Comments on: Our Work is Done

By: The Wife

The Wife — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:48:52 +0000

Old girls rock! I haven’t bought beef in a while from the store. Our non-buckers fill the freezer. But I do appreciate them when I needed it. I hate selling ours at the sale barn too. Our spots don’t sell for much and usually go to the packers. Everyone always wants the solids.

By: Brenda

Brenda — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 00:46:54 +0000

Here is to those productive old girls that have raised their last calf. I soooo miss the farm life I grew up with sometimes. It is very enjoyable to immerse myself in the snippets you provide in your blog.

And when you are chasin’ cans in the sun this winter, take a second and think about me riding in my carharts in a cold arena with white breath matching my horses’. I’ll probably be working on getting one of my young mares ready to do some barrels and poles at local open shows next spring!

By: Weekend Cowgirl

Weekend Cowgirl — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:28:23 +0000

Beautiful post… and so true.

By: Kimberley

Kimberley — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:17:34 +0000

Cheers to the old ladies! We had a cow who raised her last calf at twenty years old! She retired in our barnyard and spent the winter hanging in the barn and eventually died on the ranch. She always kept her body condition and was just an amazing cow. Hard to find ones with longevity like that, good old Angus cows!

By: T

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:56:28 +0000

Not matter how hard we try, it just never really is done. Something always has to come up. Breakdown. Cows out. Its always something.

By: Maureen@IslandRoar

Maureen@IslandRoar — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 22:12:47 +0000

Yeah, add my thanks to those old cows; nice to know they had a great life in a gorgeous place. I love your first commenter’s description of the bulls calling and the sound carrying. Beautiful image.

By: DD Williams

DD Williams — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 18:57:42 +0000

Great post!
As one of America’s beef lovers I too am thankful to the old gals!

By: ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:05:24 +0000

@ Pamela- Thank you so much for the kind words! I have a rooster that is just finding his voice- though I’ve yet to hear him get after it. We don’t keep any bulls here- we lease ours, but I too love to hear them talk.

@christina- I feel your pain. My high school and college rodeo horse is a 1981 model- so he is 28. We have to really feed him up to keep him fat. But he still has a lot of teeth in his head. the good thing about him, is that he gets to spend winters in TX where there is very little bad weather. and when it does get bad, he gets a sheet (or two) and a big heavy blanket with a hood. I won’t like having to make that decision. So we can weep together when we do!

By: christina sowders

christina sowders — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:02:21 +0000

I sometimes hate reality too. My show horse from my youth days is 27 and is having a hard time keeping her weight. She looks terrible but is still hungry and lively. This could be the winter that we have to make a decision about putting her down. It seems to wrong when she seems to be the same horse mentally…but physically she is arthritic and just poor…..

By: Pamela DeMuth

Pamela DeMuth — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:48:12 +0000

I really enjoy reading of your ranch lifestyle. It gives a horse a job to do. We know when calves have gone to market nearby. The cows bawl for a while. What I love is to listen to the two or three bulls bellowing each day. It is a sound that carries through the mountains. Along with the neighbors’ roosters are the sounds of home. If I had more graze land, I would have cattle, too. Thank you for what you do.