August 11, 2003

We had a visitor from the United Kingdom here today. She is the editor of a magazine, Essentially America. She was very savvy and understood quite a lot about agriculture, so we had a great visit. We looked at the Longhorns and then went to Kiowa County to see the Prairie Dog town. As always, we heard more of them than we saw, as they scampered away.

Afterwards, we went south to ride cattle at J.L.'s and the partnership cattle. The windmill was barely pumping, and Joe supposes the leathers are worn out. A windmill has a rod which goes from the head of the windmill, through the ground until the water table is reached. The leathers are similar to a rubber gasket made out of leather. When the leathers are worn out, the water can't be lifted from the reservoir of water underground up through the pipe to the top of the windmill. It will have to be repaired soon, since the temperatures are still quite hot, even though it has cooled down into the 90's.

August 12, 2003

A new friend of Laramie's came out to the ranch. They played for a couple hours. They both rode the old reliable horse, Joe Dirt. The puppies and the kitten kept them entertained too. They left to spend some time at my dad's house after that.

Joe set a few traps for coyotes. I had a dead rooster this morning, and we decided to use him for bait and not let him go completely to waste.

We had a nice ride this evening. Laramie had gone to his grandparents for the day, so Joe and I saddled up in the late afternoon to search for the mares, colts and stallion. We found the division fence had been broken down and drug up the creek. Joe repaired it as I held the horses. We rode quite a way, each separately, and kept an eye out for any wildlife and took mental notes of the grass condition in each paddock we rode through. The wild licorice did terrific this year. Each year there is some grass or "weed" that thrives due to certain conditions. Last year it was sideoats grama grass. This year western wheat grass produced exceptionally well.

We rode quite a way and then found some colt tracks in a sandy area. I rode into a small grove of trees and definitely smelled horse. The horses must have stood in the shade of the trees during the heat of the day. The area had the distinct odor of horse urine. Sure enough, just beyond the grove of trees and wild grapevines stood the horses. The stallion spied us and came running to us. Joe snapped him on the nose with the end of his rope. He was riding a young mare, and the stallion needed reminding to mind his manners. He herded "his" mares up the hill where he could keep an eye on us and keep us away from the mares. There is still one mare left to foal. The other two foals are doing quite well.

August 13, 2003

I got up early this morning with intentions of doing my morning running very early. I was reminded that the days are becoming progressively shorter since it was way too dark to go meandering around outside without good reason or purpose. Although jogging is a good purpose, I waited until 6:30 before I left the house. It was still dark enough that I could hear the animals I was alarming in the trees, but could not tell exactly what they were.

Joe's yellow horse came in very lame this morning. There is not much outward sign of damage, but he is putting no weight on his rear left hoof. We eased him to the creek and tied him to an old tree that had fallen across the creek. The water is very cold and is a great way to soak a horse's sore hooves and legs. Later in the day I fetched him and put him in the corral. He acts a bit better, but is far from good.

We made our trip to the chiropractor. I spent 4 1/2 hours baking cookies for the trail drive. I believe I made a record. I baked 32 dozen from scratch in that length of time. Meanwhile, Joe was in Kiowa County riding cattle. He doctored two calves at J.L.'s house and two calves of ours. The windmill had totally quit pumping and the cows were out of water, so he built a lane with electric fence to another tank at the corrals.

August 14, 2003

Laramie and Joe were headed to Kiowa County to check cattle. I had tons of things to do at the house, but decided to go along and enjoy myself. We checked cattle north of Mullinville and moved the cows. There is a prairie dog town in that pasture. We took some time to take pictures and watch and listen to them a bit. The sentinels are always watching and jabbering. Their calls sound almost like birds. I rode Red, a horse I had not ridden in three years. He had not been ridden most of the summer and was ready to go, go, go. We got the cattle moved and ate lunch at the local café. From there we went to J.L.'s to ride his cattle. When we got to the pasture there were about 10 head out where they didn't belong. They were right by the gate, so were not hard to put back in. Laramie and Joe rode one bunch. I rode another bunch and then went back to ride the pasture where the cows had gotten out to make sure there were no more of them wandering the creek. I saw nothing, so went back to help Joe doctor some sick calves. He roped 2 and doctored them for ear infections and respiratory problems. The third calf he roped had a rear leg swollen. It appeared he had jabbed himself with something. We gave him some penicillin and turned him loose. The water gap needed to be fixed. That is where the cows had gotten in the wrong pasture. Joe found some rubber boots and fixed the water gap.

From there we went to ride the partnership cattle. Sure enough, there was two that needed doctored. The cattle were right near the pens and were headed to water, so we drove them to the corrals. One cow was with out a calf. Joe and Laramie pushed her back out to pasture to find her calf. It was a sick calf Joe had doctored the day before. We gathered them in and doctored both calves.

We left for Protection to get a Pickup we had left at the mechanic. Since it was late, we ate at the café in Protection. It had been a long day. I had forgotten I had told Laramie I would sleep in his fort with him. I knew I couldn't get out of it, and decided to get the experience over with. The evening was cool enough there were no mosquitoes about, so I knew all I would get out of the experience was little sleep and a sore back.

August 15, 2003

Cleaning out the chicken house was the project for the morning. It had only been about 2 months since we cleaned it before, so it went very easily. Laramie hauled out the manure and dirt with the wheelbarrow while I scooped it up. Joe made a small door on the bottom of the chicken house door to allow them to come and go. We have nearly all the guinea hens turned out now. They are enjoying eating all the insects they can find. Although chickens will eat scraps from the house and grain, seeds, and hay, they are preferable meat eaters and demonstrate that by running down a grasshopper anytime they see one. After it is caught, a hen must act nonchalant, since another hen will be in mad pursuit to take the insect out of the other hen's beak.

I took a nap in Laramie's fort. Afterwards we decided to go swimming in the creek. There is a new place the beavers had dammed up that looked about 2 feet deep. Joe went with us. It was a good thing he did since it was deeper than I had thought. It was nearly 4 feet deep in spots. It was quite cool in the water but a lot of fun after I got use to the idea. Earlier in the year the water had been crystal clear, but now had a bit of moss in it. I am not crazy about swimming in water when I can't see the bottom. Laramie had lots of fun gathering snails and pretending he was a water dinosaur.

We cooked steaks and potatoes at the campfire and ate at the chuckwagon. Joe was the lucky one who slept with Laramie in his fort.

August 16, 2003

Joe went by himself to check the cattle today. All seemed to be well. The sickest calf was off by himself, but his mama knew right where he was. He appeared better. Joe left late in the afternoon to take some of his grandma's belongings to her new home in Oklahoma. Laramie and I stayed home to swim in our new swimming hole.

Put Online:   11/22/04

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