Cloudy Day

Today was a beautiful cloudy day on the ranch. 

Hot Pink

Papa and I came to Tucson on Monday.  We enjoyed a Boys and Girls Club dinner on Monday evening and we had fun with boys and girls at the Club at our regular time on Tuesday afternoon.  We've worked in the yard several hours and had lunch out today.  All the while, a small cactus with hot pink flowers has been blooming in the backyard of our Tucson house.

Scoping out New Water Line

Papa and I began a hike yesterday afternoon, with a little deer resting under a tree in front of the house.  He scampered away as we got closer.  We hiked down the canyon north of Buck Knob and over to the spot where a new water line and drinker will be installed in the coming weeks.  We headed north and followed the line the bulldozer will follow from the ranch road to install the water line.  As we got close to home, the sun had slipped behind clouds.  We were in shirt sleeves and enjoyed the beautiful day.

The Feeding Ritual

Papa goes to the corral every afternoon, for what has become a feeding ritual for our horses.  He usually goes to the tack room to get sugar cubes for each of them.  Then he goes over to the hay barn to get each of them a flake of hay.  Since Oscar is "in charge," he goes to the door of the hay barn to eat any hay remnants at the doorway while Papa is inside.  Oscar always gets his hay first, thenPablo, and finally Doc.  After taking a few bites, Oscar seems to think, "their food is better than mine," so he goes to Doc's and Pablo's food, to take what he wants, and they play musical chairs with each other's food.  They are fun to watch!

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.