Having totally nothing of value to say is very frustrating and so I have been avoiding posting. As I see it now my blogging is about "as useful as tits on a boar".
I started blogging as a way to put down the odd moments of my life for my family, until I realized that they were all busy living their own lives. So having lost that audience, I thought to just entertain myself and the few who stopped by.
My pleasure has been getting reacquainted with several friends from the old days, and making a few new ones around this whirling ball. One can never have too many friends, but one shouldn't neglect the people that are right here, right now. It's kind've like people that text while you are right in front of them.
I have been paring down the blogs that I read, and trying to only go online, for a limited amount of time, once a day. Having no TV, and limiting my computer time, has encouraged me to get back out and Live my life here and now.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
The Yard Sale
The home ranch at one time was leased to a couple of yea whos from the Lone Star state. They were unbelievable wheeler-dealers from the get go. One of them moved into the main house with part of his family; the part that was a wife, a (still nursing) 3 year old son, and a couple of older kids from one or the other's other marriages.
We were raised to be good stewards of the land and the animals in our care. Not these guys, they were just look'n for the next buck. They were running bred dairy heifers some sorry sucker had bought for them to calve out. I have a feeling that several sorry suckers had bought the same cattle, but that's only hearsay. Keeping one's mouth shut about the way they ran their outfit was difficult at the best of times. But, we were leased to them with the ranch, so lip biting about the cattle became the norm.
We always seemed to get shipments of cattle late at night, something we tried hard to never do with our own cattle. If they come in late at night they don't have a chance to walk the fence to see where the boundaries are, or locate water and food. Himself and I spent many nights riding thru the new cattle to show them where the feed bunks and water troughs were, and doctoring sick ones.
How did I get so far afield of what I started out to say? I was laughing when I started as I had been over at K8's reading about her bra buying experience and remembered The yard sale. So now that I've got the ugly out of my system I'll get to it.
The Texas boys decided that the wheelly deally wasn't working out too well in this part of the country, so they started pack'n up to move to greener pastures. The wife said she wasn't moving some things again and would have a yard sale. Hello, we lived 15 miles from a small town, the last three miles of which was rough gravel road. I just couldn't see people beating a path to her door, but what did I know. Not much it seems. The day of her yard sale arrived. I had to go into town to get a part for Himself that morning, so missed the setting up for the event. As I headed back to the ranch there did seem to be a lot of traffic, but it couldn't be for a yard sale, could it? When I crossed the last cattle guard the whole area was full of trucks, cars, and people. She had set up the big BBQ, a bar, and had country music blaring from a stereo. The front lawn was full of tables of yard sale wares, a junker's paradise. The piece d' resistance was a large tree in front with bras hanging from every branch, not just any ol bras either, they were Huge bras. (She'd had a home business in Texas selling bras for really large women and this was the overstock.) We were all laughing so hard, you just had to buy one. Her yard sale was a Huge success and she made a killing on that bra tree.
We were raised to be good stewards of the land and the animals in our care. Not these guys, they were just look'n for the next buck. They were running bred dairy heifers some sorry sucker had bought for them to calve out. I have a feeling that several sorry suckers had bought the same cattle, but that's only hearsay. Keeping one's mouth shut about the way they ran their outfit was difficult at the best of times. But, we were leased to them with the ranch, so lip biting about the cattle became the norm.
We always seemed to get shipments of cattle late at night, something we tried hard to never do with our own cattle. If they come in late at night they don't have a chance to walk the fence to see where the boundaries are, or locate water and food. Himself and I spent many nights riding thru the new cattle to show them where the feed bunks and water troughs were, and doctoring sick ones.
How did I get so far afield of what I started out to say? I was laughing when I started as I had been over at K8's reading about her bra buying experience and remembered The yard sale. So now that I've got the ugly out of my system I'll get to it.
The Texas boys decided that the wheelly deally wasn't working out too well in this part of the country, so they started pack'n up to move to greener pastures. The wife said she wasn't moving some things again and would have a yard sale. Hello, we lived 15 miles from a small town, the last three miles of which was rough gravel road. I just couldn't see people beating a path to her door, but what did I know. Not much it seems. The day of her yard sale arrived. I had to go into town to get a part for Himself that morning, so missed the setting up for the event. As I headed back to the ranch there did seem to be a lot of traffic, but it couldn't be for a yard sale, could it? When I crossed the last cattle guard the whole area was full of trucks, cars, and people. She had set up the big BBQ, a bar, and had country music blaring from a stereo. The front lawn was full of tables of yard sale wares, a junker's paradise. The piece d' resistance was a large tree in front with bras hanging from every branch, not just any ol bras either, they were Huge bras. (She'd had a home business in Texas selling bras for really large women and this was the overstock.) We were all laughing so hard, you just had to buy one. Her yard sale was a Huge success and she made a killing on that bra tree.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Maxwell The Wonder Cow Dog
The
best cow dog around passed away recently, after being our sidekick for
many years. Maxwell The Wonder Cow Dog was a Border Collie, McNab cross
that was given to me as a yearling. Cute as could be with his black and
white coat, one blue eye and one blue/brown eye.
He had had no training on working cattle, but was schooled on basic commands.
He had had no training on working cattle, but was schooled on basic commands.
Everyone
he met loved him, as he was ever the gentleman. After he got the hang
of working cattle he was amazing to watch. He could handle just about
anything.
One time, moving cattle from one large pasture to another, with the gate on top of a knoll, the Cowman sent Max to gather the pasture, push the cattle up the hill, thru the gate, and turn them in the right direction. Not an easy task for anyone, let alone one dog. As the Cowman was watching Max, and giving commands, up drives a fellow.
One time, moving cattle from one large pasture to another, with the gate on top of a knoll, the Cowman sent Max to gather the pasture, push the cattle up the hill, thru the gate, and turn them in the right direction. Not an easy task for anyone, let alone one dog. As the Cowman was watching Max, and giving commands, up drives a fellow.
"I've been watching your dog work for a while, would you be interested in selling him?"
The
Cowman had been down this road before with people, "Well I couldn't
take less than $5,000 for him" thinking this would end it. The guy
never batted an eye, and asked what form, cash or check, the Cowman
wanted the payment in.
The
Cowman replied, "You know by watching him that dog is worth any three
cowboys, so I don't think I will be interested in ever selling him."
The guy said, "Here's my name and number, if you ever change your mind give me a call, he's a Great Dog."
He
was a Great Dog, he greeted you with gentleness and a wagging tail, he
loved to work cattle in the pastures or the corrals, he could fetch and look after grand babies, he was a constant companion,
he could make you laugh with his cow skiing trick, and a thousand other
things.
Gentle, wonderful Max, I miss you dearly.
~~~
Monday, April 26, 2010
Roll On
Spring, the wild flowers blooming, thunder boomers coming by to visit. A breeze off the water flows over you and if you close your eyes feels like water skiing at Tahoe. Fresh cut clover and timothy hay smells drift across the meadow. Saddle leather creaks and groans, or maybe that's me. Horses and dogs are sweaty from working cattle. Warm days, cool nights. One spring I tied notes to tumbleweeds rolling by, never heard back.
Monday, April 19, 2010
The Best Part
The annual Roundup rodeo has come and gone for another year. Thanks to one of my brother in laws, my Dad and I had great seats in the family box.
As I hadn't been in many years it was great fun, and a bit of a trip getting to see friends from long ago.
The younger generation is continuing this annual family tradition, which is a good thing. What a great bunch of kids and grandkids.
I have some terrific memories of the old Roundups. It has changed a lot over the years, Dad and I both liked the old version better, possibly because we were more involved. Spending time with family and friends was and is the best part.
As I hadn't been in many years it was great fun, and a bit of a trip getting to see friends from long ago.
The younger generation is continuing this annual family tradition, which is a good thing. What a great bunch of kids and grandkids.
I have some terrific memories of the old Roundups. It has changed a lot over the years, Dad and I both liked the old version better, possibly because we were more involved. Spending time with family and friends was and is the best part.
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