I’d rather clean the barn than clean the house.
Tag: ranching
A Cow Horse I Once Knew
He seemed to think it was part of his big-sky-cow-horse persona to buck; even at his ripe old age of 26
The Borrowed Days
This year March is spilling over into April. I grew up with the farmer’s lore regarding March “coming in like a lion and going out like a lamb” and vice versa, but this March the lion has been greedy, occupying the coming, the going, and then some. Irish folklore tells of March borrowing three days from April to…
Boys in the Hood
With low light, a zoom lens, and no tripod there wasn’t much chance of a stellar shot, but I thought you might enjoy the “boys” I’ve been seeing every morning. For those unfamiliar with agriculture in the Rocky Mountain West, it’s worth mentioning that it is estimated 80% of Wyoming’s native animals depend on private…
Imitating Nature
There are many considerations regarding when a rancher wants his/her cows to start calving. In the winter time, the native range just can’t supply the necessary nutrients for a cow, let alone a cow growing a calf inside her, so most ranches in the Northern Rockies feed hay through the winter months. Feed is the…
Old Farmall Still Farming
My mother’s father was a farmer. My mother couldn’t wait to get off the farm and experience the city lights. She says I got the farmer gene, which often skips a generation. This old tractor still runs, and we use it to cut hay. It’s a simple machine. When I drive it I feel the…
Perhaps the Cutest Sign of Spring
All baby animals are cute, but it’s hard to beat the cuteness factor of newborn lambs.
Yes, Wyoming is Desolate
Sometimes I’m a little miffed at the way people describe Wyoming. Words like barren, desolate, and god-forsaken have been used. I recently read a best seller where the protagonist walks through Wyoming and dismisses it with a few sentences as ugly and trashy. The author then goes on to spend pages and pages describing a…
Up to the Task
He’s been enjoying the faux spring of Wyoming: day time temperatures in the 50’s, the grass is turning green, and the robins are singing. He’s feeling the sun on his hide. He’s feeling the green grass. A renewed, jaunty zing in his step. A renewed sense of energy and power. He’s no “dead head.” He’s…
Rookie Photographer
After having my DSLR camera for more than a year, I’ve decided it’s time to delve into its finer capabilities, ie, quit using all the auto features. I used to do a pretty ok job back in the day before digital, setting my own aperture and shutter speed, but it’s been awhile and digital has…
The Original Western Ranch Decor
I like to look at the old log cabins, barns, and outbuildings built by early pioneers and ranchers. Wyoming has a lot of them, and our arid climate means they can be in pretty good shape half a century or so after they were last inhabited. The use of local materials is noteworthy to me….
Wyoming. Land of Extremes
Last year the Wyoming headlines read: “North Platte River reaches record high at Saratoga” “Platte River floods still threaten; half of record snow pack has yet to melt” “North Platte River Flooding 2011” “Planning, weather help Casper avoid flooding” “River keeps rising” “Casper preparing for high water levels” And this year, in the recent headlines…
Wyoming Life 