summer

Scatter Butte Giveaway

29 Aug posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

I mentioned a few weeks ago on Facebook that I’d taken some STUNNING photos, and I do mean stunning! Stunning enough that my parents, who’ve been here several times, gasped when they saw them. I also said that those photos wouldn’t be seen until the book is released. And I will make good on that for most of them. But the suspense was about to kill me and no one wants a keeled-over South Dakota Cowgirl, so I decided I’d share one of them. I’m not sure this is my absolute favorite of the photos, but I must say, it’s close.

Here’s how this is going to work:

I’m going to give away an 11×28 canvas wrapped print of the photo below.

I will sign it and number it 1/150. Once the contest is over, it will then be made available for purchase in case you missed out and want it! Once those 150 are gone, you’ll be up a creek without a paddle if you didn’t get in on it before they’re gone! Or you’ll have to wait until the book is released to own it, and those that accompany it.

With this particular canvas wrap, you can frame it or hang it, as is.

Now without further ado- here’s the image:

In case anyone is interested- the butte in the background is called Scatter Butte. It’s one of the ways we can tell how hard it’s snowing come winter, because it can be seen for miles and miles on a clear day. It’s a good 3 miles away from the house. The horses in the foreground are some of our ranch horses, enjoying the life every horse dreams he could have.

Here’s how you enter:

1. Leave a comment (or comments) on this post.
2. Tweet me @thesdcowgirl and use the #SDCowgirl hashtag. That will get you entries. I’d love to count RTs, but I am not always notified of those, so while Re-Tweeting is great, it won’t get you additional entries.
3. Tell your friends to “Like” The South Dakota Cowgirl on Facebook, and to leave me a comment telling me who sent them and you’ll both get an entry.

Since this is a “big” giveaway- probably my biggest ever, I’m going to leave the contest open for a week. Entries will close at Noon on Friday, September 2 and I’ll announce a winner sometime the week of the 5th.

Now, go have yourself a super Monday and don’t forget to enter as many times as you like!

Happy Trails!

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101 Comments
Filed Under: art, contests, horses, photography, pictures, summer

Gumpy

5 Aug posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

I snapped this photo yesterday with my iPhone, of my horse, Gump. And then, because I am cool, I used Instagram to make the photo even more awesome. I know I haven’t talked a lot about my horses or my barrel racing this year but this season has gone well. We are 6 for 7 winning checks this year!

Happy Friday and Happy Trails!

5 Comments
Filed Under: barrel racing, horses, summer

A Mobile Blog

4 Aug posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

I am writing to you on my phone today to tell everyone that I am so busy I’ve decided to take a blogging vacation. I may post the occasional photo via my mobile ap but otherwise don’t expect me to return until the middle of August. In the meantime if you need a fix, you can find me on Facebook or on Twitter! I hope everyone is having a great summer!

Happy Trails!

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Filed Under: family, summer

John Deere Green

28 Jul posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

This past weekend I got to sit in a big green tractor with a very handsome cowboy, and rake hay. The field had already been raked once, but because it’s South Dakota and we have wind, more often than not, the windrows were ruined due to high wind.

The coolest part of our little haying operation is that it’s John Deere Central on this here ranch. If it isn’t green we don’t use it. And even though our skidsteer isn’t green, it’s still a John Deere.

If you didn’t read my first blog on haying you should do that now. Otherwise, continue on.

We went all big guns, and instead of borrowing a cup of sugar from the neighbor, we borrowed this:

Oh yes! A forty foot V-rake. You can’t even see both sides in the picture it’s THAT big. We used this rake because it allowed us to put two of the now messy, windrows together.

The baler and Bud, came in right behind us:

And you can see in this photo the big rows of hay. Be sure you look in the rearview!

And that’s just another day in the life of this South Dakota Cowgirl!

Happy Trails!

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3 Comments
Filed Under: #Agchat, pictures, ranching, summer

A Day in Photos

7 Jun posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

A couple days ago I was able to take some photographs. I photographed everything from wild onions, to birds, to my new colt, The Fridge. I’m not going to share them all- but I will share some of the ones that touched me the most.

I love the evening light in these photos of my new colt, The Fridge. He is so sweet!

Here’s a killdeer and one of her babies, hanging out by the dam.

And finally this picturesque scene:

Who doesn’t love baby ducks?

Happy Trails and Happy Tuesday!

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8 Comments
Filed Under: photography, pictures, summer

Rattle Me This

29 Sep posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Sunday morning Kelsey and I were on a mission to take more senior photos, which I will share soon. However, on our way through one of the pastures we ran across this:

Contrary to what many of you may know about rattlesnakes is that they’re very docile. Unlike, say the Southern Cottonmouth- of which there were plenty where I grew up. Those snakes will get very aggressive. The Rattler will sit and puff up but would sooner have us both go our separate ways.

They’ve been very plentiful here this summer.

This one was close to 4 feet long.

No one freak out- I had my 200mm lens on the camera so I wasn’t in danger of being struck. Plus, it was sitting there pretty quietly. If we got closer than its comfort, it would shake its rattles at us. Yes, that sound is a tiny bit disconcerting. Makes it sound heinous. And they can be if you get bit. It’s not pretty for the human or the animal.

In case you’re interested, rattlesnakes are the only poisonous snake in the state of South Dakota.

This snake made the third rattler we killed in a two day span this weekend, and the 9th one for the summer.

Yes, I took photos of the snake. Then I killed it by running it over. Wrong place, wrong time for the snake. I realize that all it wanted was some sun, and a meal- which it had just had recently. Did you notice the bulge in some of the photos above?

Better it be dead than bite one of the soon to be weanlings, with whom it was sharing a pasture at this point in time. And both us girls were without a knife, so we didn’t get to keep this set of rattles. Yes, we kill them and keep a trophy. Normally when we kill them, we cut the head off and bury it because reflex can still allow the snake to bite something.

This is probably more than any of you wanted to know about snakes, certainly rattlesnakes. But I wanted to share, because I was excited about getting the photos of it. I’ve wanted photos of the rattler for quite some time, and managed to finally be in the right place at the right time.

Happy Tuesday!

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3 Comments
Filed Under: photography, ranching, summer

Pretty Fillies

7 Sep posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Several weeks ago (I know, I know, I’m way, way, way, way, way behind in my blogging) I got to go visit most of our yearling to 3yo fillies, who live with a few of our random geldings. It was a beautiful day for photographs, and I’m going to share them with you.

This little package of horses decided they should run away from us first!

Oh well, it made for good photos!

They came around eventually. We rarely make a trip to the pasture without a bucket of oats. And the horses, well they love oats!

She needed a good stretch after all that running!

Pretty ponies and a pretty day; life couldn’t be better.

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2 Comments
Filed Under: horses, ranching, summer

That’s No Bull

22 Aug posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Hello? Helloooooo? This thing on? Is anyone out there?

Well at least I know I have the attention of #26!

I’ve been super duper busy, and that’s no bull. But this week, I’m plan to get y’all caught up on my life with photography, kids, horses and recipes! Stay Tuned!

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3 Comments
Filed Under: photography, ranching, summer

Portraits

7 Aug posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

I was asked this summer to take Kara’s senior pictures. Since she was going to be here riding all summer and graduates from high school in December, her parents figured this would be easy. Yesterday we were able to take some of the pictures, and it was so much fun! I had a great time, and so did Kara.

Here’s some of our favorites…

We plan to take more photos today- and I’ll also be taking some Senior pictures for Kelsey.

Hope that everyone has a good weekend!

TSDC

6 Comments
Filed Under: fashion, photography, summer

Grilled Corn on the Cob

22 Jul posted by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

First I’d like to start by giving a virtual hug to one of my favorite bloggy friends Maureen. She’s like a mother, a friend and a mentor all in one, and she lost someone special to her this week, so I want her to know I’m thinking about her.

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is grill. I don’t care what I grill, brats, steaks, sausage, chicken, asparagus, egg-plant, zucchini, or corn on the cob, but one of my all-time, favoritists things to grill is corn on the cob.

My method is probably out of the ordinary, and if you already grill your corn on the cob this way, then kudos to you, because this undoubtedly makes the corn taste better than the traditional method.

Of what method do I speak, you may ask?

The method of grilling the corn with the husk on. Yes, I said, HUSK ON.

Here’s what you do.

1. You’ll want to soak your corn with the husks on- like you bought it straight from the market- in some water for a minimum of 45 minutes. The longer the better, I think- though I don’t usually let mine go over about 2 hours. You can use your kitchen sink or a bucket. Whatever you have that’s clean and handy.

2. Then you’ll want to peel off the top very green husk. There’s usually just one or two that you’ll discard, but keep at least one, you’ll need it later.

3. Continue to pull down the husk until it looks like this:

4. Now is the fun part. Let’s make sure we have a LOT of room temperature butter on hand. I used Smart Balance with Olive Oil in it, but any unsalted butter would do.

Do NOT be scared to slather it on the entire ear of corn.

5. Once you’re done buttering an ear, you’ll add your favorite season salt. I love Tony Chachere’s cajun salt, but any would probably work. Be liberal with the salt.

6. Then you’ll gently fold the husk back up the ear.

Tear a piece about 1/2 inch wide from one of the pieces of husk you kept earlier and tie a knot at the top of the freshly re-husked ear of corn.

Repeat until all your ears of corn are done. It took me about 45 minutes to do 8 ears. So plan accordingly.

7. Place them on the grill at about 350-400 degrees- or Medium High Heat, turning every 12-15 minutes for about 35 to 40 minutes:

Yummy, right?

Are we hungry yet?

The finished product:

To serve you can do one of two things:

Pull all the husk off, and of course add more butter:

Or leave the husk on, add more butter and then some garlic chives. Or you could add garlic chives even if you wanted to pull the husk completely off- but the husk gives you a built in sort of handle!

Scatter Butte Giveaway

Gumpy

A Mobile Blog

John Deere Green

A Day in Photos

Rattle Me This

Pretty Fillies

That’s No Bull

Portraits

Grilled Corn on the Cob

South Dakota Cowgirl Art

I Recommend:

Current Pastures

Grazed Pastures

The Herd

What I “tweet” about!