Rocky relationships and a little luck

The swather and I have decided to part ways on our love-hate relationship. There just comes a point when you have too much invested and it’s no longer worth the time and energy. At least we are figuring this out now instead of waiting until we throw kids into the mix and then decide we hate each other even more.

I’m already on the lookout for a rebound, and hopefully it will happen by the end of this week. I know that may seem a little quick for some, but I am a believer that when you know, you know.

All joking aside, what a pain in the butt – especially on a time crunch. Considering the poor thing is 20 years old and in the first part of its life it wasn’t babied like it is now, I can understand, but it’s still irritating.

All of a sudden it feels like fall around here, and I am loving it. The 50 degree temperature swings were tough on one group of cattle, and my roping skills were on full display. Fortunately, they weren’t by the highway or gravel road, so nobody was able to appreciate it in all its glory.

I did figure out the solution to roping success. That’s to have a bummed up shoulder that hurts too bad when you miss, so you just don’t miss. Pain can be a really good motivator. I would be apt to try left-handed, but there is not one single thing that I can do left-handed that doesn’t look like it needs help.

The second day I was fortunate and had only two to doctor. I had taken a pony and the ATV on the trailer since I was going to be far from home. I decided to lead my horse on the ATV and somewhere in the process my bridal popped off the saddle horn. It was not really the most ideal situation in a large pasture full of really tall grass, being unable to backtrack very well.

The Boss Man said: “Are you sure you want to rope in a halter?”

I’ll take a second and pause here. You know those times in your life where you just have to make a decision and it doesn’t seem like it’s going to be a very smart decision? For some unknown reason, though, it worked. But I also know better than to think it will work again next time.

Something outside the norm happened last week. The Scottsbluff/Gering area held its second annual Beef, Beans and Bluegrass Festival. It’s a three day festival that celebrates agriculture in the community. It started on Friday evening with a meal, auction and ag awards, where I received the Pathfinder Award. It was definitely very humbling, but really appreciated. I wish more communities would celebrate agriculture’s impact on a community, but as a producer, I really want to thank that community for doing just that.

It was also another full week of ranch visitors. It’s started off with our dear friend, Joel Sartore and his son stopping by the ranch. I love it when Joel comes and visits because he usually brings us the latest copy of whatever Photo Ark book he has released. This time it was Photo Ark Babies, and good heavens I wish I had just the tiniest bit of talent that gentleman does.

Mid-week we had a visit from a Tufts University professor of anthropology that is working on a grant-funded project to study the social effects of those involved in the beef industry if cell cultured products would takeoff. It was a really interesting conversation, to say the least.

We also had a Harvest Host guest from Wisconsin, and a Nuffield Scholar from New Zealand in for a visit.

While I love all of the guests that we receive, this week fortunately will be just a little slower. We have only one coming in. It will give us a chance to prepare for next week when we have an international tour coming in from Uruguay and five nights of Harvest Hosts.

With that, I hope you all have a blessed and amazing week. May your relationships stay strong, and may you luck out once in a while.