No way around it, spring is stressful on a ranch. Most of us in our region had a rough calving season, and now we’re having to delay “turn-out,” the term for when the cows can be grazing grass full time. We’re to that stage now, putting herds together on the pastures to the east of the ranch and getting ready for the long walk to the mountains.
The irrigation water is all up and running, which followed a marathon effort to get the ditches ready. First they’re burned, trenched if needed, and then all the debris needs to be pitched out of the way. And then, as lovely as it is to have water on the land, the streams need constant tending.
Mark has been doctoring a few sick calves even though the weather has improved. I think sick cattle stress him most of all. He rarely loses one, but it takes lots of time and attention on his part.
He and a three man crew spent two days in the mountains pulling up fences that were flattened by snow. The moisture is heaven-sent, and poor fences in this case is a good problem to have, but it all takes time.
It’s discouraging to be in the middle of it, far too many tasks and too few hours in the day. I’m not complaining, well maybe I am. We wouldn’t trade places with anyone, it’s just that the tough days seem to come one after another.
I’ve decided Emma has it figured out. She’s two years old and the world is her oyster. I think that’s the phrase, and I’m not even sure what it means, but I think it fits. All around her is a wondrous world to explore. Her senses are in full-on alert. She crouches to observe an ant or to examine a cow pie for bugs. She can identify a bumble bee and a honeybee and was concerned when the rain showers chased the bees into hiding. “Where’d the honeybees go?” she said.
Every time a pheasant crows, she looks at you with excitement, “ahhhh, a pheasant!” She looks up every time she hears geese or an airplane and makes sure you notice them too.
She examines rocks and tiny sticks, flowers and leaves. She found the lamb’s ear plant in my front flower bed. She stroked the leaves with a child’s appreciation. “Oh, it’s so soft!”
That curiosity, that wonderment, is available to us all. I’m going to be like Emma.
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| Emma with the new puppy, Myrt |
