a neighbor a year or so ago. She turned into a very safe and sound trail horse. And last month she was sold to a vet from Brookings, Oregon. It was great knowing she was going to a responsible and knowledgeable person.

Eric and Jo are now in the process of selling Belle.I have to admit I am in love. I have always had a sweet spot for a horse of color. I once had a pinto named Spot. He was a unregistered tobiano built like a jeep. I also housed and trained a registered chestnut paint overo named Jack for my 4-H group. Jack turned out top notch and took many a child on a turn around the ring.

Eric knew Belle would catch my eye. He got her from a friend of a friend who hadn't really ridden her in years. Eric and Jo have been putting in some time on her and have discovered that she is very well trained. She needed a little hoof care, and still a little weight loss, but other than that she is pretty much good to go and easy to catch and easy to love too. I am hoping she can go to another good home. And I am trying to fight the inclination to make her mine.

Sunday Stills

2011-06-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

Raising Cornish Cross Chickens for Meat

2011-06-04T08:54:00.000-07:00

Day 1 for me Day 2 for the Chicks:
Early morning phone call from our postmistress that the chicks have arrived. Picked them up and brought them home.

Each chick get individually taken out of the small cardboard box and little beaks gets dipped into water. It is important to make sure that they all drink well as they can be dehydrated. Soon, they begin drinking from the gallon waterer on their own. This year I am adding vitamins to the water called Broiler Booster. It is supposed to help your birds stay healthy without the aid of any medications. All 30 chicks look very healthy. I ordered them this year from Belt's Hatchery in Fresno, California.

They all run around my little homemade brooder area like pin-balls whizzing in a pin ball game. I use shavings for bedding. They find the organic chick starter and begin eating. In a couple of weeks I will switch them to a higher protein feed to help prevent leg problems and I will add some small cross boards or chicken wire to my handmade feeder to keep them from wasting feed by scratching it out and pooping on it.

I have a 250 watt red heat lamp hanging about 17 inches from the ground and they huddle underneath for warm before taking off for more food and water. For the first week the temperature should be about 95 degrees. Then each week I will raise the light up so that the temp. fall by about 5 degrees per week. The red light casts an eerie glow, but it is supposed to prevent the chicks from pecking each other.

Here is a short video of the chicks. If you look at the light fixture, you will see that it has bars across the bottom. This is to help prevent fire if was to fall into the bedding below.

To get an update on the birds at day 14 click HERE.

P.S.: Ever seen a steer nursing on a horse? Check it out.

Salad Greens

2011-06-03T09:54:00.000-07:00

About the only thing growing well in this rain is greens. Yes, it is still raining here on the north coast and it is chilly too. We are thinking it is the Bahamas when it reaches 60. Needless to say, we are all feeling a bit water logged.

Jo and Eric the Bold did an experiment with salad greens. They split a 6 pack of leaf lettuce. This pot they filled with garden soil. This pot had garden soil and fertilizer. Both planted at the same time and setting in the same sun exposure. Obviously, fertilizer helps. But I will say that in the end they all tasted mighty fine.
Often, I don't go for fancy fertilizers. Spring and fall I add a little composted horse poop to my garden and call it good. But seeing the difference in these greens does make me wonder. What do you think?

Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

2011-06-02T10:05:00.000-07:00

The Players:

Our friends Brian and April.

Our lovely Johanna and her toad.

Ranger Rick.

Johanna's brother Seth.

Johanna's Dad Mike.
(Ever since he became Sheriff, I can't seem to get a photo of his face. I think he has learned how to avoid the paparazzi. JK.)

And Johanna's mom, Annette, who looks like she has her mouth full of something and is sporting Mark's secret
Elton John glasses.
(Everyone is going to kill me for posting these shots!)

And, of course, Mark and I of which I shall post no photos.
(Muaaahh.)

Last, but not least:
PUPPIES
Jo is dog sitting again and we all love it.

The Activities:

Games
Of which I have no photos because I was too busy getting beat.

Eating
Lots of eating. These burgers are special.

Annette filled them with blue cheese and browned crumbled bacon. Fantastic.

Drinking
Of course, not just wine, but I thought the photo was pretty.

Story Telling.
There were some whoppers.

Hiking

Posey Pickin
Flowers are blooming everywhere right now.

Work

Quite a bit of work actually.
We consider our guests our slaves and this photo was taken right after they moved the greenhouse. Manually.

And then we had Brian use his skid steer to move our fire pit,
and clean the barn and aerate and compress the manure pile.

The sheriff helped build a new varmint proof chicken pen, as well.
Like I said we were busy.

But not too busy for our last activity.
Which is sleeping.

We had lots of sleepers cuddled up to these adorable puppies who made the weekend extra fun.

Dog Collar

2011-05-31T19:32:00.001-07:00

Memorial weekend guest all tuckered out sporting the latest in fashion.

5150

2011-05-27T13:43:00.000-07:00

Someone brought these home from the feed store. The feed store guys know us on sight by name and number (see title) and assured him that I would love them.

After picking my chin up off the floor, I do! But what in the world am I going to do with ducks? Give them a bath, of course.

They're currently on sale at Nilsens in Eureka. Buy 2, and get one free. Hurry on in now and tell them 5150 sent you.

The Main Characters

2011-05-26T07:40:00.000-07:00

As I mentioned before, our friend, Rachel Devinish Ford, finished her novel and it is currently available for purchase on Amazon, and as a nookbook from Barnes and Noble and in various e- book formats on smashwords.

I randomly chose some little snippets to give you a taste of the main characters. While these characters might not live a fleshed life I think you will recognize the life within them being true.

Molly- The sun was setting. The colors through the smoke were otherworldly, the sun seemed to be bleeding as it left the sky, watery oranges, reds, and tired purples. The sky was bruised. She shivered. Her stomach was still so tight, it seemed pulled together with fear. Her thoughts were all over the place.

Molly's husband Jack- He grabbed a t-shirt that was draped over the nearest chair, pulling it over his head and hopping into a pair of long shorts. He didn't know many ranchers who wore shorts on a workday, but he was an accidental rancher, one who'd grown up on the beaches of San Diego. He inherited all of this mess, loving it almost as much as he felt like an oversight, a failed experiment in surfer relocation. He really wouldn't want his mother-in-law to find him sleeping.

Molly's mom, Catherine- ...she sat down, smoothing her hands over her slacks. So many veins had swum to the surface of these old arms. Why had she become so transparent? It would be so much better if her skin became tighter, more opaque, concealing her as she headed towards death. She could use a murky covering, especially now, when she didn't have her home to hide her. Whenever she was a guest in someone elses's home, the ripples of daily patterns smoothed away and she was left clear as water.

and.....JEFE' : He is a little donkey who is in many of the chapters and while he may not be a main character, he is endearing and he even postponed the release of the book a bit as he wandered off of its pages and had to be herded back in. He is special to me too, because I think our own little Macho might have been the inspiration for his birth.

Happy Trails

2011-05-25T17:14:00.000-07:00

We've been away.... visiting. Our daughter and grandson met us in Fresno, Ca for a week of

taking the grandbaby from house to house of relatives. He was a little trooper.

We also attended the college graduation of our son's fiance and the bar-b-que celebration after wards that included bocci ball with oranges, no less.

And we went wedding dress shopping. She found the dress, but this isn't it.

And attended an engagement party and 'after the party party' for our son and soon to be daughter in law.

We are fatigued. Too much celebrating, but not too much baby. Never too much baby. But all good things come to an end and we are home and the horses all came out to greet us.

This guy with the birds is Sequoyah. His second birthday is coming up at the end of the month. He is a tank with an incredibly good disposition. Unflappable. Soon to begin formal training.

Mustang Buddy had to stop my car for some scratches and to breathe in my nose to make sure it really was me.

And Sweet William lived up to his name by giving me some of his terrific hugs. It is good to be home and tomorrow I will ride. I always miss riding the horses when I am away.

Happy Trails to you.

Work in the City

2011-05-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

If I lived in the city

I would be a gardener

Who works in the cool of the day

Before many people are stirring

And the shadows stretch
Listening to the song birds sing
And the mourning doves coo.

My pants would stain green on the knees
From kneeling before the throne of nature
Co creator with God in order and right
I'd mow everything down to an even height
And sculpt the shrubs in the way they should go.

And I would give lime green and silver pens
To those who walk by.

If you live in this area code, he had a nice smile.

Running Horses

2011-05-17T16:45:00.000-07:00

Turned our horses out and they had a good time. Do you see the paint out front? She is new to the herd and I think that encouraged the run about. Her name is Belle and she is Eric and Jo's new consignment project. She hasn't been ridden in a couple of years, but so far she is doing great.

The Greening

2011-05-16T08:09:00.000-07:00

We had a crazy dusting of snow yesterday. Johanna and Eric had just planted there vegis and they made a mad dash out to cover up the plants with pots. How can the weather go from 70's to 30's in a blink of an eye?

Besides yesterday's snow though everything is coming up green.

The ferns.

The grass.
The trees. I love the way the end of the fir branches looked dipped in lime green. That is new growth and it happens every year, although it seems to me that it is a bit later this year.

In case you are wondering....This is one long three-quarter inch diameter wire rope cable. This is the stuff choker cables are made of to pull logs out of the forest. There is about 200 yards of cable hanging there so it doesn't get rusty. Why, you may ask, do we have 200 yards of cable hanging on our fence? This is the question I asked my husband recently and the answer is a bit humorous.

Apparently, or so he remembers, way back in yonder years when our friend Jerry and Mark's dad first got this place, there was a log way down the hill by the creek that they wanted to get. Jerry drove the 977 CAT down the hill to fetch it and was unable to bring the log back up and then he realized he was unable to bring the CAT up either. And the CAT had no winch. What were they to do? They tried borrowing neighbor Gil's D-7 to go down and bring up the stuck CAT, but as flat landers, they were unsuccessful. So they got this big spool of cable and were going to make a pulley system to bring the CAT up. They were going to use the D-7 as a weight going down the hill on the cable to draw up the 977 on the other end of the cable. Luckily, for them, Gil showed up and catskinner that he is, successfully used his CAT to bring up the other CAT. And the cable has hung on that fence ever since. Cable anyone?

Driving...

2011-05-14T08:52:00.000-07:00

a t-post with a slide hammer t-post driver/remover. It sounded a little bit different because this type of driver can also be used to remove t-posts which is a good thing when you put one in and hit a rock or it goes crooked.

Good guessing Lodgepole, Mikey and Bill.

Here is a photo of a section of patched fence. Mark wasn't too proud of it, but it will work just fine. Last year we had 2 young horses (Meeme and Sequoia) who tried to jump this low spot and got injured. We (said very loosely as I mostly watched) backed up all of the old rotted posts with tall t-posts and added another strand of wire. Someday, we will have to quit patching, but for now, it's good enough and looks a heck of a lot better than all of the little yellow caution tape flags I had flying on it warning the horses of danger.
Ok, who knows what these are? They are hanging on another section of our horse pen.

(this is a partial repeat of a previous post that disappeared yesterday during some 'oops' blogger was having, did anyone else lose posts?)

Name that Noise

2011-05-11T07:33:00.000-07:00

It's a Book!

2011-05-10T18:00:00.000-07:00

I want to sing, I want to dance. I feel like I just caught a brand new baby that burst forth into the world. I am excited to say the least. A bit surprised at how excited I am. My friend, Rae, just sent me the proof copy of her novel, The Eve Tree. She is currently living in Nepal and it just made more sense to keep it state's side.

Mark and I have been blessed by being a little bit involved in the 4 years of this book's creation. I originally gave her a little seed of an idea for the story (although I had no idea at the time) when I told her how I sat in the bath tub with a glass of wine, while firefighters were busy at work all around our cabin during our 2003 Canoe Fire. That image somehow struck a chord with her and a story began to grow. Later, she had us read the second draft and then later specific chapters for insights and to make sure she didn't make any glaring mistakes. This is not a book about our fire though, although there are bits of reality here and there. It is simply a wonderful story about a woman finding her place in the world and was mostly created in the mind of our friend. Amazing. Awesome. I am spell bound. Does every book go through this process?

I feel a bit like a midwife and I am very proud of the new mama, aka author, and her prodigy. She did good. (Good thing I didn't write the book, huh?) I can't wait to buy a whole truckload (maybe a slight exaggeration) of books to offer to all my friends and family and strangers on the street. Until then here is a sneak peak at the real live book. The cover was designed by her superstar husband, Chinua. Cool, huh?
If you follow our blog, you probably remember the Ford family. If not, you can see them here and here and here. And you could also learn more about their lives and the amazing author on her blog, journeymama.com

Ranch Gossip

2011-05-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

We've been bad bloggers. ( I say we although the Mark, of Tj and Mark, has been absent from here for quite some time.) I think we are just all blogged out. Life on the ranch has its routines and nothing seems to be quite fresh enough to blog about anymore. Perhaps it is just a slump I'm in.

We have been busy though. This week we went to our pen pal tea party. Each year we are pen pals with selected students from a local school and at the end of the year we get to meet them. Mine had drawn some lovely pictures for me. I plan on framing this one as I like the incongruity of the barb like brown leaves with the cheerful flower.

My starts have been potted into larger containers. These are flowers.
These are vegetables.
These are supposed to be zinnias but something nipped them right off. Bad bug or slug.

Dead gopher. We are inundated with gophers. Our whole back area (can't say lawn, it is really just a holey field and orchard) is full of them. I feel bad for the little diggers. They are so industrious and resourceful and happy munching on our growing potatoes, but they have to go. I've posted signs stating that their lease is up and they need to move out, but so far there haven't been any who listened.
Molly has been helping me with the gardening. I have her penned up separate from the other horses because she is very herd bound and each day I have been riding and working with her trying to smooth down some of her rough edges and I have been letting her graze a bit in our back yard, I mean field. I have to admit she has been trying at times, I think we are really just too much alike (bull headed) but we're making improvements. I haven't called her a bad name for the last 2 days and she has only given me a few dirty looks. If looks could kill I'd be dead.

Mark picked up a camera at Costco that has better zoom that my old one. I like the zoom quality, but haven't got the settings right yet as my photos don't have the same crispness or color as before. Here is a valley quail I believe. Although it could be a mountain quail, I get them confused.

Perhaps you remember Tate, Eric's friend who often lives on the ranch with us cutting firewood? Well, Tate moved on to greener, and MUCH larger pastures, as he is cowboying for a big ranch now, but his parents came up to celebrate their 26th anniversary this week. I think they had a good time.

Just as the flowers are beginning to burst forth across these hills the buck's antlers are beginning to sprout too. Now if I could just sprout some new ideas for our blog, or the other writing I have been working on.....