East Line

Spring is not a time to be sitting around. If the sun is shining, you better be out ranching. The first project on this year's dock is rebuilding the east side fence line. 

This quarter mile stretch needs some help. We got through last year, but it is definitely our weak link. Our plan is to reuse the posts and wire that we can, and rebuild it from the ground up. 

First step was unclipping the wire. That was a chore in itself. 

The posts were far enough away, that over the years, they wound extra wire in the middle around the top wire to keep things from sagging. We cleaned all the wire up as we went along. Paralleling the fence is the water line up to the corner that the pivot misses. 

The mid-section gate was out of commission. 

The north corner was junked up and, over the years, a lot of blow-dirt has piled up. 

Once the fence was unclipped, Dad came in with his 4010 and pulled all 70 posts.

The wood posts, Grandpa set in concrete. We turned around and pulled them up with the 3-point lift arms. Worked. 

Once the posts were out of the way, we moved all the wire into the pasture. The plan is to pound the new posts and just bring the wire back in. 

Some of it was pretty buried. But I'm committed to reusing it! 

Then we disconnected the water line and rolled it into the field. 

Once it was all clear, I grabbed the dozer to level out the line. Just give me an excuse to fire up the 450!

My hope was to just even everything out. There was a dead furrow from plowing over the years on one end.

And blow-dirt on the other end. 

While we were at it, we cleaned up the north corner were the brace posts will go. 

Should work.

The line is ready, as far as I'm concerned. Now we just have to set our brace posts, pound in 100 steal posts, and stretch our wire back up. That'll take some time. And, while we are at it, we want to do some pipeline work too. Hopefully, she'll be back up by the time the cows are calved out and ready to come home. Ranching forward.  

Crucifix

Is how Jesus saves us.

           https://youtu.be/I4SKnJ_sWv8         

Jack's Harrow

Part of being is good steward is tending to the ground after cows have ran on it for the winter. Harrowing early in the spring is the best bet. Jack's place has been good to us. So in good steward fashion, we should clean up after ourselves.

These steal harrows are nice. Aggressive flipped one way, not as aggressive flipped the other way. We kept it on the non-aggressive side. 

As we hitched it to White Horse. 

First stop was the fence against the lane. The cows liked to ball up here. 

With the manure being pretty fresh, yet, it cleaned up real nice.

The harrow does a good job in general. Would be nice to run over the whole place, but time doesn't allow for it. 

Feed grounds are a big place that needs cleaned up. 

Muy bien. 

Good stuff.

I'm glad to get that done. We are going to be gone for a few days and spring is only going to come on stronger. Best we tend to harrowing Jack's place sooner rather than later. On to the next one. 

Mercy Me

Mercy supersedes justice. 

           https://youtu.be/K7_w40C-rFQ         

Second Calf

After Mass on Saturday evening I ran out to check on the herd and found that ole Red was getting ready to deliver.

A cocked tail head is a sure sure sign. Along with confirmation of a water bag from behind, I just left her be.

About a hour and a half later I came back to find her and her calf mothering up nicely. Not wanting to disrupt, I let them be for the night.

Sunday afternoon I came to check back in. Looking good.

Cute little guy. Bull calf.

Everyone's happy.

Fun stuff. Two for two. Might be a bit before we get another one. Grandma will be soon. So also is the other white cow in the big lot. It'll be a race to see who's next. Probably nothing until the end of the week or so. We'll find out. Ranch on.

In Faith

Baptism + Faith = Life in Christ.

           https://youtu.be/0_nBSTA6rkM         

Sheep Wagon Breakfast

Saturday morning, Uncle Phil invited us down to the sheep wagon for a ranch breakfast. Not disappointed.

Dad, Uncle Chris, and myself, joined him in Grandpa Murdoch's sheep wagon. So great to see it still get used.

Cooking on this guy is an art. Well done.

Even cooked some biscuits in the oven.

Hot coffee kept the stories flowing well after the feed. 

Then it was back to business. 

Super fun stuff. Almost too good to describe. History keeps us connected to the past. From there, we can wisely navigate the future. It's dry and the world is at war. What's new? We've been there, done that, and we'll survive it again. Let's ranch.

Marie McClaren

Podcasting has been getting better. Here's a good one with Marie. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-bYUnHkB-o&t=223s

Truck Tire Harrow

When I ranched in Montana, we had a field harrow made out of old semi-truck tires. Worked real well to knockdown cow pies from the winter and freshen up the grass for the spring. With a need for a good harrow around the ranch back home, we set out to build our own truck tire harrow.

First step was finding some used truck tires. Big Horn Tire in Buffalo hooked us up with these guys. 

Once we got them over the mountain, we lined them out and got to work. Drilling the 14 holes to bolt them together was no walk in the park.

Having an assortment of big bolts, we found enough 5/8" fasteners to get the job done.

To pull the contraption, we needed some cable. North Forty saves the day once again. 

We just drilled two holes in the front tire and looped the cable back through and clamped it down.

We had quite the time cutting the cable. Not sure how your supposed to do it without it coming unwound, but we found hose clamping the loose end before cutting it with a cutoff wheel on the grinder, kept it together. Then we spot welded the end so the wire rope would stay together and we could run it back through the next tire. Harder than we hoped, but it worked.

We connected the cable to all four front tires to get an even pull.

Then connected them to a clevis and hooked it to the drawbar. 

Giddy up.

So we fired up the 4230 to see if this dog would hunt.

Down the hill and through the gate.

I was super pleased with the way it knocked down the old stemmy weeds.

Cow pies were no match either.

Tore them up so the spring moisture can make fertilizer out of them.

Also did a beautiful job of fleshing up the perennial grasses. 

Lovely. 

With spring one day away, we thought we better waste no time getting a jump on things. Hopefully, the Good Lord will provide us with some moisture to make the grass take off. If not, we'll kick the pivot on as soon as water is in the canal. Fun stuff. I love spring. Let's ranch! 

First Calf

It was bound to happen. John and I ran out Tuesday night to check on the herd, and there she was, a new born calf. 

Just as we expected, 71 calved first. Everyone was so content, this was as close as we got that first night. 

Got a better look today. Black baldy heifer calf, full of life and welcomed into the herd. 

Pretty content in her new life on earth. 

Good mom, too. 

Fun stuff! Great way to start the season. There is little more that is music to my ears than a motherly moo out a first-calf-heifer. It means to me that she has accepted her motherhood and all will be well. Ranching peacefully.