Surprise!

26 Mar posted by

I’m finally back from Texas, and I must admit, I was a bad blogger while I was there. But we’re back to our regularly scheduled programming – beginning tonight. Yes, my Saturday night involves blogging. What can I say, it’s snowing outside. Again. So much for spring!

But to get to the point of this post, while I was gone to Texas, in fact, two days after I left for Texas, this little cutie showed up in the barn:

For those wondering about her breeding- this darling baby was an accident! Her mom is the first foal I ever raised- Dolce. And she’s not even three years old yet. She’s still doesn’t have a name, but there’s a few in the running! I promise to take some good pictures this week. That is, assuming the weather clears up! I knew that her mama was gonna foal, by about last October; and before I left I knew she was getting close so I moved her to the barn. I carefully watched her but there came a point when I knew she’d wait until I left. Oh well!

Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: foals, horses

A Girl and Her Horse

17 Mar posted by

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I had been in Texas for less than 24 hours, and it was time to get to work taking pictures. I use the term “work” lightly because frankly there’s nothing about taking photos that is “work”. Some of you may have already seen my latest work, but if you don’t follow me on Facebook, there’s a good chance you missed this pretty little girl and her ridiculously photogenic horse! I’m just gonna share my absolute favorites with y’all but know that it was pretty dang hard to narrow this list down! Let’s just say I’m glad I’m not her mom. I’d hate to have to decide which ones we’re purchasing!

0802

0897 spinning

0944

0819

0868

0950

0955

0961

1083

1104 v2

1092

1077

0837

Happy St. Patrick’s Day, and Happy Trails!

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Equitrekking

3 Mar posted by

If you’ve ever wanted to go on a horseback riding vacation, you should totally come here to The DX Ranch where I live, er um, you need to check out a site (and television show) called Equitrekking! It’s an Emmy winning lifestyle and travel television show. I have been fortunate enough to meet the founder through Twitter. Last week, she was gracious enough to interview me! Needless to say I was ecstatic. So head over here, to read the article! And then make sure you “like” the site on Facebook!

Happy Trails!

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Saddle Horses

9 Feb posted by

Friday last week was a glorious, glorious day. I got to run around in a long-sleeved t-shirt, down vest, and was finally able to shed the Carhartts! Of course you can’t tempt a cowgirl with sunny weather, someone else around to do chores, and expect her NOT to ride! And that is what I did. I caught my favorite gelding Gump (but don’t tell his little brother Dino, my old horse Zero, my crippled barrel horse Pitstop, or any of my mares that Gump is my favorite) and took him for a spin. We trotted down the road, caught a glimpse of most of the mare herd and otherwise enjoyed ourselves. I even gave him some oats when I was finished. He loves oats! I snapped a couple minutes of video of some of the saddle horses when I went through the gate to catch Gump. We had another surprise last week, but that’s a story for another time.

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Unwrapping Round Bales- A Vlog

3 Feb posted by

Hey y’all! Just thought I’d show you how I unwrap a bale. I mentioned it here the other day in case you missed it.

I probably understated the amount of time it takes me to pull it off- but seriously, the boys have said doing it this way is much faster than cutting it off.

One other thing you don’t see above, is that when I get to the final over-lap, I stop and go the opposite direction the bale is wrapped, and try to pull from bottom to top, that way the bottom comes off first, and the top stays on longest so I don’t get hay all over myself.

Now, just picture me doing that 10-35 times in a day, and you’ve got a pretty good idea how I’m spending some of my time!

Happy Trails!

P.S. BONUS! Here’s a couple photos I snapped with my cool phone whilst I was on the way to unwrap bales:

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Filed Under: horses, ranching, winter weather

Cowgirl Respect

1 Feb posted by

Head over to Kindred Cowgirl today, for what I think is some very important advice, or at the very least, something we all should be aware of. It’s my latest thoughts: all about respect.

I realize that in my own personal life I have a lot of work to do when it comes to being as aware as I could be- but isn’t that what life is all about-  growing as a person? If I were as good as I am going to be in 30 years, right now, I’d miss out on a lot.

There’s something to be said for treating people how you WANT them to be, not how they are. I’m fortunate enough to have a parallel in my life to draw from– horses. I do my best to treat my colts how I want them to ride around for me in 5 years, not how they ride around the first 10-15 rides. I know they’re going to get better. And so will I.

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Coming Soon…

26 Jan posted by

You’ve asked.

You’ve told.

Heck, some of you have even demanded.

That wasn’t the kicker, though.

Maybe I needed a billboard to tell me that I should just dive in and do this because it’s taken awhile for the idea to actually sink in.

And I, not being one to disappoint, have decided that maybe y’all do have a valid point. My life is interesting. I’m surrounded by beauty. I can take a great photo. I’m a decent writer. Rumor has it, people even like me!

I honestly don’t know if the stars could align and be any straighter right now.

Have I sufficiently suspended the drama?

Are you just dying to know what it is you’re waiting for?

Some of you have actually guessed by now what I’m about to tell you.

*Drumroll please*

I’m beginning work on a book. Not just any ol’ book though. No siree, Bob. I’m working on a coffee table book that will be a compilation of my photography, excerpts from my blog, with recipes and a little biography thrown in just for kicks.

So far there is no completion date.

Now the suspense is over. Or has it just begun?

Here’s the first (of what I’m sure will be many) drafts for the introduction page:

Daily, I am inspired by the world in which I live. It’s a world encompassed in beauty, bound with grace and covered with God’s creatures. I do my best to live in harmony with this world and you’ll find if you draw nature close to your soul, you can, too.

The ranch that I call home, is located in Old Armstrong County, South Dakota. Old Armstrong County is roughly 760,000 acres with a population of around 100 people. Here we raise Black Angus Cattle and Registered Quarter horses. For three generations, My Cowboy’s family has been on this piece of ground and now, I’m fortunate enough to be part of it all. I’m blessed to call this piece of heaven on earth home, and I’m sharing a part of my heaven with you through these photographs.

This book will take you through the seasons as they apply to my life on the ranch. From Spring to Winter you’ll see what I see, read about what I might do daily, and you’ll discover that my kitchen table is rarely ever clean. I even share some recipes. My hope is that you find this story beautiful, educational, and inspirational.

Life cycles ebb and flow with the seasons. We’ll learn of Mother Nature’s kindness, her bitterness and what survival of the fittest really looks like.

With each day’s dawning there’s always something new. That’s the beauty of this life I lead. No two days are ever the same.

Happy Trails-

The South Dakota Cowgirl

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Filed Under: books, cowgirls, horses, ranching

Sunrise and Sunset

25 Jan posted by

Yesterday evening, as I was out doing chores I caught the saddle horses goofing off. The sun was just shining out of some clouds and it dusk was upon us. I didn’t have the big camera with me, so the cell phone photos will have to suffice. They turned out pretty good for being taken with a point and shoot camera.

And then this morning, I awoke to this:

To me a sunset is more than just a beautiful sky. It’s the end of a day. It’s a chance to reflect on what you did that day.  Were you were the best person you could have been? Did you accomplish what you wanted to do? Can you rest knowing you did all you could do to be your best that day?

The sun rising, well it’s more of the same. It may be beautiful, with its pinks and purples, but if you really think about what it symbolizes- the awakening of the earth and the animals from their slumber, it’s a chance to start over. No two sunrises and sunsets are ever the same, just like our days shouldn’t be either. We should always strive to be better and more beautiful.

I will now leave you with some of my favorite lyrics from Fiddler on the Roof.

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze

Sunrise, sunset
Sunrise, sunset
Swiftly fly the years
One season following another
Laden with happiness and tears

Happy  Trails!

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Winter Photos

24 Jan posted by

A couple weeks ago Old Man Winter decided to smile on us, and rewarded us with some much loved needed warmer temperatures and sunny skies. I couldn’t help but take advantage of them, so after chores were done that afternoon I drove down our gravel road a few miles to see what I could see. Admittedly I was on the hunt for some deer, but you know, I didn’t find any. I think I was out too early for them. Had I waited until 4:30 or 5, right as the sun is about to go down, I might have had more success. But that is neither here nor there. What is important is that I got some super cool shots! Cool might even be an understatement- as it has been cold here!

We have a lot of snow- and there’s even more now than when these photos were taken. You’ll see. Ima show you later this week!

Mother Nature and Old Man Winter have conspired to have us fixing lots of fence this spring!

If you look closely you can see two porcupines in this tree. This is where they live most of the time. If I’d have had the time and energy, I’d have hiked the 1/4 mile through 2-3 foot snow drifts to get better photos but I didn’t have the time or the energy!

This tree isn’t on our place- it’s in the creek bottom on the adjacent spread but it’s so cute all by its lonesome in the snow, don’t you think?

This scrubby little bush is on our place and I like it!

And here’s some horses, kickin’ it in the snow. This is some of our 2 and 3 year old fillies with a couple random geldings thrown in for laughs:

Be sure you come back later this week, because I promise something special is coming!

Happy Trails!

Your South Dakota Cowgirl,
Jenn

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Filed Under: horses, photography, winter weather

Friendship

16 Dec posted by

Reverb10:

Friendship. How has a friend changed you or your perspective on the world this year? Was this change gradual, or a sudden burst?

My, oh my, have I learned so much about friendship and myself this year!

I’ve made some new, wonderful friends, (lots of whom I’ve met online- one of which I met in person this year, and I LOVE Her!) and from them I’ve learned that I can be myself. That just being me is enough. I would never have thought in a million years that I could have a network of virtual friends across the nation who I feel a kinship and sisterhood with- I can’t wait to meet them all in person! There’s Meg and Thea and Danielle, as well as Holly mentioned above-to name a few. Don’t think I haven’t made some new friends in real life as well- because I certainly have and I’m very grateful for those people.

And then there was the blow-up. That really was coming sooner or later and it was something I should have ended on my own, sooner- an entire year sooner, because let’s face it. Friends aren’t supposed to tear you down. But for some masochistic reason, I thought I needed that person in my life, so I didn’t end it when I should have.

Friends are supposed to love and support you and be there for you.
Friends are supposed to encourage you when you’re down and love you no matter what. No matter if your goals change or you go separate places. Miles and dreams don’t change the friendship if it’s real.

If you change, and they can’t handle it then a friendship should be over. But if they’re truly your friend and you change for the good, become happier, more fulfilled, more successful than you once were then they should revel in that with you- not tear you down because they are jealous, vindictive or just plain mean.

What I’ve learned the most about friendship in 2010 is that anyone I let into my life should add to it, not take away from it. If they can’t or don’t make my life better, and encourage me as a person in my goals and dreams, then they have no place in my life. If anything, life is too short to spend it with people who don’t want you to be your happiest.

Have you leaned something from friends or about your friends in 2010? I’d love to know!

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