Fergie at Work

Papa used Fergie (our tractor) today, to move a drinker, to move dirt around the Rock House fire pit, and to move a rock from one side of our home compound entrance to the other.  Papa and Fergie move very slowly, so it took them a few hours to do the chores.  We're grateful for Fergie, as all of Fergie's work is nearly impossible to do without a tractor.

January Sunset

The winter weather patterns this year have blessed southeastern Arizona with beautiful, sunny days, temperatures in the 60's to low 70's, and no precipitation in sight.  There were high clouds yesterday, which made for a dramatic sunset. 

Beautiful Morning in Tucson

I am in Tucson for an overnight, after volunteering at the Boys and Girls Club late yesterday afternoon.  I woke up to a warm, beautiful morning, with clouds over the Santa Catalina Mountains, and a lot of green in the desert.  The saguaros seem to punctuate the beautiful morning!

State of the Ranch Report

At dusk yesterday, Colter came by, after checking on the cows.  Papa invited him in for coffee.  It happened to be dinner time, so we invited him to stay.  I quickly heated chili that we made on Saturday.  I put together a platter of nachos and cooked apples with dried fruit for dessert.  We enjoyed dinner together and got a "state of the ranch report" from Colter.  We are happy our calves are about 10% heavier this year than last year.  The pregnancy rate was above 95% and cattle prices are up.  All good! 

Getting Ready to Ride

Papa's new horse, Doc, is gentle and walks rather slowly.  I rode him in November and thought today would be a good day to ride a bit.  The process of getting ready to ride takes time! 

Papa fed the horses.  Then he got Doc and picked up his feed barrel to take outside the corral.  A little bribing is good!  He brushed him and talked to him.  He put a saddle blanket on Doc, then a saddle pad.  Next came the saddle and adjusting the saddle.  Papa made the saddle for me!  Then he put on the bridle and reins.  After all that, I walked around with Doc for a few minutes before getting on.  My ride lasted fewer minutes than the time Papa took in getting Doc ready to ride.  I'm not an equestrian.  Maybe another day!

Pecking Order

It is interesting how our horses established a pecking order right away, after Doc came to the ranch. They continue to keep the same pecking order, even when waiting by the gate to greet Papa. 

Morning Parade

Every morning, over the past several weeks, we've had a parade of deer in front of our house.  There has been water in the drinker just east of our house and they go there for a drink.  There is a distinctive big buck among them.  He's missing an antler. 

Saturday Hike

After lunch, we hiked up the creek behind the Rock House, through a meadow that is odd because all the big rocks have been thrown to the sides.  It seems that someone had a reason, maybe to grow crops, to clear this big area.  We hiked up the rocky hill beyond the meadow, up and up to an old survey marker, dated 1916.  At that point, we rested for a moment and enjoyed the views, before hiking down the side and into a canyon that neither of us had been in before.  It was a beautiful day.  The grasses were high and swaying in the breeze.  There were potholes of water in the canyon. 

Adding It All Up

Papa, Colter, and the other cowboys went to the shipping corrals yesterday afternoon, after Day 2 of Winter Roundup.  They sorted and weighed all the calves, and counted them one more time.  They were pleased with the results.  Good job, Colter!  Over the next few days, he will decide which heifers to keep or sell.  There is always plenty to do on Winchester Ranch!

Winter Roundup, Day 2

The roundup was yesterday, along with hauling all the calves to the shipping corrals for sorting. Today was mostly preg checking all the mother cows.  It went like clockwork, and Colter preg checked over 230 cows by 11:30 a.m.  The cowboys took a break for lunch I prepared.  Then they counted the cows one more time before pushing them about a mile, to the Bull Tank pasture.  It was another good winter day on the ranch!