WINTER BLUES–NOT!

Usually, winter is a tough time for me–short daylight hours, cold days and colder nights, but this winter hasn’t been, well, winter. Our southern family members in Tennessee received more snow this winter than Montana did, and they may have had colder temps for much of the winter, too! Highly unprecedented. We need moisture in Montana–and across the entire West and into the Midwest. However, the warmer temps and lack of constant snow has been nice.

The wind however…up to 90 miles per hour on some days! It blew a building down on the ranch, but it did need to come down.

Here we are, fixing to head into spring, and it’s felt like spring already. I don’t remember this ever happening before. Maybe spring will bring snow? Time will tell! Rain would be okay, too. Anything to keep the entire west from being consumed by fire.

WINTER PASTURE

The warm temps mean that are ground hasn’t frozen, which is another anomaly we’ve never experienced. Our winter pasture needs to be frozen in order to use it because its a little swampy-like otherwise. My cowboy has been working to keep the cows moving on fresh land, but without the ability to adequately use that pasture, it has made for some complications. Considering the impending drought, my cowboy has spent time on grazing plans and possibilities, planning for the ranch cattle’s best upcoming forage with the reduced pasture possibilities. It’s quite likely we won’t be able to graze several pastures this spring or summer due to lack of moisture. Dryland, native grasses need care anyway, but the lack of precipitation will definitely impact cattle rotations.

EMPTY NESTING

We’ve always enjoyed dates however we could get them. When the kids were little, we made trips to the dump because that was the only place they didn’t want to go! Ha! Local trash pickup isn’t an option on most ranches, so we made regular trips to the dump to dispose of trash.

Cattle supplementation is arguably a wonderful date. I especially enjoyed a recent trip to put salt and mineral out because it was near the swan ponds. Trumpeter Swans floating and flying nearby makes for an graceful excursion! Even the cows were at peace…

FROM THE HORSE’S MOUTH

While the horses are definitely more up Billy’s alley, I do enjoy them. With the strange weather, they’ve been in the corral more, so I bought them a ball so they could horse around. Here’s a picture of Bannack checking it out. They’ve been carrying grain pans around and playing with them, so I figured a ball would be perfect. They did not agree. They checked it out and then promptly left the scene. How rude!

LOOKING AHEAD

Our calving is set to start in May, so we’ll likely be getting some babies by the end of April. It won’t be long now! Soon the irrigation will begin and the summer fun will start. It’s busier in the summer, but I enjoy the weather and the activity!

What are you looking forward to? What has happened in your corral these past couple of months? I’d love to hear from you!

Until then, bless you!