February
February 25 - March 5, 2003: No Guests
Tuesday, February 25 2003
It was snowing as the sun came up and stayed that way
most of the day. Chores are taking a bit longer around here now.
We have a few more horses to feed. Moses is living here at the
main barn, he got a bit thin at the farm so he has his own pen
and loves it. Gets a big breakfast then goes out and stands in
his spot by the barn. He found it quick, on the lest windy side
and in the sun. He’s no fool; ya don’t live 30 some
years and not learn a few things. Belle is here too. She’s
back in with her blind daughter Helen. Helen was so happy to
see…. well, smell ... her mom after 3 months, whinnying
and chomping. Belle was like “yea, yea out of my way and
don’t bother me”. Ben has moved himself down here.
He was up at the upper corrals and able to go out into Bearwallow
pasture with nine other horses. We feed that bunch once a day
in the evening, so he started jumping the fence and coming down
for breakfast then going and jumping back to go out with his
buddies. Now he is just staying down here with the yearlings.
I think he put on a little weight and doesn’t feel like
jumping anymore. Dakota saw what was going on and he’s
now here as well. He showed up and has become like a dog in the
yard. Hangs out at the front gate. As soon as I come out he’s
right behind me where ever I go. If I go in the shop he stands
at the door and watches, if I get in a truck he looks disappointed.
The snow was pretty heavy at times but as usual every hour
or so the sun would break through and did a lot of melting. We
had probably 8 inches fall and three stay around.
I spent the day inside helping Maggie. A good place to spend
the day.
Hi 30 lo 22
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
About ten inches of snow this morning and snowed all day off and on. The sun
popped out and made some progress but then it started right back up again.
About 4 more inches fell during the day.
I had opened the gates so the cows could drift out but not
a single one wanted to go anywhere. I walked through them and
saw one blonde cow has a bit of amniotic sack showing. She’s
just a four year old cow, this would be her second calf so shouldn’t
be a problem. I had notice the other day one of her teats was
swollen but didn’t pay it much mind. Today it was really
big as was the rest of her bag. Looked to be a big milker. I
checked her a couple more times as the day went on. I spent most
of it in Maggie’s studio, it was another good day to be
there.
At evening chores the cow was still happy next to a round bale
gorging on it. It was snowing hard and I knew she was close to
calving. All she needed it to be was a bit darker, a bit colder
and a bit snowier. Stupid cow. After chores when it was just
dark, the wind was really blowing the snow, and the temp was
falling I went to check her. There was a new calf lying in the
hay pile. He was really big, bigger than Lizzie the 8-month-old
orphan here at the house. What were also big were mommas teats,
they were like balloons. I had a not so good feeling about this
as I stood there looking at the wet little guy. The snow blew
sideways in the truck headlights. I moved the calf so the round
bales acted as a wind block and covered him in some hay. Mom
didn’t really seem to care much about me messing with him.
There wasn’t a lot to do. A calf is always best off with
its mom. I hoped that if he could get a little nursing in he
could get a teat down to a manageable size. My biggest worry
was the teats being so sore mom wouldn’t let him nurse.
I was awake all night worrying about him. The wind howled and
the snow fell all night.
Thursday, February 27, 2003
I was out at the crack of light checking on him. I found he was still alive
but didn’t look like he’d nursed. I hustled through chores then
got Maggie to help me get the pair up the lane into the pen that leads into
the squeeze chute. Without much problem we got mom in the chute and a rope
around one leg holding it back that Maggie held as I milked the cow. She
was pretty wild at first then as soon as I started milking her she stood
a quiet as a ten-year-old Holstein. I got a couple pints off two teats but
found the third was dry and the fourth was infected. I put the milk in a
nipple bottle and stuck it in the calf’s mouth. I didn’t have
to teach this one how to suck. That couple pints was down the hatch in about
a minute. He hollered as I went back to get more. She didn’t have that
much milk. My milking hands are out of shape so it took awhile to finish
her off. Got a couple more pints and the kid downed it fast. We put some
antibiotic cream in the infected teat and hope that it clears up.
As we were driving past the upper corrals I looked over and
saw Rocky standing there. Funny he should be at Dog Spring. Then
I saw Cimarron. And hey there’s T.J. and Doolin, and Cibique.
And Chico, and Vaquero. There must be a gate open somewhere so
we saddled up to check. We rode out following tracks, which took
us up to N Bar Park. All the way across the park and down the
green gate road we went. It was kinda sloppy and pretty tiring
on the horses. Maggie was on Cooleye and I was on Gambler. Along
the fence about two miles we found the crossing. They had traveled
about ten miles from Dog Spring to find that hole and all the
way they were single file with a mission in mind. I am sure Doolin
was in the lead, giving orders and yelling at anyone out of line
or dallying along the way. We fixed the hole as best we could,
I’ll have to pack new posts in when the snow clears.
It snowed a bit off and on but was really pretty nice.
At evening chore I mixed up a bottle of fake milk and took
it to the calf. He gulped it right down. Then Maggie gave me
a hand building a tarp shelter around the lead pen to the scales.
It worked out pretty well and when we left the calf had a full
warm belly and was asleep on a hay bed we made with momma standing
over him. We’ll all sleep better tonight.
Hi 34, partly cloudy with wind and snow starting in the evening.
Friday, February 28, 2003
It snowed all night and gave us about eight inches by morning. Now with so
many of the Dog Spring horses showing up we are feeding 48 here at the H.Q.
There are still 18 out at the spring or somewhere in Negrito pasture. After
chores we put the cow we named Elsie in the chute again and milked her good
teats, got about a quart that we gave to the little guy we are calling Elmer.
Then I took a long nosed syringe and slipped it in her bad teat. It ran like
a faucet draining out all kinds of rotten milk. It was pretty gross smelling
as I held it in there for about 10 minutes. But when I was done her teat
was back to a normal size. I injected more antibiotic cream in the teat and
will drain it again tomorrow; hopefully it will come back on line and start
working. The fourth teat is hard as a rock and I hold little hope for it
to ever work. Such a shame, she’s a really nice cow.
It was snowy and sunny off and on all day. Most of the nights
snow melted from the sun even tho it never got over 25. We have
water everywhere; it’s going to be a great spring. As usual
just at evening chores it started snowing and it really came
down. It seems to always snow at chore time.
Most of my day was spent pouring over maps. Studying a ride
I am planning this year. I’m calling it the Pathfinders
Adventure Week, June 1 st through 7 th.
We are going to leave Albq. On Sunday as usual but instead
of driving all the way to the ranch we’re going about half
way to just west of Magdalena, New Mex. The rest of the week
will be spent riding to the ranch. We will be in the National
Forest all the way and going through country we have never been
in before. The first couple days will be kinda rugged as we go
over the Black Range and through the Aldo Leopold Wilderness
area with elevations of close to 11,000 feet. After that it should
mellow out as we get farther west. It’s going to be a faster
paced trip, we will have truck support, meeting us each night
with our gear so we don’t have to be held back by pack
animals. Now, I’m not saying we are going to gallop our
horses all day, everyday. We like ‘em too much for that.
But we will be doing a lot of trotting and a few long lopes,
conditions permitting. I think most of our travel will be on
old two track roads and trails. There are some marked on the
maps but we know not to trust them. Roads become trails and trails
become roads. A lot of the ride will be along the Continental
Divide. Anyone want to come along?
Frank pulled in about dark, he’s back to work. Lyndsey
called today wanting to come back but I still can’t afford
to pay her. She said she was sick of the city and wanted to get
back anyway so she will probably show up next week.
Hi 25 lo 19 sunny early, clouds and snow in the evening.
Saturday, March 1, 2003
More light snow over night putting a couple more inches
dusting on everything. The day was like the last few; some snow
then some sun, then more snow and lots of mud. I had planned
to ride today and try to find something out there to sell. Things
are tight as a new fence around here. But the weather kept me
in a truck. I put some salt out around Dog Spring and gave the
horses out there some hay. They were pretty happy about that.
Then drove out to 7HL and looked at the cattle there. The open
country is almost clear of all snow except in the little draws
and ditches and the steep north facing slopes. The cattle were
scattered well and seemed to be having a fine day. The afternoon
got sunnier and a whole lot of melting went on. It was mushy
on the way home and I almost didn’t make. On the way out
I had unknowingly been driving over ice that was frozen in the
ruts along the two-track road. On the way back I was breaking
through the ice that was a couple inches thick and sinking into
deep water filling the ruts. It really bogged that old truck
down but a lot of grinding and hoping got me through.
As the weather turned out I probably should have ridden today.
Frank is working for Maggie right now; he likes being in the
studio listening to her off main street music collection.
Hi 30-morning snow, afternoon sun. Lo 20
Sunday, March 2, 2003
It was snowing again when I got up and as usual it
got heavy while we were feeding. It keeps doing that. As soon
as we walk out the door to do chores it starts to snow. I wasn’t
going to let it keep me from riding like it did yesterday. I
had to get out and find some cattle.
I saddled up Gambler and headed out with a bag of cookies and
some water. We first went out to Burnt Cabin, as I got into the
trees the snow was pretty deep. Over two feet of it in some places.
The pines were all covered, with the gray, cloudy sky it seemed
like I was riding in an old black and white movie. I cut some
tracks before Burnt Cabin and lined out on them. They had snow
in them but the farther I went the fresher they got. Right on
the edge of the Negrito Triangle I came across five cows and
two heifers. I headed them back toward the nearest gate into
7HL, which was about three miles away through the timber. The
snow was still falling and getting a bit harder but luckily it
was at my back. The cattle traveled well, they seemed to know
I was taking them some place better. That area of Negrito pasture
we were in is all tall ponderosa pine and thick. Once the snow
gets in there it stays around.
About and hour later I closed the gate behind them as they
headed into 7HL seeing other cattle up on a clear south slope.
The snow was really starting to come down but I headed back south.
On the way to the gate I had seen fresh tracks of other cattle.
Half an hour later I was deep in the pines on tracks and the
snow was dumping down. It was piling up on my lap so much I was
brushing it every two minutes or so. Before leaving the house
I had put a snow blanket on Gambler. This is done by taking a
saddle blanket and not folding it but laying it out length wise
along the horses back before saddling. It hangs over his rump.
Any way the blanket had 3 inches on it within an hour. It was
snowing so hard I could hear it in the trees. It was hard to
tell if I was gaining on the cattle since the tracks were filling
fast but I knew I was close since I could still see them even
a little. Soon I came across two pairs and a bull. The calves
I can sell so I wanted to get them all the way home. I was about
five miles out and the snow was now coming in our faces. This
of course made the cattle reluctant to go that way and balky.
The bull was the worst - he just quit after a mile. I had hell
and my vocal cords to pay getting the cows to leave him. Gambler
was great; he wanted to get home but knew we had a job to do.
He worked his butt off and ended the day with a mouth full of
hair from biting the cows all the way back. About 3pm I was not
having a lot of fun, I was kinda wishing I had never found them.
But I couldn’t stop there. The snow was getting deep and
it was cold and getting colder. The sky was without light it
seemed but that of the snow. It looked like it was after sunset.
I have been out riding when it was snowing but never in a snow
like that. It was amazing. I would brush it off my legs and in
less than a minute I was covered again. Even as hard as Gambler
was working and as warm as he was, he still was coated in snow.
We were just above the H.Q. valley when suddenly the snow stopped.
In moments the clouds broke to show ragged blue patches. It was
almost 6pm and the sun was low, casting an incredible light.
I knew something special was going to happen soon. It did. The
sky swirled and wind came up scuttling the clouds into different
layers and types. Some were still so gray and so laden with snow
they were purple. Others were blown into streaming tendrils that
suddenly blossomed into prisms. Glowing with all the colors of
the rainbow as the sun broke for a brief moment before setting.
I had to stop and try to take a picture, one of the few times
I had a camera with me. I hope it comes out.
Soon after I came to the rim of the valley and looked down
to see home. Smoke lifted from both chimneys, and a yellow light
glowed from the windows with the promise of warmth and dryness.
I could see horses in all the different pastures, all with heads
down enjoying the evening meal. It was all a welcome sight after
a long day. I penned the cattle and forked them some hay for
the night then walked Gambler to the barn. Steam rose as I lifted
the saddle from his sweaty back. I slipped him a hand of grain
as I came back with the currycomb. Fifteen minutes later I took
the halter off him at the gate and he trotted out to tell his
pals of the day he’d had. He deserved to brag, we’d
gotten a good days work done.
As I walked stiffly to the house I saw we had gotten about
13 inches during the day. Kicking the snow from my boots at the
door I opened it to the smells of hot coffee and frying potatoes.
Hi 22 lo 18.
Monday, March 3, 2003
What a difference a day makes! Overnight the last of the weather blew out and
it got cold! It was –2 at 6am. I know not as cold as you poor folks
there in the New England who have been getting the winter of winters up there.
But still it was a big change after the warm winter we’ve been having.
The sky was deep blue and the snow was blinding. There was no going out without
sunglasses.
Frank and I had plans of riding but were slow to get going.
Maggie was headed to Silver City so we had recycling to load
up, laundry, make shopping lists and pay some bills. She left
about 10am and we were finally ready to go when the bank called.
Last week I had applied to get an account to take credit cards
so it would be more convenient. The application was nothing short
of a credit application, three pages. Now they want my last two
years tax returns, a financial statement, and will need to do
an on site inspection. What the hell is that all about? I thought
they’d want to make it easy for a business to get set up
since they’re making money on it. Screw that! We’ll
look and see if another outfit is easier to work with or we’ll
just stay a cash business.
We finally got out of here about 11am. And headed into Negrito
again. I went south and Frank went north of Dog Spring. The day
was incredible! There was not a cloud in the sky, not even a
jet contrail to scar the deep, deep blue. It seems if there is
snow on the ground the sky is bluer, wonder why that is? The
snow was deep in the timber and under it was thick soft ground
so it was hard on the horses. Frank was riding Kitten, I was
on Gambler. Kitten is my wife’s dumbass horse, the only
horse I know that I really dislike. He feels the same way about
me. Everyone else gets along fine with him and enjoys riding
him. He’s a blimp and needs the work and it sure was a
good fat burning day.
The cold of the morning worn off fast and when we left the
house it was vest weather. Air temp was about 40; sun factor
was in the 50’s. I have a black down vest and I tell ya
it’s the best color for winter riding. Gambler was spooky
the whole time because of the avalanches of snow coming off the
tall pines. With good reason I suppose, they could really hurt
if you got a direct hit. Most of these trees in that area are
70 to 100 feet tall. The sun loosens the snow on top and it falls
creating a shower of snow that WHUMPS down on the ground. Anywhere
close you can feel the shake of it. I bet it amounts to several
hundred pounds, definitely enough to break your neck. So he spent
the first part of the work looking out for those while I looked
for cows. Up in a meadow I saw 6 head of cattle digging around
in the snow He was so busy we rode to within 50 yards of before
he saw them and then jumped and snorted when he did. What a dork.
We gathered these up and headed back down toward the spring.
They were a pleasure to trail; three of the cows were about to
calve so they had no intentions of running around. The lead cow
took the path and they all lined right out behind her. There
were two ’01 heifers that must have been in that pasture
since last fall when we gathered. Where the others came from
I’m not sure. Just north of the spring I met up with Frank.
He’d seen nothing. We made a new plan. I’d take my
bunch to the Silver gate and put them in 7HL pasture since none
were any I wanted to sell. Then I’d ride down to Ewe canyon
and try and find a couple to sell that I knew were in that area.
Frank would keep riding the area he was in. We knew there were
at least a dozen more cattle in there and with the snow it should
be easy to find them.
When I got close to the Silver gate I saw there was a welcoming
party. Eighteen horses were hanging out a couple hundred yards
from the gate. They were enjoying the sunny day after the last
week of snow. Some were flat out on the ground, the others were
standing hip shot, heads down and I’m sure that if I’d
been closer I’d seen bottom lips drooping.
But I knew as soon as one woke and saw me that they’d
all become trouble. I tried to get by them with no disturbance
but Chili popped his head up and an instant later they all reacted.
Getting to their feet and ears perked. We were only 50 yards
from the closed gate so it was a critical moment. The cattle
had come about two miles through deep snow so they were tired.
I left them along the fence and went and opened the gate. As
soon as those horses saw that gate open they started for it.
I swung back up on Gambler and we stood our ground and shooed
them away from the opening. It was touch and go for a minute
as they were intent on going through, I hollered and charged
Chili and Vaquero who were the most insistent and they gave up
and broke into a run up the valley. All the others took off with
them, bucking and farting, kicking up showers if snow. Of course
they had to charge the cattle as they went by but luckily the
cows just sort of spread out of the way and then stood watching
the show. Gambler was perfect, they all ran past within 30 feet
of him, Cisco coming in close and throwing a kick his way. I
swear that little delinquent horse would have a switchblade strapped
to his ankle if he could afford one.
I gathered up the cows and we went on through the gate. The
open country was already clearing off fast. It was about 2pm
when I got there and it was 50% clear of snow. Just lots of mud.
I left the cattle in Ewe canyon and started looking through the
cattle that were already there. About a 100 where hanging out
along a mile of the canyon bottom. I spotted four heifers that
I wanted to sell, a paint and three brindles. They are nice heifers
but just not going to be my type of cow. I tried easing them
out and up the canyon, almost got it done. About a half-mile
we went till we got to Water At The Rock they realized that there
were four of them and just one of us. They broke four different
directions and it was a done deal. Stupid heifers.
I rode back to and through the Silver Gate, and back to Dog
Spring. Along the way I saw a wolf cross the meadow ahead of
me, had a radio collar on. It was big and in really good shape.
I’d seen no tracks telling me that Frank had come that
way with the cattle. When I got to the trail at the spring I
saw he was headed home. It was only about 4pm so I worried that
something was wrong with his fat horse. I put Gambler into a
trot and ten minutes later caught up with him. He hadn’t
seen any tracks of cattle and his horse got tired.
We headed on home. When we got there he put his horse up and
I went and pushed the bulls out of the corral their round bale
is in. They have been in there for weeks; the gates have been
open the whole time so they could wander whenever they wished.
They just never wished. Once I put them out on the grass on the
sunny slope above the corrals they were happy. Just needed some
direction I guess.
All day there was not a breath of wind, really unusual for
this time of year.
Tuesday, March 4, 2003
Another day and another world of difference. I woke to snow and wind, both
hard and heavy. Of course it lightened up right after chores were done. Frank
and I spent most of the morning unloading rails he had brought up the other
day. These are ones I bought a couple years ago from Maggie’s old assistant
Gene. We are just now getting them up here. They are pretty nice rails, 8 ft
long, 6 inches around and pressure treated. I’ll use them to rebuild
the upper corrals. They are in such poor shape the other day when the wind
was blowing so hard a whole section blew right over.
By the time we got them unloaded we were done being outside,
the temperature was only 22 with a good stiff breeze. Frank worked
on some broken things in Lindsey’s house, and put a woodstove
in his cabin. I did some house stuff as well. We have a 1962
O’Keefe & Merritt gas cook stove, just your basic white
enamel with a center griddle. A couple years ago while at a friends
place I saw a stove of the same vintage sitting in his junk pile.
On closer inspection I saw it was a fancy one, chrome oven and
door pulls and best, a solid chrome top. He said I was welcome
to it and I stripped all the parts off I wanted including all
the little gas lines to the burners and oven. Today I finally
got around to messing with it. The chrome was all dirty so I
spent several hours cleaning it with navel jelly {where does
that stuff come from?}. My oh my did it sparkle when I was done.
The hardest part was getting all the old stove parts off, but
finally did, and put on all the chrome. It took until chore time
to get it done but man did it look good!
Maggie got home about 8pm, walked in the door, and was surprised
and amazed at her new stove.
She arrived with a truckload of food and supplies. The first
few days after a town run we have salads and veggies with every
meal. As I mentioned before we only have old fashioned ice boxes
so produce doesn’t last long. There is also ice cream the
first night, but we have to eat it all because of no freezer,
it’s a tough chore but we manage it. There’re also
all kinds of treats, chocolate, fruit, nuts, ummmmm. But the
last few days before a town run are rough. We try to wait as
long as we can and get right down to the bottom of the box and
cupboard. Some of the concoctions Maggie creates take all of
her imagination. It helps to have one when you eat it too; it’s
always good tasting but curious.
The snow was off and on all day, just making more mud. Hi 25
lo 19.
Wednesday, March 5, 2003
Snow again at sunrise, it’s getting to be a regular thing.
Rusty I guess hasn’t forgotten the torture I put him
through during his treatments last month. This morning as I walked
by with a bucket of grain he kicked the hell out of me. He blasted
with both barrels but luckily only one got me, caught me right
on the point of the hip. It woke me up. We get too complacent
around these half-ton animals. It’s a good thing it was
just a weanling who gave me a reminder how quick it can happen.
There is no way you can react fast enough to avoid a seriously
thrown kick.
I spent all morning working on accounting stuff. I am sure
I will upset someone out there when I say I would rather go to
the dentist than deal with an accountant. They are a breed of
their own.
It was cold and windy again all day, with off and on snow flurries.
I oiled my saddle. My once a year oiling. I am not concerned
about the appearance as much as I am about the longevity and
silence. I hate a squeaky saddle. I hate riding with some one
with a squeaky saddle. I want to hear the birds, the wind in
the grass, not EEE EEE, EEE EEE, EEE EEE. Just drives me crazy!
Folks have commented that they oil their saddles all the time
but they still squeak. Rubbing oil on the surface does nothing
but make you slip around. You have to flip that thing over and
get into the guts of it. I believe in Neetsfoot oil, nothing
else. I use a syringe and squirt the oil way up into all the
cracks and joints. Pull the fender straps so you can get oil
where the leather wears over the tree and D rings. Get it in
all the stitching, get it everywhere. It’s messy, especially
the first time but it’s worth it. I’ve got an old
Textan that has been done once a year for about 15 years. It
is absolutely silent. The saddle has thousands of miles on it
and I have only had to replace the lining twice and the main
latigo twice.
March sure has been a lion so far; I hope that the old saying
proves to be true. There are a lot of things I should be doing
outside but on days like today with a wind chill of 0 you just
don’t really want to be out in it.
Hi 26 lo 19 cloudy with flurries.
March 6 - March 12, 2003: No Guests
Thursday, March 6, 2003
The weather keeps going back and forth. Today was a
nice one. Bright and sunny but still a bit chilly. Gambler and
I were out early headed back into Negrito pasture to hunt that
bunch of cattle we couldn’t find the other day.
We left the H.Q. through Big Pine gate. As soon as we got through
it I saw fresh tracks of a single horse. Kinda strange I thought,
so I followed them. I found Lucky about a mile up the canyon
asleep under a tree by herself. I had last seen her two days
before out at Dog Spring. I gave her a holler and she came right
over nickering all the way. I’m not sure why she came down
there, we had weaned her colt but that was weeks ago. I headed
out toward the spring and she fell in behind us. It had gotten
down to 9 degrees last night so everything was frozen hard. It
was tough on Gambler, he was not enjoying the chunky frozen ground
and all the icy puddles. When we got to the spring there all
the other horses were. Lucky ran up and got a big welcome and
where were you from the others. I had somehow left home without
gloves and was really hoping that I could find these cattle quick
since it was pretty cold in the shade of the trees. I took gambler
for a drink and looked down the valley, my spirits soared! There
was a line of cattle headed my way. When Gambler was done we
headed down. There where 6 cows and 5 calves. They stopped when
they saw me coming and I eased around taking a look at whose
they were. 5 cows and 2 calves were mine, the rest were Rockin
Arrow. I got them turned around back toward the Silver gate,
which was less than a mile away. With the Rockin Arrow cattle
my only real hope was to get them in the south trap. They started
off a bit trotty. I saw one cow of mine had placenta hanging
and a big bag. My guess was she had calved the day or night before
during the snow, probably lost her calf but I cut her back and
left her just in case she still had it somewhere. I got the bunch
to the gate with no real problems. It was a bit touchy as they
were more than inclined to bolt if I gave them half a reason.
Slow and easy we went. Checking them a bit this way and a bit
that way, it’s always delicate with Rockin Arrow cattle.
I swung down to open the gate into the south trap and as soon
as I hit the ground and they saw me on two legs they freaked
and bolted. I got the gate open and swung back up and ran them
down and got around them. Well from then on it was fast paced
as I got them headed back towards the open gate. They ran by
it once and I got them stopped and backed off just holding them
while they settled down enough to see the gate, Finally one of
my good cows saw it and went on through and the rest followed.
They were still pretty heated up and started trotting along the
fence. About then the cow I had left behind moooed and a Rockin
Arrow cow hollered back and just went over the fence like a deer.
I saw all the cattle were planning the same move and put the
heels to Gambler driving up the fence between it and the cows
turning them away from it. One yearling Rockin Arrow calf made
a wild jump and cleared the fence; the rest went wild through
the trees. I kept them in sight but well back, they were headed
the right direction and that was all that mattered. The snow
was pretty deep and it wasn’t too long before they tired
out. A cow of mine took the lead; she seemed to suddenly remember
the way home. The rest lined out behind her and they were pretty
much trouble free from there on. About 1pm I had them in the
pens and headed to the house for lunch. I gave Gambler a big
rub down and told him again what an awesome horse he was.
I grabbed Doc after lunch and headed down to sort the cattle. I wanted to cut
my big steers off their mommas so I can sell them next week. And I wanted to
get the Rockin Arrow cattle in a secure pen of their own till some one picks
them up. I feel like I should get a finders fee. Doc was excited to get saddled
and pranced all the way to the pens. It was a mess in there. The mud was half
way up his cannon bones and thick. His feet stuck with every step and I soon
decided it was no place for him to be. He was so excited I was worried that
he would wreck a joint trying to turn too fast in the gluey mess. We got the
Rockin Arrow cattle cut from mine and then I tied him up and sorted my pairs
on foot. It was really hard to walk and a stinking mud to boot. A hundred years
of cattle in those pens was really noticeable. I ran mine in the chute to ear
mark one, it was a bad decision. I really didn’t need to do it but I
had time and wanted there to be no questions at the sale from the brand inspector.
I reached threw and made the notch. The steer threw his head and drove the
edge of the knife deep into the pad of my finger. Same one I cut a few weeks
ago. I had just been out of that bandage a few days. This new one lies within
a hairs width of the first. Having a finger that looks like a Q Tip kinda gets
old. It has really changed my style of typing. That delayed things a bit. I
didn’t really even look at it. Just felt it. Left the steers in the chute
and Swung up on Doc all the while pinching the wound closed. Maggie helped
me wrap it up after a good washing. You sure get a good immune system to stuff
like that out here. It amazed me the first cut didn’t get infected considering
what I was dealing with at the time. But put me on a plane or take me to a
city, I’ll be sick within 24 hours.
I went back and let the calves out of the chute then hitched
my trailer up and hauled the momma cows out to 7HL leaving the
calves in the corrals till sale day next week.
Frank is working for Maggie most days right now. Still no sign
of Lyndsey.
John says we have 17 calves at his place now.
I have plans to meet Don And Jeanie in the morning at cowcamp.
They have a couple head of cattle in 7HL and I have two bulls
I want to get out. Hopefully the weather stays good.
Hi 35, sun factor 50, lo 9. Sunny and just a bit of a breeze.
Friday, March 7, 2003
It’s always a pleasure to ride with Don and Jeanie. We met at the gate
to cowcamp and rode down into T Bar Valley. Our plan was to get 5 cows of theirs
and three bulls of mine. We were going to pen them at Fence tank. We got to
the first feeder at 7HL and there was not a cow to be seen. I have been out
there at least once a week for the last three months and always there are at
least 40 there. We rode on down to the Y and there were only about 30 there,
usually there are 70 to 100. But luckily of those 30, 4 of them were Don and
Jeannie’s’. We headed them toward fence tank with a heifer of mine
I wanted to sell. I expected to find a pile of cattle at the fence tank feeder,
got there and there was not one in sight. The cattle we had traveled easy and
went right in the pen. And right out the other side. It was Don’s first
time at the corrals and he didn’t realize there were two gates. I was
on Dakota and we easily got around them then turned them back and into the
pen. We were real lucky they weren’t wilder. After that we headed out
into Pitchfork hoping to find my bulls and see more of my cows. We did a pretty
good loop and the only cattle we saw were four Rockin Arrow cattle trotting
off in the distance. We got up on a ridge and saw cattle way off to the west.
Not as many as I thought there should have been. Usually when I go out I can
see 150 in an easy loop and always see those three bulls. The weather last
week really drifted them somewhere. I just need to get out and find where.
While we were sitting on the ridge looking around I was thinking
to myself just how damn beautiful it was. Even with the browns
of winter. There were streaks of snow here and there lying in
the gullies and on a few slopes. Water ran down every draw and
was pooled up all along the valley. It doesn’t get any
better than this I thought. Don broke our silence with the comment “ You
could go a long way and see a lot of country and never see anything
as pretty as this”.
I was riding a new saddle pad Maggie got me when she was in
Amarillo. A Bach pad, it’s like a COWBOY”S CHOICE
pad but has a higher center with a memorizing foam in it. It’s
almost 2 inches thick where the saddle sits. I felt like I had
a mattress under my saddle and I was swaying side to side. Dakota
started out the day a little juicy and I was a bit worried about
this whole set up. As the day went on my horse and my pad worked
out fine. I did have to get off and tighten my cinch twice as
the pad settled but I think it may work out to be a dandy. When
I pulled the saddle I really liked the sweat marks I saw.
It was a pretty good day, hi 45 sun factor 55. It made a lot
of water run and really softened the ground up so we decided
to be safer than real sorry and leave the cattle in the pen overnight.
We will bring the trailer out in the morning while the ground
is frozen and haul them home then.
Saturday, March 8, 2003
Maggie and I were out early to get the cattle that were at Fence tank. On the
way out we saw a hundred cattle and of course all the bulls. Where the heck
were they yesterday?
We got to the pens and put out some hay. Everything was going
well since they were pretty hungry.
It went well till we climbed in the pen. There was a black
cow that suddenly pulled a Dr Jekyll on us and charged me right
away. I told Maggie to keep her eyes open and not get too far
from the fence. This cow was bad. We eassed them around getting
them all up to the end of the trailer several times, even had
a couple get on. But that damn cow would freak and turn and charge
back at us. Maggie had never been in the pen with a cow like
that. She’d watched a few times but that fence being there
or not sure changes your outlook on it. The cow made a rush at
her and she froze, I threw my stick and hit it in the head diverting
its attention. I yelled at Maggie to stay awake and ready and
keep a hand on the fence, there was no bluff in that wildass
bovine. A few more minutes of quietly easing them around and
the cow made another charge at Maggie. I watched in horror as
the cow moved fast and she didn’t. The cow just about had
its head buried in her belt buckle when she let out a blood-curdling
scream. It was something out of a picture show. It did the trick,
that cow stopped after blowing snot on her shirt and ran the
other way. It didn’t stop running till it was on the trailer.
Another one jumped on with it, I wasn’t going to let her
get back off and dashed through the other cattle and jumped on
the trailer to close the center gate. Just as I got on the trailer
she turned and started back. I got a hold of that gate and swung
it for all I was worth. It slammed shut and latched fractions
of a second before she hit it. If it hadn’t of latched
I’d of been a mashed potato. Things got better now that
she was out of the way, but she was still kinda in the way. The
trailers are set up with the front section being the largest
holding 6 to 8 cows and the back section will hold only 2 or
3. The wild cow and her buddy were in the front. So we got two
more cows in the back and then had to open the middle gate and
poke and holler them around the gate into the front. Of course
that black wild thing came back the other way and got her self
hip locked between the gate and the side of the trailer. She
got mad and fought harder which only made it worse. We backed
off and let things settle down in there and finally she was able
to realize if she went backwards, not forward she could get out.
So now we had four in the front and were able to get the last
two on the back. It had taken two hours to get them loaded and
the sun had been shining bright. It was only 9am but things were
getting plenty muddy already. We made it out but most of the
way we were throwing up rooster tails of mud from the spinning
tires.
We had left home with no breakfast so now that it was mid morning
when we got home we had a big brunch. Frank had taken care of
the feeding while we were gone. I left the cattle on my trailer,
I wasn’t about to let that crazy thing back off. Don came
to pick them up just when we got done eating. We backed his trailer
up to the rear of mine to run the cattle from one to the other.
We roped and tied my heifer that was on so she couldn’t
follow the others. It went fine and they were on their way with
our warnings about the crazy cow.
Frank and Maggie headed off to her studio to work and I fired
up the tractor and put out round bales for the bulls. As I was
doing this I saw Elmer nursing one of Elsie’s good teats.
Yahooo.
I spent the rest of the afternoon cutting old wood around the
shipping pens. We had a lot of junk wood scattered around there,
old fence rails and such. We’re about out of firewood so
I figure to clean the place up and add to the woodpile. I got
a truckload cut in an hour or so and dumped it off at the house.
I had broken a round bale down at the pens so I haltered up
Chancy to lead her down there knowing all the weanlings would
follow her. We were just coming down past the house when Ben
comes charging down the hill. He ran full speed into the group
of weanlings chasing and biting at them, he chased them right
into the barbwire fence. They hit the fence just yards from where
Early had been killed a couple years ago. Of course the best
of the bunch, Darkeye, got into it the worst. She got her front
end over ok but the wire twisted like a vise around both hocks.
She was fighting it and I watched knowing she was destroying
herself. There was nothing I could do, I was 50 yards away. Frank
had been outside starting a generator and was closer than I was.
He started to run to her and I hollered for him not to run. It
would just freak her out more. After 45 seconds of fighting and
trashing she pulled her legs through the wire. She stood shaking
and dazed now caught in an alley between two fences. I caught
Chancy who was dragging her lead and led her to Darkeye. I was
amazed to get close and see there wasn’t blood and was
no gaping wounds. I walked Chancy and Darkeye followed to the
end of the alley where Frank had a gate open. All the while Ben
is still running all around chasing the other weanlings and trying
to cause another wreck. I was so pissed I could have shot him.
We got Darkeye and the other weanlings in their corral and looked
them over. Rusty had a couple cuts as well as Melba, fortunately
nothing serious. Darkeye was lucky; she must have had her legs
in the six-inch spacing between barbs. Her hocks are cut a bit
and missing hair but the worst is the heavy bruising and the
broken blood vessels. Swelling and edema set in fast. If she
were halter broke I would have iced her hocks but as it is I
knew that would just freak her out more right now. She didn’t
want to walk but I was able to get her in the hospital pen. I
gave her some feed and bute and she seemed to relax some. My
big worry is all the swelling and fluid will break apart tendons
and muscles and ligaments messing up the joints up for good.
I have a feeling she is about to get halter broke.
I think we have rounded the corner of winter and I can safely
feel the worry of it is over. Even if a big storm does come now,
the days are longer and the sun stronger where I don’t
think it would be life threatening to the cattle. Spring is in
the air. Today was 51 after a low 0f 19. Sunny with a bit of
a breeze. Now we just have windy season top get through, usually
march 15 th through about mid May.
Monday, March 10, 2003
I was right, spring blew in yesterday. Warm and balmy with a hi of 55 and a
sun factor of 70. I worked on fence and worked in a T Shirt! I know you folks
up north are still in the grips of winter but take heart, spring is here
and headed your way.
Not a lot to write about seems if I’m not horseback I’m
working on fence. We have a cattle guard on the driveway next
to the shipping pens. Every fall during shipping the fence on
either side of it gets trashed. Last year was especially bad
and we ranch rigged it with old boards and wire. It was the first
thing you see as you come into the valley and looked terrible.
I tore everything out and started from new. Dug holes for four
posts, got them set and tamped. Put up four rails and then drove
wood posts stockade fashion nailed to the rails. No cow is getting
around that cattle guard or will even think of trying. I had
planed on a half day job and ended just as the sun was going
down.
Today I worked on the long alley fence here near the house
where Darkeye and Early both ran into it. The ground is perfect
for driving posts. It’s moist all the way down and takes
a post. I drove 36 4-inch wood posts along the fence between
the metal posts that were already there. And stapled the wire
to the posts. This will keep the wires from twisting and flipping
over it’s self if something does get caught in it. The
staples are large U shaped devices with one leg a bit shorter
than the other. This is done I think so your first blow with
the hammer will always glance off and smash your holding fingers.
After that I set a top rail along the posts even with the top
wire. Now they will see it. A wire fence with steel posts is
just too hard for a frightened horse to see.
Today was another perfect spring day. Lots of sun with a hi
of 62, sun factor of 75. John said it was 82 down at the farm
today. Overnight low was only 27.
The best thing about the last two
days was the lack of wind. We should be just about to start our
windy season. It usually runs from mid March to mid April. It
blows from 10am till 6pm, any thing under 20 mph is a gentle
breeze. I can’t wait.
Wednesday, March 12, 2003
Yesterday was one of the nicest days since last fall.
Hi was 64 with no wind and a sun factor of 75. I was Manual Laboring,
driving fence posts all day. This time up at the guest camp,
replacing all the railings along the boardwalk. Kind of a pain
in the ass but way overdue in being done. As I was cutting the
old stuff up to clear the way it was literally dust in the logs.
I use a 12 lb sledgehammer to drive the posts, it makes you sleep
well. I got 36 posts driven, I figure about 120 will do the job.
Frank and Maggie have been stuck in the studio while I was
out enjoying the day and breaking a sweat. I actually got sunburned
arms!
Overnight lo was 21.
Today I was feeling a bit done in from my post driving so I
grabbed Gambler and we rode a loop out through a bit of Negrito
pasture. First to Dog Spring, seeing 13 horses along the way.
Then up to the Lookout Meadows where we saw tracks of a few more
horses and a few cattle. None were new so we didn’t follow
them. We crossed over Negrito Mountain and suddenly found ourselves
back in winter. That side of the mountain was still deep in snow.
We stayed to the ridge but still we found our selves in patches
that were easily close to three feet deep. We crossed Quaking
Aspen canyon where the creek was running out of its banks. Gambler
is not a water horse so he fretted a moment over the fast water
before he leaned back and launched himself. He is such a smooth
jumper. We lightly landed with ground to spare. From there we
hooked up with the main road. Not a track on it. No one has been
past our driveway in months. I followed the road home getting
in just in time for lunch. The ride loosened me up and the fence
posts called so I headed up and got 22 posts in the ground before
chores. I have filed the teeth on one of my chainsaw chains till
they are really long. It works great this way for cutting length
wise along the post making sharp points on the end for driving
in the ground. An old trick I learned years ago from a fella
I use to cut timber with.
After chores just before dark I loaded up a 200 pound protein
block and some salt to take out to the Dog Spring horses. On
the way out I saw 11 Mule deer standing right on the road. Deer
are scarce around here, I was happy to see them. I dropped off
the block and salt then on the way back I saw about 125 elk jump
into the south trap headed to the new green grass around the
Homestead well. I wasn’t happy to see them! It is starting
to green up under the trees and along the tanks and streams.
Those folks coming out in May and early June are in for a treat,
the wild Irises. We haven’t had them in over five or six
years but this year will be great with all the moisture. Millions
fill every bottom and draw with their purple color; it’s
amazing to see.
March 13 - March 18, 2003: No Guests
Thursday, March 13, 2003
Another great spring day hi was 65 with a sun factor
of 80. I worked on fence all day, driving posts with sweat running
in my eyes. Twenty feet away was a patch of snow 2 feet deep.
Since I was alone I worked bare-chested, got sunburned too. It
felt great. We better enjoy it; the weather channel is calling
for a big change at the end of the weekend. I was on the hill
driving posts like a mad man when I saw a truck coming down the
drive. It looked familiar but I couldn’t place to whom
it belonged. It got nearer and stopped, a door opened and a dog
jumped out. I knew I’d seen that dog somewhere. Then a
woman gets out, she was short, real long hair and a big smile.
I was pretty sure I knew her. When she said “Hey Boss man” It
all came back to me. It was Lyndsey! Back from 10 weeks living
the soft life in the city. She was sure happy to be back, we
were happy to have her back.
She may not be so happy at the end of the day tomorrow. We
are gathering the North trap and branding some calves. The corrals
have dried out enough to work in there. We need to get it done
before the weekend weather muddies them up again. Besides
warm it was a bit breezy in the afternoon as some high thin clouds
moved in, Overnight low was 19.
Friday, March 14, 2003
Was cloudy from sunrise to sunset, but warm. Hi was about 60, no sunfactor.
Got a bit breezy in the afternoon. We all saddled up and got gathering pretty
early, had the whole north trap gathered in the corrals before 11am. We had
about 100 head in there and decided to let them settle on hay while we ate
lunch. After lunch Frank and I sorted the cows from the calves just a slick
as you please with good horses, leaving us with 13 that were big enough to
brand. There are new little ones all over the place now. We got a fire going
and soon were at work. It’s been months since we had our hands on a
rope and we were all rusty, heck to be honest we were corroded! It took forever
to get the job done. I was roping off Dakota; his first time in the branding
pens other than sorting. I had swung a rope off him but never actually roped
something. At first as I got close enough to a calf to throw a rope he would
reach out and bite it. It took a few minutes to get him to understand that
we were not biting them today. We were in stealth mode. He picked up on it
pretty quick. Every time I missed….every throw… he would stop
and stand still as a post as I rebuilt my loop. The first time I caught a
calf and dallied asking him to pull from the horn he scoooched up and got
humpy but settled right down. That first calf I caught, Frank was tailing
down and I was able to move Dakota to the side pulling the rope and pulling
the calf’s feet from under it at the same time making it an easy throw
for Frank. Dakota started getting into it and understood how to set me up
for a throw. It was as if he had been doing it his whole life. The only thing
he didn’t like was the smoke from the branding fire; he shied away
from that messing up a couple throws. He was perfect when I swung down to
help get a caught one to the ground. He stood right where I parked him even
with calves running under and around him and ropes flying. I couldn’t
have been more pleased with the way he worked.
Maggie got a couple good catches with her fat horse Kitten.
He’s great in the pen working but just head home and he’s
a jigging fool.
Lyndsey had twisted her ankle last night so she was little
help compared to her usual in the pens. Frank was having an off
day too, cussing his rope most the time.
Saturday, March 15, 2003
I turned the post driving over to Frank and Lyndsey. Frank had said he needed
some exercise after working in Maggie’s studio so much. He got it.
They got about 20 posts driven which finished off all needed along the boardwalk.
I went out to fill up feeders getting ready for some moisture coming our
way.
I got about a mile south of cowcamp when the truck started
bucking like it was running out of gas. I knew both tanks were
fresh filled but it died any way. I had a good idea what the
problem was. We have six five hundred gallon storage tanks for
diesel and gasoline at the H.Q. Late every fall we get them topped
off for the up coming winter when the delivery truck can’t
make it in. About March we are always almost out of fuel. We
try to make it last as long as possible, never filling a truck
just taking as much as you need for the next job. Always making
sure there are a couple gallons around for the generators. Last
week I put a couple gallons in the truck and it was the last
couple gallons in the tank. The fuel truck came that very same
day but the old fuel had already gone through the system. So
I figured my fuel filter was clogged. I spent some time under
the truck getting the filter out as well as getting a good bath
of gas. Seems you just can’t work on a fuel line from below
without at least a pint running down your arms and up your sleeves.
The filter was a mess; all kinds of crap from the bottom of the
storage tank had stopped it up. I ran a wire through it to allow
the fuel to go straight through. Not recommended unless you are
a long walk from home. Put it back in and drained some fresh
fuel off the tank to dump in the carburetor to prime it. It fired
right back up and in less than 45 minuets we were back on the
move.
I saw about 150 cattle out there, 11 new calves, and plenty
of cows about to calve. The two year old heifers are so heavy
bred they look as tho they swallowed a 55 gallon barrel.
Clouds came up in the afternoon and the wind really started
cranking with gusts up to 30 mph.
Sunday, March 16, 2003
A few snow flakes as we did chores this morning, the wind blew hard. Frank
left about midday to get some of Maggie’s packages to UPS pick up.
The closest is in Glenwood 2.5 hours. Then he is going to stay and take his
dad to a Drs. Appt. on Monday. Lyndsey asked if she could have Sundays off
till things got busy. Strange concept, I thought things were busy. But you
know me, I let her. I spent the day working on the roads around the H.Q.
Things have dried out to just the right point to do some road work and have
it set up well and pack. I cleaned all the run off ditches and little catch
basins filling the dump truck 9 times. I dumped each load back on the road
where it had come from in the first place. The runoff takes it one direction
and every couple years I take it the other.
Through the afternoon as I worked the snow flakes became flurries,
then about chore time there was light snow and a fierce wind.
As we were getting done with chores the snow became pretty heavy,
the wind driving it sideways. Now at 7pm the wind is howling,
snow is flying, the house is filled with smoke from the woodstove
that won’t draw against the continuous blow. It is 19 and
I have no idea what the wind chill is.
Monday, March 17, 2003
All night the wind blew like I have seldom heard it.
I am sure there were gusts well over 50 mph. The house shook
and rattled. Curtains fluttered and the snow was driven under
the door and lay white two feet inside the house. We had to let
the woodstove go out due to the smoke and the fireplace had no
chance to compete against the chill the wind drove in.
As I listened to the wind rage, the night outside was a strange,
soft glow with the full moon and all the snow. Getting up at
5am you couldn’t really tell when the sun came up, it just
stayed dull white.
It was a white out at chores, visibility was 15 yards, and
the snow was falling and blowing. Just swirling white. The wind
took your voice away, there was no talking unless you were head
to head with someone. It stayed that way all day, white and windy.
I had put out three round bales yesterday and the cattle seemed
happy as can be with heads buried in the bales. There is no color
to them but white. We have a lot of calves here near the H.Q.
and they were all lying in the loose hay covered in snow. Tough
creatures. At evening chores I was the last out and when I got
to the corrals I saw one of the weanlings was missing. Lyndsey
hadn’t noticed, she’d just been head down against
the wind and snow. Looking around the corner of the barn I saw
Melba down in the snow colicing. Couldn’t have been a better
time for it. We got her in the chute pen and really had no problem
getting some Banamine in her. There was no walking her around
since she’s not halter broke. We just let her alone and
hoped for the best. By the time chores were done she was feeling
a bit better but still pawing and rolling. We tried to catch
her before she did but she got a couple good rolls in. The worry
here is that they will twist a gut. I’ve had few weanlings
colic, and never had one twist so I hoped for the best. Maggie
says their guts are young and tight, who knows we’ll see.
By days end there was very little new snow around the house
area, the wind swept it all away. I’m sure it’s piled
up deep in the trees. The hi temp was 22, lo was 18.
Tuesday, March 18, 2003
The wind blew just as hard all night, again a night with no woodstove heat.
The snow tapered off to flurries, some were pretty heavy.
Melba was still alive and looking for something to eat in the
morning. I had gone out and given her more drugs about midnight.
I guess Maggie’s theory was right. After chores here, we
hauled some hay out to Dog Spring. On the way up the driveway
two wolves crossed the road right in front of us. They had been
down around the cattle and all the young calves. We will have
to start coming down every hour or so to keep them away.
All the horses there at the spring were ganged up in the pines
and came drifting out as the chuck truck pulled up. They all
looked good and were feeling frisky. The snow in the trees was
two to three feet deep. I stepped into one drift that was way
over my waist.
On the way back down the drive way we saw three coyotes, doing
the same thing the wolves were. Not much out there to eat except
calves.
As we crested the rim of the valley you could see the snow
coming over the mountains to the west. It was on us by the time
we stopped the truck in front of the house. Now at 4pm it has
been snowing and blowing all day. Just the sort of day to stay
in and do taxes. This is the third day of no heat, we are wearing
coats and hats around the house. What happened to that great
weather of last week!
March 27 - March 31, 2003: No Guests
Thursday, March 27, 2003
It was a cold windy day, gusts to 50 mph.
Frank went to Glenwood to take a colt-breaking clinic from
Buster McClaury; he’ll be gone four days. He took our horse
Cowboy to work. Lyndsey hid in the barn all day cleaning saddles.
I loaded up tools in my truck and headed out to the north fence
along Pitchfork pasture. It took an hour and half to get out
there. I had to cut three big pines out of the road that had
blown down in the last couple months. My job was to replace a
section of fence that had burned out last year during the Middle
Fire. The forest service had paid someone to fix it but it never
got done. All the wood posts had burned out at ground level and
a hundred yard stretch of fence was laid down. The wire was fine
so it was a matter of driving some metal T posts and building
two H braces for the gate. It took all day to get the job done.
The wind howled and pines swayed the whole time, drowning out
any other sounds. A flock of Blue birds swarmed in and watched
for a few minutes. On the way out I saw three groups of elk,
each numbering about 30 head.
Hi 35 lo 22 few snow showers at evening chores.
Friday, March 28, 2003
A really raw day, gray and windy. Lyndsey and I rode out to check the Dog Spring
horses. It took awhile to find them; they were way down in the meadows along
Snow canyon. I decided to bring Babe home and put her on feed. We got home
about 2pm and were chilled to the bone. The temperature dropped all day and
snow started just as we got in. the rest of the afternoon was spent trying
to warm up.
While we were doing chores I saw a bunch of cattle run in from
Bearwallow and go to the shipping pens, strange. I jumped in
the truck and drove down there and found four Rainy Mesa ranch
cattle and one of mine. They were wild and took off as I pulled
up. I quickly laid a Hansel and Gretel trail of hay to the corrals
and jumped back in the truck, zoomed up the road and cut them
off just as they were about to jump the cattle guard. They turned
and ran back to the corrals. I let them settle a bit and get
a taste of the hay, and then eased up. They saw me coming and
tried to make a break for it. I floored it and then slammed on
the brakes sliding to a stop across the gate opening. The wildest
cow slammed into the brush guard on the front, that stopped her.
I jumped out and swung the gate, caught! At chore time it was
snowing really hard with about 2 inches on the ground.
Hi 28 lo 19.
Sunday, March 30, 2003
Yesterday I rode down through Rocker Canyon to Negrito canyon and around past
the airstrip still looking for a few pairs I know are back in that country
somewhere. I saw some old tracks but nothing new enough to follow. The day
was sunny; by noon all the snow was gone leaving mud for a couple hours but
it dried out fast. There was still some deep snow under the Spruce trees
on the north-facing slope of the canyons; the streams were running deep and
fast. On the south slopes yellow and white snow flowers were blooming, there
were flocks of Bluebirds and a few Robins. Just 20 yards of canyon bottom
separated winter from spring. It never really got too warm tho, the air temp
was only about 35 but the sun factor was 55. I was on Dakota who was just
not into it at all. He slogged along and tripped and stumbled his way down
the canyon. He hates going for a trail ride. Now if we had come across some
cattle he would have been all right. He just really irritated me.
Lyndsey stayed close to the barn cleaning saddles, doing a
few repairs here and there. Maggie stayed busy in her studio
up close to the gas heater.
Today I spent the day working on the corrals at the main barn,
I got four sections replaced. It took all day. First take down
the old fence, cut it up for firewood and haul it to the fire
pit. Then dig six postholes, set new posts, tamp ‘em tight.
Then nail up the rails and call it done. I worked alone but had
plenty of help. This is in the area the weanlings are in and
it was all pretty exciting to them. Especially when I fired up
the chainsaw. But with in a couple minutes they were so used
to it they were in the way when I was cutting. Of course the
usual bucket of nails got knocked over, and a hammer carried
away. While I was tamping the last post the first one was getting
used as and ass rubbing post and pushed sideways. Oh they are
so cute!…yea right. It was a great spring day, temp up
in the 50’s after a low of 22.
Monday, March 31, 2003
Some friends from Albq. whom we hadn’t seen in a couple years came by
so the day was spent visiting with them
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