Wordless Wednesday

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Sunday Stills ~ A Day in the Life

The challenge for this week's Sunday Stills photo shoot was "A Day in the Life"...pick a day and pack your camera with you.

Only four photos can be submitted.

Last week was a pretty boring week around the ranch...working on taxes, Horsefly articles and ads, and watching the wind blow tumbleweeds and snow...not a lot for interesting photography.

But yesterday the clouds parted just in time for branding at a neighboring ranch. We did it the "modern" way (using a table) vs "traditional" (roping and dragging calves to the fire). It may not be nearly as fun or interesting as the traditional way, but we got a lot of calves done...80 bull calves and 72 heifers...it was a long day...but fun was had by all!

Branding irons heating up in the propane fire.

Smoke fills the air as the hair is scorched...a smell

that clings to everything and is hard to get out

of your nose at the end of the day.

The lil' red whiteface calf (who already went

through the process) came up to give the lil' black

calf some moral support as he's banded for castration.

The girls on the fence had the best time...nothing

like being raised on a ranch!

Kids and animals...they always make the perfect photo.

See what everyone else at Sunday Stills has been up to by clicking here and checking the comments.

Spring Calving Time!

This week hasn't been one of my best weeks. I still keep asking myself how I could be so emotional about a horse that I didn't even have...so to speak. (of course I'm talking about Slider)

I had to make myself quit watching the video that I did in tribute to him. I won't ever forget him, but other horses need our attention, so we must go forward. We need to be strong and face the world again.

This afternoon I got the kick in the pants that I needed...life does go on...death in inevitable, but life still goes on~

I went out for the evening feeding...and Annabelle

didn't come in...hmmmmm...

I think there could be a reason!

Yep, that's a pretty proud momma cow!

The lil' guy was still wet too!

But he's showing tell tale signs of his first meal...

what a good lil' boy!

Lil' foals, puppies, kittens, calves...whatever...they're all good for one's soul~

In Memory of Slider

Life is so unfair at times.

If you hadn't read the post about Dreamsicle and his band (including Slider) from the Big Summit HMA being captured, you can read it here. And this post "Little Giant" was very special as we watch Dreamsicle spar with his new acquaintances at the holding Corrals and his lil' buddy Slider stands by for moral support.

As that story ended with Dreamsicle and his mares going back to their home in the Big Summit, Slider was not so lucky. He was to be available for adoption as soon as he was processed by the BLM staff.

My Man and I decided that since we had watched him grow up over the years, we would adopt him and give him a home...we felt like part of his family.

But, that wasn't meant to be...God has other plans for him.

Slider was euthanized this past weekend because of a fracture that he sustained in the shoulder.

So, this is for you dear Slider...I know that you are running free once again in beautiful green pastures with your other Ochoco friends that have gone before you~

Macro Monday~3/22/10

I thought I should check my rhubarb and look what I found under their winter cover!! They look sleepy, but are stretching themselves toward the sunshine...I'm already tasting the rhubarb strawberry pie!

I guess these lil' flowers are wild buttercups. They're the only flowers so far, but are eye candy in the desert here.

Enjoy some more Macro Monday shots by going HERE in the comments. You could post along with us too!

Sunday Stills ~ The Color Orange

It's way too early for much color here in Eastern Oregon yet, but I found a couple of bright spots this past week to submit for this week's Sunday Stills photo challenge...

This lil' guy...er...should I say Lady...was

trying to hide on my drive lines at the barn.

I take this as a definite sign of Spring!!

Of course here is the every day sight of lichen growing

on the rocks in the high desert...it's still nice

to see beautiful spots of color in the

sometimes drab landscape.

Check out the other participant's "The Color Orange" by going HERE in the comments section. Or join us next week as Ed posts the new Sunday Stills challenge for next week on Sunday.

Zoom Zoom Cindy Sue!!!

Cindy Sue and Bella Jo have definitely become fast friends...literally!

In Cindy Sue's previous life, she was owned by an elderly gentleman and I really sure that she didn't get much play time. She didn't know how to play with a toy...and she wasn't too keen on playing with other dogs either.

But since we've adopted Bella Jo, the two of them have developed a bond; which I'm very glad to see.

Just in the past week or so, they've started a lil' routine after breakfast.

First they do some wrestlin'.

Then Bella Jo sticks her head under Cindy Sue's

back end, lifts her up, and gnaws on her back legs.

Don't ask me...it's their thing!! LOL!!

And then the race begins!

Look out Mom!

ZOOM!!!

ZOOM!!!!

ZOOM!!!!!

This is so much fun!!!

Spring Equinox Brings on the Trail Ridin'

We've had a wonderful spring weather week here in Eastern Oregon. Slowly things are starting to green up, but it's still in the mid 20's in the mornings with a skiff of ice on the water troughs.

I've been getting Colt legged up...starting slowly. He runs out of air pretty quickly, so we haven't worked real hard...just taking it easy.

We've been ponying Brego with us most days for a long trot to the far end of the property on the flat. Yesterday, I decided to take a small loop up on the hill behind the house. I just took Colt...but of course all 4 dogs couldn't wait to go too!

This is my first time riding up on the hill since last fall. I was thrilled with what I saw!

The first spring flowers are all in bloom!

I don't know what they are, but they're

the only flowers so far and are mighty pretty!

Old Abby insisted that she had to go too.

She had a great time...

but she's paying for it today...she's awfully stiff 'n

sore...it's just a lil' more than her joint supplement

can deal with.

Look at all the gorgeous green bunch grass

coming up...there's going to be more than enough

feed up here for the cows, horses and burros!

I saw three Bald Eagles circling around overhead

as I started to loop back. They wouldn't cooperate

by getting in the same photo. But, I at least got

one. Sitting on a wiggly horse, zooming in, and

the bird moving all at the same

time presented a small challenge for me!

As we started to head back, Colt got jiggy on me which he really has never done before. I decided that he must need a little more riding if he was feeling so good, so we headed toward the top of the hill...another 400 feet up in elevation.

We had to stop for a couple of breathers, but he was very happy to be out and about...so was I. It felt so good to be back in the saddle and enjoying the sights and sounds of spring.

Here we've made it up to a flat spot between the

two highest points of the hill. The cows and

sometimes deer like to bed down here. There's

a lil' low spot that gets them out of the wind

and bask in the sunshine.

The rolls of wire in the photo are from

an old fence that was replaced on the south property line

which parts of got drug (somehow) almost a 1/4 mile

to this spot. We rolled up a bunch of wire when we

first moved here. One of these days, we're going

to have to pack it all down the hill.

Ah...just about to the top!

And what a view!

Steens Mountain in all her glory!

Looking back at the way we came...

Cindy Sue's in there too...the tiny lil' girl

blends in well with all the sage brush!

But, that lil' dog runs with the big dogs...

she's not one to be left on the porch!

This is one of my favorite photos of the day.

Bella Jo is just in her element. I like

how Riddle Mountain in the

background is washed out.

Colt did good...he was definitely tired and sweaty

when we got back to the barn. But, I

don't think he'd have wanted it any other way.

Enjoy your first days of Spring...I hope you get to ride your pony or just get outside in some sunshine!

Ride a Good Horse's Challenge

Shirley over at Ride a Good Horse was spreading some good news on her blog today and challenged her readers to do the same...so why not!

It's a sunny day today with just a lil' bit of wind, and it's going to be 60 degrees...now that's good news in itself 'round these parts!!

This photo is from yesterday...my first ride on Colt

for months since his injury...and look...

the arena's dry enough to ride in!!

Truly good news for me!!

Lots of sunshine leaves shadows as the

afternoon fades away.

Bella Jo's sharin' the good news too...this is her

first ride with me...she did real well...a little

confused while I was in the arena as she followed

me around and around in circles...but

she'll figure it out. But she sure loved

following along...I think she's sayin'

"I'm a REAL ranch dog now!!"

Bella Jo 'n Cindy Sue were huntin' sage rats...

you go girlz...get them rats!

OK...another good news. I haven't mentioned it, but I've been having problems with my left shoulder, and I was afraid it might be a torn rotor cuff. When I couldn't lift my arm enough to shave under my arm, I knew I had to do something! So, I had my first physical therapy session yesterday and he doesn't think that's the problem. Just over use and strain has caused fibrosis in the muscle, and he's proceeding with the ASTYM System treatment. Here's a good YouTube video that gives a good explanation of the process. Has anyone else has this treatment? I'm really excited that it's going to get better!!!

Last but not least...another give away!!! Yep, Sydney over at Bitless Horse: Science VS Tradition has a great lil' give away going right now. She does some gorgeous horse hair braiding...you're going to love it! Head on over to her blog and check her out!

I hope everyone else has good news this week!! I've got horses to ride this afternoon...see ya!

A Photo Shoot with Tat the Barn Cat

Tat the Barn Cat doesn't get a lot of screen time here on the blog...but that's not sayin' that he's not a valued member of the ranch...which of course he is!!

Tat the Cat is...well...you know...a cat.

One that has his own way of doing things.

He's about 13 years old now, and he's just recently

decided that it's OK to be petted...see...

he has to do things on his "own" time.

But I asked Tat if he would like a "spotlight" in the blog.

At first he pretended not to hear me.

Then when I finally got his attention...Tat gave me

the "oh...who me?...well maybe look."

It was a beautiful, sunny day...but the wind was

howlin'...he was a lil' flustered with

his hair style. I told him that

all the "hot" photo models used fake

wind to get the affect that he had goin'...

Hmmmm...he wasn't buyin' into my story...

And, the glamor was wearing off...all too quickly...

Tat was headin' stage right at a pretty quick pace...

Yep...this is definitely "The End."

Have a great week!