LIGHTNING!!!

WOW.... We got a huge lightning hit yesterday about 4 pm. I had just come inside from bringing the cows (across the creek and through a very wet and open field) in for the night ... weird clouds and lots of lightning and thunder around when BOOM! Didn't even see the flash. Scared us all - granddaughter Brooklyn was still here. We are not sure exactly where it hit - maybe one of the wind turbine towers. Knocked the power out but Rob got it going again. Then we discovered that the phone and internet were not working. Then we discovered that one turbine was not working. Then we discovered that half of the light bulbs and one wall of outlets in the cow barn didn't work. Then we discovered the greenhouse fan didn't work. Then we discovered the almost brand-new freezer in the garage (full of pork) didn't work. This morning, Rob found the voltage to be extremely high in the house and all the barns so we are running on the generator until he figures out the problem. The phone guy was just here and when he opened up the little box outside all the wires and stuff were totally burned up - he did some repairs/replacing and at least we have phone & internet now. I'm going to have to make room in one of the house freezers for the pork and haul it down. Luckily, all the livestock, the house appliances, well pump, and my milking machine vacuum pump seem to be undamaged. And, one other really weird thing, my little battery operated pedometer, which I had in my pocket, is totally dead. MOTHER NATURE SHOWING OFF HER POWERS!

YAY FOR RURAL SCHOOLS!

In our tiny community we are fortunate to still have a public school for kindergartners through 3rd graders.  The last few years there has also been a preschool for 4 year olds.  They have one teacher and one aide and all the age groups are together for most of the day.  Enrollment varies wildly every year.  I believe there has been as many as 14 in the past and this year there are 5 (ALL GIRLS!) - counting the 3 preschoolers.  Busing is available for the school-age kids and it can be a really long bus ride - 20+ miles for some.  They do amazing things with the few kids that in larger group settings would not be possible.  4 year old granddaughter Brooklyn is absolutely loving it this year.

'ROUND HERE....

 Early morning walk - lots of forest fire smoke to the west.

Lizzy wondering what I have in my hands.

 Treat beggars - Miss Kitty & Dillon

BFF  - or at least until Dusky goes to freezer camp :)

VISITORS!

A week or so ago, we had two young women visitors for the afternoon, evening and early morning.  Incredible ladies - bicycling across the USA, pursuing a very worthwhile project. 

Their website/blog describes their mission and their progress.  

Here is a beginning quote:  "On this cross-country bike trip, we are exploring what it means to be active in our world. The Shifting Gears Project layers dialogue, the documentation of alternative food systems, the female perspective, and bicycle transportation as inter-related mechanisms for change towards a more just and compassionate food system."

We are mentioned on Week 7 here:   http://www.shifting--gears.com/#!week-7/c1utj

A CONUNDRUM

Hmmm....one of 6 that we have seen hanging around.  Not sure where mom is - they are pretty little.  This one was enjoying a nap in the barn cat food pan before I woke him/her up then it decided it was lunchtime and proceeded to eat the cat food.  I tend to REALLY, REALLY hate racoons - they have eaten many of my chickens - ripping their heads off, killed 3 grown turkey hens and did away with, I don't know how many, baby barn kittens.  A conundrum for sure.

ANOTHER ONE! A GIRL THIS TIME.

Sweet Molly Milk Cow calved this afternoon - about 20 min. from start to finish.  She is the poster child for
giving birth with ease.  A little heifer calf this time.  She is a lighter red than her half brother Dusk - very lively!  Now my daily chores have increased - but we all - family, friends, pigs, chickens, dog & cats included, LOVE that fresh Molly milk!  Should'a known....I just bought a half gallon of, OMG, store milk this morning so her timing is perfect and I'm about out of cheese.  Going to try fruit yogurt popsicles with a special electric popsicle maker.  Not sure of a name for the newest addition......any suggestions?

IT'S A BOY!

Very pregnant Lucy cow was not herself yesterday afternoon - not eating and swishing her tail a lot.  Sure enough, just as we were about to go to friend's for dinner, one last check showed her in labor.  Luckily, our friends who are ranchers also, understood and re-scheduled for tonight.  Lucy did an amazing job for a first-timer.  I did have to help a little as the calf was pretty big and Lucy is a bit overweight so she was puffing. Of course, she picked the ONLY spot around that was dirt!  Very healthy, BIG bull calf Rob named "Dusk" as he is the color of a late sunset and was born at about 7:45 pm.  Lucy is a such good mom -she let me help him get started nursing with only a few low moos to let me know she was still in charge.  GRAPHIC photos follow:

THE FIRST DAY OF SUMMER 'ROUND HERE

MORNIN'

Good morning from Wyoming!  Warmer weather the next few days which should get the gardens (and weeds) going...looking forward to garden salad later this week...yea!

HOME!

We just returned from a very quick and sad trip to Minnesota to attend Rob's dad's memorial service.  It was a time for lots of family catching up, tears, laughter and memories.  I so appreciate son Jeff and grandson Austin staying here nights and doing chores. It's hard to be gone when so much depends on you!  

I noted a couple of things while back in the fast paced world....

*I was SOOO out of place on the airplane when I took out my actual paperback book among all the e-books, kindel readers, i-pads, i-phones, smart phones (and I'm sure I misnamed some of those)

*You can eat ALL sorts of ethnic food in ANY terminal in Denver - and WOW!  $3.00 for a bottle of water and $9.00 for a sandwich.

*There are SO many people in and around large cities ... all hurrying to be somewhere else.


My "to-do" list is very long for today - best get started.

FELINE DILEMMA (OR DEMENTIA)

As I keep saying...."We only started out with two!"  

We have 3 inside/outside house cats and WAY too many outside/barn cats.

This is Barn Cat Connie (named by granddaughter Brooklyn) who apparently has decided to share her mom duties.  This afternoon she brought all FOUR up on the side porch and settled right in, so of course I had to fix them a scrambled egg with a little cream in it and make them a little nest box so they'll be safe and comfy.

Anyone need a good mouser complete with family?

A LOOK AT MY MONDAY MORNING

Early morning irrigation - trusty shovel tucked under my leg for the 4-wheeler ride up the field.

A spring perk - wild iris - my mom used to call them "flags"- blooming in the middle of the hay field with the snow covered mountains in the background.

I'm getting much better at setting dams - so much so that I may even add it to my professional resume'!

Water going in 1 of four gardens.  I'll leave it there for 2 hours then move on the the next.  It's a challenge to provide all the food for the humans and the animals in desert county at over 6,000' elevation.  Sometimes you make it....sometimes you don't.

 
Monday morning laundry.  Because we live off-grid and provide all our own electricity, solar/line clothes drying is the only option.  It doesn't take long in our breezy country to dry and soften them all at the same time.

WIDE LOAD!

Heifer (a young cow before she has had her first calf) Lucy due to calve in 5 weeks.  She is just starting to make a little udder and is becoming quite affectionate - sometimes a little pushy in her attempt to get some lovin'.

RAIN DAY!

WooHoo!!!  1+" and still going!

To irrigate the upper hay fields I have to drive the 4-wheeler about 2 miles each way - partly along the highway.  I'm sure the tourists (and neighbors!) were impressed with my flowered umbrella.

THE BEGINNING

After many years of time consuming jobs that paid the bills, leaving very little energy for the good things, my boyfriend and life partner Rob, and I made a big change to create a more fulfilling and sustainable environment for our next life.  Moving from city life to remote ranch life where my grandparents once lived has been an incredible journey.  Our goal is to provide for ourselves, in an earth-friendly way.  

Prodded by friends and a desire to journal my life, I’ve joined the blogging world.  My goal is to post an entry at least once a week – the theme being:  “The Daily Rancher” – a view into my life here on the ranch and possibly, on occasion, off the ranch.

ROTATIONAL GRAZING

How boring does that sound?   But, it’s actually very interesting and gratifying to watch it work. 

From  an internet source:  Rotational grazing is a process whereby livestock are strategically moved to fresh paddocks, or partitioned pasture areas, to allow vegetation in previously grazed pastures to regenerate.

 We finally have the fencing in place to be able to do this with both the cows and the sheep.  The small pasture where the sheep currently get to graze has some very small, self-starter cottonwoods  we have protected with (a bit feeble) fencing.  For whatever reason – the grass is ALWAYS greener on the OTHER side of the fence and the sheep try their best to get at it.  So, to let them take advantage of this pasture, they need constant “sheepherding” to make sure they behave.  Not a bad way to spend an hour or two on a nice summer evening, in a lawn chair, with a glass of wine.  And, lots of other company.