Siobhan trailing the heifers who snuck into the Upper Smylie hayfield
Monthly Archives: June 2015
No Bull!
Cows gather at the Elephant corrals
Each June, we artificially inseminate a selected group of cows to famous bulls–or at least their “on ice” reproductive avatars.
Crew at the ready
Thanks to Eamon’s crew, including his cowhand sidekicks Jeff (his father-in-law), Mike and Karen Buchanan (who have returned to cow work after retiring), intrepid ranchhand Brittany, and Eamon’s wife, Megan (on-site medic). The AI crew included his sister-in-law, Halli. And not to be forgotten is his mother-in-law, Georgia, who wrangled McCoy, 4, and Rhen, 2.
so WHERE’S the bull???
Oh wait–it’s Adam!
Megan from the AI crew (left) and Megan from the Ladder crew (right)
feeling pregnant
the real McCoy
Georgia on the job with Rhen (dirty job but somebody has to do it!)
Habitat
Maeve on Sarita
The other day, Maeve and I were driving along in the pickup, and I was explaining the concept of “habitat.” She said, “Oh…like our family’s habitat is the ranch!”.
Indeed.
Loading wool
Filo, trucker, Antonio, Pepe and Jenri with the loaded wool truck
After all our adventures with shearing (and we still have a few ewes to shear and lambs to dock!), we loaded the first load of wool today. Most of it is bound for the U.S. military. Here is our intrepid loading crew, including the Utah trucker who came to haul it. One more load to go!
The trucker said his Dad helped him buy this semi after he returned from eight years in the Marine Corps–three tours in Iraq and one in Afganistan.
Summer Solstice Sunrise
sunrise over Reed Draw
Summer solstice sunrise
shine on, shine on.
These long, lingering days
bring blessings.
The growing season rises up
hot and green and
full of promise.
Hard to believe
all that turns
on this day
as we begin the slow march
toward equinox,
toward winter’s nights,
cold and dark.
But for now
grasses grow, and
portend prosperity,
protection against that time
when winter threatens hunger.
Hope flows from this
summer solstice promise
of plenty.
Ladder Ranch
