January
January 4 - 8, 2003: No Guests
Saturday, January 4, 2003
Been doing the same for the first couple days of the New Year as the old year
ended. Feeding, chopping ice, feeding some more.
The days have been great, sunny like they should be. I rode a big loop through
7HL and saw most all the cattle that are doing all right. The best thing I
found was Flowing water out in the valley. That changes everything. It means
three less tanks we have to chop. I just hope that it stays sunny. The days
have been warmer getting over 4o and almost no wind.
The bad news is John called and said that the cattle have already used up most
of the grass at the farm. That’s a kick in the butt. I figured they would
go till the end of the month before we would have to start feeding hay there.
Lyndsey called and is taking the winter off. Hummmmm….hope she decides
to come back. I think there must be a gentleman feller up there in Sante Fe. Hi
42 lo 19
Wednesday, January 8, 2003
A sweet January thaw is going on. The last couple days have been in the upper
40’s but most important the nights only about 30. Today I woke to the
sound of rain on the roof. I have never seen it rain in January. It can snow
a bunch but never rains. 70% of the open country is free of snow and lots
of water and puddles. We moved the heifers out to 7HL a couple days ago;
they were getting too attached to that hay pile and were just standing around
all day and night. Not the way my cattle can act. They have to get out and
hustle and not become farm cows. So we took them out in the big country to
see how the big cows live. Time to grow up. I also got tired of the demands
of the orphan calves around here. I stood there and looked at Booger, Rope,
Gilbert, Emma jean, Molly, Daisy, and two others calves that just kinda moved
in at weaning time. They run over 300 pounds now and here we were still treating
them like babies. Hay and grain and here’s a BUCKET of water! I decided
it was time they joined the real world and put them on the 7HL bus too. Now
the only bovine around the house is Agnes, all 800 pounds of her. She’s
a pet and also serves as a roping dummy for Cassady and me. She just stands
there, we rope her and she just lifts her feet or drops her head to get the
rope off. Closes her eyes when she sees it coming.
I went to the farm yesterday. It’s not as bad as I feared. It is eaten
down pretty well but it’s not critical. There is a three-acre lot with
water we will pen them in at sunset and feed them hay and set some liquid feed
tanks. Then turn them out in the morning. The horses will have to feed as well
in a separate area. They can’t eat the liquid feed. So I need to get
somebody to handle that. I will call Anna and see if she will come back for
cheap. Pam, the gal who I lease the farm from is looking for a kid sitter for
4 hours a day and would supply housing so it might work out. She’s probably
gone and fallen in love back there in Va.
Cassady and I haven’t gotten in but one day of riding. Just too busy
feeding and checking water, takes the whole damn day. He rides around in the
truck and keeps me entertained. The kid can talk! Every night we drive out
to feed hay to the bunch his horse Creek is in. He gets out and hangs onto
Creeks leg, telling me how his horse is the greatest horse in the world and
why. We have been after him to sell his pony Shovel for a year now. No, he’s
not going to sell her because he wants to use her to carry lunches next year.
Well yesterday Pam asked if I had a ride for her son who is 4. I told her about
Shovel and said it was up to Cassady. I mentioned it to him last night when
I got home and got little response. Today we were pumping a load of water and
it was raining a bit so he stayed in the truck with the heater on. As the water
pumped I could see him staring off out the window and wondered what he was
thinking so serious about. When I got back in and settled in the seat he announced
he would sell Shovel. He said he was too busy in the summer to teach her to
pack and she’d been lazy too long. Besides ’That little kid needs
a good ride that won’t scare him” I was pretty proud of him.
January 10 - 18, 2003: No Guests
Friday, January 10, 2003
Cassady and Maggie headed to Albq. This afternoon. They fly to New Hampshire
tomorrow, and then the next day Maggie flies to Michigan to visit her family.
They left at a good time. We ran out of water here at the headquarters. I
had seen that the pressure was getting low but with all else there is to
do I kinda blew it off checking it until another day. Today was the day.
I went to the spring box and it was dry. Now there is water running everywhere
with this thaw going on, I don’t understand how the spring could be
dry. I plugged the outlet and walked the line all the way back to the house.
That was a long walk in the mud and snow. There is no reason for there to
be no water. Checking that out took most of the day along with the usual
feeding. Hi 42 lo 29
Saturday, January 11, 2003
It got colder last night, which will slow the thaw
a bit. But that’s ok; it’s already really done a
heck of a job. The only place there is snow is on the north slopes
and in the shade. I went to the spring and checked it first thing
this morning. There was about and inch of water in it so I left
the outlet plugged. My plan is to let it build a head of water
then open the outlet and see where and how fast it goes out.
There must be a heck of a leak somewhere.
I grabbed Gambler and we headed out after chores to hunt up about 21 pairs
I haven’t seen in almost a month. They are north of the H.Q. some where
around the airstrip area I hope. Just after heading out it started to snow
a bit stayed that way for the next hour then the sun came out. I came across
an old cow with a big bag; she hadn’t seen her calf for a day or so.
I rode on and came across 12 pairs..all look ok, but it’s time to get
the calves off momma. The cows are getting dragged down a bit and I need a
paycheck. I started them down the canyon I had found them in, then after they
seemed to be drifting right I cut out to do a larger loop for the rest. A quarter
mile farther on I saw the tell tale sign of ravens and eagles in the trees
and rode up to find my missing calf. I swung down to read the story. It had
been killed the day before. I found the kill site under a tree about 30 yards
from the carcass. The drag sign was clear, as it had been rolled along. Now
this was no little calf, it ran about 325 pounds. What ever killed it and dragged
it was strong. I found no definite tracks. The tracks of what ever killed it
were covered over by the many coyote tracks trampling all over the area. My
guess is wolves. Probably caught the calf under the tree sleeping. It was big
enough that momma had gone off feeding somewhere and it was alone. Coyotes
would not take a calf that size unless it was already hurt or sick and there
was nothing to indicate that. A lion would have eaten more and buried the rest.
A bear would have left noticeable tracks. I went back and picked up the cattle
I had set adrift and pushed them three miles or so to the corrals and penned
them. I will feed them hay a week then take the calves to the sale a week from
Wednesday. Next job Gambler and I headed into the horse pasture to get out
a bull that had been in there a few days. He was kinda grumpy, that’s
why I waited till Cassady was gone. I only had to move him 1/2 mile but through
four gates. Gambler was awesome as usual. Taking a real easy way of it and
getting the bull moved with out getting him worked up. He did charge us once
but a good slap in the face with my reins made his nose sting a bit and he
rethought that idea.
Gambler was still up for more so we went and rode the south trap looking up
any heifers I may have missed the week before. The footing was terrible as
the day went along. It varied from dry, to icy, to muddy all with in a couple
strides. Gambo was in a mood though and he jogged and trotted around having
a great time and feeling good. He should feel good as much grain as I pour
into him; he’s not the easiest keeper. We found no cattle and pulled
into the barnyard just before dark. It took forever to clean that horse up.
He was covered with mud and sweat. He’s not a small fry and makes for
a lot of territory to cover with a curry. My cinches had an inch coating of
mud on ‘em; I’ll take care of that some other time. It was kinda
chilly all day hi about 38 lo 19.
Sunday, January 12, 2003
Feeding at first light, cold and brittle about 14. The sun doesn’t break
over the rim into the valley till about 8:15 these days so morning chores are
always really cold. I went to the spring after they were done and found the
box full of water so I pulled the plug to see where it goes. I went back to
the H.Q. and loaded up ladder and plumbing stuff and went to the storage tank.
I cut and rebuilt the spring line. It was an all morning job but one that’s
been needin' for years. The line was old and ran up the shady side of the tank.
I changed it to go up the sunny side and painted it black before I put it up.
We’ve had problems in the past with it freezing. I figured with the line
not running this was the time to do it. I hate climbing ladders and to get
to the top I have to have the extension ladder out as far as it goes. A couple
steps past all the yellow stickers showing the falling guy on it. The tank
is fiberglass and slick. Going up there scares the hell out of me. But it was
all worth it. Just as I was getting the last piece glued on here comes some
water! It was flowing like usual, about a gallon every two minutes. Now I really
have no idea what was going on with it before, but so long as it’s running
I don’t care.
In the morning I will do chores before light so I can get down to the farm
early. I am going to gather and cut out some steers to take to the sale. Then
try to get home in time to do evening chores before it gets too late. Another
nice day, sunny like they all have been for a while now, hi was about 42, lo
14.
Monday, January 13, 2003
I started chores in the starlight at 5:30am. It was cold, 14 again. I got done
at 6:30am, tossed my saddle in the truck and headed to the farm. The roads
are bad all the way down. The thaw just made them worse with the water flowing
to the shaded parts of the road and freezing thick and slick.
I saw Alan parked along the road chatting with someone. Didn’t stop myself,
I knew if I did that it would be three hours later before I got away. Saw John
in his drive with the hood up on his truck, I did stop. He was having power
steering pump problems. He had plans to go and weld a gate for a gal. I asked
him if he’d rather ride which of course he did. I headed to the farm
with the plan that he would come as soon as he got the fluid changed. As I
pulled into the farm I told myself that I would ride the first horse I saw.
It was Hondo. He’s a big buckskin gelding I bought last summer, I think
he’s in his late teens or twenties. I had only ridden him once, the day
I bought him. Over the summer I had watched and admired him, he’s pure
cowhorse. I waved a pad of hay at him and he came right over. Slipped a halter
on, fluffed up the hair on his back with my hand, eased my saddle on and swung
up about three minutes later. He was full of himself, parade stepping across
the fields. Smoooooth, ummmmmmm it felt gooood! Things just came together and
in about 15 minutes I had all the cast cattle gathered in the only sort of
trap we have there. It’s about five acres around one of the pounds. In
a corner we have a small, I mean small corral made of panels. John arrived
about then and baited the corral with hay. I pushed a bunch in and then cut
the cattle we didn’t need back out onto the fields. We were after 2001
and 2002 heifers that are going to some land Frank has along the river and
also a dozen or so 2002 steers that are headed to the sale. We could only work
a dozen or a few more at a time since the corral was so small and it didn’t
take long for them to get wise to the whole deal. After a couple batches John
had to catch Rocky and quick saddle him to help me push them down. We worked
through a bit over a hundred head and got everything done about 3pm. John will
spend the day tomorrow hauling them either to his corrals or to the piece of
land I am leasing from Frank and his brother. That depends on if Frank is done
working the fence. It was said to be a three-day job, been close to a week
now.
I went by John's and picked up one of my trailers I had left there a month
ago. He’s been cutting firewood and tossing it in there. He had 3 cords
neatly stacked, two cords are oak. It’s the only good burning wood out
here and damn hard to come by. I have never had two cords at once. We will
only use it at night. I was running late to get home to do chores at a reasonable
hour but still I decided to take the long way around through Horse Springs
rather than try making it up the icy mountain from Reserve. That wood really
had some weight to it. The drive went well till I was coming out of Collins
Park and headed up the North side of Elk mountain. The mud was thick and now
it was just a bit after dark it was starting to freeze. It had a strange consistency,
and damn hard to get thru. The truck was really laboring along, and I decided
I must have a flat on the trailer. There was no stopping tho. I knew I would
never get going again. As I neared the top ice patches became an added bonus.
Mushing thru the mud with the R.P.M.’s running a steady 2100, the turbo
whistling like a cowboy on his way to town, moving about 3 mph. Then ZING you're
on the ice, tires spinning and smoking, rpms shoot to 3800, and your going
2 mph. That lasts about 30 feet then back in the mud again. It was touch and
go as I looked forward to seeing the cattle gate that sits in the saddle of
the divide. Just then I was confronted with a flashing red light on my dash,
one I had never seen before. It took a moment to realize what it was. The guy
who rebuilt the transmission told me he put the light in and that it goes off
when the tranny is overheating. I hadn’t given it much thought at the
time. But now I realized just how stupid it was. It’s not a gauge telling
that you can watch the temperature and act accordingly. Just a damn red light
telling you that you have already reached the critical point. There was no
stopping so on up I went crawling and cussing to the top. I stopped there and
let the truck settle down, stepped out into cold crystalline goo that flowed
over my boots. Slogging around to the rear checking tires I found that I had
two flats on the trailer. No wonder it wasn’t pulling so well. It was
a mess, changing tires in that slop was the worst. I won’t go into all
the details other than to say I have changed hundreds of tires, in the broiling
sun, the snow, rain, traffic, you name it but this was the worst ever. I usually
change a tire at an easy pace in about 10 minuets. These two took over and
hour, everything that could go wrong did. I was covered with mud from head
to toe, it was cold, and it was really not any fun at all. I covered the inside
of my truck with the mud when I got in.
I finally got home about 7pm and got out of the truck and set to doing chores
just the same as I had in the morning, in the dark. There was a half moon that
was fine so long as you were in it. But go in the feed room or along the hay
shed and it was dark. In the movies the rider comes in after dark and somehow
his horse is mysteriously taken care of. They don’t show him stumbling
around in the dark, bumping into things and tripping over cats. I got done
with chores just before 9pm. I was beat, all I wanted was to take a hot shower,
clean up and go to bed. But there was no water. I will have to figure that
in the morning. So, clean up as best I could in what little snow is left and
undress on the porch leaving the clothes and the mud that was frozen to them
outside. The temp down at the farm was probably about 60, overnight lo here
was 17.
Tuesday, January 14, 2003
Today was spent working the woodpile. I unloaded the wood I brought up from
the trailer. That was a half day job right there. I like buying wood from John.
He’s about as bad backed as I am so there are no monster pieces in there.
Some of these guys I get wood from drop off these big rounds of woods that
I look at and wonder how the hell they got it in the truck. Several I have
had to move with the tractor. After lunch I split some and sorted the pile
here in the yard. I tell ya if you heat with wood and use as much as we do
there is no way around a huge pile of wood and in the yard. We use about 20
cords a year and it is a pain in the ass and one big mess. But get this it
was 51 degrees in the shade!! The sun factor was probably close to 70. Over
night was 18.
Wednesday, January 15, 2003
Another damn fine day in the land of enchantment. I slept in a bit this morning,
got up at 6am, it was 24.
Today was a water day, trying to figure out why we don’t have any and
how to get some. I went to the spring box; it was dry again so I capped it.
Walked the line and found a big messy puddle indicating a leak. It had been
there awhile, the elk have been watering there and tore it all up. I walked
the mile and a half line all the way to the house. That was the only obvious
problem I saw. I got shovel, bucket, coffee can, and rubber inner tube, got
another truck and drove back out. I spent the next three hours digging out
the hole, finally finding the line and a long split in the pipe. It was made
I’m sure by rocks shifting from the freeze and thaw. Now digging this
thing up isn’t just as easy as taking a shovel and starting at it. Shovel
works for about the first foot. Then it’s coffee can digging because
you are baling at the same time while on your stomach reaching in the hole.
It is one of my least favorite jobs to do and not the best time of year to
be up to your elbows in muddy water. To fix the split I just ranch rig it.
Wrap the pipe with inner tube then whipcord around that with bale twine. Hey
it works for a pipe that’s not under pressure.
I got home about noon, had a quick lunch. Cheese and salami rolled in half
a tortilla, the other half was moldy. Then I started working on a generator,
pulled the plugs and cleaned them, changed the fuel filter, and gave it a pull.
It started! Got the tractor jump-started, loaded the generator in the bucket
and took it to the pump. Unloaded it, wired it up, gave it a pull, didn’t
start. Son of a bitch!
Walked back down, got my tools, monkeyed with the carburetor and finally after
an hour it started, ran and is now pumping water. It was close to chore time
and I remembered I still had a truck out at the spring box. That mile and a
half was looking like a pretty long walk at that time of day; the first half
was steep up hill. I looked at Doc, at the hill, at Doc. I got my headstall,
put it on him and walked him to the fence where I could climb on. I’d
never ridden him bare back, it’s something I try to avoid. But he was
pretty comfortable. A bit jiggy at first then he settled down. He was glad
to get out and enjoyed the quick ride as much as I appreciated it. I got to
the truck, took the headstall off him and he stood there looking very bewildered.
I got in the truck and started driving away slowly hollering to him. He just
stood there watching me. He had no idea what was going on. I stopped and whistled
and hollered finally he bolted like a shot and came running. I got in the truck
and started along. He quickly caught up with me and loped along side all the
way home. Spoke to Frank this morning, he’s still working on the fence
at his place, messed up his shoulder so it’s taking longer that he planned.
John hauled a load of steers to the sale today. Maggie is enjoying her Michigan
visit but says it’s too cold and gray. Lyndsey called and said she will
be back by the 1 st.
It was sunny as usual; a bit windy for the first time in awhile
hi was 42 lo was 24.
Thursday, January 16, 2003
I have always said that I live up here for the month of August. August makes
all the dry months, or the cold months worthwhile. But I think I will add
January to that as well. The last two Januarys have been just like this one.
Bright sunny days with little or no wind and relatively mild temperatures
make for days that just can’t be beat.
I was out early feeding in a mild morning. The temperature was 22. After
chores I caught Frio, who’s a bit of a pain in the ass about it. Spent
a lot of time saddling, he was a bit on edge. He’s always a bit nervous;
Anna rode him a lot last fall. She called him Freako. He is really skittish
about any movement you make while on him. Like going to your saddlebags or
scratching your ear, or blinking. She got him over a lot of it; you’d
look off in the distance and see Frio and Anna, him being easy to spot since
he’s white and gray. Anna would be flapping her arms like wings and they’d
look for sure like a Pegasus on the rise. I was kinda ready for what ever;
it had been a few weeks since I was on him. He stood well as I swung up and
stepped off ok. We were headed on a long loop through the east side of 7HL
and out to the Y in T Bar Valley. Frio rode out great, interested in being
out and where we were going. Got thru the T gate and swung up and all the sudden
the world was a-spinning! He started so fast I was going down in the well {the
inside of the spin where the G force sucks you}. I was almost parallel with
his side and he freaked over that and bucked out crow hopping away from the
side I was hanging on. An boy let me tell ya I was hanging on. Just as I was
saddling this morning I was thinking that now that we had no health insurance
this was surely when I’d have a wreck. I was determined I was not leaving
that horse. I was off on the left side, my usual loose saddle was starting
to come my way, I dug that right heel in for all I was worth. He started to
line out at a run down Ewe canyon. The faster he went I knew the sooner something
had to happen. I had the horn in my right hand and reached against gravity
with my left hand for his mane. Frio has probably the shortest mane on the
ranch except for the mules. For what seemed an eternity my fingers were within
an inch, any other horse I could have doubled a handful. With a final
effort I got my hand in it and grabbed and jerked myself back upright. I eased
him back and slowed him down. I hadn’t done that kinda stuff since I
was a kid doing it for fun. He settled down, I got off and reset the saddle,
swung back on and he crow hopped but I was ready and nothing came of it. We
rode on. The footing is getting better every day; in some places it was perfect
so I put him into a long trot for several miles. We were passing cattle all
along the way. I was counting and looking. They look really good considering
it’s January. Down the long hill past T Bar Tank there where over 20
antelope running across in front of us just a hundred yards out. Frio
got excited, he wanted to see if he could run with them so I let him. Off we
went, he lined out right behind last one. Antelope do a pretty neat thing.
When they are chased, one hangs back and draws the attention of the pursuer
and veers away from the main bunch. We followed that one and had a grand chase
for a mile or so over a couple hills and down a couple draws. Frio was perfect.
In my hand the whole time and under control. Going across the hills I let him
run as hard as he could but when we started down a draw I checked him lightly
and voiced him down and he was right there doing as asked. He’s really
athletic; he would bound and hop around and over rocks and bushes and never
broke a stride or stumbled. I finally pulled him up and let the Speed Goat
take off. He went a couple hundred yards and stopped looking back at us. All
three of us watched each other then the Antelope snorted and threw his head
and trotted of with a parade step. I think he enjoyed it. It must always be
the fastest antelope that has to run decoy for the herd, or the dumbest. “ Hey
Ralph, let that mountain lion chase YOU while we run the other way”
We rode across that great rolling grass hill country, trotting along looking
things over. It was a great day. Not a cloud in the sky, warm and balmy. The
air smelled like a New England spring day after along winter. Fresh damp earth
and warm breezes. I counted 152 head of cattle. I saw the heifers I moved out
week before last. They were all the way to the west side near Fence tank and
all in one bunch. They seem to be enjoying life out in the big pasture. We
swung around North from there back towards home checking in at 7HL cowcamp,
then up past the feeder at the head of 7HL canyon then across the mesa, up
over Feathery hill and back home. It was a long day and Frio sure was tired
when we got in. I rubbed him down a long time, gave him a handful of grain
and told him he was all right.
It was about 3pm so I did my one section of fence I have told myself I will
do every day. It involves carrying four wood rails to the section, cutting
out the old rails and nailing up the new. I have found that my old busted arms
are just not good at swinging a heavy hammer any more. But If I do a section
a day I will get it all done someday. This place is falling apart around me. Hi
45 lo 24.
Friday, January 17, 2003
I did chores early so I could get out on the freeze and get a feeder from Ewe
canyon moved over to Fence tank. Doesn’t sound too exciting and wasn’t
other than just awesome country. The snow is all gone in the open country but
up on the timbered ridges in the wilderness it still lays pretty deep. The
mist was rising off them in the early morning light. Looked like something
out of some old fairy tale. It took all morning to get it done and got home
a bit after noon.
Went to get a load of water. The line into the well snapped off, and the long
end dropped into the well that is about 30 feet deep. I got a rope and spent
the next half hour trying to loop it. I finally got it and hauled the pipe
up. Then back to the house for repair parts and back out and then an hour fixing
it. What should have been a bit less than and hour trip became three hours.
I finally got the water pumped and back home and dumped into the horse troughs
around here. It left little time for my corral repair, but I did just manage
to get one section done. It took longer that the last couple days. Then I had
rails already peeled and set to nail up. Today I had to peel some that I had
piled up. If you’ve never peeled a log with a drawknife…don’t.
It’s a pain in the butt. From here on though I will have to cut
the rails, drag them to the house and peel them before I can start nailing
them up. Fencing uggggghhhhh!!!!!! Another great day, hi 43, lo 19.
Saturday, January 18, 2003
“My Oh My” I was like many folks and anxious to see the new Tom Selleck
western Monty Walsh. In my opinion it was ….ok.
I had just read the book for a second time in the fall. It is one of my all
time favorites. It seemed to me the movie started about half way through the
book, and to me the first part of the book is the best. That’s where
you understand who Monty is and what made him that way. The great cattle drives,
the celebrations, the adventures and exuberance of youth, and mostly the bronc
bustin’. It’s why everyone knew who Monty Walsh was. We missed
all that in the movie. I also think they cleaned it up a bit too much; those
were rough times full of rough men. But hey any western is a good movie to
me. The horses were great, the gear authentic, but their cattle driving was
the usual run ‘em hard Hollywood stuff.
I spent the day working on corrals. I worked 7 hours and got 4 sections rebuilt.
Doesn’t sound like much for a full days work but I feel Like I did a
full days work. Right after chores I grabbed my chainsaw and headed across
the horse pasture to the stand of pine. I have been cutting rail out of this
five acre stand for years and you can’t tell I have been in it. Today
I realized again I need to take more out than I am, and faster. The trees are
really thick and they are dying out, as they should be, natures thinning. But
I would like to get them out before they die and rot. I cut a bunch of 6 to
8 inch stuff, which took about 3 hours. Then manhandled them down the slope
to a spot I could get the tractor to. Wrapped a slip cable around them and
headed back to the corral. There I cut everything to length, 13 foot in this
case, and started peeling. Took lunch and then peeled the rest. About 2pm I
started nailing up the rails and by chore time at 5pm I had 36 rails up. The
day was great; I was working in just shirt sleeves and was breaking a sweat.
Not the most exciting day in the world but a satisfying one. Hi was 42, sunny
no wind, lo was 22.
January 19 - 26, 2003: No Guests
Sunday, January 19, 2003
Just a mess around here sort of day. Changed two flats
on two trailers split some firewood but that’s an every
day thing this time of year. Then went to work on the corrals.
Went to the woods and cut and dragged 12 more rails, peeled ‘em
and got another section up. I then laid out and cut to size the
rails and posts for a new gate. I got started on the notching
but ran out of daylight, just as I was getting down with chores
Maggie got home from her northern travels. Hi 42 lo18
Monday, January 20, 2003
A busy day around here. Doug and Kathy came to shoe
some horses and to drop off a bull they raised and that I am
buying. He’s a cute Charolais looking guy, doesn’t
really fit my breeding program but what could I say. They wanted
him to live here, the price was right and he’s a real nice
bull. They led him off the trailer and to the pen in a halter.
I was up at the crack of dawn and in the saddle not too long
after getting in horses for them to do. Then went and gathered
all the pairs that were around, the ones I had gotten in last
week. They were just around the H.Q. pasture and the south trap.
John is bringing up some heifers from the farm that we will turn
out into 7hl. While he is here we will cut the pairs I gathered
and he will haul the calves to the sale on Tuesday keeping them
at his house till then. Frank rode up with him to help load and
basically to get his pay check, not sure what I’m paying
for this week. They got here about noon, we shuffled cattle around
and they were on their way back down the mountain by about 2pm.
On the load I sent a couple of the orphan calves that we had
bottle raised. Usually if they are heifers I keep them around,
we get attached to them. But right now I am selling everything
saleable, so on the bus went Emma Jean, and Molly. I must be
getting hard hearted in my old age.
Last night when Margaret came home she threw me off my chore
routine. I forgot the last step, draining the water line from
the pump to the tank. This morning it was shattered. I’m
not talking just a couple feet of line; it’s about 40 feet.
So that now has to be replaced. I could just kick the hell out
of my own ass!
Wednesday, January 22, 2003
I spent all day yesterday just driving two loads of liquid feed out and filling
feeders. I got three filled. The stuff is so thick and slow flowing it takes
forever to get done. The day was nice though, hi about 40 and sunny after
a low of 19 and a dusting of snow overnight which was gone by noon. All the
cattle look really good out there. There are a few here and there that don’t
look as good as the rest but hey they are winter cattle, that can be expected.
Today I spent the morning riding the cattle in Ewe Canyon,
those I need to move east to join up with the others in that
better country. I was running late so I didn’t have time
to do it today. I will try to get to it in the morning. The ones
in the canyon are running out of feed, and they look the poorest
of all I have and they really aren’t that bad. They look
better this winter up here in the high country than they did
last year when they were all down low. On the way back I rode
through the late foals and their moms. I was planning on pushing
them in and weaning this week but instead I found several sick,
one filly really bad off. I got them in the corrals and sorted
off the sick ones and penned them. I took a late lunch to let
them settle down a bit. Then Maggie came out to help me doctor
them. We moved a panel into the small Hospital pen that we used
as a squeeze. All three of the foals have abscess under the jaw.
It’s a type of Strangles type infection. We see it occasionally,
but usually it just runs it’s course, the abscess breaks
and drains and they are fine. The worry is that it breaks to
the inside and runs into the lungs. That is what has happened
to this filly we call Skeeter. She is a mess. We got her in the
chute and found the abscess was broken but she looked just full
of infection so I gave her some Gentomiacin. Now all these foals
are wild as the wind, they have never been touched so it’s
not like we just walk up and Doctor them. We have to get them
in the chute and talk and ease them down so they will let us
get near them without freaking out. It takes a long time. We
got Skeeter done and moved on to Rusty, a handsome red roan colt
who is smart as a whip. We got him in the chute and he was not
happy. His jaw was so swollen it looked like he had a softball
in it. It took awhile to get to where I could touch him. First
rubbing his butt and working my way up towards his shoulder.
When I first touched his jaw he flipped over and had a huge wreck.
I tied a rope across the top of the chute to keep him down and
started over. I had a rag with hot water and an hour later I
got to touch his head. As soon as I got that hot rag on his jaw
he just melted. He knew then we were out to help and he was awesome.
Now this is a pretty gross thing going on here and I won’t
describe all the gore but he let me take my pocketknife and cut
along his jaw line. But nothing came out. So I inserted my finger
in the incision and felt a layer of membrane still holding in
the puss and infection. I pushed, wiggled and pushed my finger
harder. He stood like a champ. Finally my finger broke through.
Oh my oh my what a gush of mess and slop that came flowing out.
I soaked it and massaged it getting out as much as I could then
flushed it with peroxide and iodine; we will start him on antibiotics
tomorrow. Next was Sombre a cute Grulla colt out of our wildest
mare. We got him into the hospital pen and were easily hazing
him into the chute. He wanted nothing to do with it and very
smartly sailed over the four foot rail fence and left. Well if
he feels that good I won’t chase him around. After cleaning
up. I mean really scrubbing down I went out and got two more
sections of fence rebuilt before chore time.
The day was sunny and about 38 with a touch of a breeze that
kept me wrapped up pretty good. Lo was 18.
Thursday, January 23, 2003
Since I’m a weather channel addict I know a whole bunch of you folks
up north are freezing your butts off. That’s why I’m a bit reluctant
to tell you just how nice a day it was here. Well I’ll go ahead, it was
50, sunny and almost no wind. Too nice a day not to be out. After chores Maggie
and I saddled up, she on Cool Eyes and I rode Dakota. We went north towards
Negrito Creek looking for the seven pairs that I know are in there somewhere.
It wasn’t long before we were on to fresh tracks and a mile or so farther
we found two pairs and two dry cows in a little meadow along the creek. I am
not sure if the dry cows were some that had calves and lost them or if they
came from somewhere else. There should not have been dry cows in that area.
I suspect that they had calves that were killed by what ever killed the one
I found last week. It was only about a half mile from where we found these.
We pushed these home with no problem, penning them when we got to the H.Q.
Maggie headed home to get some lunch ready while I rode out
in the north trap to bring in the yearling bull I bought from
Doug and Cathy last week. He needed to get tagged and branded
before he wondered off and got stolen. He was easy to find and
came along easy enough till we got into the bottom of the pens.
Then he decided that what ever was up was something he’d
rather avoid and he made a rush to get out. Dakota was a bit
tired and had just kinda been nodding along and all the sudden
things broke loose. He was caught by surprise and had to do a
quick wake up. He charged towards the gate racing the young bull.
We got there just ahead of him and Dakota slid to a stop blocking
the gate. I mean slid. The ground was a bit muddy on top and
icy underneath making for the perfect runway. It wasn’t
till he nudged his shoulder into the far gatepost that we stopped.
The bull saw we were going to over shoot the gate and he was
ready to cut behind us and get by. The flying mud spray from
Dakotas slid hit him full in the face and turned him. It could
have never been done if planned. Dakota left 15-foot skid makes
of all four hooves. It was pretty cool. I decided to close the
gate, better safe than sorry. I swung down and pulled the gate
to, as I was latching it Dakota broke away pulling the rein from
my hand. Turning I was pissed until I realized that he had just
saved my bacon. The bull had charged while my back was turned
and Dakota met and turned him. The problem with the bull is that
Doug and Cathy raised him at their house and hand fed him and
petted him. He has no fear of humans. Needless to say I was pretty
proud of my horse, it’s nice to know he’s watching
my back. I swung up and we got back to work. The bull made a
few more tries to cut back, Dakota was all over him this time.
He’s getting to be a pretty good little cutting horse.
He’s not as light and snappy as Doc but he’s getting
better all the time. We got the bull up the alley and in a corral.
I then went and put Dakota away, with a couple handfuls of rare
noontime grain and a hug.
After lunch I went down to the corral and built a fire next to the squeeze
chute, set my iron to heating and moved the bull into the lane that leads to
the chute. I got a hand full of hay, tossed it in the chute and he walked right
in. I got to work; I had a hide to sizzle and an ear to whittle. Within ten
minutes he was wearing my brand, one ear was marked he had a shiny new green
earring and he was mad. I opened the back of the chute so he could back out
and go in the same corral he came from. I just left him to figure it out; I
didn’t want to be to close by when he got out.
Then I jump-started the tractor, it needs it all the time now.
It has a new battery and alternator so I’m not sure what
the cure is, It’s a bit of a pain in the butt. At least
it always does start though. I moved some round bales out for
the momma cows that we weaned calves off last week. Some of them
got dragged down so we will build them up a few pounds before
sending them back out.
About that time it was foal doctoring time. They all were feeling
much better so they weren’t nearly so easy to get in the
chute and doctor. Maggie helped again and we got it done, drains
opened and shots given. Not near as messy as yesterday thank
goodness. After that it was chore and wood box filling time. Hi
50 lo 18 sunny, light wind.
Friday, January 24, 2003
I think it’s May down here! Sorry I know that some of you are still in
the frigid zone. It was 50 degrees at 11am this morning, unheard of for January.
After chores Maggie and I rode out to Dog Spring in Negrito pasture just to
check the area out. We are going to put the mares out there in that area after
we wean them. We swung out into 7HL a bit and saw no cattle here on the west
side, that’s a good thing.
Just after we made it home a bit after noon John arrived with
another load of heifers from the farm. We loaded them in my trailer,
John headed home while I headed to 7HL canyon and dropped them
off. As I drove past cowcamp I got on a rise and looked around.
There were cattle everywhere, scattered in small bunches all
over the country. I’m not real sure exactly how many I
have, but it’s more than I thought. Next week I ‘m
going to gather and move them into Pitchfork and get a good count
then. When I got home I spent an hour changing tires, John had
brought a bunch of spares that were out being fixed. I took really
bad tires off trucks and put some better ones on. I bought 32
new tires in 2002 and they all now seem to be bald.
Then it was time for foal doctoring. They are all getting use
to the routine, no trouble getting them in the chute. Rusty loves
it, I had to lance another abscess on him today and s I was doing
it he was leaning into my hands as I rubbed the soft spot milking
the infection out. It felt so good to him to get the pressure
relieved.
Next thing I knew the day was over. Hi 51 sunny light
winds. Lo 18
Sunday, January 26, 2003
Rode a really long loop yesterday, was too dang tired to write last night.
I grabbed Gambler and headed out to ride the northern fence line along Pitchfork
pasture, and then come back through 7HL. Gambler was in his groove and we started
out at a nice jog trot and kept it up all day. Up over Feathery Hill Across
the Feathery Flats, drop down into 7HL canyon swing by the feeder, look at
cattle then pick up the fence there. There’s a cattle/ elk trail long
most of the fences out here so I set Gambler on it He has ridden enough fence
to know what we were doing. He’s like several horses I’ve ridden
that enjoy fence riding. After a couple miles or days, depending on the horse
and after being stopped and watching you fix fence they figure it out. The
good ones will stop where the fence is down or at least slow down and kinda
check with you to see if you are planning to get off and work that low or loose
spot they see. The way I look at it if the horse questions you on a spot It’s
a spot that needs mending, means a cow probably would question the spot too
and give it a try.
The fence was in pretty good shape, a few spots were really
bad and need materials and tools packed to them. We closed two
gates and ranch rigged another that is a joke. Past Hay tank
that was overflowing, past Steve tank full for the first time
in a year, and White tank with more water than that lousy tank
usually has. Next thing I new we were close to Dead Horse Corral
and we were still having fun. So we swung out to Incognito Corral,
up over T Bar Ridge and back down into 7HL Valley. Past Doubtful
tank, that was full of water. Loped past Pit tank, which was
filled, to the rim. Galloped the length of Elk cieniga about
2 miles along a nice flowing creek. Trotted into Fence tank and
found four cows there I know I had not seen last fall. Then all
the way down 7HL valley to T Bar tank over tank ridge, down past
Elladean tank and up ewe canyon into the North trap and finally
on home. We were ready to be home. I have driven this loop and
metered it, 29 miles. Neither Gambler nor I had much spunk left
but we had a great day. Saw 23 Antelope, a dozen or so hawks,
tracks of a badger, 88 elk in one bunch, three coyotes, and the
biggest flock of Pinion Jays I had ever seen. The day started
out perfect like the last week or more. I spent the first
Part of the day riding in a wool shirt and vest with the sun
on my back feeling good. As I headed back towards home I watched
thunderheads build up over the peaks behind the ranch. They got
bigger and I thought to myself that there would soon be some
wind coming along. It was no sooner out of my mouth that I saw
the grass ahead start rippling and bending, then the first gust
hit me. I got my coat on and doubled my scarf. The rest of the
day was spent riding into it. It wasn’t terribly cold.
It was just chilly and put a want to be home into our pace as
the afternoon sun got low and long.
Today I hauled a load of feed out to Ewe canyon. On the way
home yesterday I saw about 20 head out there. I thought they
had all left that country. In the bunch was a cow and three day
old calf. The first of the 2003 season! I had tried to get all
the early calving cows down to the farm. We didn’t preg.
check them, just looked and guessed. Not very scientific, I guess
not very productive.
After lunch I worked on a gas leak I found on the dump truck,
the weather was great, I was just in shirtsleeves. Then a couple
hours spent working the woodpile. I am headed to Albq. for a
couple days and want a bunch on the porch so Maggie doesn’t
have to mess with it. Our deal is she cooks the meals and I keep
the firewood supply flowing and wood boxes full.
The sick foals are doing a whole lot better, they all finished
treatments today. I guess the good thing about it all is they
are all gentled down a bit to where you can touch and brush them
now.
Frank is still down below, we haven’t heard from him
for about five days so I assume he still is working for us. Lyndsey
is still at her moms enjoying the last city livin’ life.
Heard Anna was galloping racehorses in Virginia so she won’t
be back too soon. John is feeding my stock at the farm and doing
some day work for a few folks around down there.
Yesterday hi 42 lo 19. Today hi 50 lo 18 sunny, no wind, great
sunset.
Jan. 27 - Feb 2, 2003: No Guests
Monday, January 27, 2003
Not a real exciting week to read about. I headed to
Albq. On Monday to meet with an accountant, I had forgotten about
W-2’s being due this week. My tax deal is usually a bit
of a mess so I decided to get started early this year.
He seemed like a pretty sharp guy, raises cattle as a hobby
and has a lot of ranch clients a few of whom I know. So I think
he is up on all the little things that pertain to this type of
operation. I got done with him about 5pm. - too late to head
home so I stayed the night.
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
I did some errands around town, mostly to the vet supply place for some needles
and ear tags and the auto parts store getting a lot of stuff for the old
trucks. I got home just before chore time.
Wednesday, January 29, 2003
I spent most of the day working on the 1969 Ford pickup and the 1979 Chevy
dump truck. The Ford is running ok now after new plugs and points but I found
the lower main seal is leaking badly. Guess I won’t run it too hard,
just dropping hay around the H.Q. is all. I put new valve cover gaskets on
the Chevy as well as new plugs and points. I found the old plugs were gapped
wrong. I took it out for a test drive and came back smilin’. Before
it was missing and bucking and really didn’t want to go over 35 mph.
I ran it out at 70 mph and still had pedal left. I love those old trucks
that I can still do a little work on myself.
Thursday, January 30, 2003
I grabbed Dakota early and saddled up. Cattle keep showing up from out east.
I am not sure how they are getting through the fences but it seems every
few days a couple more show up. It’s mostly ones that stayed around
late this fall and they know that there is a huge pile of hay here. I pushed
them out past the T gates and left them in Ewe canyon near Deadman draw.
I got home about 1pm had a quick lunch then went out and started working
on fence. I’m now working on the stretch that separates the two main
horse pastures here at the house. It’s a mess, posts rotten, rails
chewed up. It crosses a cieniga, which is kinda like a bog so the posts rot
really fast. I’m taking everything out and putting in new railroad
tie posts and woven wire horse fence. It will sure be nice when I am done
but there is a lot of work just to clear the way for the new fence. Today
I cut old rails and tossed them in a truck to go to the campfire pile. Tomorrow
I’ll get the tractor and pull all the old posts, some at the upper
end are still good, I’ll reuse them.
Friday, January 31, 2003
I worked more on the fence, pulling posts and saving what rails I could. It
took all day but I am about ready to start digging postholes. John and Frank
brought a load of hay up so I took a break from fencing while we unloaded that.
Frank is off for two weeks, going lion hunting. John is doing
some welding around town. Lyndsey is still on sabbatical up in
Sante Fe. I haven’t seen or heard from Alan in months.
I haven’t mentioned the weather for a reason. It’s
just been too NICE!!! Days in the mid 50’s! No wind, nights
in the low 20’s. I heard on the radio that it was the warmest
January on record for New Mexico, going back to 1898. I have
never seen anything like it. The ponds are free of ice, no snow,
and no wind. Just dandy!
Saturday I rode all day just looking things over. Took Dakota,
he was perfect as usual but seemed a little pokey. Till I was
coming home and ran across a bunch of horses I wanted to push
home and worm. There were 11 of them and as soon as I got behind
them and hollered they took off but they knew where they were
going and lined out real nice. Dakota woke up and wanted to keep
up with them so I let him. He’s a comfortable gallop. The
first mile was kinda fast and furious but after that they settled
down into a nice lope and he was happy staying behind at a good
distance just loping along. I got home just before chores and
heard the terrible news of the day. I was glad I hadn’t
heard before I went out.
Sunday, February 2, 2003
Over night the wind started to blow, and I mean blow. It lasted all day. Steady
breeze of 20 mph and gusts to 45 mph. I was out all morning filling feeders,
it takes about 4 hours to get to them and get them filled. When you fill
you can’t just set the pipe, turn the valve and go wait in the truck.
There are always cattle around so you have to stand and watch they don’t
knock the pipe out. So all morning spent in the wind. The dust was blowing
and the temp was only about 25, wind chill was in the teens, burrrrrrr. After
a long lunch and warm up I was out laying the line for the new fence. I stretch
a rope that is marked off with 8-foot gauge marks, get it running as you
like then stake it out. With a can of bright spray paint I go along and spray
along the 8 foot marks so I know where to dig the holes. It was a hard thing
to get any paint on the ground, most of it blew away
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