tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1772784035740867612024-03-14T01:11:18.806-07:00Double H Photographydoublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.comBlogger462125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-61230795995736550452016-05-04T10:02:00.000-07:002016-05-04T10:02:02.615-07:00Stop blaming me<h3>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Stop
blaming me for people not knowing where food comes from</span></h3>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">You see it flare it up on social media from time to time –
the rhetoric within the ag advocacy groups that if producers had and would do a
better job telling their story, sharing with the consumer their every move,
explaining their practices, decisions, goals and dreams. If they would only
write eloquent statements detailing every twinge of arthritic discomfort and
the cause of that limp, there wouldn’t be the current disconnect between
consumers and the land and people who raise and grow the food that fuels them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And, as one of those people on the growing, raising and
getting-my-hands-dirty-every-day end of food production, and also one of the
many who try to share my agriculture story with the masses through a variety of
opportunities, such a mindset bothers me. It bothers me because my experience
from a very young age has been that agriculture – its people, practices, farms
and ranches, have all stood with an open door to whomever had the genuine
interest to learn about them. I don’t know that I’ve ever witnessed a farmer or
rancher tell someone to fly a kite when they asked a sincere question. In actuality,
I have seen the people within agriculture embrace every opportunity to share
their lifestyle, to hire and willingly pay someone as they teach them their
craft, to step outside their comfort zone to speak with groups of strangers, or
to invite those strangers into their field, corral or home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Long before social media, laser fast technology and a
worldwide readership could be obtained from any living room, these people were
working not only at their lifelong occupation of raising food, but on sharing
their knowledge. The issue is not a lack of information provided by the farmer
and rancher, the issue is a lack of interest by the general public.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Yes, there is a huge and important brouhaha over everything
from GMO’s and pesticide use to mom bloggers being our new bosses and organic
versus conventional practices. Everyone has an opinion on these and countless
other food related topics, which ultimately impact those who raise food. It’s
critically important stuff. But, everyone forms their opinions with their stomachs
full, thanks to American farmers and ranchers. Hunger hasn’t been an issue in
our nation on a large scale since my grandmother’s generation. And, before reminding
me of the many hungry people in our country – when government agents came
through the west and killed all the cattle in an effort to improve the beef
market, my great grandmother convinced them to leave one of her cows alive. She
and her children then butchered it, harvested their home raised garden, and
made canned stew that they then lived almost exclusively on for a year or more.
Many others were less fortunate. That is facing hunger to a degree I, and I
daresay most people in this day and age, struggle to even imagine in America.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Until that happens, bickering over a myriad of shallow food
related topics is likely to continue. If and when true hunger faces our nation
again, I’ll bet my last cow people will eat whatever they can to survive,
without concern or griping. They will thank their lucky stars for GMO’s and
drought tolerant seeds, and for the knowledge and skills found in the few who
still farm and ranch. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the meantime, the perception of food has been altered to
the point it no longer mirrors the reality those in production agriculture know
to be true. Add in the twisted few on the opposite end of the spectrum, who
have a delusional view of agriculture as a house of monstrosities, who rain
misinformation in a slew of sophisticated, attention grabbing outlets, and it
gets messy fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wasting your breathe discrediting the valid efforts of
producers you then attempt to back and tout as being all that we really are
does nothing for your, or our, creditability. No one blames Apple when they
don’t immediately know how to navigate the latest Iphone. Rather, people
generally expect to wade through some research followed by a period of trial
and error, and perhaps call customer service or visit a store and talk with a
human. They take the initiative to educate themselves in order to effectively
use their device. Food should not be the exception to this mindset.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rather than point a finger in the producer’s direction for
not doing enough to educate the public, consider to what extent the public
wants to be educated. Most want to be able to do the equivalent of the basic
phone functions, a few want to know a few extra things, and minute handful want
to know how their phone was built in addition to how to access and effectively
utilize every function of it. Those people are taking the time to find those of
us on the building side of food production; all we have to do is continue
sharing our legacy of feeding them the best food anywhere on earth any way we
can, just as we have been doing for generations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So, share on in whatever way or ways you can. If you’re not
farming or ranching yourself, or even if you are, give one of the people who
made you love agriculture a call or stop by and see them. When you’re done
visiting, take a moment to relish in the rejuvenated inspiration you feel, and
share it. The feeling that person just instilled you, that is the purest and
most effective form of advocating and sharing of a story and lifestyle you’ll
ever find. No blame or Internet connection required.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-60168080319637968522016-04-29T12:51:00.000-07:002016-04-29T12:51:01.378-07:00Branding Day Photos, 2016On April 24 we raced the rain clock and branded, only to have the impending showers hold off a day. Then the clouds cut loose and blessed us with over an inch of moisture. In between cutting calves, I managed to snap a few pictures, mostly of gathering and sorting. Hope you are able to kick up your muddy feet and enjoy them.<br />
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Gathering the heifer pairs.<br />
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Is it a branding without a calf getting while gathering or sorting?<br />
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Out the gate she goes.<br />
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Some of these girls are suddenly showing more interest in their calf than they have over the course of its entire life.<br />
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Away we go on the first bunch. Always fun to watch the ropers.<br />
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On to the old cows, and more sorting.<br />
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They are much more familiar with the drill.<br />
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Just in case another calf should escape with the cows, these two are ready.<br />
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My dad was one of the branders.<br />
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My husband and his topnotch supervisor.<br />
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Nothing like branding with friends and family, then watching it rain for a week!doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-45120868314755581092016-01-12T13:18:00.000-08:002016-01-12T13:18:59.688-08:00Christmas in the Country 2015 Reveal<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #660000;">I must confess I almost passed on participating in Christmas in the Country 2015. One frustrating aspect of motherhood for me has been an inability to get anything done before the very last minute (I'm trying to work on this), and I could see participating resulting in one more thing I would struggle to complete during the holiday season. While, yes, here I am writing this post on the last possible day, I am beyond grateful I did decide to participate for a third time! This was the best year yet in my opinion, and I have always found this gift exchange to be among my favorite aspects of the holidays.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">Why was this year so great? I think it was largely due to who I was paired with, both on the receiving and giving end. Since this is a reveal, lets start with who sent me a gift. Her name is Terryn, and she blogs at </span><a href="https://www.faithfamilyandbeef.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Faith Family and Beef.</span></a><span style="color: #660000;"> She takes beautiful photos, is mom to three cute little kids that are always rocking adorable Stormy Kromers, and this lady has a way with words! Above is a photo of most of what she sent me, and I am happily enjoying my third, ok fourth, cup of coffee in that super cute mug right now, doing my best to take its advice and sip versus chug :) She also included a "poor girls latte" recipe that I put in a safe place, so safe I couldn't find it when I was ready to snap a picture. More coffee and hopefully my memory will return regarding its whereabouts!</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">The book has already been a big hit as my little boy loves anything that involves making noises, especially animal noises! I'm a big book nut, and am always thrilled to add a volume to my collection.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">What you can't read here is her sweet note, which included a handful of her favorite Bible versus and what makes them stand out to her or how she has applied them in her own life. These really hit home with me! As a new mom there are incredible joys and some struggles. I gained so much peace reading her versus and accompanying tidbits on why they were so meaningful to her. I've kept these two sheets of paper near the surface, and they have found their way into my hands several, much needed times.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">The last part of my gift was a gift certificate to the Faith Family and Beef Etsy page, where I am leaning strongly toward this </span><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/250699693/careful-attention?ref=shop_home_active_11" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">photo/quote combination</span></a><span style="color: #660000;">. Be sure to check it out, as she has some beautiful images of her Nebraska Sandhills home!</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">I already followed Faith Family and Beef on Instagram, but since receiving Terryn's gift I've started following her blog as well. Hearing her faith-based, ranch mom perspective has been such a blessing to me. I have definitely been needing hear much of what she has been writing about. Thank you so much for both the awesome gift and your blog, Terryn. Both have already served me well!</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">I also had the opportunity to send a gift to a wonderful Idaho ranch woman, blogger and photographer, Maggie Malson. How we didn't already know each other is beyond me, as Idaho and Wyoming (where I grew up) aren't that far apart in the ag journalism world. We have emailed a couple times already, and I am very excited to get to know Maggie better. Her </span><a href="http://www.maggiemalsonphotography.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">photos are phenomenal</span></a><span style="color: #660000;">, as is her writing! Plus, I can already tell she is a very genuine, kind gal.</span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;">In closing, I would like to thank all the wonderful ladies who came together to make Christmas in the Country 2015 such a success - Jamie from </span><a href="http://unchartedrhoade.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">This Uncharted Rhoade</span></a><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="color: #274e13;">,</span> Laurie from </span><a href="https://countrylinked.wordpress.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">Country Linked</span></a><span style="color: #660000;">, Lara from </span><a href="http://www.myothermoreexcitingself.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">My Other More Exciting Self</span></a><span style="color: #660000;">, and Kirby from </span><a href="http://15009farmhouse.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #274e13;">15009 Farmhouse</span></a><span style="color: #660000;">. You make this such a fun, enjoyable gift exchange. Plus, I am very grateful you put me in touch with two genuine, kind ranch moms that I can learn so much from! Thank you all again.</span>doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-62132566951018820482015-07-27T15:12:00.000-07:002015-07-27T15:14:06.210-07:00Parenting lessons from the first monthOur first little is one month old. To say we've learned a few things over the last 30 days is an understatement. While I by no means have it figured out, there have been some fun, funny and truly insightful lessons and experiences.<br />
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1. Delivery room terminology is both oddly similar and vastly different between livestock and humans. It's called Picotin instead of oxytocin, placenta instead of after birth, and the list goes on. Some nurses will track what you're saying, some will look at you as if you're insane when you ask certain questions or respond with ranch terminology versus human.<br />
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2. "No baby has ever slept itself to starvation." This tidbit of advice is perhaps the most useful I've received since giving birth. Due to starting out a little slow on latching, our doctor said we needed to wake our little one every two hours round the clock to feed him. I tried this for about two days, and two hours turned into one, then turned into 45 minutes between eating, and an increasingly fussy, tired, dissatisfied baby. I finally stopped and the let the poor kid and myself sleep. He ended up gaining double the newborn average in his first week of life, so I'm assuming it worked. A couple weeks later a neighbor voiced the above statement, and I couldn't agree more.<br />
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3. Resuming work/activity. Doctors tell you take it easy and rest after having a baby. Family members tend to say the same thing. People will offer their assistance with almost anything in the house out of both kindness and the belief you should take it easy. But, if a tractor needs moved, pigs need watered, the cows get out, etc . . . Everyone is just fine with the new mom participating in those activities. I have found a lot of amusement in the thought process that vacuuming or reaching for something on a top shelf in an air conditioned house may do me in, but driving machinery or packing feed is just fine, even if I have to lug the baby along with me and it's 90 degrees outside.<br />
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4. The livestock comparisons that occur throughout pregnancy don't stop at birth. Nursing, diapers and a plethora of other things open the door for a whole new wave of similarities that folks, especially dads it seems, will use to better understand their newborn. For example, if you nurse, "scoury" colored and consistency diapers are alright.<br />
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5. I struggled with not helping with the outdoor farm and ranch work in the latter months of my pregnancy. But, those months were only a precursor to the first month with a baby, during which I have been almost exclusively stuck in the house. I know I have been blessed with the best job in the world, but it is still extremely difficult to be unable to assist with activities I'm used to being right in the middle of. I sometimes feel as thought I am not contributing to our livelihood, and it is hard to see my husband come in every evening exhausted (even if I'm just as exhausted from being up with the baby all night), and hearing him talk about tasks I historically helped him with and thoroughly enjoyed. It's more than worth it, but the adjustment period combined with exhaustion is more challenging at times than I was prepared for.<br />
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6. If you nurse, you may the urge to share your lanolin cream, ice packs, etc . . . with any lactating female of any species on the place. At least I did a few days into the feeding regime. I also have a whole new level of respect for sows, who not only nurse over a dozen young most of the time, but little ones with TEETH. I cannot imagine.<br />
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7. Speaking of nursing, another thing that will become quite clear is why certain cows kick off their calves. No, this won't become an accepted behavior in our herd by any means, but understanding will dawn, bright as the rising sun when your little bundle of joy gum bites a part of your anatomy that has previously spent its life at least two layers below the surface of daily activities. You will also be able to relate to those cows who run over the human who tags their calf, the one who comes off a trailer with milk shooting from her bag, and the list goes on. <br />
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8. Feeding insights. My husband has expressed great curiosity on what our conversion rate is, and even mentioned creating a spread sheet of my weight loss to our son's weight gain. Fortunately he has been too busy enough with actual work to follow through with this idea, but wive's of feeders beware - that desire to calculate rate of gain, pounds consumed, and so on, runs deep.<br />
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9. Parental imprinting. Most parent's get their licks on where their kid will go to college, the type of care he or she will drive, or a brand of clothes they will never wear. Our "imprinting" has been much more focused on acceptable tractor colors (green) and breed of cattle (I say Angus, husband say's Simmental). Although I have made sure to mention to our little guy more than once that while South Dakota is great, Wyoming is better, and being a UW Cowboy trumps being a SDSU Jackrabbit ; )<br />
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10. 90's country lullabies. Maybe everyone does this, I don't know, but it has been a while since I've had cause to memorize a lullaby. With the exception of Twinkle Twinkle Litter Star, I cannot remember more than a line a here and there. Enter a healthy dose of 90's Trisha Yearwood and Reba McEntire, with the occasional Aaron Watson or Chancey Williams tune mixed in, and I have successfully navigated lulling my baby to sleep via music and mediocre singing more than once.<br />
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What experiences have you had in parenting that should be added to my list? doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-91383795497272327652015-03-09T16:48:00.004-07:002015-03-09T16:48:45.213-07:00Warm temps, baby calves<br />
It's a beautiful afternoon in western South Dakota. Temperatures are in the 60's and we have a slight breeze at best. Following a frigid start to calving season, humans and livestock alike are enjoying the warming trend!<br />
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We are down to the last few first-calf heifers to calve, and the cows are in the thick of it. The pinky's (cows who came with me from Wyoming and bear a pink ear tag) are faring well thus far.<br />
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Perhaps the biggest highlight of the calving season so far is this guy, who arrived on March 4. He is out of a heifer we received as a gift following the Atlas blizzard. She came all the way from Virginia to South Dakota, and we are her proud new owners.<br />
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Here he is on March 5, our first warm day in over a week! We use calf coats regularly in cold weather to help prevent calves from getting chilled. It was around -30F the night before I took this, and he was happy to wear it, leopard print and all. He was not as impressed when I showed up to remove it and tag him.</div>
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Other calves have made their appearance since the warmer temps, making our jobs much easier.<br />
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The first few showed up prior to the sub-zero weather, and managed to keep their ears.</div>
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But, there are a few like this girl, who will have shorter ears as a result of the cold.<br />
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Everyone spent the majority of the first warm day soaking up the sunshine. This little guy is a twin, who arrived on Valentines Day.<br />
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There's one of those pink tags, gracing the prettiest ears in the heifer pasture in my opinion : )<br />
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Hope everyone's spring work is going well, whether it be in an office, on a tractor, or in a calving lot!doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-76870891524168867502015-01-19T11:02:00.001-08:002015-01-19T11:02:10.404-08:00The first pregnant human on our ranchI excitedly told my husband last night that as of next week, we are halfway through my first pregnancy. He paused, then reminded me that doctors all go on a 40-week pregnancy, so technically I was wrong. Big sigh.<br />
We deal with pregnancy non-stop around here: there hundreds of pregnant cows in the area, we farrow sows year-round, my dachshund has gone through two false pregnancies in the past year that were quite dramatic. But, we will be welcoming our first baby in June, and experiencing pregnancy for the first time personally has been eye-opening, for both myself and my husband.<br />
Here's what we've learned so far:<br />
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1. My productivity is directly linked to coffee! Ok, maybe not, I'm sure a big part of this is the tiredness that comes with pregnancy, both from hormones, the extra work of growing a baby, and packing all that extra weight around. But, not being able to caffeinate has not been that enjoyable. During our first doctor's visit, the kindly gal explaining things to us said I could slowly back off coffee to the point of one cup (read, actual cup, not one of the biggest cups in my cupboard), or so per day. She went on to say that this really wasn't an issue for most, unless they were the sort that drank coffee all day until they were caffeinated to the max (that would be me). My husband snickered as he looked at my dazed self, who had gone from being that overly caffeinated person to a one-cup momma to be instantly when we found out we were pregnant. The effects were not that pleasant, and to this day, four months in, I miss my coffee far more than I miss alcoholic beverages.<br />
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2. Doing chores is a chore. Doctors will also tell you remain active while pregnancy. Not that difficult on our place. We adjusted a few thing to the point I have my little batch of chores to complete each morning. I enjoy it, although everyone else gets really concerned if they get near me because I am constantly gasping for breathe, even when I'm just walking around. Apparently a baby the size of an orange has the ability to shove your lungs into your esophagus. Plus, there are a lot of bathroom breaks, pauses to readjust clothing that doesn't fit right, and struggles to get my foot high enough to reach the bottom tractor step. Also, I have learned that if I do chores, there is a good chance I will do nothing else the remainder of the day. Chores wipe me out in a way I have never experienced. People with kids just nod, and say that's completely normal. As someone who filled every day to the max, this has been a humbling learning curve for me. The fact is that some stuff does not get done, when I'm tired now my brain does not function, and that sitting down "for a few minutes" often turns into a 2-hour nap.<br />
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3. Sympathy eating occurs. No, I'm not talking about my husband, but rather the cows and sows. I have had a voracious appetite from about day 3 of being pregnant. This has resulted in extreme sympathy for all the other pregnant females I'm surrounded by. I may have, on occasion, packed a few extra buckets of grain to some sows, or dolled out a little extra hay to the first calf heifers. My reasoning was that if I have doubled my food intake, we cannot possible be feeding them enough, science, known livestock feed requirements, etc... be darned. My husband, who has watched our fridge go from stocked to constantly empty, has been quite understanding for the most part, and taken back some of the feeding chores. Probably to save our feed budget for the year.<br />
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4. I explained ultra-sounding cattle during my entire first ultrasound, and even invited the tech out next fall. We compared what they look at on human baby's to determine age to what we look at in cattle. There have been multiple other incidents where our livestock pregnancy experience have carried over into interesting questions and conversations with healthcare people regarding our own pregnancy.<br />
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5. Human doctors are lackadaisical compared to ranchers. Perhaps that's a bit harsh, and I do like our doctor, but this has become a common topic around our house in the past few months. For what I consider an astronomical fee (the joys of self-employment and insurance), I have had the pleasure of stepping on scale, having my blood pressure taken, hearing the baby's heartbeat (which is amazing, but totals 5 minutes or less of the visit) then visiting about the weather, the family, pregnancy symptoms, the ranch, etc... with staff at my doctor's office the past two months. None of these conversations have included pertinent pregnancy topics that couldn't have been discussed over the phone in under 10 minutes. Plus, nine out of ten of them I have had to ask, instead of the healthcare person filling me in. Perhaps this is a first-time pregnant, not into the third trimester yet, overly concerned future mother talking, but in visiting to friends who also farm or ranch, we have agreed that human doctors take a pretty laid back approach to this whole pregnancy thing compared to the care we provide our animals. I've been told to eat healthy but not the recommended type of snaking that would help me pass my glucose test. That information came from a friend who failed hers, then had her doctor pipe up with an, "oh, well..." Another friend is who told me to make sure I schedule that appointment early, because there are eating restrictions ahead of time. As someone who leaves the doctor's office and goes home to personally feed each pregnant cow and sow a balanced, exact diet, then spend as much time as necessary looking them over, checking their water, discussing their health with other experts (the husband, neighbors, parents), and adjusting care as needed, my care seems expensive and sub-par in comparison. But, on the other hand, it also gives me a new sense of pride in the work we do.<br />
doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-20267966394103526472015-01-13T18:21:00.000-08:002015-01-13T18:21:26.318-08:00Cornstalks, feedlots and fog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We headed to southeastern South Dakota/northwestern Iowa a couple weeks ago to check out a newer sprayer, and to see our good friends who just happened to buy our steer calves and my in-laws open yearling heifers. They also just welcomed their first baby into the world, and as expectant parents ourselves, it was nice to spend some time around a newborn, and new parents. </div>
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While everyone was tired of the cold, foggy weather conditions, it did make for some wonderful photos!</div>
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We found our calves, looking good.</div>
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It is so fun to see our cattle doing well for their new owner, and to see all the performance we work hard to breed into them coming to fruition.</div>
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We also went along to check and water cows, who were on corn stalks. I was amazed to learn that the vast majority of stalks in this area go ungrazed each year. Either because farmers don't want cattle in their fields or don't have cattle and don't care to lease out the stalks for grazing.</div>
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My in-laws open heifers, which were weighing right at 1,400 pounds when we were visiting. I love looking at fat cattle, and these big girls did not disappoint!</div>
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doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-48536218924825459742015-01-06T15:06:00.000-08:002015-01-07T19:33:54.595-08:00Christmas in the Country gift reveal<div style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful, blessed Christmas. This year my gift in the Christmas in the Country Gift Exchange came from Erin from <a href="http://diariesfromthedirtroad.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">Diaries from the Dirt Road</a>. When her package arrived I was so excited I just grabbed my phone to snap pictures and dug in : )</div>
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Erin truly went above and beyond. She included a nice letter about herself, and another explaining each individually wrapped gift. The entire box was topped with some super fun holiday confetti. </div>
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How amazing is this lady? </div>
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Upon opening everything, this is what I found. A beautiful mix of homemade, carefully purchased, and thoughtfully put together items. She covered my coffee and dachshund habits, sweet tooth and even my dog : )</div>
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I'm guessing I was among the last to sign up this year because we were in the process of telling our families we are expecting our first baby! Erin nailed my newfound love of farm-themed baby items, and noted that she treasured books as a child. So did I, and starting a book collection for our little one was very kind of her.</div>
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A pancake breakfast in a mason jar, some honey from Erin's farm, as well as her own homemade lip balm were included, as was a locally made bar of soap.</div>
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I love coffee mugs, especially nice, big ones, and this one is awesome! With the dish towel, Erin included the most interesting message about a towel. I am tucking it away to include whenever I give gift towels in the future.</div>
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Who does not need another spatula, particularly when it's this cool? There were also some cool Missouri (where Erin is from) tidbits scattered throughout the box, including some great cherry candies (I ate them all and cannot remember what they're called).<br />
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On the flip side, my person to shop for was Jan from <a href="http://www.thetipgarden.com/" target="_blank">The Tip Garden.</a> I had a lot of fun finding items for her, and have also really enjoyed browsing through her blog. She has a ton of handy information on all sorts of things, recipes and some fun sounding holiday crafts. Check her out, and take a pen, you'll want to write down some things to try!</div>
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Thank you so much to Erin for not only sending me an amazing gift, but for taking time out of her schedule to be one of the hosts that make this entire exchange possible. She and the other hosts do a great job, and I loved being part of such a fun celebration of Christmas again this year!</div>
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doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-84815084219815056292014-11-25T14:00:00.000-08:002014-11-26T09:27:39.226-08:00Lets go shopping: the 2014 holiday gift guideWhere has November gone?! With Thanksgiving mere days away, the holiday season is upon us, which means holiday shopping has also arrive with a bang.<br />
I love the idea of shopping locally as much as possible for holiday gifts, and the concept of Small Business Saturday. Helping hardworking people who work full or part time to support their primary occupation, which is often farming or ranching with the folks I know, makes me happy. Plus, I love the unique, high quality items I'm able to round up. I am also thrilled that the Internet now allows me to shop "locally" with small business owners from all over the country and world. <br />
In celebration of Small Business Saturday, I've compiled some of my favorite people and places to buy gifts, or that I have recently found and plan to shop at in the near future.<br />
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1. The local Christmas Bazaar. Do you have one of these in your or a nearby community? If you do, go! My hometown has an annual Christmas Bazaar that features everything from homemade soaps and jewelry, fashion and food to local reps for companies like Pampered Chef and Norwex. I have done some serious shopping there in the past, and always try to make the now three hour drive back whenever possible.<br />
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2. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/EverythingByErin" target="_blank">Everything By Erin</a>. This gal is from my hometown, population 1,000-1,500 people. She can sew pretty much anything, with her specialty being the cutest custom stick horses! What kid doesn't want a horse in their favorite color, or that looks just like dads? Whatever their wish, she can make it happen. Erin also makes a variety of other sewn items, many with a western touch, and can outfit your entire household with custom items.<br />
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3. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MillerSoapCo?pnref=lhc" target="_blank">Millar Soap Company, LLC</a>. Ok, this may get confusing, but when I said hometown, with Erin I meant where I went to school. With Millar Soap, I mean the town that is closest to the ranch I was raised on. Located in Lance Creek, WY, population about 30, Millar Soap makes everything from bar soap to foaming hand soap to shaving soap, all available in a variety of great scents! She has a variety of other bath and body products to choose from as well. Even men like her soap products - my husband and brother are both fans.<br />
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4. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Cowgirl-Crush/206517949508" target="_blank">Cowgirl Crush</a> and <a href="https://www.facebook.com/TheSpicyCowgirl" target="_blank">The Spicy Cowgirl</a>. While I must admit I have never made a purchase at either of these places, it is only because I am not a big online clothes shopper for fear something will arrive and not fit. But, if you have no such qualms both of these ladies carry some seriously awesome items, and both run specials from time to time that will make splurging all the easier : )<br />
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5. Children's books by ranch ladies. I don't think it gets any better - you can buy the little people in your life an agriculture themed book written by someone that actually lives in agriculture. Two of my favorites are <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levislostcalf" target="_blank">"Levi's Lost Calf"</a> By Amanda Radke and Michelle Weber and <a href="http://thepioneerwoman.com/the-charlie-book/" target="_blank">"Charlie the Ranch Dog"</a> By Ree Drummond (The Pioneer Woman).<br />
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6. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/plainpunchy" target="_blank">Just Plain Punchy</a>. This is a very recent discovery of mine, but with numerous friends expecting, I am looking forward to ordering some of the super cute onsies and other baby items in the near future. Very cute baby clothes that to me (not a mom) appear to be practical items that would work great for daily wear and tear.<br />
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7. <a href="http://thesouthdakotacowgirl.com/shop/" target="_blank">The South Dakota Cowgirl's</a> horse themed items. From calendars to prints to Christmas cards, you can cover the horse lover on your list with ease by heading over to fellow South Dakotan Jen's website. She does an awesome job photographing horses and providing high quality gift options made from her images.<br />
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8. A newspaper or magazine subscription. Here comes my pitch for the papers I work for - many weekly agriculture newspapers run awesome holiday specials, often it's the cheapest time of year to buy or renew subscriptions. Plus, everyone from grandpa to family across the country likes to read and keep up on the latest news, market reports and bull sale results. Also, while some publications are not owned locally, the newspaper staff are likely members of your community, and subscriptions and advertising are what write their paychecks.<br />
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9. <a href="http://www.oldwestcedarmill.com/" target="_blank">Old West Cedarmill</a>. Touching quotes, poems and images burned on cowhides or leather, and ready to be hung in your home. One of their "Tradition" pieces hangs in my living room. My husband and I bought it before our wedding, showcased it at our reception, and still love it today. If you happen to attend the National Western Stockshow, you can also find this great company there.<br />
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10. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/lastloopropeart" target="_blank">Last Loop Rope Art and Wyo. Skies Wild Rags.</a> This lady and her daughter are both incredibly talented at all sorts of things, but I particularly like her colored rope décor. Plus, where I'm from everyone wears wild rags in the winter, and having someone to purchase them from is a necessity.<br />
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11.<a href="http://thepetersonfarmbros.bigcartel.com/products" target="_blank">The Peterson Farm Brothers merchandise</a>. Surely you have heard of these guys and their ag parody's? Well, if you haven't, go to YouTube and search for them. If you have, I'm sure one of their t-shirts, posters or other items is on your Christmas list as it is on mine. They do a wonderful job promoting the agriculture way of life, and the items they sell would make great gifts for just about anyone.<br />
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12. Your local photographer. No matter who they are, they will appreciate the business and pictures make great gifts. Schedule a family photo session and give them to parents and grandparents framed, purchase prints, ask about having landscapes of your operation done, or inquire about other photo ideas you've been wanting to complete for years. The sky is the limit. <a href="https://www.facebook.com/doublehphotography1/photos/pb.124190210939668.-2207520000.1416952530./919028308122517/?type=1&theater" target="_blank">Many also do calendars</a>, myself included, and I would love to sell you one as much as your local photographer would like to : )<br />
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Where do you like to shop locally? Who did I miss? Comment and let me know your favorite place to shop for gifts, or what you make that people should know about while doing their holiday shopping.doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-39708896358195046822014-10-15T08:46:00.002-07:002014-10-15T08:46:38.922-07:00The calves of fall<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last week I grabbed my camera and headed out to check the cow's water, with the goal of getting some nice photos of our whopping steer calves. It proved as easy as getting a photo of a group of elementary school-aged human males where they're all looking at you and smiling, but the beautiful day did lend itself nicely to capturing other members of the bunch.</div>
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I just love this old, falling down windmill!<br />
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One of the "pinkies," whose mother came with me from Wyoming.<br />
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There they are - the best I could do of multiple steer calves. <br />
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The heifer calves were much happier to pose.<br />
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These calves are out of our first-calf heifers, three-year olds, and a handful of my older cows. Some are AI bred (the lower numbers), and some are bull bred. We are very excited and nervous to sell the big end of the steers in the next couple weeks in what has been a record breaking calf market all year. The money they make us will have to last us an entire year, until we sell next year's calf crop.<br />
Part of the reason for taking their picture is to remember the (hopefully) highest priced calves we've ever sold. We have been blessed with an awesome year in western South Dakota, and that in combination with the high cattle prices has us and our cattle in excellent spirits going into fall.doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-2537776845774090092014-10-06T14:55:00.001-07:002014-10-06T14:55:19.869-07:00The hatersLast year this week I was busy. Very busy. We were in the middle of facing the exhausting aftermath of winter storm Atlas, and in addition to my responsibilities as a rancher, I was also faced with multiple media outlets wanting articles, interviews, statements and photos from the blizzard. I responded to as many inquiries as fast as I could, and those photos, statements, interviews and firsthand accounts made their way into the public's eye.<br />
It's a known fact that there are people who dislike agriculture, ranching, farming, and ultimately me. While I find that to be a shortsighted opinion on their part, considering any such people that I have communicated with have never been on a farm or ranch, met a farmer or rancher, or had an firsthand interaction with agriculture at all, it is nevertheless their right to dislike me. While I do take an interest in providing truthful information about myself, my occupation and my lifestyle to any and everyone, I am also typically okay with those people who feel the need to respond in an accusatory, hateful manner. I've done my best, and if they are so hate filled that they cannot, at the very least, take into consideration what I say, then I don't need to waste my time worrying about their thought processes.<br />
But, things are different sometimes. Like when my favorite old baldy cow - the one whose mom was first 4-H heifer lay dead because she would not crawl through a fence to save her life, and I was holding myself together by a thread in between phone calls, Skype interviews and article submissions. Reminding myself that we did everything we could do, despite feeling completely responsible for the loss of life experienced in our herd. When immediately after hitting send on the latest email, I was out the door to help in clean up efforts, caring for the living, hauling the deceased away, and ensuring all the other daily tasks that are involved in our life were completed. <br />
And when, in the midst of that, comments came back to me calling me a sickening disgrace to humanity, and especially women. Others called me a murderer, someone only saddened by my economic loss, a liar, incapable of real emotion. The list goes, and was often posted by "anonymous" sources.<br />
Normally these comments roll of my back easily - I would so much rather discuss farming and ranching topics in a respectful manner with folks who don't always agree with my lifestyle or choices, and I am not usually bothered by those who simply attack instead of seek to know. But, this time the comments struck a chord, and they still do.<br />
Not one person outside the immediate ranching community, their immediate friends and family showed up to help with immediate recovery efforts. No animal rights activists were found out in the cold, then the mud, then the flood waters, and it infuriates me that a human could be so dense that they truly believe themselves to know and actually be carrying out actions from behind a computer screen that are better for animals than someone who is out braving the elements to physically, financially and emotionally do everything they possibly can for them. There is no comparison, and no question in my mind who the true environmentalists were in this instance.<br />
I am also frustrated that in any other occupation, people with firsthand experience are considered experts in their field. Most of the people facing this blizzard had 100-plus years of family experience backing the decisions they made prior, during and after the storm. Multiple generations of families have risked everything they had to make a go at this job out of love for it, and most have thrived, yet we are still classified as idiots by many who have zero experience in this occupation. <br />
You do not make it in farming or ranching without putting your land and livestock first, every single day. Each person who faced that storm took the available weather information, and compared it against generations of raising cattle in those same pastures and centuries of surviving storms without loss, and they put all that together into the most likely management strategy to result in every animal coming through alive and with as little stress as possible.<br />
Every single one of those strategies was wrong - we were all wrong. Not because there was a right answer that every person missed, but because there was no way to prevent the deaths. Cattle died in pastures and locations where livestock have never before been lost in a storm. Cattle in barns and sheds died - this was often the worst place to have them because the weight of the snow caused roofs to collapse and kill entire herds. Cattle behind windbreaks, in corrals and tucked into other forms of manmade protection died. Cattle put in garages died. Cattle died in every single scenario in the areas hit hardest by the storm died. There was no right answer that could have saved them.<br />
To blame the rancher for this, to blame me for this, is the equivalent of blaming your neighbor for the house or business you lost in Hurricane Sandy, or stating a parent was responsible for the death of their child at Plaza Tower or Briarwood Elementary school in Oklahoma following the twister that destroyed much of town of Moore. Just as those people did all they could, but were incapable of saving anything more in the face of such catastrophic weather events, so did we. Those people did what was right when a tornado siren went off, or a Hurricane was predicted, and so did we. We had no more control of the weather last October than they did in Oklahoma or New Orleans those fateful days, and we wish as hard as they do that we did.<br />
Imagine how they would feel if their actions were questioned, if people left them random comments taunting them over the death of a loved one or the loss of their entire life's work. That is what we faced in the days and weeks following winter storm Atlas, and it was crippling at times. It also did absolutely no good in any way - it did not help a cause, a human or an animal impacted by the storm.<br />
If you disagree with our methods, or our lifestyle at times, that is alright. But to attack us based on a lack of understanding and conscience, no matter if it's done in person or the anonymity of the Internet, is wrong. I would happily meet you in person, take you out to where our cattle were, and explain what happened. You can look me in the eye and decide for yourself if I cared, if I tried, and if I was emotionally attached to those animals. We can talk about any other cattle, ranching, farming or agriculture topic you would like. On the other hand, all your degrading, cruel comments will do is infuriate me and build my resolve to continue sharing the truth about my life - the good, bad and unimaginable, so that every single person has the opportunity to hear my perspective of what being a rancher is all about.doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-54385655956832689772014-10-03T07:00:00.000-07:002014-10-03T07:39:59.367-07:00One year ago: Winter Storm AtlasOne year ago the Atlas blizzard hit. I was fortunate to be a part of extensive coverage of the devastating weather event in between helping gather and care for the living and laying the dead to rest. I am incredibly grateful for the coverage the storm got on agriculture news outlets, and for the opportunity to be a voice for myself, my friends and neighbors. I still find it hard to believe that one of my biggest successes as a journalist was the result of a blizzard, but I am thankful as well. God works in mysterious, wonderful ways. However, he also doesn't stop time, and we have had to stay on our toes to keep ahead the past year.<br />
With that same mindset, I am also grateful for the surge of attention the storm is receiving on its one-year anniversary, but hope it is somewhat laid to rest after this anniversary. It's one of those things where you wish you didn't have to read anything else about it, but that you're simultaneously grateful for the support and desire and explain what has happened to those impacted by the storm.<br />
With that said, <a href="http://beefmagazine.com/disaster-amp-drought/rancher-details-gut-wrenching-pain-cattle-lost-sd-blizzard" target="_blank">here is an article I wrote in the days following the blizzard</a>.<br />
<a href="http://issuu.com/thefencepostcatalogs/docs/fcj99-dsedits/0" target="_blank">Here is a second link to a special edition</a> I was honored to be a part of that details the storm, those affected and those who helped. It just came out this week in the tri-sate area (SD, WY, NE).<br />
<a href="http://m.beefmagazine.com/blog/remembering-atlas-plus-thank-you-sd-ranchers?NL=BEEF-02&Issue=BEEF-02_20141002_BEEF-02_483&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_1&YM_RID=CPG02000000652142&YM_MID=596" target="_blank">And, here is a thank-you piece circulating the web</a> that states how those impacted by the storm feel a year later which does a wonderful job explaining everyone's mindset one year later.<br />
I hope you take the time to read at least the first and last links, and they clearly show the changes that have occurred in our mentality over a year's time, as well as the impact everyone who helped us has had.<br />
Below are photos from the days after the storm, many never before seen, of what we found, how we lived without electricity for nearly a week, and of the storm itself. While initially among the most heartbreaking and difficult experiences I have ever been through, over the past year the good Lord has turned this event into a truly amazing showcase of this love, grace and kindness poured out through those who believe in Him. Thank you to any and everyone who helped those impacted by Winter Storm Atlas in any way. It was so humbling and incredible to be on the receiving end, and the gifts people sent made all the difference in the world as we faced the storm's impacts over the long, bitterly cold winter that followed. We are forever changed for the better by your generosity and selflessness, and we are going to make it just fine. May God Bless you and American agriculture!<br />
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Gathering the living, and the electric pole that let them out of their pasture during the storm.<br />
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Trying to save a yearling heifer.</div>
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Our yearling heifers. The hardest site we came upon in our search.</div>
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How we kept our food cold without electricity for days following the storm.</div>
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How we cooked.</div>
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How we ate while searching.</div>
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How we ate at night. Lasagna heated on a wood fire. I made a huge lasagna by chance (at God's silent urging) two days before the blizzard hit. It became our staple meal for nearly a week.</div>
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Trying to save a heifer buried alive in the snow. She was sitting on her rump, and was still a foot below the top of the drift when we found her.</div>
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Taking pictures while searching.</div>
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What the storm did to all our trees.</div>
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doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-74228400161197774242014-09-29T12:34:00.000-07:002014-09-29T12:38:00.382-07:00Small town coffee shops<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/ca/4a/08/ca4a0821b8f4c21091479b65439447b0.jpg" target="_blank">Photo from here</a></div>
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It's National Coffee Day! As an avid creamer-added coffee drinker, I have been celebrating the holiday hard so far. These days the majority of my coffee intake comes from brewing my own 5-cup pot, or whipping up an espresso on my home machine. </div>
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But, when in town I have been known to stop at an area coffee shop whenever possible. This morning I was thinking about the difference between big-city coffee shops and those found in smaller towns. I will stand in line along with everyone else at Starbucks for a pumpkin-spice latte (with two pumps of vanilla), have them ask my name, watch half the people behind the register misspell it, pay, wait a little longer and then leave with my delicious drink in hand after the barista attempts to yell my name, success contingent on how well it was spelled. Ten to fifteen minutes on a slow day and you're back out the door.</div>
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In small town America the experience is a little different, and may go something like this:</div>
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Walk in, great the shop owner/barista/cash register person/often only employee by name, they respond in kind. You make your order while standing next to cutouts from the local paper taped to the wall and often impressive displays from local artists. Small talk fills the time about how long its been since they've seen you, how are your parents doing, their kids, the local high school sports teams and had you both heard about the latest wedding and death in the community. Then your high school computer teacher turns around and also greats you, this turns into another bout of catching up. Your best friend shows up halfway through this, because of course you texted or called her to let her know you were at the coffee shop and it took her all of 10 minutes to change clothes, drive across town, talk to someone outside, then join you. She orders, the owner hands you your coffee, starts on hers, and you begin rehashing whose engaged, pregnant, moving, etc...</div>
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As minutes pass two of your former classmates, a 4-H leader, the current high school computer teacher and a group of middle schoolers, one belonging to the store owner show up along with one distinctively non-local tourist. You either know each of these people, sans the tourist, or their parents, and will nod or visit with each of them between the more in-depth conversation you planned for the day.</div>
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The coffee shop is swamped with the delicious smells of food and caffination, the lively chatter of people that see each other daily and those who have known each other for lifetimes but not talked in a year. Gossip, weather, sports, current events and tragedy are discussed with more depth and knowledge than 20/20. Outside the rest of the little community moves to and fro, and there is a certain comfort in knowing the vast majority of vehicles and pedestrians that make an appearance.</div>
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Long after you had planned, you make your exit, feeling rejuvenated, refreshed and refueled, and knowing that only a portion of that feeling came from the drink you consumed during your stay. Pleasant good-byes are shared all around and people continue in the direction their day takes them.</div>
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While not the same, I believe that initial smell and chatter that fills the air when you first crack the door of a coffee shop in a bigger city, where you know not a soul, take you back home for a moment. Even when you look around and take in the fact that these people are rarely clothed almost entirely in jeans and boots, that the barista won't know you or your preferred drink, or that a good friend is likely to appear before you can leave, the shop in general brings back good memories. This is why I love the coffee shop experience any day of the year!</div>
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doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-70354695843670922732014-09-10T08:19:00.001-07:002014-09-10T08:19:41.255-07:00Salebarn DayLast week I volunteered to take the open cows (those who are not pregnant) and our cull bulls to the sale barn. This was for a variety of reasons: get out of the house, I love going to the salebarn, it was a beautiful day, I wanted to see if they would let me take pictures to go with future articles on relevant topics.<br />
So away I went, with a 28-foot trailer loaded to the hilt. I happen to know the manager at St. Onge, as most people in this area do, and he happened to be at the trailer chute area when I arrived. I asked about taking pictures, and he graciously gave me free rein, and let his crew know I would be wandering around.<br />
Photographer heaven ensued, and here are a handful of favorites from the hour or so of shooting I enjoyed before stopping for a bacon cheeseburger in the barn's café.<br />
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I love sale barns (they prefer to be called livestock auctions). You can see the entire scope of the cattle industry while sitting through a sale. Where it's been and where it's going, the confidence and optimism of the area's ranchers, the quality of the year at hand, beef demand, and so many other things are displayed and determined as the various lots are weighed, bid on and sold.<br />
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On this particular day, as has been the case in recent weeks, the sale primarily consisted of open heifers, cull bulls, and a few cull cows. The majority of running age cows in this part of the country have not been preg checked yet, and are still out on summer grass. They will pick up in weeks to come, and continue through the fall run and early winter months, before trickling off again as calving season nears.</div>
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Most sale barns around here go to one sale a week during the slower summer months, but increase that number to two or three sales during the peak fall and early winter marketing months. When they go to multiple sales per week, one will be focused on dry and open cows, or "weigh-ups," and another will be for calves and yearlings. Bred heifers and cows may also warrant their own sale day, or be combined with one of the other two categories.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY0_jJR40Y2M4XYgZa8tqT8WYKNJKqNg8E6RaeHqXh8aVPW6BL3LCp7ktnsat01WNxqCOxcDJx7AGcKRBg5pezrDvc1rZITGVCFvCR35KbmcpuCsO218NbZbbhxXd5csOIPRTtKB9gWe2/s1600/IMG_6567copyright.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwY0_jJR40Y2M4XYgZa8tqT8WYKNJKqNg8E6RaeHqXh8aVPW6BL3LCp7ktnsat01WNxqCOxcDJx7AGcKRBg5pezrDvc1rZITGVCFvCR35KbmcpuCsO218NbZbbhxXd5csOIPRTtKB9gWe2/s1600/IMG_6567copyright.jpg" height="400" width="640" /></a>This was my personal favorite photo of the day. While still a few weeks away, the sheer volume of pens on the load-out side of the ring speak to the fact that the fall run is coming, and that thousands of calves and yearlings will soon make their way through this and other barns across country, resulting in their owners one major paycheck for the year. While you can't tell in black and white, the pens are sporting several new boards, are clean and ready for the rush that will soon descend upon them.<br />
The cattle business is a beautiful business.doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-8304645388776184132014-03-06T08:08:00.000-08:002014-03-06T08:08:10.469-08:00Foggy morning calf sightings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It hasn't been the best calving weather in western South Dakota for us thus far, and by that I mean it has been awful. Multiple nights at -30 degrees with windchill and multiple days where it struggled to reach 0. But, our mama cows came through it like champs, and everyone is loving the warming temperatures we're experiencing this week.<br />
The only calf that hasn't thrived this year was this red guys twin, who was huge for a twin. He got cold before we found him, and despite five hours of rubbing and blowing him dry with a hair dryer and multiple space heaters in the middle of my bathroom, he didn't make it. I wonder if he didn't have some additional issues we weren't aware of, and while that was a frustrating way to start, we have been blessed with very few issues since.<br />
Yesterday we had a great fog before the sun came out and turned us from white to brown, causing a general rise in spirits along the way. I tagged along for morning feeding chores with my new 7D camera to get some photos of all our new arrivals before the cool, foggy atmosphere disappeared.<br />
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This little gal has aspirations of being a model someday. Keep your eye out for her in western ag publications.<br />
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While I think our multiple red babies are cute, and photogenic, the boss man is less than impressed that all his work to breed homozygous black cattle has resulted in more red babies than he's had in years. I can see his point of view too, but again, how cute is this guy?!<br />
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Baldies are the best : )<br />
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"What do you mean I have freakishly big ears, and who is 'Dumbo'?"doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-76197872984316631762014-02-27T13:43:00.000-08:002014-02-27T13:59:29.352-08:00Purchasing a camera for ranch useMy brand new Canon 7D and two kit lenses (aka, personal sacrifices instead of a single L-series lens due to the purchase of a camera body) arrived today!! I am anxiously checking the battery charger every 5 minutes, and it has been doing the whole blink-three-times-in-rapid-succession thing it supposedly does when its nearly charged for over an hour! Ugh.<br />
Outside there is a brand new calf, another soon-to-be brand new calf, and sunshine. And to think, my husband asked me what I was doing this afternoon, and looked at me oddly when I was snappish that the 4-wheeler was nearly out of fuel. <br />
The poor man.<br />
The thing I have learned this time around in buying a camera body is that it's like buying cars, hydraulic chutes or mineral in that every single option on the lot is nearly perfect to hear the sales people tell it. <br />
Uhuh. I have a 1.5 year old Canon 60D camera being sent to Canon for the second time in four months right now that was "the best thing going" a year and a half ago. I don't know if it was the same sales person or not, but when I was explaining my issues the second time they developed - a couple weeks ago, the guy replied, "Oh, well it does have an aluminum body, which is more for <em>hobbyists</em> than <em>professionals. </em>He wasn't rude about it, but put emphasis on the fact that apparently the different materials Canon makes body's out of is a big deal.<br />
So, rewind a year and a half, when I'm explaining to someone in this very shop that while I am not a National Geographic photographer, I use my equipment like one. It is outside, in the weather, occasionally covered in substances that could have come out of either end of a bovine or pig, and needs to stand up to things like moisture, dust, slobber, LA200, etc...<br />
At that time I was told the 60D was the best camera for the money, unless I wanted to jump into the Mark series, which I did not because my budget did not allow for upgrading to an entire set of L-series lenses, which is all you can use on a Mark body. <br />
We discussed thoroughly the advantages and disadvantages of all options before I made my purchase. The sales consultant was confident I would be thrilled with the 60D, and I was, at first, until a year into owning it, the camera began producing grainy and dull images. For something that was by no means cheap, and projected to last years, this was an expected and upsetting development to suddenly discover when reviewing a senior photo shoot.<br />
So, to have someone at the same shop basically say, well duh honey, it has an aluminum body, was a bit irritating.<br />
Then began our conversation on what I should buy as a new body that will hopefully stand up to the elements I shoot in a little better. And, what does this guy tell me. He suggests the latest, greatest, camera-of-the-year 70D, which is constructed of the same <em>hobbyist</em> grade aluminum as the 60D. <br />
Seriously dude?!<br />
We go on to discuss the 6D, Mark iii and 7D as well, and I get the stats on all four options, then agree to call back with my decision. I was this close (- -) to taking the plunge and getting the Mark iii, but again the ability to not use the majority of my lenses in combination with not having several extra thousand laying around to buy new lenses with stopped me. In the end, as I said above, I went with the 7D, which is made of the <em>professional </em>grade magnesium alloy, after emailing someone who is a year and a half into owning and using one the same way I would, with zero issues.<br />
So, while I am tickled pink to have a new camera body, and realize that if they can fix my 60D I will no longer have to rent a backup body for weddings in addition to a few other perks, I am also a little irked that I am not lovingly gazing at a high end, low F-stop lens that I had my heart set on purchasing in 2014.<br />
I should also point out that I am on a bit of a soapbox on this topic at the moment, but as a whole the camera shop I use is tremendous, and incredibly helpful. The people are very knowledgeable and provide top-of-the-line customer service. I have simply come to the realization that much like buying cars, chutes or mineral, buying camera equipment should involve a lot more research than talking to "the experts," and doing online comparisons. They have no idea what to say when you explain that while you take "good care" of your equipment you need to know how it will stand up to being chewed on by a baby pig, licked by a cow, hung on a fence in its bag in light snow, 50 mph blowing dust instead of the tame variety found in studios, and the occasional coating of vaccine. You need to go find a neighbor to ask about such things in order to get a feel for how your potential purchase will work in the real world.doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-65679653157035116792014-02-26T09:47:00.003-08:002014-02-26T09:47:57.659-08:00Sunny and 25It's sunny and 25 degrees above zero this morning - the only morning, or day for that matter, expected to get this warm for over a week. We have 19 calves on the ground, my dachshund is rolling around in the sunny spot on the floor, I've had to two homemade lattes, talked to a handful of people on the phone, and am curled up under a blanket telling myself to get with the interviews I need to complete, but am instead thinking a nap sounds oh so much better.<br />
What is it about cold weather, semi-warm wood-heated old homes and the sense of calm that comes with being able to look in one corner of your house and realize it is somewhat clean during calving season that lulls you into wanting to take a day off?<br />
I think it is in part that this is one of my favorite times of year ranching, and mother nature can dampen that enthusiasm with her nastiness, but not eliminate it. A year's planning has gone into these little calves hitting the ground this week. Their mother's survived the worst storm to ever hit a cow in this part of the country, and seeing so many signs of life and renewal after a dismal, tough winter is refreshing, and relaxing.<br />
Perhaps its that today is sure to be the easy day of the upcoming week, what with it being relatively warm, sunny and calm. Weather is such a dictator in our lives, this year more than normal, and today is somewhat of an auto-pilot day compared to those in the near past or immediate future.<br />
Regardless of the reason, this is an excellent day, and a nice glimpse of the fact that sooner rather than later, winter will finally give way to spring after clutching us in its nasty grasp for the last five months and counting.<br />
Here's hoping it's a sunny, nice day in your world as well!<br />
doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-26852124802975308982014-02-13T09:32:00.002-08:002014-02-13T09:32:17.399-08:00Practical cattle fashion: Calf coats<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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What do you do when you start calving and the high, without windchill, is somewhere around zero? For my family, one answer has been to bundle up the newborn calves in their own coat. I brought this concept with me to South Dakota this spring, where it has come in very handy. By that I mean the first four calves wore the coat until the next calf was born.<br />
We came across this idea years ago when someone, another family member perhaps, hooked us up with an actual "calf coat." Made of weather-proof material, and designed to allow the calf to stay dry and warm while also being able to go to the bathroom without making a mess, we were instantly impressed. We had used old vests, human coats, etc... for this same purpose, but a coat designed for the shape of a calf and made from weather-proof material was a significant improvement. The not so impressive aspect was the cost - around $50 apiece in most major vet catalogs. I realize that $50 really isn't all that much to spend, but it never hurts to see if there is a better deal to be had. Plus, when you're putting a coat on an animal that has no consideration for what you paid to keep them bundled up and warm, they rudely rub it on barb wire, stomp on it, chew on it, terrorize their buddies with it, and on and on. All made possible because the same coat kept them from chilling down.<br />
So, we got creative, and found the above dog coats at a feed store a couple years ago for $20 apiece. Score! Show is Tough1 coat in a size large on a newborn calf weighing in the mid 70-pound range. It works great for the most part. The only thing I would change about this coat, from a livestock standpoint, is that you have to put it over the calf's head. With past coats, there was a Velcro strap that went across the chest and under the belly. But, considering I can buy 5 of these coats for the cost of 2 with that Velcro option, I'm happy. It also doesn't fit every calf perfectly, and sometimes the back end flies up a little, but again the affordability, ease with which you can put it on and take it off, and the fact that it's weather-proof material keeps the calf dry and warm means it gets the job done.<br />
What does everyone else do to keep newborn calves warm in less than ideal conditions? We also have sheds at our disposal that are often used, and tried duct taping ears on a couple little guys this year. The baby calves were not at all impressed with that idea. <br />
Fortunately today the weather is 45 degrees above zero and sunny, meaning the calves are happy and the coat is hanging in the basement!doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-55472699831295364402014-01-24T14:08:00.000-08:002014-01-24T14:08:10.916-08:00Looking at the big pictureI just sold a picture, of a cow, for more than I ever have sold a picture for before. For some reason, when I saw the price, contingent on how large the photo runs of course, what came to my mind first was my mom asking an 8-or-so-year-old me why I thought I needed to take so many pictures of cows. I had to chuckle at how life turns out.<br />
She was likely looking through the latest order she had picked up from the local drug store, and was gazing upon four of those paper envelope's worth of pictures, 95 percent of them being of cows, all of which I had made sure to get duplicates of. We do all remember what ordering pictures was like in the 1990's, right?<br />
Even back then I would almost always have my camera and extra roll of film on me, and would happily crawl up fences, lay in dusty corrals and get soaking wet while snapping away at cattle, other ranch animals and anything else I found interesting. The sheer volume of cow photos I turned out resulted in a lot of good natured teasing from my family, and the occasional exasperated question similar to the one above from my mom, usually when she got home from picking up photos.<br />
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I took them out of my joy for cattle, which hasn't lessoned over the years, and I <em>needed </em>duplicates because I might frame one, and need the second for my 4-H record book, or just to have.<br />
As I grew up, this photographing of cows only intensified. I would proudly show off my latest angle, and be told it looked just like the last 10 I had also proudly showed. There is no tougher critic than a member of my family, which I'm grateful for because they made me strive to come up with something new, different, better. <br />
Over time, the frequency with which I was told my latest image looked just like the last 10 diminished, and more of my photos were given the stamp of family approval. However even today, you can see boredom begin creeping in if I show more than three similar photos in a row.<br />
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I also learned with time that no two people look at picture the same way, and that within a single image you will find people who love it and people who dislike it.<br />
After aging out of 4-H, I decided to try entering photos in the county and state fairs. They did surprisingly well. A friend who saw them recommended I apply for a job at the University of Wyoming as a freelance photographer. I did, they hired me, the next year I was the paper's photo editor, then a professor's daughter asked me to photograph her wedding. <br />
I continued entering photos in fairs, and received a "Best of Show" award at the Wyoming State Fair my second year. As my mom congratulated me on the award, she noted how funny life is that I had worked within the 4-H program for 11 years, and never won such a big ribbon at the state fair.<br />
Following college there was more freelance work for an increasing number of publications, both mainstream and agriculture based. Then, I was hired as the assistance editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup, which introduced me to editorial writing in addition to photography.<br />
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A year and a half later I left the paper, returned to my family's ranch and began my freelance career in earnest, broadening the list of publication's I wrote and took pictures for, and basically working like a madwoman because I was living my dream. Tucked away in the far reaches of rural Wyoming, surrounded by cattle and enough Internet service to send out an article most days, I was thrilled.<br />
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Then I fell in love, got married and moved to western South Dakota this summer. While I planned to just continue on with business as usual for the first few months, God had other plans. In the midst of the craziness that has surrounded us since our July wedding, I have been blessed with increased and new business within both my writing and photography careers.<br />
Then this morning I sold a picture for more than I ever have before. And all this hit me, and I had to call and tell my mom, who was beyond excited for me. I also had to remind her of all those years ago, when she asked me about taking so many cow pictures. She just chuckled and asked me if I wanted them all back. <br />
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In moments like this I'm very grateful that God works in mysterious ways, and for my parents. My mom and dad probably wondered why in the world their daughter had such an insatiable urge to both be in the cattle business and document every day of it with photographs, but they were supportive. <br />
As a result, twenty years after she asked, I am finally able to give my mom an answer as to why I need so many cow pictures, and pay her back for all those rolls of film!doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-627543394783211102014-01-23T11:58:00.002-08:002014-01-23T11:58:59.387-08:00Christmas in the Country gift exchange Way back in the December I participated in a country blogger gift exchange, which was so much fun! I finally sat myself down this morning and checked out some of the other lady's goodies over at <a href="http://unchartedrhoade.blogspot.com/2014/01/christmas-in-country-gift-exchange.html" target="_blank">This Uncharted Rhoade</a>, who was one of the gals behind this nationwide exchanging of gifts between agriculture bloggers.<br />
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My gift came from Janice Person, <a href="http://janiceperson.com/" target="_blank">who blogs here.</a> I knew my gift had arrived when a USPS box emblazoned with a cheery "Merry Christmas!" arrived in my mailbox one day.<br />
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Inside was a very carefully wrapped gift that was comprised of more breakable items than not. First, I found out Janice is a cotton lover (really, who isn't). She included this great mouse pad that pays homage to one of her favorite aspects of agriculture.<br />
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This adorable little decorative plate was picked up on her travels to Tiberias, and features the tree of life. Right now it is hanging out on my desk, waiting for its perfect spot and use in my home.<br />
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She rounded out the gift with a set of these coasters that you can insert your own photo in! My mother-in-law also received some these recently, and hers look great filled with her favorite images. I can't wait to pick and choose from among my own photo collection and get these completed and ready to use.<br />
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A huge thank you to Janice for taking the time to compile and send me such a great gift!<br />
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On the other end, I drew <a href="http://lipstickandtractors.com/2014/01/03/christmas-in-the-country-gift-exchange/" target="_blank">Miss Brandi, who blogs at Lipstick and Tractors</a> to send a gift to. The link will take you to her post on my gift, which I had a great time shopping for! This was a wonderful experience, and something I can't wait to be a part of again in 2014. Be sure to follow This Uncharted Rhoade to make sure you get in on all the fun next Christmas.<br />
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I was also very pleasantly surprised to receive a thank you card from the creator's of this gift exchange for my participation. It certainly made my day to have someone take the time to do that! Thank you again : )doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-10854182235385901402014-01-19T12:12:00.000-08:002014-01-19T12:12:48.863-08:00Hawaii, pinkeye and mini-dachshunds Here's a little photographic update of what we've been keeping busy with in 2014.<br />
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We rang in the new year in Kauai, Hawaii, and celebrated my brother's wedding on 1-4-14! The trip was my husband's first time on an airplane, to the ocean, and vacation in general aside from our honeymoon. We enjoyed ourselves but were also happy to get back to our operation after a week in the sun.<br />
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We arrived home to more pinkeye in our calves. This has been our never-ending health issue of the year. We have been treating pinkeye since JULY, and are sick of it!</div>
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It's been cold off an on so far this year. One day while the tank was frozen, save a little hole, the butcher hogs realized they could jump up, balance themselves, and sip away. It was hilarious, and a big distraction while we were sorting replacement heifers.<br />
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Keeping more replacement heifers than usual has been another highlight of the year thus far. Following our sort, we enjoyed an evening stroll through our future mama cows, telling each other the merits and faults of this one or that, pointing out favorites, razzing one another about individuals we didn't particularly care for, and just enjoying our lifestyle and the hard work that resulted in this nice set of calves. It is such a blessing to me that my husband and I both love good cattle, and can enjoy all aspects of raising them together.<br />
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We've been feeding our cows for a while now. They are getting a 30 percent cake, which is a protein supplement that helps cows utilize the available nutrients in winter grass in addition to providing additional nutrients needed to complete her nutritional needs. Making sure the "cake hogs," as my husband calls them, or "cake munchers," as I call them, get their daily extra treat fed to them by hand is always a critical part of feeding.<br />
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The well pump in our yard well slowly faded to the point where, if you turned on hydrant, it would run water for about 5 minutes then stop altogether. With hundreds of animals relying on this water source for the winter, we were naturally alarmed and quickly rooted out the problem. In case anyone is wondering, my husbands next well house will be more accommodating to his height. That was all he talked about the entire time he was crammed in this tiny hole, attempting to unscrew pieces of pvc pipe.<br />
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As you may have noticed, we have doubled the canine department around here with a mini-dachshund named Maggie. She and my husbands English shepherd, Molly, get along great. They play almost non-stop when there is a break in the action. The rest of their days are spent herding butcher hogs that get out, barking at visitors, eating unmentionables, and in Maggie's case, observing chores from the nearest straw pile.<br />
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We also <a href="http://doublehphoto.blogspot.com/2011/02/cows-with-tattoos.html" target="_blank">Bangs vaccinated our replacement heifers</a> a few days ago, which went very well. All our ladies we are keeping for cows are now sporting the appropriate hardware in their right ear.<br />
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Selling our light steers also occurred on Friday. To get to the livestock auction, we drive through Badlands National Park, and were fortunate enough to see some Bighorn sheep on this trip. My mother-in-law is pretty good at roadside photo stops, if I do say so myself!<br />
It was also great to receive an exceptional price for our cattle yet again, which has us both perusing the bull sale catalogs with a slightly higher budget in mind...<br />
Hope everyone else's 2014 is off to a great start!doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-36725843607728174872014-01-14T08:36:00.000-08:002014-01-14T08:36:49.029-08:002013Instead of a traditional Christmas letter, I wrote a poem to send to family and friends recapping our 2013. As we begin a new year, this highlights why my husband and I are more than excited to bid adieu to everything that was thrown at us in the past 12 months, and start fresh.<br />
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<span style="color: #c6d9f1; font-family: "DH Snowflakes"; font-size: 66pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 51;">y<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">2013<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">In 2013 we saw great lows and
soaring highs<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #8db3e2; font-family: "DH Snowflakes"; font-size: 48pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 102;">2<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Pinnacled with our start as husband and wife<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Never did a boring moment arise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">But rather challenges and blessings
as we began our new life</span><span style="font-family: "DH Snowflakes"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Our wedding was beautiful and quite the fun affair<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Our honeymoon took us from Flaming
Gorge to the Yellowstone air<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">We cruised through Montana, took in
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Then headed back home, refreshed but wrung out as a mop<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Wedded bliss awaited, we believed and had planned<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">But arrived to our cattle looking far
less than grand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Pinkeye was the culprit, running
rampant throughout<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">We went right to work doctoring, thankful
it wasn’t a drought<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Thus went the summer, and well into
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<span style="color: #8db3e2; font-family: "DH Snowflakes"; font-size: 68pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 102;">i<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Until winter storm Atlas dead-centered us all<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">We dug and dug for days on end<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Worried sick about our cattle, up
round the bend<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Finally we arrived, to see for
ourselves, who was alive and who had met their demise<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">We rode and we counted the dead and alive,
often swiping a tear from our eye<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">We found out right quick that both our
favorite cows were lost in the squall<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">But remained thankful to God for not
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">We didn’t give up, and began picking up the pieces<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">With assistance from our families
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">While Charles planted wheat and
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">Winter brought record-breaking cold<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b8cce4; font-family: "DH Snowflakes"; font-size: 72pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themetint: 102;">i<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">And frankly the year was getting rather old<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">The hydrants froze up, seemingly
everything broke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">The ranch way of life began feeling
more like a joke<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">But the sun came out, the air warmed once more<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">The tractor started, the sows
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<span style="color: #8db3e2; font-family: "DH Snowflakes"; font-size: 92pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: text2; mso-themetint: 102;">3<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">We are thankful and blessed in many
ways<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
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<span style="color: #b8cce4; font-family: "DH Snowflakes"; font-size: 75pt; line-height: 115%; mso-themecolor: accent1; mso-themetint: 102;">w<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<!--[if !mso]--></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">But especially for living in this special place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">For our families and animals we love
beyond reason<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting";">And for whom we have a whole new
appreciation of this Christmas season.</span><span style="font-family: "Goudy Old Style","serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: "Arabic Typesetting"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast; mso-no-proof: yes;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-7266350532321092642013-11-20T07:48:00.001-08:002013-11-20T07:48:49.772-08:00The Rocky Point fall gather Way back on Oct. 20, we converged on the WY/MT border for our annual fall gather/wean/work calves/ship home day at the Rocky Point Grazing Association.<br />
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The weather was beautiful, the calves were big, the cows were showing that the grass was gone. It was time to head home for the winter.<br />
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The cows were in agreement.<br />
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The corrals were muddy for our 4-way sort - my dad's cow, my uncle's cows, my dad's calves, my uncles calves. Momma H snapped this photo of almost the entire crew.<br />
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Oh, and my sibling's cattle too, including this heifer of my sister's, which has been a crowd favorite all year. </div>
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My dad's trucks arrived, and we loaded his calves.<br />
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Then we vaccinated my uncle's calves to help keep them healthy as they adjust to life without mama around. They were also poured to keep any bugs from bothering them over the winter months.<br />
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It didn't bother them much.<br />
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Then, the second round of trucks arrived and we loaded my uncle's calves.<br />
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Home they go. The cows are left for 3-4 days to wean, then also hauled home for the winter.<br />
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Just when we thought the day was over, excitingly enough the axle broke on our trailer. But, we happened to have a few experts on hand, and another horse trailer we could put our horses in. While we arrived home later than planned, we all made it safe and sound. I am also happy to report my parent's were able to trade this trailer off for a new one - their second new "vehicle" purchase in almost 30 years of marriage. I'm thrilled for them, but never miss a chance to tease them about all the improvements that happen after the kids leave.doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-8212386901205863722013-11-04T13:57:00.001-08:002013-11-04T13:57:40.685-08:00Highs and LowsOne month ago tomorrow is the day the Atlas blizzard began. While many have moved beyond it, those in my community continue to deal with it daily. It has been a bittersweet mix of highs and lows, and there is much to share with all of you.<br />
First is my refreshed faith in humanity. I cannot believe the human kindness, outreach, concern, help and fortitude shown by people I know and have never met. Just today I am finishing an article for Tri-State Livestock News detailing the group <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pledgeheifer" target="_blank">Heifers for South Dakota's </a>first donation of 20 head of bred cattle and 3 replacement-quality heifer calves to a young family who suffered a tremendous loss following the storm. This donation will likely be the tipping point that allows them to stay in the ranching business, and to hear the stories of all involved would warm anyone's heart.<br />
There are also the ladies of my hometown, who are working to make Christmas baskets and get people to "adopt" impacted families to help them have a wonderful holiday season. They are meeting tonight to work out details and have been asking me daily for information to help them.<br />
The random people who have emailed asking if I know a young person who lost a horse and would like a 4-H project, or who know of church groups looking to help or donate funds are another outstanding example of the true caliber of people and presence of God in rural America today.<br />
I would also like to share that when the cards all fell, we were extremely blessed to not lose a single calf. Not only that, but they tipped the scales at 622 on sale day and brought an astounding price, knocking our recovery period down from a decade to (hopefully) closer to about five years.<br />
However, the weight of those lost is still heavy on hearts. Everyone deals with such losses differently, and I seem to struggle daily with the loss of my husband and I's cattle, and especially my two cows.<br />
<a href="http://doublehphoto.blogspot.com/2011/03/sassys-calf.html" target="_blank">One was the last calf</a> of my <a href="http://doublehphoto.blogspot.com/2011/03/sassys-calf.html" target="_blank">first 4-H heifer</a>, Sassy. I bought that 4-H heifer at 8-years-old from the family ranch, and my cow that died had over 100 years of Hamilton breeding behind her. Then there is the fact that her only daughter, and the last cow in that string of cattle, looks to be open. While I pray looks are deceiving in this case, I am also struggling to prepare myself to deal with what may be the end of the line of cows that started me in the business. I never imagined I would not have a cow that went back to Sassy, and now in the space of four months it appears that is not only a possibility, but likely a soon-to-be reality.<br />
Trying to get caught up has been another constant struggle. Major weather events take time to recover from. There are still tree limbs to remove from fences, deceased cattle in one of our pastures too muddy to travel in, a lot of fence to fix, meetings to attend regarding the blizzard, paperwork and phone calls to make, all mixed in with the usual fall workload. While we're making headway, there is still so much to do that it can be overwhelming at times.<br />
But, day after tomorrow marks my husband and I's four month anniversary. Yes, you count and celebrate months when your marriage starts out like ours has. And, while if we had it all to do over again we might have left my cows in Wyoming for the summer, other than that we are both so grateful to be married and have each other as we go through all these challenges.<br />
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doublehphotohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01633740191240984845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-177278403574086761.post-16261916359411692142013-10-15T09:39:00.000-07:002014-01-25T09:04:31.092-08:00The Atlas Blizzard in photos<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A week ago we were dealing with the images below firsthand. Tuesday was the day of riding, searching, counting the living and tallying the dead. It was awful. One week later we are doing better. The initial emotional shock is wearing off, my husband and I are both holding colds fairly at bay and everyone is making headway toward recovering from this disaster, with full knowledge that we still have a long road ahead of us.</div>
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One of my husband's cows that didn't make it as well as a couple calves belonging to a neighbor. Beyond them are some of the cattle that survived the storm.<br />
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The scene on the fence line to the pasture our cattle were in prior to the storm. The majority of these animals are not ours, and our living cattle can be seen trailing up the road and back to their pasture. There is one of my cows in this area though, dead because she would not crawl through the fence with the rest of our herd.<br />
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Everyone helped everyone, and shown are some of our neighbor's calves, which we put with our cattle and fed this week. The poor guy crawling through the fence was not all there mentally after his experience in the storm. <br />
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My sister-in-law and I rode in search of our yearling heifers, counting and trailing everyone we found back home. These got out when a power line pole fell on the fence and they drifted over it. As you can see the ground didn't freeze and dealing with the deep mud was a big problem in getting around to check on animals, as was the deep snow on top of the mud.<br />
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The guilty power line pole. If not for it, we may not have lost any yearlings. Or, what we did lose may have been in a pile on this fence along with all you see alive in this picture.<br />
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This heifer was alone, stuck in the corner of a pasture by a winding creek filled with snow. Every time we drove her out to this corner, she headed back into the trees to stand in the same spot on the creek bank.<br />
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When my sister-in-law finally got off her horse to walk the heifer out, she found the reason behind her returning to the same location. All her buddies, and our missing count, were in the bottom of the creek.<br />
This is a heifer we found buried in snow, but still alive! She is basically sitting on her butt, to give you an idea of how deep the snow was in this location.<br />
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These were not as fortunate.<br />
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The gardener snake we also found partially buried, but alive.<br />
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My father-in-law headed to the trees and creek where the buried alive heifer was located to help pull her out. Then she was carried in the tractor bucket to higher, dryer ground and propped up against a hay bale.<br />
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Carefully loading her up.<br />
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My parents brought their feed pickup. loaded with food, water, a generator and a 4-wheeler, and helped us for two days. We are so blessed to have such amazing parents and families!<br />
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Me, taking pictures for insurance and work purposes. This is next to the creek where our missing yearling heifers were found, including the one still alive.<br />
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At the end of the day, we were all worn out, including my sister-in-law and I, but it helped knowing for ourselves where we stood, what shape the livestock were in, and being able to move beyond the worry and concern of not knowing.</div>
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For those interested in learning more about the blizzard, who have questions regarding why we lost so many cattle, or who want to contribute toward helping those impacted, here are some additional links.</div>
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<a href="http://prettywork.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/questioning-cattle-deaths-in-south-dakota/">http://prettywork.wordpress.com/2013/10/11/questioning-cattle-deaths-in-south-dakota/</a></div>
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<a href="http://dairycarrie.com/2013/10/13/southdakotaatlas/">http://dairycarrie.com/2013/10/13/southdakotaatlas/</a></div>
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<a href="http://igrow.org/livestock/beef/understanding-what-happened/">http://igrow.org/livestock/beef/understanding-what-happened/</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/RanchersRelief">https://www.facebook.com/RanchersRelief</a></div>
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