posted on
November 4, 2018
Fall time is still one of my favorite times of the year! Being from "back east" it was a hard transition to move away from trees and not see the beautiful vibrant color changes of the trees. However, this high desert has its own fall beauty that is best seen from above. Check out the video below!
Each winter, when the creeks on our ranch freeze over, our kids rush out to check if the ice is thick enough for skating. Once it is, they spend hours on the ice, knowing the cold may not last. This year, we enjoyed nearly a week of perfect skating, though it got crowded with six kids on the creek. Our younger ones joined in, being pulled in a sled by their older siblings. After hours of skating and plenty of laughs, warmer temperatures ended the season, leaving behind great memories.
This week, we had some surprise early calves after a bull escaped his pasture. Normally, we don’t start calving until March, but these early arrivals faced challenges with the cold, wet weather. While most did well, one calf struggled to stay warm and had to be brought inside to warm up. After some time, we sent him back to mom for a good nursing. This experience has reminded us to check our fences and keep a better count of our bulls next spring!
Spring brings both beauty and challenges on the ranch, with green grass and returning birds signaling the season’s change, but also flooding from the moisture we receive between December and March. As calving season approaches, we move our cows from flood-prone meadows to the dry rangeland, where they have ample space and fresh grass to calve safely. Despite swollen creeks, the cows know the way to the canyon where they’ll find the perfect spots to rest. Throughout the year, we ensure their health, checking on them regularly and providing necessary minerals as they move between the meadow and rangeland.
