Ranch Chores

It's been a very hectic couple of weeks, but now it's time to come up for air. The cattle have all trucked off north to warmer grazing, and it was a very busy few days getting all the cows and calves sorted out and loaded up. We had two newborn calves, of course, that decided to be born the day before shipping so they had to be sent special delivery. The driver put all the babies in the front compartment and the moms and Brutus the Bull in the other compartments, so the little ones wouldn't get stepped on during the short drive north.

Newborn anythings are cute, with the possible exception of fledgling turkey vultures, although I must admit not having seen any of these recently. We do have turkeys, about 40 of them, and yesterday morning they were all roosting on the top rail of the south pasture fence. Rather an intimidating sight. Our neighbor used to feed them, but I'm not sure he does any longer. Tough pickings for them in the winter.

Then the rains came and that means the potatoes, carrots, beets, and turnips are still in the ground, although now they're in mud, which doesn't dig well. Hopefully things will dry out so we can dig before the mud freezes and snow falls.

With the early hard frost we lost most of the foliage, so up until now it's been a dull fall. The Tamaracks are beginning to turn, however, so there's color in the forest finally, even if it is a rather anemic shade of yellow. Some years it's spectacular and some years it's a bust. This year ranked about a 2 on the bust-o-meter.

Working on some low cholesterol recipes right now and hope to get them up before too long. Looking at some pumpkins with an eye towards souffle, pie, and pudding.

Autumn on the Ranch

Autumn is my favorite time of year, and it's just about as busy as spring and summer on the ranch. We've had out first two snowstorms and there's a crest of white on the mountaintops, reminding me that I'd better hurry up and get the outside chores done before the snowline moves south.

In two weeks I'll be shipping four kids to the sale. For those of you unfamiliar with this blog, I'm talking about my South African Boer Goat kids. Then I'll be able to get their pen cleaned out and readied for winter. The breeder does have already had their pen cleaned out, thanks to husband and the tractor. They're on grain and hay now, having completed their organic weed management jobs in various spots around the ranch.

Also in two weeks, Baxter Buck comes for an extended date with the girls. This is the first year I haven't had my own buck, since Billy has gone on to Goat Heaven, but my fellow goat herder a few miles north is willing to share the wealth.

That's about it for today. Going to do some writing and get ready to meet my 50% deadline for the next Idiot's Guide.