Everyday when I wake up I should thank God, for not every man gets to live his dreams like I do. All I have ever wanted to do since I was a kid... I am doing it now. I know there are no real cowboys anymore, they died with the birth of concrete roads and barbed wire, but I am happy to live in their shadows. I have a few good horses and a good dog to spend my days with on the ranch. I have a wonderful wife to come home to at night who supports me and loves despite myself.  This is the life I want, free of material things and grounded to the earth. I know how lucky I am.

Long Days...

I've never understood why, but it always seems to me that the longest days of the year (daylight), seem to go the fastest.  May and June are two of my favorite months of the year, and they seem to go by faster than December and January, even though with the daylight the days are much shorter.

Branded and turned loose!

 Last weekend we branded, marking our official end to calving season! We had good weather, good help, and good food. I can hardly believe how fast the spring has been moving along. It seems not too long ago I was checking cows all night long with a flashlight and a heavy coat. Sunday after we branded we turned the cows out onto pasture. No more feeding!

   Lena wrestled a few more calves than last year, and took some pretty good pictures. I used my new colt to drag some calves out. All in all he is coming a long nicely. He is a big strong horse and seems to enjoy working. I am nearly done going over fence in the foot hills, and soon we will be fencing in the mountains, getting ready to drive the cows to summer pasture. Right now we are trying to prepare the hay fields for irrigation.

   Lena and I may be building a house this summer. I am not sure quite how to feel about it. The prospect is somewhat exciting, but the idea of more debt terrifies the hell out of me. I also interviewed for the head coaching job at Capital High School. I don't know yet what to think. All I have ever wanted to do since I can remember is be a cowboy. The thought of giving that up wrenches on my guts, and makes me loose sleep. I guess what happens will happen.

Memphis

Memphis is my new colt. I named him that because he is a blue roan. He is a smart horse and a quick learner, so far he has only bucked me off twice. We'll see how this afternoon goes...

We are enjoying a nice spring with much better weather than we have been used to the last few years. The blue birds and meadow larks were the first to return. I remained a sceptic until the sandhill cranes came in droves. It is a amazing what their prehistoric sounding call can do to your morale. With their long legs and sweeping wing spans they lift our spirits in the valley.

Calving has gone pretty well this year. We have stayed on top of the sickness very well, and haven't lost many calves. The green grass is beginning to shoot through the old dead brown of past seasons and new life springs up everywhere. This really is the best season.

Soon we will be branding and turning out the cows to the mountains. I can hardly wait to see how the rest of the spring will develop.

I also submitted an application for a head coaching job at Capital high school in Helena. I'm not sure how to feel yet. I have been slowly thinking it out. To take the job would mean to change my entire life...

Sing us to Spring!

Yesterday morning I heard song birds for the first time since... I don't remember???

It is amazing the great feeling that their little song puts in my heart. I feel like winter is finally losing its grip on the north.

It is a funny thing working the night shift. I get to watch the sun rise a few minutes earlier everyday, only to go to bed shortly afterward. I can't wait to be done night calving, because I miss sleeping next to my wife, and spring really will be here when I'm done.

I feel like this year we might have a more normal spring, not an extended winter like the last few years. I can't wait to go fishing in the warm spring sun. I can't wait to break my new colt. I can't wait to shoot gophers. Mostly, I can't wait for the winter to be over.

Night Calving

I am finally adjusting to the night shift. I have been working 8pm to 8am, and sleeping during the day. We are getting busier with more calves coming every day. Sometimes the nights are boring and the hours drag on, but when it's busy it goes pretty fast. We have had to pull quite a few calves, but everything is going pretty well.

We have lost a couple calves, which stinks, but sometimes bad things happen and you have to get over it.

I really enjoy helping bring life into the world.

First Calf of the year.

Calving season has begun at the -47. Today we awoke to the first calf laying in the day lot. I didn't sleep that well last night because I kept dreaming that I should be down in the heifer barn. I guess now I know why. I hope Hannah and Hudson are practicing with their rope... Branding is not too far off.