Cowboy-Coping Cowgirl

News from Me.

2011-03-08T08:14:00.004-07:00

It's been forever since I posted anything but my romance with blogger is rekindling. It has so many great things that I miss over on Wordpress. Like a new friend of mine says: "The proof is in the puddin'." Meaning that good things speak for themselves. So here's hoping my news will turn into something that will speak for itself.

I've started a little business. I guess you all know how hard it is for us rural women to make a little extra cash to help out (cowboy's wages sometimes could use a little help) and we scheme and try to figure out how we are going to make money when we live a long ways from town, even a long ways from the mailboxes. Lots of us have Etsy shops or sell stuff on Ebay (that's where the mailbox thing gets hard).

But we have an advantage as bloggers. We know how to do stuff that other folks don't. So I started helping a few people with things that I knew something about (the Lord always blesses you when you help other folks) and this is what it has turned into. (I'm even learning how to edit HTML, how crazy is that?) And wow! I have clients paying me.

Click on it to make it larger so you can read it. Click here to go to the website.

Our Farrier

2011-01-30T10:02:00.005-07:00

I don't post here often any more since I moved over to wordpress but just in case someone still checks in here I thought I might mention the new blog started by the farrier that we are lucky enough to have. Like most cowboy's he isn't into this computer stuff much and I volunteered to give him a hand getting started.

He has so much knowledge and experience after doing it for over 30 years. I would really recommend heading over there and hitting the follow button. I'm sure he will have many great posts in the future. ianzoerbfarrier.blogspot.com

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Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T17:33:00.002-07:00

To all my American friends, Happy Thanksgiving. And just a note, be especially thankful you don't have Alberta weather. Love you all.

2010-11-21T08:34:00.002-07:00

Gates

2010-11-19T23:59:00.000-07:00

Some women have men who open (and closes) doors for them. I have one who opens and closes gates. I love this about him (remember short old lady, very tall horses).

Such a simple thing opening and closing a gate. Odd how it makes me feel so loved.

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4 Paws Project

2010-11-11T19:21:00.003-07:00

Check out this link to the 4 Paws Project at www.4pawsproject.com It's a really worthwhile site started by one of my favorite Texas girls.

2010-11-09T21:37:00.002-07:00

Check this Out

2010-11-08T12:56:00.002-07:00

I just wanted to leave a link to this page that I think is a good one for horse owners to read, at least it was for me. Self discipline is an important part of partnership with horses.

whitehorseresource.blogspot.com/2010/10/addiction.html

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How To

2010-10-13T14:30:00.001-06:00

This is a draft I had sitting around in Blogger for a while, thought maybe I should use it. I'm just lunch breaking right now while my cowboy gets us fresh horses.

I've been thinking about Hackamores lots lately and wanted to do this How To that shows how we lead a horse with one. (Wilbur's forelock looks bad from all the burs I picked out of it)

This is Wilbur in his hackamore. The bosal (the loop that goes around his nose) is called a pencil bosal because it has a very small diameter (like a pencil). The reins and macate are one continous piece of 22 foot long horsehair (a little prickly but I always wear gloves and my cowboys skin is like thick leather already). The part that goes over his ears is called the hanger. Note it has no throatlatch. That makes it very easy to pull off when you are leading or tying your horse. The ways we fix this is as follows:

I pull the loop of reins up closer to his ears and put most of the loop on the far side.

Then I take the lead or macate part and make a loop in it (the loop is in my hand).

I take the tip of the rein loop and put it through the loop that was in my hand in the last picture.

Then I go around the part that is hanging down and back up through the same loop that was in my hand originally. (This is all a fancy explanation for a bowline that is a knot that will not slide so tight you can't get it undone.)

That leaves quite a bit hanging down so I usually put a half hitches like the following.

And voila. The hackamore is adjusted so you can lead or tie your horse with out worry that it would pull off.

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Blogger Hates Me

2010-10-10T20:50:00.002-06:00

I haven't figured out the picture glich here so I tried moving over to Word Press under a different name but it's still me.

Well maybe, if I use the old editor. I'm working on it.

The Life We Love

2010-10-09T10:41:00.000-06:00

I hope this little girl, that I think is very special, a real cowboys wife, won't mind me quoting this; it was so beautifully put and a feeling I deeply share.

"There's something romantic about this way of life, I can't quite put my finger on what it is.It's a way of life that is so different, and so unique. It's a way of life I have loved for as long as I can remember."

Married to a working cowboy means sacrifices. But it's just the worldly stuff that in the eternities won't have the least bit of significance for us. There is what cowboys call "the pay that doesn't come in an envelope" that makes this way of life so special. I call it "the good things of this earth". No words can describe the feelings. Here, let me try:

My favorite job on the ranch is doing the night check on heifers. I get up a 3:00 AM and get dressed without turning on any lights. Over my pajamas I put my old wool sweater, lined snowpants, an insulated vest, my warmest coat, 60 below Farenhiet big boots, a tooke, a face shield (sometimes if the wind is sharp), scarf, mittens and walk out to the cold barn often through the crunching snow. My horse, that my cowboy saddled for me earlier at midnight when he did his last check, is munching hay or sleeping with one leg calked in my tie stall. My friend and partner nickers when he hears me coming.

I remove his halter and put a hackamore on his head because a cold metal bit would have to be warmed in my already cold hands before I would dare put it in his mouth. We get out of the barn and I do my best to climb on his back (looking and feeling like the good year blimp in all those clothes). He and I ride out of the corrals into the small 40 acres calving field.

Oh ya, I forgot about the flashlight. It's dark but the sky is spectacular, every constellation crisp in cold air. The only other lights are the Christmas lights, way up at the house. We leave them up till we're done calving heifers in the middle of April for a little happy cheer on such cold nights. When I see a heifer that looks restless I shine my flashlight on her back end to see if anything is happening or going to happen.

I see stuff and watch her lay down and strain. Yup, she's in labor. My own belly clinches in sympathetic pain remembering the birth of my own children. My horse and I stand a comfortable distance away and watch quietly. We are sharing this moment of a miracle repeated here, some times two or three or more times, every night. But the wonder of each time always makes me feel . . . (I think the word might be) reverent.

It takes time and I get anxious: Is this taking too long? Is she alright? Is she having any trouble? Will I need to wake my cowboy to come help me help her? Then a something tells me: "Just wait" and I do. I wait for the reward for waking up in the middle of night, for braving the cold, for how tired I will be all day especially after a month of it.

Then it happens; out slips a wet, little, steaming body onto the frozen ground. The cow, if she was laying down stands up and turns around to look. She touches it with her nose and it moves. She seems to get excited and begins to lick and lick and lick. The little head shakes and it's ears flop back and forth. He basks in the love of his very own mother. It's all interesting, wonderful to watch but the reward is still to come.

Shortly the nearly dry baby tries to stand; it takes a few tries to figure out 4 new legs. The mother is close and concerned. Then it happens. This animal, this first time mother, makes the sweetest softest sound in the whole dark world. Of course it's a mooing sound, but not like any other moo a cow ever makes; this is her first word to her firstborn. Every time I witness it my soul takes wings and soars. I'm not sure why, exactly.

My friend and I quietly turn and go back to the barn where I pull his saddle and turn him out to join the herd of geldings. I walk towards our Christmas lights and try not to wake my cowboy when I go in the house and undress. I crawl under the warm covers and strong arms pull me closer.

Tired Again

2010-10-08T19:10:00.001-06:00

Spent a long day riding through trees and brush and sloughs looking for cattle in the same pasture we already cleaned out once ( the hardest pasture to do) thanks to the Oil Patch fiasco earlier. I took pictures but stupid Blogger is just eating up my MegaBites but never getting me to the window where I can upload any onto my blog. And I guess I'm too tired to fight with it.

I think I might change to Word Press if this keeps up. I'll let you all know before I do that. But it isn't going to take many more days of this.

Hers

2010-10-07T18:22:00.000-06:00

We had to check the Charolais/Late Red herd today

down by the dam.

Blue and Psaw came with us. All the cattle were good.

Psaw loves 'her' cowboy.

I came home and made lunch while she and he found and moved cows out of the Middle field. We ate. While they went to finish up I made Chocolate cake (not French : ) Ride a horse and bake cake, I'm feeling pretty good about myself (even if another girl thinks he's hers).

More Fun

2010-10-06T18:23:00.001-06:00

Blue thought it was a good day but then Blue is like that, everyday he gets to work is a good day to him.

And there was about 60 pairs that thought it was a good day because they got to go South, closer to their winter home. They were the last of the cows that were in the pasture they were supposed to be in. Any way, that's 2 out of the 3 pastures that were involved in the big Oil Patch fiasco cleaned out. Just the big Middle field left. We saved the worst till the last.

And I thought it was a good day because it was a little shorter. Thanks to an appointment in town I got to quit early and now I'm going to do my favorite housework, laundry.

And my cowboy thinks a good day because when he got back from town he saddled another horse and went out to "have some more fun" (He never thinks it work if done on a horse.)

PS. Becky, that bull was born in 95 and is his last year on the lease and for anyone who is wondering, the Long Horn Bull that escaped from the neighbors, hasn't shown up here yet, thank Heavens.

Another Long Day

2010-10-05T19:20:00.002-06:00

We just keep working.

We moved some cows out of the Dragline field, cleaned out the Lake field, found a white bull that was missing and moved him a long painstakingly slow walk all the way to corrals at the South camp.

This is the bull's pee break on the way. Note how much bigger he is than the horse and rider.

I went ahead to open gates into the nice new corrals and found 3 cows and 3 calves from the neighbors there and put them in the corral. When all that was done we called the owners to take the bull and the cows home.

And of course, there was a limping calf that needed treating. Here my cowboy is just sorting out his rope, a 60 foot gold poly with leaded wire wove into it. It's a heavy rope that works better when it is windy. He actually really doesn't like the thing but ropes are expensive and he's making do with it for this year.

And that was all before lunch. Of course 'lunch' was at 5:00 PM.

Waiting

2010-10-04T11:31:00.001-06:00

Just me, waiting for my cowboy to come back and pick me up. The neighbor boy phoned this morning to say that a rather nasty Long Horn bull that he was taking care of for someone, jumped the corral fence and might now be in with our cows. Just what we need to add to the October chaos, oil patch, hunters, now a Long Horn bull of all things. We used to have Long Horn cattle so I know what this is going to be like. The pictures would be something to see, to say the least.

Pray real hard that he went to the neighbor's instead. Then it might actually be funny.
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What a day, now, with all this work to do: cows spread all over tarnation (thanks to oilpatch and hunters), and a could be big problem bull, we have to spend half the day fussing with the work truck because the fuel pump went. Oh well, such is life. Tomorrow is another day (hopefully not one like today)

Oh no! On top of all that, I just tried to post one picture! Honestly, I didn't pray for patience this time!

2010-10-03T22:56:00.000-06:00

A Hard Days Week

2010-10-03T18:05:00.000-06:00

Aaah. I can't believe how tired I am. I got home after 5:30 PM. and spent since 9:30 AM finding cows, moving cows, finding more cows, moving those cows, finding cows, moving cows . . . You get the picture.

Finally Blue and I just sat down in the grass and had a break. That was around noon. Then more finding cows, moving cows . . .

I did scare up this humungous mule tail. I couldn't get any closer so the picture of him is kind of small.

I almost thought he was an elk he was so big and fat. That was the only excitement. The rest was finding cows, moving cows. . .

Sunday Stills: Red and Green

2010-10-03T17:52:00.000-06:00

It been a hard week and I was a little to tired to fuss about this challenge too much. So just one: The Red Dragon and the green and white background of the Welsh Flag.

I Really Need To . . .

2010-10-02T19:39:00.000-06:00

get over my grumpy spell.

I failed at what I attempted to do today with rounding up some of the cattle and had to drive the trailer around and wait for my cowboy, Hooch, and Pshaw. When I first got there, to the south end of the field a few cows came to see if it was mooooooving day for them.

It wasn't but they called and a few more friends showed up.

Then a few more

till finally they were all waiting in the corner to move South (no picture of the whole bunch). They really are insistant. So I decided to walk over there and take some portrait pictures.

I thought this one was the best. That 16 is her ear is her lease tag, it tells us who her owner is and makes sorting so much easier in the fall because they just look at the tag when the cow comes down the alley in those nice new pipe corrals I showed you the other other day. It is so much faster than reading brands on furry hides.

Pay particular attention to the variety of hairdos.

You can really see the Simmental influence, eh?

See how much Hooch has grown : ) He's gonna be a big boy I think. Note he's in a hackamore already.

My cowboy says I'm really going to like him when it's my turn. I can hardly wait.

Mooooooo ving Day

2010-10-02T16:02:00.005-06:00

(Ok, it's working today. I feel bad for being so crabby now.)

I tell the cows: "It's Moooooooooving Day". I figure they get the Mooooo part of it, if nothing else.

The cows here are funny. When the days get cooler and fall is in the air they start hanging out on every south fence line they are at, wanting to go home. They all know South is home for the winter and their farmers, who own them, have nice fresh hay stockpiled for them and will take good care of them when the snow hits. Winters here are hard but cattle are tough. I don't know how they manage outside at as low as 40 degrees below Fahrenheit (minus 60 sometimes with the wind chill factor), bless their hearts.

We have one paved road that runs right through the middle of the lease, east to west. It is a real pain to cross cows over, mostly due to the traffic, although there isn't really a lot, just a few rude drivers.

Once across no has to encourage them to go as far south as they can. We've tried to force them south a time or two with disastrous consequences, eh Crystal? Now we just let them find their own way and it works so much better.

I know this is an odd picture but these cows tails were more like a horse's tail. They were very long with long hairs more like a horse. The picture doesn't really do them justice. They have pretty tails.

Pshaw helped today. She is becoming a very valuable little girl.

Buddy was very carefully eating the very tops of any thistles he could find.

This is what he is eating in the above picture. Just the fuzzy parts.

I rode Wilbur. He is very big. I took this so you could see where eye level is on this horse for me. This is no exaggeration. Those of you that are aware of this view on your own horse can see why it might be a little hard for an old lady to get up there but I can do it. I might have to grunt but I can crawl up there.

This big ditch runs through the southern end of the lease from east to west. No shortage of water here.

Unlike the thistles, apparently, the cat tails are no longer edible.

cowboycopingcowgirl.blogspot.com/2010/07/cattail-on-cob.html

And cows hate Crested Wheat this time of year. I don't blame them; it looks like eating wire to me.

We had to treat a calf for foot rot. Yes this is a calf. Can you tell how big it is? It looks like a yearling heifer already. This Simmental herd has the best calves.

My cowboy's hat got left at the gate (he didn't want to risk it blowing off it on the chase this calf was giving him and in the wind that was blowing about that time) and he could only find one big work glove today but still managed to get it all done.

Have I ever said how much I admire his ability to cowboy. It's pretty awesome being married to a top hand like him.

A productive day and I got to do it with the 2 guys I love best in the whole world, Blue and my cowboy.

I Quit!

2010-10-01T18:41:00.000-06:00

What is the good in blogging if you can't upload any pictures? I'm really crabby with blogspot! I suppose the next thing that will happen is that the whole thing will crash and I'll lose all my hard earned work.

Maybe I'm just overly tired. But I had lots of cool pictures from today and was so excited to share all the goings on from here on the prairie. Baaaaaaah!

Thanks Kid

2010-09-30T19:07:00.001-06:00

Well, the little sorrel Kid is sold, awesome little horse. I actually hate selling horses. How can I sell my friends? I always feel like such a traitor.

And you always worry about how they will be treated but he should be OK. He's going to be a good one and valuable to the fellow who owns him now. If he'd been a little bigger we sure could have used him but with 1800 lb. cows, 900 lb. horses just don't work for us. We made a little money so that will help us out a bunch especially going into winter. Thanks Kid.

Still . . . I hate selling horses.

I couldn't resist posting this picture. It is one of the few trees in our yard (a different kind of friend). Soon the leaves will have all fallen but it is so pretty right now I just wanted to share it.

Kind of a sad day.

The Happy Dance

2010-09-29T18:08:00.000-06:00

I don't have a picture of me doing the Happy Dance but believe me, I'm still doing it. The bulls are gone, Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay!!!!!!!!!!!!

It was a really pretty day, everything went exceptionaly well. I am so thankful for good help.

We started kind of early.

My cowboy dropped me off at the north and these were the first 2 big guys I found.

It struck me a little odd that they left me and Blue to get 40 bulls into the corral while

the 3 of them brought 9 bulls.

But I guess they knew I could manage and I did.

But I got to just take photos while they sorted the bulls into the pens.

I love it when they do it all on horseback. It's like a dance, a pretty smooth waltz, 123, 123.

We're pretty happy with these nice new corrals at the south camp and gates you can work on horseback.

They are all welded out of nice strong pipe. Once they are caught there, they are caught.

The horses are enjoying a tasty bite while we helped the chairman of the board load up his bulls. They aren't supposed to come till 5:00 PM to pick up their bulls but we had them all in around noon. Good thing because that's when the board chairman came to check up on things. And we were done. TaDA!

Golden Richness

2010-09-28T16:00:00.000-06:00

Me in my working duds, no makeup, just the hired hand (but with pearl earrings, note. Gotta love those oysters, taking something bad and turning it into something good.)

I so love this quote:

“I like spring, but it is too young. I like summer, but it is too proud. So I like best of all autumn, because its leaves are a little yellow, its tone mellower, its colours richer, and it is tinged a little with sorrow…its golden richness speaks not of the innocence of spring, nor of the power of summer, but of the mellowness and kindly wisdom of approaching age. It knows the limitations of life and is content.” –Lin Yutang

I don't know how old the author of that is but I can so relate to that time in my life. I think I can see autumn in my face and you know that's not so bad.

Gus and Milo

2010-09-27T17:00:00.000-06:00

Bear with me here, anyone who is over 10. This is for my grandkids.

Three little puppies came out to play,

all in the morning, one fall day.

They smelled at everything, this and that,

then found a horrible, orange, tabby cat.

They asked him: "Want to play with us?"

But then all ran away, except for Gus.

He asked the cat: "What's your name?"

And the cat said: "Milo. Want to play a game?"

"I'll lay here and you run around. . .

Wait. Did you hear a chirping sound?"

Gus sat and listened but when he looked back,

The cat was gone, and that was that.

A Hard Journey

2010-09-26T13:19:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to get my mind around something today. But I think first I had better apologize.

Like many people, I can be offensive with out wanting to, or even thinking that I am being so, and sometimes I kind of mean to, but only when I'm really mad. Apparently, I don't even need to speak to someone face to face to do it. So if I have offended anyone with my opinion or my unwanted advise, out there in blogland, I am sorry it happened and I am sorry for times, in the future, that it may happen.

I just kind of am who I am. What you see is what you get, some good, some bad. ( I can hardly wait till I'm 80 and people will make excuses for me because of my age and senility : )

That said, I just wanted you all to know that I'm not easily offended. Life is too short, (at my age). I appreciate your comments, especially the uplifting ones; most of your concerns I feel in my own heart. No one has offended me (except maybe the mower guy the other day but I think I'm even getting over that).

I realize we all have bad days and good ones that affect how we view the people around us but I'll always try to give you the benefit of any doubt. I've learned that Life is a hard journey for everyone.

Sunday Stills-Things That Begin with S

2010-09-26T04:09:00.000-06:00

Sore

Sulking

Stupidity

And on a more cheerful note the kind of palm leaf cowboy hat I wear. These hats are virtually indestructible. I've had this one a year, wore it everyday, in all kinds of weather (well, not hail, thankfully, and not snow, yet) and it still looks like new. Palm is so much more durable than the old straw cowboy hats we used to wear in the summer. A bit warmer maybe but that just means I can wear it till I need to switch to a tooke.

My cowboy had one for 4 years, wore it everyday except when it got real cold and he needed ear-flaps and only reason he doesn't still have it is because he got in a horrible wreck a few years back that tore the brim. It came down and covered the top half of his face protecting his glasses from breaking. (Although it didn't save his nose getting broke, for the 4th time.)

The Oil Patch

2010-09-25T18:37:00.000-06:00

The only one cheerful today is Blue.

The Oil Patch should be called the Black Plague. I'll probably be shot for saying it but: "I HATE the oil patch!" (Be prepared for a rant. The faint of heart should quit reading now.)

That day, I rode so hard to put a bunch of crazy (Gelvieh) cows into their new field, well, all for naught. Now there are 500 pairs spread over 20,000 acres.

In their 'enthusiam' to mow the long grass, the mower guys (Oil Patch) knocked out one side pole on a Texas gate and instead of telling someone covered up by leaning the pole up and holding it with a couple of big rocks. Like that was going to fool the cows? (Mind you, it did fool the cowboy who checked all the gates before he put the cows in the field).

Did I tell you about the time they ramrodded us into digging a well so close to where we live I could have spit on them? How they left the gates open when it was 20 degrees below 0 Farenheight and my cowboy was gone so it was little old me that had to round up a dozen horses on foot in knee deep snow in a 5000 acre pasture? How I had to move the horses cause I couldn't trust them to close a gate which meant I had to drive down and chop ice for the horses till they left? How I had to lock up my dogs the whole time they were there and when they were gone the first time I let them out, they ran right over there and rolled in human feceses?

I could go on. . . and on. . . and on. . .

How can Alberta ever survive with out the Black Plague? I don't know about the rest of Alberta but there's one cowgirl who would shout Haleluliah! if all the horrible stuff and everyone that sold their soul to get it out of the ground all dried up and blew away in the stiff Alberta breeze that tormented me all day.

My Cowboy's Birthday Gift

2010-09-24T23:41:00.000-06:00

I'm having a hard time uploading any pictures. I find if I wait till too late at night sometimes I have that problem. Maybe I could just leave you with a poem I wrote for my cowboy on his 50th birthday. (He didn't like being that old and wouldn't even let me make him a cake.) This was my gift to him.

You're just as young as you think you are;
if you tell yourself everyday:
"It's been the long way round, back to square one,
but I'm finally on my way.

I've got a good dog, lots of beef to eat,
and the plump little wife, of course.
Why I've ended up right where I wanted to be
spending my time on a horse.

I sit down to breakfast each morning,
looking forward to a day in the saddle.
I'm fit and I'm healthy, better looking with age,
although no one sees but the cattle.

Finally, I'm living my dream.

The money I earn is my own.

To ride a good horse makes me rich

and I kind of like working alone.

The wife says I'm a better man

I'm learning to do things right:

more patient and kind, the swearing 'bout gone.

I'm beginning to see the light.

When the cattle are fed and yearlings are checked

and the moon lights the night sky above,

I lay down my head in my own warm bed,

curled up with the girl that I love."

Gus

2010-09-23T22:53:00.000-06:00

We moved the puppies out to the barn. This morning while my cowboy was saddling I visited with them. That Gus, who could resist that look?

"Mom, pick me, pick me. I want up."

"But I'm Mom's dog."

"Get down!"

"Hey! Well, I'm just going to stay here and be good."

"See, you guys it pays to be good."

What! Is this what I think it is?

Guys! I found Mom's hat. Na, na, na, na, na.

Ten till Five

2010-09-22T18:23:00.000-06:00

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM might sound like a short work day but not so much when it's all a horseback, in the cold, rounding up missing bulls (I am soo sick of bulls) and helping the neighbor put his cows back that have been causing a big ruckus here (glad they are gone).

I'm crabby and don't have a spec of patience left. It's soak in lavender bubble-bath time.

One "Fine" Day

2010-09-21T21:03:00.000-06:00

Interesting day. At first I thought it was going to snow and we hung around the house for a while but my cowboy said it was "fine" and he needed some help. So, after many years of living with this man I knew "fine" meant, long underwear, flannel shirt, warm vest, scarf, gloves, and my snowmobile jacket. Dressing for "fine"paid off and I was toasty warm in spite of the weather.

There was some blue sky.

but the geese thought "fine" meant they better head south.

I noticed this first off. After the Alberta Wild Roses are done these red berry like things (rose hips) are left that are extremely high in Vitamin C.

that apparently coyotes eat.

Sorry. To wipe that image out of your head I saw this hawk feather. I have no idea why I think this but every time I see a feather I think it is a message from God that he loves me. I know . . . wierd.

I can't believe the height of the needle and thread grass. (Big fire hazard)

Bachgen got to come with his dad Blue today. He was a happy dog until

I called them back so they wouldn't chase this mother antelope.

We checked the combined Charolais/Late Red Angus herd.

We found a sick calf that needed treating. Pretty cold and they don't have their long fuzzies on yet so we are watching for pneumonia.

He took his medicine like a big boy

Then we went to the south end to take care of this bad customer. He was scared enough to be dangerous but we were careful and it all worked out. He's safe, back in the bull pasture till Wednesday, next week when all the bulls go home (I can hardly wait).

Home looked good when I got there but it was one "fine" day, just like my cowboy said.

Conformation

2010-09-21T09:31:00.000-06:00

On Kate's blog we have been doing some horse comparisons and it got me thinking about conformation. Like us people, no horse is perfect but like I always told my girls: "No husband prospect is gonna be perfect. When you're pickin', find one whose faults you can live with." Our attitude is the same for horses.

This is Bo. He's a gentle giant and a brother to that filly I did the following post on. cowboycopingcowgirl.blogspot.com/2010/05/you-dont-ride-head.html

This isn't his best side but just to get some idea of his size I thought it was interesting to note that the guy in the baseball hat standing in front of him, that you can only see the top of his hat, is 6 foot tall. And, personally, I like shots like this of all their legs so I can see if they are straight or not. I waited till his tail swished so I could see all 4 legs.

When I was a kid I herd how the Arabs picked out their horses. They led them behind a curtain with it just high enough that they could see the horses feet. If the buyer liked what he saw, they would raise the curtain to show the legs. If that passed inspection they would raise it to show the body, and finally the neck and head.

Arabian horses have awesome feet, have you ever noticed: little horses, big deep nice feet. Quarter horses are getting better but they used to be big bulldoggy looking horses on little feet. Lots of Thoroughbred's have shallow feet. Little feet make a horse look pretty, especially in photo's, but for us little feet are a conformation defect. On a halter horse they look real pretty and are not going to be a problem but for our horses, well they have to work hard. In truth, most of our horses, I wish their feet were even bigger.

You've heard that saying "Form to function." That just means some things are more important to some people than another, depending what they do with their horses, like the feet thing.

Legs, well that's the next most important to us. It's heart breaking to put all that time and passion into training and developing a real partnership relationship with a horse just to have him go lame. We want balanced knees and straight legs. I like low knees, short cannon bones. Horses like that usually have the speed I need to cut off an escaping cow or to rope a fast running calf. Bo's cow hocked and that's something that's not real bad for a horse that has to be able to stop hard and lean back on a rope holding a 2500 pound bull.

See that flat spot in front of Bo's withers, my cowboy really likes that in a horse, but I have yet to really understand why. I like a little more slope to a shoulder on a horse than Bo has. A shorter neck makes it easier for me to rope as does a horse who will carry his head low. Tail set doesn't matter to me as long as the hip has some slope. Bo's been kind of neglected as we tend to use our best horses and work on the colts so he doesn't have that nice line in his bum that comes when they are muscled up from working hard.

Head, well everyone likes a pretty face but big nostrils to suck in the air when they are running and big full eyes (that stick out so far you could knock them off with a baseball bat but horses like that are hard to find, again, unless you ride an Arabian) are what I look for. I like long ears, for some reason, but not mule long. Really, I'm not much swayed by a pretty face.

Conformation aside, picking out a horse you can get along with and will do the job you want or need them to do is what really counts. My paint horse is a nut but I can get more done on that horse. I'm willing to overlook a lot of personality issues and we've learned to work together pretty good. I had a little sorrel once, Buckwheat, who never really liked me (or anyone) but he was like a Jack Russel, little horse who didn't know he was, best bull chasing horse I ever rode. Trouper, well all I can say if you have a swearing problem, ride him and you won't (he trained my cowboy almost single handed). I read a quote somewhere that said: "Most good ranch horses most people couldn't get a saddle on." I wonder if Buddy, that my cowboy rides, isn't one of those.

Just back to Bo for a final word. Bo's not perfect and maybe a little too big but I can live with whatever faults he has and he seems to be able to live with mine.

What Better Goal?

2010-09-20T16:00:00.013-06:00

A cold, quiet day at home with time to do wash and think. What am I doing? Where am I going?

As I get older I have fewer goals, many are accomplished, some are eternal.

I've always liked the quote:

"Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goal."

Some one, looking into the future, promised me once that I would live a long, a useful, and a happy life. As I was a child I wanted to be happy, as I got a little older I wanted to live long,

but now my goal is to be useful.

The older I get, the harder that seems to be to do. Daily aches and pains, being more tired, and a few battle scars make getting up in the morning a pretty big accomplishment. I think I do pretty good to be as active as I am right now but I don't think that's going to get better the older I get.

But it's all good. I'm beginning to understand that old age brings it's own type of usefulness. There is a sense of compassion that comes as a result of living through the tough times, a slowness to anger, a lack of feeling offense, a dimming of pride and a willingness to help and be helped.

There is a rich mellowness that is peaceful and comfortable

that I think people can feel when they're around you.

What's a more useful goal than to be comforting and kind?

Sunday Stills Challenge-Flags

2010-09-19T17:33:00.001-06:00

Whoever thought this up for a challenge sure knows how to be challenging. In order to really get a good shot of a flag a lot of things have to come together, the most important of which is the patience of the photographer.

Finally, the Welsh flag, the only national one with a mythological creature (I'm pretty sure), the Red Dragon (those Welshmen are a real bunch of story tellers).

The Good Life

2010-09-18T22:48:00.000-06:00

After the hard day yesterday it was just nice to take it easy this pretty day and spend it enjoying the good things in life.

Jingling up the herd to sort out GW for his most important job.

He's a really good kid,

she's always been thoughtful,

she hadn't forgotten a thing,

he likes to ride,

he's a happy man.

and this is a great old horse that has earned this cushy job.

What a good life with so many good things in it.

We're All Tired

2010-09-17T16:55:00.000-06:00

When we were done Pic couldn't quit yawning

Blue couldn't keep his eyes open.

I would have jumped for joy to see the last of them go through the gate if I had one ounce of energy left.

It was 3 hours of really hard riding. It was the herd with some Gelviegh cows. Horrible cows, they always lead everyone else astray, have no herd instinct so they won't stick with the other cows and just run every direction like opening the door on a bin full of mice.

I think this requires epsom salts and a long soak in a tub of steaming hot water.

Night Terror

2010-09-16T22:54:00.001-06:00

Today it rained. My cowboy rode but I didn't have to. The neighbor boy brought us some oats (the horses will be so happy) and Leonard came and took his little girl puppy home. I hope she's happy there. I miss her already. But I can't keep everyone.

And my grandson phoned and wants to come visit Varmint that he calls Milo because of some movie called Milo and Otis about an orange cat and a dog.

Note the terrorist playing in my good curtains. A horrible cat, always into some mischief (my cowboy is currently calling it Swirly because the minute you flush the toilet, it's looking in the bowl watching the water go down and if there is anything in there, well. . . yuck), but now my grandson loves it and I can't let anything happen to it.

This is the same cat who, if you leave the bedroom door open, sneaks in, crawls UNDER the covers and bites my toes in the middle of the night (I haven't had night terrors since I was 6) or jumps on Cotton's (my old cat's) head when she walks by or runs out the door then hangs on the screen to get your attention to let it back in. It has broken my camera, twice, one of my grandmother's old plates (that was on top of my kitchen cabinets, up very high), I could go on and on and on. But what do you do? My grandson's father is way smarter than I gave him credit for. He won't let them take the cat home.

What a life!

Meet Finn !!!!

2010-09-15T19:00:00.003-06:00

First off, there were so many really good names, it was really hard to pick. I couldn't make a final decision until just be fore the 7:00 PM announcement. Thank you to everyone who submitted entries for the Name-my-puppy contest. It was so much fun to have so many names to choose from.

Janis is the winner. The name just fit him somehow and doesn't sound like any dog commands or names of other dogs we currently have. So Janis, congradulations, and please email me with the picture of your animal so I can get started your drawing. (You'll have to be a little patient with me, as this is a pretty busy time for us moving herds in preparation for take out. Hopefully I can get that back to you by the 15th of Oct.)

Also, anyone who has been following along here knows I kind of got myself in trouble picking a puppy for it's colour. Another puppy has fallen in love with me and I'm afraid I might have to switch my pick even though I've always wanted a red dog.

So the important thing about that for you, is that I used one of your suggestions for the black and white dog and I figured that person really deserved a prize too. So Rachel, if you don't mind waiting till 15th of Nov. I'll do one for you too. This little guy just looked like a Gus and when he's really good I can call him Augustuvus. So email me the picture of which ever animal you want me to draw as soon as possible too, OK? Oh, and my cowboy also loved your other entry, Rojo, and I think has picked it for his pup, so you are kind of double deserving.

Thankyou again, everyone, for all your suggestions. Sorry everyone of you couldn't win.

The Runt

2010-09-14T16:39:00.000-06:00

This little girl was only just over half the size of the other puppies when she was born. It has been my experience that sometimes the runt is the best dog.

Here she is with Squeaky, all the puppies favorite squeaky toy, and she is growling at her brother because she want's it all to herself.

He still tried but if looks could kill. . .

She did finally run him off and

ended up being the winner.

I think she'll be a really good dog for her person, Leonard, who is coming to pick her up some time this week (hard to believe they are weaned and ready to go already) Leonard is a really nice young fellow that might not know how to rope, yet, but I hear he has taken to carrying one on his saddle, just in case.

Kindness

2010-09-13T22:45:00.003-06:00

Getting to be a girl and staying in the house alone today I had a bunch of time to think.

"What greater wisdom is there than kindness?"

I'm afraid I don't know who said that originally but it is branded on my heart, my old warrior's heart.

"I used to think that I had to be tough and strong to fight the good fight, when really, I need to pliable and soft, putty in the Lord's hands, so to speak. To follow His example, is really about kindness isn't it?

I use to struggle with the idea of meekness (if "the meek shall inherit the earth"), I knew I should be meek. I thought it meant more like being week but it isn't the same at all. Meekness is about caring about someone else more than we do ourselves, so much so, that we are willing to absorb the offenses we receive and even though we are able to, to not fire them back. And yet, to stand firm for the right and not be swayed. It's about what I think of as kindness, a special kind of strength.

I feel like I have been seriously wounded in this battle against all that is bad. I was, in a way, sent home from the front lines to recuperate and like a warrior who has lost a limb or an eye I may never be able to battle as vigorously as I once did, but I can still do something, even if it's only to bandage the wounds of others with compassion for their suffering."

I do know who said that.

Pshaw's Day

2010-09-13T10:00:00.002-06:00

Cool, rainy morning and it's move salt and oiler time so I get to be home for a while, this morning at least. Which is good since we had to work yesterday, one of those bulls-in-the-mire days. (Well really just some tore down fence and bulls in the wrong field and some renegade neighbor's cows.) Pshaw got to come. I'll let her explain.

"Today was my day."

"Pretty fresh bull poo, I better taste it to make sure."

"Great! Camoflage (how do you spell that?)."

"Boy! that felt good."

"See Dad, how pretty I look."

"See Mom, how pretty I look."

"I even got to chase 5 big mean scary bulls who ran away from Me really fast and back into the bull pasture. But, alas : ( no picture of that since the photographer was carefully picking her way around a bog and trying to catch up. She's like that you know."

Sunday Stills- Glass

2010-09-12T19:15:00.000-06:00

None of this would have been hard if I could get my camera to focus closer. I love things made of glass.

My Kitchen window.

(the green glass containers holding the little flowers are antique salt and pepper with the lids removed)

This is the most practical glass thing I own. It sits on my kitchen island and reminds me to eat healthy (instead of cake although this is a cake plate)

with a lid

or with out the lid

Turn the bottom upside down and it's good for chips or veggies and dip.

put the lid on the base upside down and it becomes a punch bowl. Cool eh? 20 bucks at WallyWorld.

When you live in small spaces you learn to buy things that do more than one job.

My honey jar. In trying to show how pretty the light looks going through it I took it outside and that gave me the idea for my

attempt at creativity.

Ha-ha Franswa!

2010-09-11T21:24:00.000-06:00

Caught him! The missing little bull who is so small and girly looking I probably rode right by him a dozen times. And of course it was a production that involved lots of chasing, roping, manuvering, yelling, and slamming the trailer door shut before he got back out. Whew! Am I glad that's done.

The rest is just too sad. I saw a really green, cool looking bug; an elk with a huge rack, lots of calves with fat little bums, a rainbow, and I could go on but the sad part is I didn't charge the batterie in my camera and got pictures of none of them.

But the sirloin for supper at 8:00 PM kind of made up for it. Now for a hot bath and a warm bed, snuggled up behind my cowboy.

Awake to Action!

2010-09-11T06:00:00.029-06:00

Something about me, you might not know, is that I have pretty strong opinions; nice old lady, but under the wrinkled skin beats the heart of a warrior. And so today you will hear my opinion, take it or leave it.

I really appreciated Ames reminder of the 911 disaster. I entered this comment on her blog and thought I would repeat it here.

Even as a neighbor in a different country it still hurts my heart to think of the suffering of those who died and those who were left behind. I remember sitting in stunned horror in front of the TV, watching the news broadcast all day. When the Japanese hit Pearl Harbour, Emperor Herohito or maybe it was one of the government officals was supposed to have said: "I fear we have awakened a sleeping giant." I think that is what that day did again for America: awakened the country to fight against the horror of terrrorism. I think in that one thing we can turn this bad thing into something good, never taking for granted our precious freedom and realizing the need to fight for it. We must be awake.

I wonder if terrorists realize that we think of them as thieves, thieves in the worst sense in that they don't steel anything they themselves can use; they are robbers who take and then waste something so precious so valuable that it can never be replaced. No matter what they do, they cannot replace a stolen life, all those stolen lives.

Also, I wonder if terrorist realize that anything that has to be supported by force will eventually tumble. Force requires a lot of energy and energy must be paid for. The more the force, the higher the price, until the price is too high to pay and all comes crashing down. See the history of the 3rd Reich or Communism or the recent words of Fidel Casto for a lesson on that,

In the end, if all such heinous acts of aggression were looked at carefully enough, one can see that they are driven by greed and greed is driven by pride (the desire to rise above another). I believe that no matter what the 'cause' may be, the motivation is greed, the inspiration is pride.

Lest we think we are so justified, so righteous, consider for a moment what any culture that believes in sexual morality or kindness would think of almost any movie or TV show that we think nothing of watching.

The fight against terrorism isn't just about fighting against the bad guys, it's about fighting against the bad. Like the title of this post says: Awake to action!

My Rope

2010-09-10T04:53:00.000-06:00

I was riding along recoiling my rope thinking about how important it is that all my coils come out of my hand in order so I can keep my fingers and thought I might just show you a few things about that.

This is what I mean. I use 45 feet ('cause my hands are kind of small, my cowboy is using 60 feet) of a pretty soft ranch rope. The coils are stacked in my hand so they come out of it one at a time and from right to left. (I always wear leather gloves except this day I dropped the left one on the way out to the barn and couldn't find it. But when I got home it was on the back step thanks to some kind collie who hadn't even chewed it)

This is what's in my other hand when I'm ready to rope. Note the plaid, LindaG. (Her and I have a plaid thing). The length between the hondu and my hand is called the spoke of the rope and I tend to choke up on mine which means it's a little shorter than what a most good ropers use.

My rope hangs from my saddle when I'm not using it. I have what is called an Oregon Crossover system for tying mine on, which I don't like by the way. I think it's dangerous besides it's always such a big production to take down and tie the rope back on but it does hold it securely so it doesn't come off and maybe get lost when you have to ride hard and fast. I have to wrap the leather around my rope 2 or 3 times then around my horn once.

Then buckle it off to left side. Those bumps are called buck rolls but that's a whole other story.

Jingling Up

2010-09-09T18:00:00.003-06:00

It saves us a lot of time in the mornings if we jingle up the horses in the evening and pick out our mounts for the next day then leave them in the corral overnight. Days are getting shorter and we need to make better use of the daylight hours now.

My cowboy rode my colt Hooch all day then used him to jingle up the horses before we quit for the night. I didn't think it was a good idea because sometimes the horses really get to running and colts can get pretty excited but Hooch handled it wonderfully.

Notice where Pic, my paint horse, is.

Now see. He really like to run, that horse, often faster than I want to go.

In the lead, the dummy ran right by the gate and

everyone else went through but they followed him down the fence line and

back out the other gate of the smaller ketch field.

Hooch and my cowboy got them turned

and headed towards the corral and barn

On their way into the corral, silly boys.

My cowboy and Hooch right behind them.

It's usually way more orderly than that. They long trot in single file, most times, like in the first picture but something must have set them off. The air is cooler and maybe they were just feeling good. But it's a good thing my cowboy is a cowboy and that Hooch is the good colt he his. Lots of men can get the job on an old broke horse but it takes a pretty good hand to do what he does on a young inexperienced horse.

One Week to Deadline

2010-09-08T20:00:00.005-06:00

Just wanted to remind anyone who hasn't entered the Name-my-puppy Contest or anyone who might want to guess a second name that hasn't already (2 names per person maximum) that there is only a week till the Sept 15th deadline.

My little boy is the one on the left the other red dog is my cowboy's little girl.

And yes that is my toe.

How cute is that?

He's even cute asleep.

A Gentleman

2010-09-07T21:50:00.002-06:00

Long day . . . Short Blog

You must know by now how much I love my dog, Blue. Other than being such a good worker he is also the ultimate gentleman. This is where he waits until I get in the truck and sat down and say "Blue, on the truck!"

He happily jumps in the cab. gets a few pets, a "Good dog!" and then this is how he rides in the truck so he never takes up too much room.

I don't have a picture of the funny little habit he has of coming out from under there and sneaking his front legs up onto my lap as if he is just giving me a love and then quickly turns his head to look out the windshield to see where we are, then as if it never happened, I get another smile and a wag and he goes back to his spot half under the seat.

If You Knew Me. . .

2010-09-06T09:54:00.000-06:00

My cowboy is off trading work with the neighbor boy this morning so I'm doing girl stuff today. So probably no great nature experience to blog about. But Nicole did this and I thought it was fun to hear more about her (lucky kid is on her honey moon) so I thought I might try it too.

If you knew me you'd know:

One of my weaknesses is being unorganized but I have worked so hard on it that I think it might, now, be one of my strengths.
I'm very tender hearted especially when it comes to animals or children.
My first thought when something goes wrong is: What can I do to make this better?

I wanted to be a boy right up until I found my cowboy. (Now I'm sooo glad I'm a girl).
My admiration for my Lord and Saviour is very profound and deep. I reverence his name and say it only rarely and with great respect.
I love being a mom of daughters and think of every young woman as being one of my own.
I try to turn bad things that happen to me into something good. (like the bull/French cooking thing)
I learned to rope and ride so I could be a cowboy's sweetheart because I liked Wilf Carter, the Canadian singer and that was in his song.
I think work is a good thing.
I hate Charolais bulls in general but actually like a few in particular.
I think of the man in the moon as my friend. (I have no idea why.)
My favorite household task is doing laundry.
I think we should have Christmas twice a year maybe because the only songs I can almost sing are Christmas carols.
I can swear like a sailor but choose not to.
I know some angels (that wear cowboy hats).
My favorite time of year is Autumn.
I like dogs better than cats but I like cats a lot.
I was a cub and scout leader and can light a fire with one match.
I like to write stories and poetry.
I know better than to pray for patience.
My goal, in life, is to live so I can go Home.

Puppy Update

2010-09-05T08:00:00.001-06:00

Puppy Playing

Puppy Escaping

Puppy Put Back

Puppy Out Again

Puppy Discovering

Puppy Chewing

Puppy Wondering

Puppy Heart Stealing

Have you noticed a theme here? I'm in so much trouble. I picked one puppy and another puppy has picked me.

Sunday Stills-Shoes or Boots

2010-09-05T05:00:00.009-06:00

My cutest pair of shoes.

Maybe a little out of character for an old cowgirl but the operational part of that word is girl.

Newest Addition

2010-09-04T20:00:00.001-06:00

I was going to go with my cowboy over to Crystal's to show him her awesome Fly colt. Things turned out that I didn't get to go but he did. No hesitation, he bought the colt on the spot, not even weaned yet. I knew he was a good one but I don't have my cowboy's eye. He can pick them. pretty nice baby.

Now we can brag instead of Crystal. Although someone said the Texan's say: "It ain't braggin' if it's true." I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. Remember that he is 4 months old in these pictures.

What do you think? Am I braggin'?

Yesterday

2010-09-03T20:00:00.003-06:00

How our cow checking/doctoring started out (I can't often get good pictures of birds in flight with my camera. This one was at least in focus.) I heard the sound of the hawk then saw it circling over head in that blue, blue sky.

Just a real pretty day,

no shortage of water or sunshine,

almost magical feeling.

till I saw that smoke on the horizon. Never good when you're riding out on the prairie. It was a long way off and ended pretty quick, Whew! There is an extreme fire hazard now that the grass is drying out and with it being exceptionly thick this year.

Those cows head off like that are the ones that got all mixed the other day and they thought they were busted and would have to go back to the old field but it is just to many pairs to sort out, right now at least.

Here, I'm holding the sore hind foot of a cow with foot rot. We're getting less of that now that it's not so hot and the cattle are no longer standing around cooling themselves in the water. Cows are so fat this year we about can't get horses big enough to hold them. This was a smaller cow, luckily.

All in all it was a really nice day but it was good to take my hat off and relax on the drive home.

Passing of Smart Little Lena

2010-09-03T10:50:00.002-06:00

We too mourn, with the rest of the horse world, the passing of Smart Little Lena. www.smart-little-lena.info/ I feel like we have a little piece of him here in the Kid (Smart Little Lena is his great grand sire on both the top and bottom side of his pedigree). He even looks, to me, a lot like the great old stallion but in gelding form of course. Makes me wonder if we should really be selling him.

We have always loved the Three Bars bred horses as we had the priveledge of owning a grandson of his many years ago. I loved that old stud. Here is Les and I on Christmas day the year I was pregnant with my youngest daughter. (Crazy how people used to roach or shave off horses manes, here, his is just growing back). How an old thoroughbred could throw such cowiness in his get is amazing.

A Ferry Ride

2010-09-01T13:22:00.001-06:00

Today I'm suffering with a dehydration headache, it will eventually go away when I get enough fluids. It was supposed to be a very short ride yesterday to pull one little last bull but, due to the kerfufle, it was way too long without water. The bad thing is the poor cowboy is out hunting the disappearee with out me. Two sets of eyes are always better especially when you have to check two big fields (about 15-20 square miles) and part of that by the river plus look through 700-800 cow/calf pairs because the two herds are mixed together.

I've been saving this post for such a day.

Crystal lives just down the road but there is a Ferry ride between us since we live on opposite sides of the Red Deer River. Who would ever believe there is a ferry on the bald prairie (and it's been there since 1913) but now I have proof.

On the way down the hill.

The Ferry is on the river hauling someone else over to the north side.

While we waited our turn I took this photo of the history sign there. (Sorry I cut off the right side a little.)

Just about to drive onto the ferry.

down stream

up stream (those cables are all that keeps us from floating away)

Looking across to the north side where we were headed.

Looking south at us on the Ferry and the Ferry lady on the controls (note the Canadian Flag).

I guess the name of the boat is the Edmonton even though it is the Finnegan Ferry. Edmonton is also a city, the capital of Alberta.

Looking back south towards the river as we are leaving.

In the winter they pull the Ferry out of the water since, this being the great white North, the river freezes over and then people just drive across it.

Tired and Happy

2010-08-31T21:10:00.001-06:00

I forgot how tough I was. I forget a lot of things, especially to charge my camera battery. Of all the stupid things. Today we rode in the prettiest pasture down by the river but my camera ran out of juice. Still, I got a couple of shots.

Buddy looked so good today (and my cowboy too, even though he's a little camera shy, a tough deal for a blogger's spouse)

Miles and smiles of Alberta. That's the Red Deer River. (Notice how all the Needle and Thread grass has cured and turned prairie gold. It really is thick as wool after this exceptionally wet year.)

I've never seen this many snakes either or ones so big. This is one of the bigger Gartner snakes I've seen.

and he wasn't dead either.

They are bright coloured and not poisonous. I don't mind them too much.

The bad news is when we went to pull the last bull out of the late Red Angus herd we rode everywhere in the Spring Field, and no cows. Then we found where the cows had rubbed a gate down and are all mixed up with the Charolais herd. So then we hunted through the whole Milne field trying to find that dang little bull but came up empty handed. Now my cowboy is worried that the dirty begger is in there breeding all those big heifer calves.

It made for a long, butt tiring day. I walked the last half mile because I was just too sore to sit anymore but it made Trouper happy.

Warning: Pictures of a Good Cow Horse

2010-08-31T16:00:00.001-06:00

Life is good again. I'm only a little sore on my right side but that isn't going to stop me now. I'm so happy after a day on my horse I could just fly with out wings or buttons (popping again)

Today it was all about the Kid. What an awesome little horse.

He's a three year old, just remember that when you see the rest of pictures.

Here he is happily checking around the dugout. Nothing sick but. . .

The cowboy couldn't resist having just a little fun and trailed a calf just to see what Kidd would do. He loves chasing cows, the horse, well, and the cowboy.

Later we found a calf with foot rot and although Kid didn't actually have to do the roping (my cowboy had his good yellow horse there for that and the Kid was just tagging along with us) this is his first experience being tied off to a calf. It's done a little different with a young horse like this. The horse has to be close so the back feet of the calf won't touch the ground once he's tied off. A couple of wraps around the horn then. . .

Back to the calf with some half hitches around the calves legs. With ropes on either side of Kids neck, it keeps him facing the calf. Note that calm, soft expression on his face. It's not in the picture but a very agitated mama is circling around us making quite a fuss. Didn't faze this little horse at all.

This shows how the front leg is in the loop around the calf's neck. This way there is no danger of the loop coming tight around the calf's throat.

The calf gets his shot to treat the foot rot and he is let go.

The next calf my cowboy had to chase some to catch it and his hat blew off.

Next calf, same procedure, only this time Kidd is checking things out.

Very calm, brave, and thinking young horse.

Another foot root baby getting his medicine.

Even Wilbur and Pic are thinking this is a good thing (although Wilbur had to wear a regular saddle because Kid had on the Wade). Pretty happy colt and pretty impressed cowboy. Oh and I think the price just went up.

Just One More Thing

2010-08-30T01:01:00.000-06:00

I just wanted to add one thing to my late Sunday night/early Monday morning post.

Saw this on the paved road going through the lease. Ya, it's a rattler, run over by more than one car, I think. The head was squished pretty flat.

This is why they have rattles: they are so hard to see, the colour of dirt. I hate it when they surprise me. They say cowboy boots are pretty good protection if you step on one. The tops are higher than they usually can strike and the leather is too thick for them to really bite into your skin. It looked to me like someone had robbed the rattles off this one.

I took this with my boot beside it to give you an idea of the size, pretty long (it's head and my toe are pointing the same direction, I told you it was squished flat).

It's been a particularly wet year here, this year, and I think they have moved farther away from the river than usual. This one was headed north towards the river to get back to his den for the winter. My cowboy had seen a bull snake (usually bigger than rattlers) run over last week headed the same way.

I've never seen a snake den, but my cowboy has and he explained it to me this way. You smell it before you see it. In a depression in the ground are hundreds of snakes, Rattle Snakes and Bull Snakes together, in one big writhing mass. Pretty yucky!

Sunday Stills-Figurines

2010-08-30T00:01:00.001-06:00

This little salt shaker is the only thing my cowboy has of his grandmother's. It's chipped but he loves it.

This is my favorite thing from my grandmother in Wales. I never met her but I'm sure she is very special.

This little guy holds some special meaning to us. One time when we leaders for a 4-H light horse club we had a Halloween costume party at the indoor arena with our horses. The only costume we had that fit our youngest daughter was a Santa Claus suit, so I made antlers and a red nose just like this for her horse. They made a really cute pair.

I guess this is more a sculpture than a figurine. Our oldest daughter bought it for us because she said that is how she always remembered us (we've been in love for a long time).

But I think these are the most appropriate for a Sunday.

Horse Sales

2010-08-29T00:59:00.000-06:00

We went to 2 horse sales today and I managed to keep my cowboy from buying any horses

(and that is the hardest part of my job as his wife).

The first one was a local annual production and guest consignor sale. The bay horse in my header picture is from there and Kid, one of our For Sale Horses, we bought there last year.

They sell mostly started 3 year olds. The girl leading the horse and her husband-to-be trained most of them this year. She was a really good hand (better than her fiance).

They showed them outside in this small arena, different than last year when they road them in a very large cattle corral. That year a horse fell, tripped by a piece of bailing twine, so this was safer.

They had a quad pulling a roping dummy instead of real cattle (blah!) to show them on. It was windy and cool. We parked our truck where we could sit in it and watch the goings on. The horses all looked pretty happy and willing and moved around on a loose rein.

Crystal liked this buckskin but I thought it was a little wide in the chest which can make a horse kind of rough.

They have an small indoor arena where they stall the sale horses for people to walk through and divide it from the auction area by this big tarp. That red pipe area is where they saddle the horses that are coming into the ring. They are rode into the ring through that open doorway you see on the right.

This is looking the opposite way into the stall area where people can look at the horses and visit.

I thought it was smart put hay in front of the horses as soon as the outside preview was over and they were waiting in the stalls. They all looked pretty happy. There were mostly sorrels this year, lots with faxen manes and yellow horses. Every horse had a nice rope halter, the same except different colours and leads, all the same, cut from the same kind of rope, probably from the UFA (United Farmers of Aberta co-op store). It looked very tidy and professional.

Maybe that's how it should be but these guys are pretty western and kind of old school.

The Hayes Brothers are older (even than me) and they are heavy into Skipper W bred horses.

This is LeRoy, saying his little welcoming speech and I think Bobby and Pat watching from down the steps.

This was the first horse of the sale (a guest consignor). They went to great lengths to be sure we knew all about the one and only (and somewhat suspicious) phone-in bid on this horse. It didn't set quite right with my cowboy.

They passed the next two horses out then someone that knew Crystal, who was with us, came up to where we were sitting in the stand to tell her that her husband had been hurt in a quad accident (chasing some cows, I think) and was at the hospital. We left to take her home so she would be there when the neighbors brought him home. Luckily it was only a concussion and sore shoulder. Those quads are dangerous things. Not like a horse that will look where it's going.

I figured we might just go back to the sale but my cowboy didn't like what was going on there and we decided to go to the other sale we had wanted to go to but it was a lot farther away. The fellow that has been starting our colts lately was involved in that one.

Oh my, what a bunch of pretty horses, I would have chewed my own arm off to have almost any one of them. Alas, it was all in a big indoor area and my camera wouldn't cooperate so you will just have to imagine all the pretty horses.

Bleck!

2010-08-27T18:21:00.000-06:00

It was another one of those trip to town days. The only good thing is getting to go to the Library. I can't stand life with out books. I got to renew my "Frenchwomen Don't Get Fat Cookbook" still more to explore there (besides my cowboy didn't want to see that one go).

And then there's the doctor, nice man, but we don't really connect (pill dispenser, $65 worth! That hurts the Welsh in me). My cowboy on the other hand thinks he's the Bee's Knees.

And then when I got home I had to do housework (so I choose the wash which is my favorite), cooked an awesomely tender T-bone for lunch, snuck some baker's chocolate for a snack (I'm allergic to chocolate, I know, horrible isn't it?) so I'll be sick tomorrow.

Why can't I just ride my horse?

Friends

2010-08-26T12:46:00.000-06:00

"Friends are angels whose wings lift you up when yours have forgotten how."

I am often amazed at why anyone would ever read a blog about an old lady. I've thought, folks like the horses, or they like the dogs, or the cowboying part is interesting to them, or they like sharing in our way of life. What ever it is that has drawn you here I'm thankful.

It's been kind of a solitary life. I'm around cows way more than I am ever around people and I think my social skills have never been that good anyway.

There is lots about me that seems out of place in what I do. This is kind of odd to say, but I had the kind of education a rich girl would get: speaking French, knowing about Art History, reading great Literature, able to talk about Astronomy, Psychology, Nutrition, Paleontology, liberal arts they call it. Not much call for any of that on the back of a horse (and the cows don't care).

So friends for me are kind of at a premium: my kids, Crystal and Jazlyn, my winter boss Laura. That's been about it. But now there is you, all of you (new and old, younger and older) who come here and check on me and what's going on here. I don't know how to tell you how much I appreciate your friendship. I just want you to know your wings often lift me up.

Thank you.

The Feel

2010-08-26T06:00:00.014-06:00

The swallows are starting to bunch up (they are always welcome here), a sign that we'll wake up one day and they will just be gone.

The feel in the air has changed. It warm but it's cool and the light is yellower. Fall, my used-to-be-favorite time of year: harvest bussyness and plentifulness, canning, excitement of school starting, bugs dying (yaah!).

Since we moved to the lease it means the job here ends the middle of Nov and winters are hungrier and usually mean a change in lifestyle along with the change to a different job. This lease job is seasonal, we're only paid 7 months of the year and have to look for other work for 5. The house is free but we still have to pay utilities.

The older I get the more I dread being cold and hungry and then there are no cows on the lease around me either. Last winter I helped a purebred Red Angus breeder at calving time (Feb and March) and they were real good to me. I think I might do that again this winter. At least I still get to hang out around cows, maybe take my pup with me too.

Down Day

2010-08-25T23:00:00.004-06:00

It all started out good. I was actually feeling pretty springy for someone run over by a Charolais bull 3 or 4 weeks ago. I was going to go out and ride, cheerfully, really looking forward to it, till someone pulled the rug out from under me and I fell on my heart. (Poor beat up old thing, funny it still works at all.) Now I just hurt (again) and feel overwhelmingly tired.

I've lived about 10 years longer than I thought I should have. Days like today I wish not?

Note on Pups for Sale:

2010-08-25T15:49:00.000-06:00

Someone asked me about a puppy being for sale so thought I might just mention that I have 2 "For Sale Pages", one for dogs and one for horses. You can get to them by clicking on the appropriate For Sale Page in the left hand side bar.

I Promised Pup Pictures

2010-08-25T09:41:00.000-06:00

I promised pictures so here is my puppy and his siblings. They were 3 weeks on Monday.

My red pup is the one at the bottom of the picture. My cowboy's matching little girl is the one on the most right. The other little girl that already belongs to a nice boy named Leonard is the one on the left by herself. She was the runt of the litter (sometimes the best dogs are the runts). And the one in the middle wags his tail and likes my face when I pick him up. He is the biggest and brightest.

My boy and Leonard's little girl. I think that might end up being a blue eye : ) Hard to tell just yet, but I'm hoping.

My cowboy's little girl.

His red pup and Leonard's girl. Oh, oh, that's already starting to look like long hair, don't you think? He won't be happy.

The heart stealer.

New Life

2010-08-23T15:06:00.000-06:00

Couldn't resist. Our newest family addition picture emailed from Australia. Yup a real little person is in there.

I should be out moving cows in the wind today instead I'm washing floors and other boring stuff.

I'm really having fun thinking about all the puppy names that have been entered in the contest. It's going to be tough to chose. I'll post some more puppy pictures soon. Instead of just sleeping all the time they are starting to play with each other just a little bit. Thanks everyone.

Note on Contest:

2010-08-22T22:42:00.000-06:00

I think, I need to mention my pup is a boy (so Janis might want to rethink her entry). Also, I better limit the number of entries per person to 2. And again the deadline is September 15th, 2010. The prize is an original unframed drawing of one of winners own animals to be done by me (from a photo the winner will email to me).

Sunday Stills-Metal

2010-08-22T22:11:00.000-06:00

This metal spoon my Danish grandfather brought back for me when he visited Denmark when I was just a baby, so that would make it on the far side of fifty, like me.

That handsome spoon and pretty crystal dish got me to thinking. . .

Hey, Diddle Diddle

the

played the

the

jumped over the

The little laughed to see such fun

and the

ran away with the

I dare you all to top that!

(Obviously I'm not working hard enough. I should be Diddle Diddle.)

Read the Story to Get to "The Prize"

2010-08-21T19:33:00.000-06:00

That's just me as a kid on someone else's horse. I'll tell you the prize for the Name-my-puppy Contest but first you have to read the story that goes with the picture (even though I've alluded to it on another post ; see "All the Horses I've Loved").

I was 3 when I saw my first horse. My life changed that day and my own horse was all I wanted for the next 13 years.

You see, my mom had a serious injury on a horse, before she met my dad, that almost ended in her having one of her legs amputated. She was in bed a whole year (there when my dad decided to come courting). Plus my folks lived in town and they always said there was nowhere to put a horse.

I was stubborn (not a bit now though, ha, ha) and every time I was asked what I wanted for Christmas or my birthday (for 13 years) I always said only one thing: a horse. I was told it was out of the question (but it wasn't, not to me) I started hoarding money to buy my own horse starting with $5 in pennies. It was a long process but the day before my 16th birthday I conned my folks into going out to this place to look at a horse. They were stunned when I pulled the money out of my pocket to buy it and told them I had enough to pay for room and board for quite a while, and I had made arrangements for a place out of town for it to stay. I even asked the folks I bought the horse from to haul it for me. That day I made my 13 year old dream came true.

Up till that day all I could do was dream and draw. Pictures were my only way of having a horse. In all those years I developed a little drawing skill and I eventually studied Visual Art at a University for 4 years. (The old something-good-from-something-bad thing and. . . hold on to your horses! I'm getting to like cooking too.)

So, after all that, to get to the prize: whoever wins the contest can email me a photo of your horse or dog or even a cow (or bull, Kit) and I'll draw it and send you the original (unframed) via the mail.

Following are some drawings that I have done just to give you an idea of what it might look like. (These were water damaged in storage so you have to overlook that)

( AAAH! I can't get this one the right way around)

Now that I look at these, it's kind of obvious, I've always been a little fascinated with bulls. Did you see how the clown in the barrel facing the bull looks way too scared? That's just me, projecting my own fear onto his face. And now that I look at it again, the other clown has kind of a scary looking face.

"Interesting, very interesting . . . " the old cowgirl thinks to herself.

Name My Puppy Contest

2010-08-21T01:51:00.000-06:00

I really wanted to be on that trail ride in the mountains but maybe next year. I'll try to stay away from high headed bulls next season.

I guess I have to go shopping some time. I'm not quite sure why I hate going to town (especially by myself). Needed a few things and wasted a whole day getting them. Home is always better and here is one little reason why.

Both my cowboy and I have always wanted a red and white collie and God must love us because this year we got one each. A little girl for him and this sweet little boy for me and I have no idea what to name him.

I was thinking . . .

Maybe I could have a Name-my-puppy Contest. I have yet to come up with a appropriate prize but I'll find something good. For now, though, put on your thinking caps and post your entry here before the 15th of September deadline.

I'll also post more pictures so you can watch him grow. He's just barely got his eyes open and the one thing I have noticed about him is that he is quite a talker (like his daddy Blue, who can actually say Mum). His nose will eventually be all brown. Strange how collies are born with pink noses and then they turn colour later.