I came to this place as a city slicker, I left with my heart belonging to the land. Turn to the left or right and you can see for the next two weeks. Listen to the mooing of the mama cows calling to their wayward newborn calves. Soft breezes and cool mist greet the morning sun. You could get lost out here, and find yourself without even looking.
Teamwork is essential in driving a herd. Not one beast is left behind. Strangers became partners, following and giving direction and guidance to the cattle and each other. Our days began at 6am to feed and sort the horses. Off to the tack room to saddle up and prepare for the day. Working until dusk driving herds, riding the range and working the land. No better way to spend a day.
The hard days work shows on your boots and your face, while the joy in your heart shines through the rough. By the sweat of my brow shall I eat my bread, all the days of my life. Never before have I paid to work so hard and gained so much in return. The lessons you learn with just you, the wind, the land and your horse are invaluable. Priceless and timeless. Humbling and glorious.
There was always time for laughter, joking and nicknames. Cowboy School taught me how to rope a calf, called heeling. Barrel racing and obstacle courses taught me horsemanship and control. Do you know how to change direction midstep while trotting? I do. Lessons on cutting out a single cow from the herd proved a requirement when it came time to tag the newborns with their signature eartag and doctor them with vaccinations and penicillin.
Mama cow did not like her newborn babe being roped by cowboys and tagged. Riders held off the mama while the men on foot took care of the calf and made sure it stays healthy and safe. Eartags link calf to mama and designate which herd each cow belongs to. Cows are bought and sold and can have more than one brand. This ranch leases its land to a handful of cattle owners. Separating the herds is essential for success and healthy cows.
Some pictures are worth a thousand words, and a couple hundred rounds. Shooting lessons and marksmanship tourneys got my attention and request early on. It's not everyday I get to wear boots and hold a rifle. Girls with Guns. Smokin' Hot!
Beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, but it is not hard to find here. The dark, sweet eyes of my horse, Sally, show me her understanding and wisdom in perfect clarity. There is much that she can teach me about ranch life and life in general. If only I knew what her eyes had seen. If only I could feel what she has felt and done what she has done, I would be much wiser and more aware of the gift that life is.
We were well taken care of with lunch brought out to us on the trail and buffet's for every meal. Everyone is treated like family and the house and ranch are open 24 hours. Saddles are checked and double checked for safety, while the wranglers made sure we were all comfortable and getting along with our mounts. It was all very safe and well organized. Even a high maintenance city girl like me felt safe and well taken care of.
A Farrier is one who shoes horses, taking great care to clean, trim and treat each foot with special attention. A horse can be made lame with one wrong nail, so a steady hand and immense knowledge of horses is required. Watching a beautiful red Bay horse get her manicure and pedicure was quite a treat. The Farrier served in the United States Marine Corps and had spent time in my hometown. Even out here, at the edge of industrialization, the world is still small and vast at the same time.
Good friends can be made in an instant and last a lifetime. Sometime you just click with people, then find out how much you have in common. From two different sides of the Atlantic, Miss Lindsay and I found each other and hit it off. My partner in crime, my shooting buddy, my photographer, my commiserator, my enabler, my lifeguard, cheerleader and inside joke getter. Shaky hand thing (doesn't quite come across the same in print, but she knows what I mean!)
New horses were bought on Thursday and we tried them out on Friday. We each got to name our horse. This gorgeous sandy blonde Palomino will forever be known as Cheeks, after me. It is quite an honor to name a horse and know that wranglers will introduce future guests to my girl. I know they will find her sweet spirit endearing and she will show them the beauty of the land.
A Swede, a Valley Girl, A Brit and a Redneck, cracking jokes and taking names. Some people are in your life for a minute, or just a few days and those memories last a lifetime. With all that I learned, I realize how little I know. Time to open my horizons and drink in the world around me. Same time next year. See you there!
With water as clear as a picture window and as warm as a bath, how could you not enjoy yourself? Our first night we set up camp and played on the beach in the moonlight. The breeze envelopes my senses with sweet salt air and the sand is as soft as baker's sugar. No need for sleeping bags here, the air is my blanket. We spend our morning at the local open air cafe, watching the kitchen kitties run from table to table patiently waiting for their share of breakfast. 
The sun can be brutal here and my creamy skin quickly turned red, so... a t-shirt to protect my sizzled shoulders. Unfortunately it left my booty ripe for the suns rays. Ouch!
Even the Knights mascot, Homer the Dragon, showed his support.
