June
June 1 - June 8, 2003: No Guests
Monday, June 2, 2003
We spent a long weekend in
Albq. this week, got home late on Monday. It was a hurried weekend
of errands and shopping.
Tuesday, June 3, 2003
I spent the day at the courthouse
going back thru all the title changes for the ranch back to 1880.
I have some legal stuff coming up and need all my facts and chain
of title straight. It was pretty interesting, there have been
a lot of folks who have owned it, the longest was 12 years anyone
one person had it. In most cases the deed read for the sum of
one dollar, folks didn’t want to disclose the actual selling
price. I can’t blame them. But one in 1928 stated that
the place sold for $35,000, which was a lot of money back then.
Frank spent the day on the road again
so we could do our morning 200-bale work out. Lyndsey spent the
day working on tack. Maggie is just finishing up her order for
the Sundance catalog.
Hi 76, sunfactor 90, lo 45
Wednesday, June 4, 2003
We gathered all the horses before breakfast and
sorted the mares off then ran them down for their summer with the stud horse.
Saint sure was excited to see all his gals and got right to work with a couple.
Then we unloaded hay and Frank headed down for more. Maggie left about noon to
get to Silver City and ship off her jewelry it’s an overnight trip. Lyndsey
and I spent the rest of the afternoon worming horses. It has been a tough week
or so on our horses. Kitten is lame with an abscess from a stone bruise; Frio
is still lame as he’s been for a couple weeks now with ligament problems
in a rear ankle. Cooleye is lame from a stone bruise; Babe is lame from a puncture
and hematoma from being kicked by Cooleye. Rusty came in with a huge cut above
his tail, and Vaquero is lame with a stone bruise. Late in the day Lyndsey and
I branded a couple calves that were too close to the house for their own good.
I roped off Dakota and we had it done pretty fast.
Hi 68, cloudy but no rain, lo 48
Thursday, June 5, 2003
A woman from Datil called
about buying a horse for her 12-year-old son. She’s a gal
I have sold a few horses to and I know they have a good home.
Well at first I told her I didn’t have anything that would
work that I was willing to sell. Then I thought of one, the one
horse I said I would never sell. Doolin. He has worked for us
for eight years and is worth his weight in gold, but he is also
getting close to twenty and shouldn’t be working as hard
as he does here. I quoted a price and they came out to look at
him. It took the better part of the day, but they met my price
and he left in their trailer.
After they got on the road Lyns and
I saddled up and headed into 7HL to try and find the fillies.
We got a late start and only covered about a third of the pasture.
We saw no sign of them anywhere, not a single track. We did come
across the mean cow that Frank tangled with and got butted by
a few weeks ago. She was no more cooperative today than she had
been in the past. She was with three other cows and they took
off right up the rockiest slope of T Bar Ridge. We tried to turn
her back a couple times then she went on the fight. It was no
place to have a showdown so we let her go till another day. No
wolf is going to take her down.
Hi 76 scattered afternoon thunderstorms
but none here, lo 45.
Friday, June 6, 2003
Maggie, Lyndsey and I gathered
the bulls out of the south trap and pushed them into Negrito
pasture. Time for the party to begin.
It took a couple hours to find them
all and when we did they were all a pain in the ass. Fighting
and arguing all the way. When we came through the gate into Negrito
they got a whiff of women and started bellowing and bucking around,
just being real idiots.
We got to Dog Spring about 2pm and
let them drift. We took a break for a few minuets then heard
a huge smash of thunder, looking west the sky was blue black
and we decided to get a move on towards the house. As we headed
that way the wind came up with some spitting rain, then more
wind and lightning ripped the sky. Just as we were getting into
the H.Q. it started a light rain that was driven sideways, more
lightning put a quick in the horses steps.
It was down right chilly when we got
to the barn, in about 30 minuets the temperature had gone from
75 to 51.
Just about the time we got the horses put away and back to
the house for a cup of coffee, Frank called. He had been hauling
hay, as was the usual this week but his truck had broken down
in Reserve. I unhitched my trailer and headed there. He had a
car pull out right in front of him and had to down shift a 15,000-pound
load. The compression blew out the freeze plugs in his engine.
Something else to fix.
Maggie’s ’01 pickup is
not running right now either, I thought it was the fuel filter
and swapped that out but it made no difference. The engine just
shuts down with no warning. I’m sure it’s some stupid
computer thing, a sensor sending a false message. But it’s
no good when you are 4 hours from the dealer; all they can tell
you is to bring it in. So we will have to load it on a trailer
and haul it with my truck that has only one front brake.
Hi 75, very little rain, lo
45
Saturday, June 7, 2003
Three new fires we can see
from here started by yesterdays lightning, the closest is about
15 miles from the house.
We unloaded hay again as we have every
morning this week, but it was the last load! That made it a bit
easier. We have about 1300 bales in the barn now, it should last
till November. After we got done with that we branded a couple
more calves, then spent the rest of the day fixing rail fence
just around the H.Q.
The horseshoers Doug and Cathy are
here for a couple days, I’ve shod a few this week just
to try and save a couple bucks. They are doing the problem ones
and special needs, I do the easy ones.
For those of you who have met Doug
he just won a four state regional shoeing competition and also
is getting some air time on an Albq. Radio station with some
of his songs. He knows and always plays my favorite when he’s
here, Fire On The Mountain by the Marshall Tucker Band. The man
is good!
Hi 72 few clouds in the afternoon,
lo 42.
Sunday, June 8, 2003
Frank and Lyndsey have the
day off. I hauled some cattle out to Gilita Ridge then came back
and got salt and Maggie and headed to Snow Canyon to restock
that area. It was a pretty drive but the smoke is really pouring
in from the fire to our east, seems it must be getting pretty
big, we can see the smoke rising over Loco Mtn. and it appears
to be about a 2 mile fire line.
We got home about 2pm, a quick lunch
then I was out on Gambler hunting up loose horses to get them
in for shoeing. I rode and rode and rode and couldn’t find
them. All I saw was Elk and lots of elk babies, earlier in the
week we had been talking that is was about time but we hadn’t
seen one yet. I saw at least 50 brand new babies within a couple
hundred acre area. I worked my way up the mountain to a small
park about half way up and found them all lying around. I roused
them up and sent them scampering home. It was a great run, face
full of dust and the sound of thundering hooves. We started out
about three miles from the H.Q. and were home in just a couple
minuets. A nice Sunday afternoon ride.
Hi 73 few clouds, lo 39.
June 15 - June 21, 2003: Posse Week
Silver City Daily Press
June 16th ‘03
*EXTRA * EXTRA *
Firestorms in the High
Country
As all in our fair country have noticed by the smoke heavy in
our normally sweet mountain air, there are fires in the high
country. Thousands of acres of choice timber and grass lands
have been burning for a week now, making life in the area generally
unpleasant. The chance of rain seems to be just on the horizon
and moving this way. Hopefully it will douse the flames and cool
things off.
But, Alas! There is a new fire of sorts flaring up and one,
which no rain will be able to extinguish. Fearless Frank and
the Frisco River Gang are back in the area. Word reached this
office several days ago that Fearless Frank was seen in Horse
Springs with a whole new bunch of ruffians. He is back to get
more loot, which he has stashed over the years in the far reaches
of the high country. We can only assume he is in need of some
financing for other evil exploits he has planned.
A source of low reputation reported that Fearless Frank and his new gang spent
several days drinking and hell raising around that nefarious establishment
in Horse Springs which we all know honest men don’t frequent. Riding
with Fearless Frank are five known outlaws, every one of them worse than
any we have seen before. They include “Skeeter” Glass, and his
partner, “Big Mike” Collett. These two men have been known along
the Ohio/ Kentucky River country for years, card sharking killers to the
core. Worse yet they have brought along a young vixen already known for her
expertise stealing horses and cattle, she goes by the handle of “Cattle
Katie” whom I am sure we will her more of if something I not soon done
to correct her wayward youth.
Rounding out the gang are “Nevada Mike” and his partner “Raging
Ron,” Two drifters from the Nevada territory who unfortunately drifted
our way. They have left behind tales of terror on their journey south; from
stage hold ups to bar room brawls no town has forgotten their visits.
News of Fearless Frank’s presence made its way to the
office of the New Mexico Rangers as well as to the office of
this fine reporter. Arriving in the country late last night were
our old friends Capt. Bates and “Loco” Lyndsey Hobson.
With them a company of rangers eager to best Fearless and put
in end to the tremors he puts in the hearts of good men. Two
familiar faces are among the rangers, “Rowdy” Russ
and “Anything Goes” Andrea Imler. They have ridden
with the Capt. Several times over the years and are known to
be ones to ride the river with. “Rowdy” stated he
returned with a gun belt full of cartridges and every one of
them has Fearless’ name on it.
From up north in the hole in the wall country “Pappy” Vail and
his woman, “Luscious Liz” have ridden south to throw their guns
into the tempest. Three members of the famous Lukic family of lawmen are here
as well, with a well earned reputation that extends from California to the
Ohio Valley. They are brothers Dan AKA “Hoss”, and “Crazy” Otto,
and their cousin “Ten Guage” Tony.
Rounding out the posse is “California Lori” who appears to be a
lady of fine upbringing and culture. We hope she has the killer instinct deep
within which will enable her to survive the upcoming endeavor.
The wishes and prayers of all the good people of this country go with the rangers,
and the wishes are that soon the carrion feeders will enjoy a feast of Fearless
Frank and the Frisco River Gang.
June 22 - June 28, 2003: Summer Ranch
A good group for this week's general ranch week. We have
no veterans, kinda unusual for us
The crew includes Tom and Patricia from Ireland, Bill
from Colorado, Don from Virginia, Mary Anne from Arizona, and John and Marge
from New Jersey.
Monday, June 23, 2003
Mid morning saw everyone set with a horse
and outfit and headed out into Negrito pasture. The job of the day was to ride
the heifers and check them over. It’s about time most of them were calving
and we want to keep a good eye on them. Frank found one last week dead from
birthing and we want to try and catch that from happening again. Frank took
a long loop with his group down into Snow Canyon where a lot of heifers are
while Lyndsey rode the Dog Spring and Little Fence Spring area. Lyndsey reported
that a lot of the heifers had calved and problems seemed to be apparent.
When Frank got to Snow Lake trap he
found about 60 head in the trap, this area we are trying to keep
ungrazed till later in the growing season. They quickly gathered
them up and moved them to Snow Canyon. We’ll see how long
they stay there.
Hi was 78, sunfactor of 90 lo was 43.
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
Lyndsey worked for Maggie today,
she is way behind and buried in orders for her jewelry.
Frank and I rode out with the crew
into 7hl gathering up cattle that had slipped thru a gate which
someone had left open last week. We rode to Elladean where saw
old Banana Horns with about twenty cows. They were happy at the
tank so we left them there till we came back with others. We
split up into two groups, I took my half of the crew up the main
draw of Feathery Basin while Frank and his gang went over the
upper end. We passed a few head along the way and rode all the
way to the north fence. There we meet back up again and started
working our way back sweeping up everything. A bunch here and
a bunch there soon added up. By the time we got back to Elladean
we had about 80 head, but there was no Banana horns waiting for
us. He had grabbed his gals and split the scene.
It was a long afternoon pushing the
bunch to the North trap where we will hold them till the end
of the week and do some branding. Everyone got a good handle
on cattle driving and by the end of it was a well working crew.
A hot day, not a cloud in the sky was to be seen. Hi
77, sun factor 90 lo 46.
Wednesday, June 25, 2003
Frank worked around the ranch a bit today, moving
generators, fixing a big hole in the south trap fence where a tree had fallen
over it and the giving Maggie a hand.
We trailered out to Cowcamp to work
the rest of 7HL pasture. Lyndsey took the top with her crew and
I went down the canyon with mine. Before we had gone a 1/4 mile
we ran into cattle and the days work was on. We pushed these
ahead of us and kept picking up more along the way. By the time
we got to T Bar Tank we had about 60 head, there we met up with
the other crew and their dozen head. We held them for awhile
finding we had a couple split pairs which we left behind. As
we headed up past the canyon the tank is in we found all our
missing pairs and I was happy as we headed off with a quiet herd.
We also found about 150 elk at the
tank. It was a hell of a sight as they streamed out and wound
up the side of the canyon across from us. Another long afternoon
was spent driving the cattle into the North trap. By the time
we got to the trap we had about 80 head more making a good size
bunch to work for the rest of the week. But we never did find
Banana, he sure is good at hiding out.
A few clouds, it spat rain a couple
time but just cooled things off, hi 76 sun factor 85 lo 43.
Thursday, June 26, 2003
We all rode out into
the North trap and gathered in everything we had put in there
over the last couple days. It was pretty fast gather and we were
able to enjoy lunch at the H.Q. The wind started up as soon as
we sat down to eat, this changed the plan we had for branding.
We just couldn’t risk a fire so we decided to sort all
the cattle, cutting the unbranded pairs into a separate corral.
Instead of branding we would work the cows thru the chute and
worm them.
Our ground crew helped Frank and three
riders with Lyndsey and I in the sorting corrals. We sure had
a mixed bunch of cattle and it took all day to sort them all
out. I was riding Doc and he was his usual awesome self cutting.
He makes the most amazing moves and just when you think he is
wearing down he does it again and then throws a couple yeeha
bucks in his glee of a job well done. He almost got me off once,
but slipped back under me. He’s not doing it to get me
off his back, he just loves what he does so much. When he felt
me lose a stirrup and my weight shift he was right there to catch
me and stood absolutely motionless till I was rearranged and
then he was back of in his springing lope to find another cow
to work. John use to do all the pairing in a situation like this
and I was always glad for it. It is so time consuming and stressful.
But when the day was done we had made no mistakes it seemed.
But not trusting myself we keep the branded pairs on the water
lot and the unbranded ones in the corral, this way if we did
have a split pairs they were all handy and easily put back together.
The ground crew had lots of tales of excitement with proddy cows,
they learned how to climb a fence fast.
The day ended about 7pm with a lot
of work done and a crew hungry for one of Tawnya's good dinners.
It rained a bit just about the time we got done which put a
freshness in the air. Hi 76 sun factor low, clouds and
wind. Lo was 47.
Friday, June 27, 2003
We woke to a silent morning
as no cows were bawling and no mistakes made the day before.
As soon as breakfast was done we headed right to the corrals
and got a branding team whipped into shape. The wind was calm
and the temperatures cool so it was just right. Everyone found
a job and soon got handy, as the morning went on we got better
and faster. By mid afternoon 28 calves were sporting new brands
and the crew was satisfied. We then got our horses and put the
two bunches of cattle together and started the push out to Negrito
Pasture. As we headed across the H.Q. lot the crews mind seemed
to be else where or just the weariness from branding but we quickly
lost a calf who took off and ran back to the corrals. The last
place it had seen his momma. There was nothing that can be done
to change a lost calf’s mind so we only had the option
of turning the herd around and getting them all back to where
the calf was so we could get momma who didn’t seem to care
back with her baby. We got back, got the calf and got them paired
up and headed out again. This time everyone was back on the ball
and things went well. After we left the H.Q. lot we went thru
Big Pine gate and then up Negrito Canyon, it’s a tough
push and made no better when the weather came down on us with
rain and lightning. About half way Cisco who was being ridden
by Patricia started parking out to pee and only grunting. I swapped
horses and started walking him home. I traveled right into the
path of a major, back beating hail storm. Of course I had left
my slicker on Dakota who Patricia was now riding. It was a cold
and uncomfortable walk home.
When the riders got the cattle to
Burnt Cabin they headed back and then pushed the last bunch out
of the corrals and into the north trap where they will rest till
next week. It was a great crew which got a lot of work done.
It makes me feel good that most of the cattle are out of 7HL
for the growing season and that all the calves of branding size
are officially mine.
Hi 70 no sunfactor, lo 44.
|
