Summer Clouds

Summer clouds bring rain to the desert.  We woke up to clouds in the sky.  It's a beautiful morning on Winchester Ranch!

Hedgehog Cactus

We have had a dry spring on the ranch, so there have been fewer cactus blooms this year.  On a trip into town a few days ago, I saw these hot pink blooms on hedgehog cactus along the way. 

Colter Lee's 6th Birthday

Carly invited us to join them for a tacos last night, to celebrate Colter Lee's 6th birthday.  I took a chocolate cake for dessert with candles.  There were sparklers, a pinata made by Madilyn hanging from a tree, and smiles all around.  Happy Birthday, Colter Lee!

Carly

We are grateful to have Colter as a partner and manager of Winchester Ranch.  We are equally grateful that Carly comes with Colter!  Carly is a loving mother and wife.  She has been especially attentive to Colter over the past several weeks, as his broken leg heals.  Carly is a barrel racer and equestrian.  She rides regularly with Colter, and she has been riding the ranch to check for new calves this spring.  She almost always brings one or two of the kids with her to ride.

We say about Carly and Colter's kids that they are "just about perfect."  They are exceptionally well behaved, which is a reflection of Carly and Colter's discipline and expectations.  Over the past five years, we've had Carly and Colter over for lots of meals.  Carly pitches in the moment she arrives, so that its hard for me to get a big meal on the table without her!  Carly tells things as she sees them, no nonsense!  She always has a smile.  Papa and I are happy to have Carly in our lives!

Horses Manes

While walking a couple of days ago, our horses saw me and seemed to know that I was on my way home.  They turned and began walking quickly toward the gate for our house.  They beat me to the gate but I didn't let them in, patting each one and speaking to each.  They crave attention!  Our horses are of quite different coloring and their manes are different too.  Oscar is a redhead.  Doc is so dark brown, he's nearly black.  Pablo is a paint with a striped mane and a cowlick.  We love our horses!

Checking Water

Water is probably the most important ingredient of successful ranching.  Winchester Ranch is not only a desert ranch, but the whole of southeastern Arizona has endured drought conditions for several years.  We hope for enough rain each year to keep perennial grasses and other native vegetation alive, and to keep the water table high enough that we can pump water from existing wells.  Currently we have 250+ mature animals on the ranch, including mother cows and bulls.  Our mother cows give birth during the spring, so they are nursing over 200 calves, which requires more water than usual.  During summer months, our herd consumes approximately 5000 gallons of water/day.

 

Our ranch water system is dependent on pumped water from wells.  We are thrilled those 

few days of the year when the streams on the ranch run!  Winchester Ranch water statistics:

5 wells, with 1 of those used as backup

4 solar pumping plants
1 diesel powered submersible pump used regularly at night, and 1 on standby

1 commercial power pump

1 spring on Javelina Peak that produces a small volume of water to 1 drinker

30+ miles of high pressure water pipeline

40 drinkers

16 storage tanks that will hold up to 90,000 gallons water

4 dirt tanks - only fill from seasonal rains

4 concrete dams - only fill from seasonal rain

With all the drinkers and storage tanks, there are hundreds of valves and fittings.  The valves and fittings seem to freeze in winter and leak in summer.  When "checking water," there are lots of parts to check.  Colter normally "checks water" across the ranch.  Papa has been "checking water" over the past few weeks as Colter is recovering from breaking his leg.  Its a big job!

Lechuguilla Blooms

Lechuguilla consistently bloom in June on the ranch.  As our cattle population on the ranch has increased, lechuguilla blooms have decreased, because the cows eat lechuguilla shoots.  We have considerably fewer blooms this year than in years past.  Still they are fragrant, bright, and their tall flower stalks are beautiful.

Mom's 77th Birthday

Mom, also known as Grammar, is celebrating her 77th birthday today! Papa and I spent Easter weekend with her in Paris.  We made many happy memories. 

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Summer Sunsets Begin

It seems the sunsets in summer are more colorful than during the rest of the year.  Last night's sunset was the first "WOW!" sunset of this summer, full of bold colors.

Morning Ride

Will and Savannah are staying on Warbonnet Ranch for a few weeks this summer.  They rode with Carly, Larry Sr., and Colter Lee this morning, to check on new calves.  They rode in two groups, with Carly, Larry, and Colter Lee going west.  It was a still morning and I could hear them talking a quarter mile away.  Carly had tags to put on new calves. They rode down the canyon and up the other side onto a ridge that is quite steep.  Colter Lee roped a calf for Carly to tag. It never gets old watching a 5 year old rope!