Today, Ev and I took a break from the cows. They are now in a field that should keep them happy for the next couple days, which means we have time to focus on the much needed maintenance projects throughout the ranch.
We spent the morning repairing holes in old barbed wire fence, taking down and replacing an old gate, and removing old fence posts. After a couple hours in the hot California sun, we took a break for lunch, eating under a couple of willows. It was a very nice - taking refuge in the shade of the trees, cooling off, and eating some lunch.
The afternoon was spent taking down an old corral, which means knocking off the boards, pulling out the posts, and cleaning up the wood that can't be used any more. It was enjoyable and mindless. Just smashing a hammer into boards to shake them loss from their nails is therapeutic, I think.
It's another hot day in San Juan and tomorrow looks like it might be hotter.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
My Pants, My Feet, My Hair
ANTS! They are my arch nemeses. We are at war - constant battle. Sometimes there is a lull in the fighting, but really, it never ends.
I live in "The Tack Room" - a small studio attached to the barn at the end of the road. It's nice, quiet, and generally enjoyable. But man, some days I just want to FREAK OUT!
The past few days I have been noticing an increased number of ants crawling around my kitchen - in the trash, in the sink, even in the cupboard! So today, I decided to do something about it - I went on a rampage. An hour and a half scouring every corner of my house, hunting down every ant. I got so carried away I even scrubbed my shower!
The true test is to see if they return. The battle may be won, but the war definitely isn't over.
I live in "The Tack Room" - a small studio attached to the barn at the end of the road. It's nice, quiet, and generally enjoyable. But man, some days I just want to FREAK OUT!
The past few days I have been noticing an increased number of ants crawling around my kitchen - in the trash, in the sink, even in the cupboard! So today, I decided to do something about it - I went on a rampage. An hour and a half scouring every corner of my house, hunting down every ant. I got so carried away I even scrubbed my shower!
The true test is to see if they return. The battle may be won, but the war definitely isn't over.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Land of Cows
Today, Joe, Jack, and I saddled up and headed to the KT. We rode to the cows at the Eastern part of the ranch. When we got there, a small group was watering at the trough. Joe decided that we should practice our horsemanship, sorting cows out and working them to another corral. It was great! We each took turns signaling out a cow, sorting it, and walking it off. We were trying to work on the low stress handling Joe learned from Bud Williams. It was amazing to see how the slightest movements would determine if you would be successful or fail.
For instance, I had separated a cow from the herd and it was standing 20 feet out, looking to get back to the group. I was between it and the other cows. As it turned towards the gate, I moved my horse to be parallel, taking a step forward. That single step put enough pressure on the cow to send it scampering around me and back to the herd. The same thing happened once more. The third time, I asked Joe - "What should I do here? What did I do wrong the last two times?" He told me that I needed to swing the back of my horse around so I'm not stepping forward when I'm positioning myself. In doing so, I would relieve pressure from the cow and encourage it to head to the gate.
To my astonishment, it worked exactly as Joe said it would. I was incredibly impressed and now look forward to the next sorting opportunity to work out my new skills.
For instance, I had separated a cow from the herd and it was standing 20 feet out, looking to get back to the group. I was between it and the other cows. As it turned towards the gate, I moved my horse to be parallel, taking a step forward. That single step put enough pressure on the cow to send it scampering around me and back to the herd. The same thing happened once more. The third time, I asked Joe - "What should I do here? What did I do wrong the last two times?" He told me that I needed to swing the back of my horse around so I'm not stepping forward when I'm positioning myself. In doing so, I would relieve pressure from the cow and encourage it to head to the gate.
To my astonishment, it worked exactly as Joe said it would. I was incredibly impressed and now look forward to the next sorting opportunity to work out my new skills.
The Earth Is Shaking
Two nights ago I survived my first EARTHQUAKE!!! WHOA!!!
It was only a 3.9 and lasted about 3 seconds, BUT it was crazy. I was rattled out of bed at about 2:45 in the morning. My first thought was, "OH SHIT! IT'S AN EARTH QUAKE!!!" Then the rumbling ended and it was over and calm. My second thought, "OH SHIT! THE BIG ONE'S NEXT!!!" I was convinced that the quake was just a prelude to the real disaster. But it never came, I fell back asleep, and lived to see another day.
California is crazy.
It was only a 3.9 and lasted about 3 seconds, BUT it was crazy. I was rattled out of bed at about 2:45 in the morning. My first thought was, "OH SHIT! IT'S AN EARTH QUAKE!!!" Then the rumbling ended and it was over and calm. My second thought, "OH SHIT! THE BIG ONE'S NEXT!!!" I was convinced that the quake was just a prelude to the real disaster. But it never came, I fell back asleep, and lived to see another day.
California is crazy.
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