Thanks Giving

Well, we had our first Thanksgiving in Montana, and coincidentally the first one ever with just us. Well, actually we had two meals. One on the Sunday before with the Hatches that included turkey and all the trimmings. But since I have only cooked one turkey in my life, and we wanted to be conservative and use the wonderful meat we are so thankful to have, we cooked beef.

Our (Thursday) thanksgiving meal consisted of the following: Standing rib roast, sweet potato's and white potato's, buttermilk biscuits, Grandma Grigsby's vegetable casserole, and for desert pumpkin pie w/whipped cream. Though the meal was not that far off from a typical weeknight dinner, we still thoroughlly enjoyed it.

Shipping Day - October 29,2010

Well, they're off! Well, the calves anyway...oh hand Mr. and Mrs. Hatch. All on their way to Great Falls to sell the calves.

I was a beautiful morning here. Cool 35 degrees and sunny. We all headed out early to watch. It never fails though, almost as soon as Alex hears those cow's bawling he falls asleep. Which is fine, he probably wouldn't remember it anyway. Colton and I perch on a round bale and watch. I think both of us wish we could be of some use. But due to his size and my general inexperience we are sideliners.

So, the morning started with a prayer. "Lord please let the work today go smoothly." God is good even though it was a fair amount of work the cows and calves separated well.

For those of you who don't know how this works and for my own documentation because I didn't know how this worked, this is how we get calves ready for shipping.

We need to first start about two weeks ago when the final bunch of pairs returned home from summer pasture. Cows and calves where separated and the calves where worked. What I mean is that they where run through the chute and given their pre-conditioning vaccinations and wormed, this is done to help with the stress of travel and protect them from any virus' they might encounter durring transport. I think this is good stockmanship. And it makes sense. The calves are returned to their mothers for another couple weeks grazing on home ground.

Fast-forward two weeks to yesterday when all the pairs where gathered. Then this morning is when the real work began. Mr. Hatch, Mrs. Hatch and Kyle where out the door early. The Manley's (good neighbors) brougt their cut-back calves that were going to ship the Hatchs calves. Then they stuck around to help with sorting. Everything worked like clock work. First they separated the cows from the calves. Then the heifers calves from the steers. Then our own cutbacks. Our cut backs happen to be a cripple calf, and two august calves too young to wean.

Soon the semi trucks came rolling down the drive. Two semi's to be exact. The drivers pulled up to the ramp and loading commenced. I was amazed to realize how many compartments are in the cattle trailers. Repeatedly the driver would call for 10, 8, 15 calves to fill the different compartments.

Most of the calves loaded easily, though there where a few that had a mind of their own.

All in all from sorting to shipping it took a total of 3 hours. Which always amazes me how fast they can get things. done.

So, once they where loaded everyone sorted through paperwork and tied up any loose ends. One of the truck drivers was very kind and let Colton sit in his truck and pull the horn. Which of course was the high light of the day for him. then just as fast as they rolled in they where off. Mr. and Mrs. Hatch in-between.

So, great minds may wonder where our calves are shipping to? They are going to an auction in Great Falls. This is kind of an experiement for the ranch. Typically ranchers will contract with a cattle buyer early in the season. The cattle buyer will give a set price per pound. Of course this is not the gaurentee, because even though the buyer and the rancher agree on the price there is some negotiating involved and of course the buyer will often leave "cut-backs" which are calves that he doesn't like. The cut-backs then have to be sent to auction anyway. Mr. Hatch met with several cattle buyers but for whatever reason, he decided that this auction would bring the best return on his investment. So, they are off and by tomorrow night he will know. All I know is that we are praying blessing on them.

Time for a kid update

So, the summer has flown by and winter seems already just around the corner. No one was kidding when they said summer was short here. We have already fired up the wood stove a couple times. Anyway, that's not why I'm here. I figured it has been a good while since I have posted an update on how our family is doing amidst the great relocation adventure.

I am proud to say that in most aspects of our lives we are thriving. Alex is growing at amazing rate, matching his brothers stats pound for pound. I love that he looks like me. His deep chocolate eyes are enough to melt my heart. He is an extremely happy boy, he loves Colton and Colton loves him.

All of the warnings of the jealousy that could crop up have not thus far. Our biggest concern is that Colton could actually love Alex to death. Alex is constantly smothered with hugs and kisses. Colton tries very hard to be helpful and entertain Alex as often as possible. Most of the time Alex eats it up, but occasionally it is even more than he can handle.

Colton of course has a few other interests besides his little brother. He has made a few friends out here, and while seeing them is far and few between he sure embraces each opportunity.

Be still my heart... My dear Colton told me the other day that he LOVES HORSES! Why is this such a big deal? Because basically from birth anything with a motor has outweighed horses. But, he is definitely showing interest now. The trick will be finding one we can afford before the attraction wears off. Thankfully our many wonderful neighbors have relatively quiet horses and will pony him around. The instructor in me wants to nurture his desire to ride and explore the wonderful world of horses and see how well he would do should we turn him loose. The mother in me however, has a very real expectation that this is not my job. So, I'm going to leave it up to his father to teach him the basics of riding, and when he either gets too big for his breeches or too good for us we'll hire a professional.

Look at me the poor kid isn't even of the lead line yet....Pray for me.

So, other things going on... We are finally getting some eggs from our chickens and we have culled the heard back to a modest 16 hens. Yesterday we got 10 eggs. Good thing we are having company next week or we would be in trouble.

Speaking of company, you heard right we are going to be swamped with it too. My parents arrive on the 25th. This is going to give us the opportunity for a mini vacation to Idaho. Mom and Dad are flying into Spokane and we are going to meet them up in Sandpoint. I can't wait to introduce my family to my old stomping grounds.

After our mini-vacation we will come home for the week. Upon my parents departure Kyle's parents will be arriving. So, yes when we get company we get it all at once. We are very excited about it all though.

However, in the back of my mind I am already coming to grips with the fact that after these visits that will likely be all until spring. I will have to figure how to get us through the holiday's by ourselves. I personally am looking forward to a low key holiday season, but I also know that we are going to be missing family like crazy during that time... We'll see how it goes I guess.

So, anyway that is all for now.

Helmville Rodeo

We just got back from the Helmville rodeo. It is by far the best Rodeo I have attended yet this year. What made it so great? Well, first off it is inexpensive, second the food is good and third the entertainment is awesome.

Things start early, we got there about 9am. Before the rodeo starts they have a "round-robin" team roping competition. The Round robin part means that the headers and healers take turns roping with each other until everyone has roped with...well... everyone. It was great fun to watch, and mostly was comprised of locals, so we knew quite a few people. The rodeo started at 1pm. I think the thing that made this rodeo so great was that they combined many events from Ranch rodeo's with the traditional PRCA style rodeo. And many local cowboys and cowgirls are included.

The event run-off goes something like this. #1 Junior Steer riding - these are kids riding bucking steers. #2 Grand Entry and flag ceremony. #3 Stock Saddle Bronc Riding - They buck in regular stock saddles and can hang on anywhere. Still looks really tuff and they had some rough stock.#4 Bareback - PRCA Style, #5 Team Roping. #6 Calf Roping. #7 Saddle Bronc - PRCA Style and rules apply. #8 Break away roping. #9 Bull dogging. #10 Barrel racing - Little kids, older kids, and the cowgirls. #11 Mutton Busting - very hard to keep Colton from doing, he actually needs to be 5 years old. #12 Bull Riding. #13Wild Cow Milking.

As you can see you get a whole lot of action for your $5 entry fee.

And even better the whole community pitches in to put it on. It was a lot of fun, and I can't wait to help out next year.

Haying is upon us.

Something I thought I knew what to expect, was how they would put up hay. But just like everything else in Montana, there is a new twist to a familiar concept. In our case the sheer amount of time it takes to put up hay. Though I will admit we were thoroughly warned I still did not anticipate what the reality of what hay season would entail.

I'll begin with what we are used to. First of all in MI there are typically two cuttings for grass hay and three for alfalfa. Though since we were horse people we usually liked to put up 1st cutting grass, some second cutting if we could afford it and at least about a hundred bales of 1st or 2nd cutting alfalfa (for my old gelding who needed the extra boost). To do all this required about a week in early June, followed by another week at the end of July. Kyle and his dad usually took care of it. Sometimes I had to drive a truck or return wagons. But really not that big of deal. The scorching heat, humidity, and threat of storms were always the enemy with at least one of the three wreaking havoc on the season. But, it was survivable.

So, to the present, in MT, it is a one-shot-all-or-nothin' deal. One cutting that begins in July. And because of the unique weather challenges presented this year a little off schedule. So, like I said one-shot. Only one cutting is available here, sometimes if they have a good spring I am told you can get two off the alfalfa fields. But that probably is not going to happen this year.

Kyle is out the door around 9:30-10am to begin mowing hay and rarely gets home until 10pm. They use mostly "sickle mowers or swathers around here.

A sickle mower is an attachment on the tractor that has two blades that move back and forth in a scissor like fashion, or like a pair of hair clippers if you will to cut the meadow grass down. A swather is a unique piece of equipment and is used mostly on the alfalfa, it looks kind alike a small combine without the storage bin, and has a mouth like a vacuum cleaner with a bunch of spinning blades inside to cut the hay (Sorry for the lack of technical terms, I am not an equipment girl.)

The hay is then raked into windrows and then the majority is round baled. and put in stacks. corralled by high fences to keep the deer and elk out.

For this ranch haying is a team effort with the neighbors the Mannix's. The Mannix family has been ranching around here for almost forever. They are a really neat family. Anyway, to make up the hay crew there are the mower's (Kyle being one of them) followed by the rakers and last but not least the bailling crew. The Mannix brothers lead this three ring circus. Though I will say they have it going pretty smoothly. When starting this Kyle wasn't sure he would like haying with the neighbors. It felt to him like he wouldn't be in enough control over what happened with our ranches hay. With so many acres to put up between both places how were they going to do it? You certainly couldn't expect to work on hay this many weeks in row and get it done without something happening to it. So, there was some apprehension. But, just like everything else we have learned out here is that it is almost always the polar opposite of MI. Turns out you can get a lot of hay put up this way over this many weeks. The hay on this ranch did get one ten minute shower, but not enough to cause significant damage. And though Kyle doesn't have control, he cannot deny the efficiency of working on hay this way. Less equipment needs to be owned by a single ranch and there is the added benefit of access to a whole lot of help. Working in this assembly line fashion may seem a little out there at first, but you cannot deny the finished product.

Kyle is also enjoying working with some new faces. It is good for him to see how other ranches do things. The lessons and confidence builders are enormously beneficial.

So, in short this has been another great learning experience.

Of course now Kyle wants to know how to run the rake and balers. I don't think he can ever get enough.

The climb

So the other day Colton and I decided to climb the hill to the west of the ranch. This hill leads to the base of Hoodoo Mountain to our south. It is much, much higher than the hill we climb regularly to the south east. Not to mention much steeper. From our driveway to the top I estimate it to be about a 1/2 mile as the crow flies but, this is not one you want to hike strait up - well, maybe when I am in better shape, but for now we had to take the long rout of zig-zagging our way up. We leave the ranch by going into the pasture directly behind our house. Hang a right at the canal - make sure to stop so Colton can throw about 20 rocks in the canal. We then need to go across a creek - Of course we didn't keep our feet dry even though there was a nice rock path, Colton just doesn't see the point yet.

Next we have to go through two barb-wire gates. I have decided this is strength training, but I managed. Finally we are free to start our climb.

Did I mention this is a much steeper hill? Well, even as we began to zig-zag our way up I could feel it. I was a little worried for Colton but he kept on trucking. About halfway up I needed a break. (And by the way I have Alex strapped to the front of me in the Ergo thus increasing my endurance) I planted Alex and myself on a rock and drank some water. Colton did the same. We took in the view, it was a breathtakingly clear day. I, feeling a little on the lazy side asked Colton if he wanted to go back down. Of course he said to me, " No mama, we need to go to the top." and off he went. This hill basically had three levels. But we finally made it. I could see to the east the hill we normally hike, it was well below us. It was an amazing feeling to be up that high. the view was great as you'll see from the pictures below. From the top we drank in the scent of the immense sage brush pasture and the pine trees surrounding it.

Then in a small grove of Pines I saw something move out of the corner of my eye. Sure enough there was a bunch of Elk, all cows and calves staying cool in the the trees. Still they are as big as horses.

Surprisingly our decent wasn't much easier, because of the steepness, my hamstrings were forced to work as hard going down as my quadriceps worked going up (I'm convinced I should be doing this often the burn was great.)

One thing we did see going down was the beautiful wild flowers. Colton decided we should pick a bunch to give to Mrs. H. so that's what we did, it made the decent much more enjoyable and left me wondering why I hadn't noticed them on the way up? Oh well, following our flower delivery we headed home for a nice snack of fresh raspberry sorbet and a good rest.

What a lovely way to spend the afternoon.

P.s. Thanks to my slave driver child we managed this hike in just over 1 hour. Who needs a personal trainer. I have Colton :o)

Cattle Drive

Over the past few weeks the main project has been getting the summer pastures ready for the pairs. The ranch does not have quite enough ground to keep them all here. So, some are hauled to the Manley Ranch about 8 miles away to a pasture that is leased. Some are hauled to Trapper Mountain, where there is some State Lease ground. And the rest are driven horseback across the road to the Sieara Ogden Mountain pastures. While the other two locations are too far to drive them and they are hauled via trailer. the Sieara Ogden Mountain pasture is right across the road And I mean the highway road, not our driveway/county road. we see these mountains right out our front window to the North.

Mr. H and Kyle couldn't have picked a nicer day to drive cattle. So with the help of Mrs. H, some neighbors Scott Davis and his son Sterling (by the way I love that name.) and even from yours truly the cows were safely driven to the mountain pasture.

And of course you are wondering what I, the mother of a 3 1/2 year old and 2 1/2 month old baby could do to help. Well, I made some signs with the slogan Mr. H requested to go on the flag trucks, and I parked our truck down at the Y in our drive so the cattle would follow the correct drive. And of course I took pictures. I know its not much but I was happy to do what I could.

Flag truck Drivers, on Left; David Cochran, and on right Skip Hayes.

Some Elk were flushed out of the meadows as the cows went down the highway.

Cows going down the highway, with some impatient drivers trying to pass.

Sterling Davis

Neighbor Scott Davis

Home at Last.