A Herd Reunited

There was a joyful reunion in the lower cattle pastures today. Two plus weeks ago, we separated our Charolais cow, Daisy, and her seven month-old bull calf, Tip. Daisy's half-brother, the big steer named Tad, kept Tip company while our Black Angus heifers, Libbey and Tove, hung out with Daisy.

The first few days of the weaning process were nothing short of mournful with mama and baby bawling for each other. Gradually everyone settled into a new and much quieter routine.

When we opened the gate between the two pastures, we weren't sure what would happen. Daisy trotted toward Tip and Tad, stopping to give Tad several "thanks for taking good care of my kid" kisses. At the same time, Tip tried to jump on Tove's head and Libbey chased him away. Daisy then dogged her too-cool-to-be-seen-with-mom adolescent son to the bottom of the pasture, where she gave Tip a long overdue lick bath. Libbey set about grazing, somewhat apart from the rest of the herd, as Tove and Tad sniffed and licked each other. Before long, all five cattle were companionably grazing.

By mid-afternoon, the ladies had, on their own steam, returned to the women only pasture. Tip and Tad were nestled in the grass on the other side of the fence. Funny.

Greener Pastures, Golden Big Leaf Maples

Oregon's fall rains can been downright dreary, yet the earth delights. Our dusty, parched pastures drink up the much anticipated water and the dormant brown grass is transformed, a shining emerald field against a backdrop of golden Big Leaf Maples.

 

Drifty grazing.

October Tomatoes

Amazingly, I'm still harvesting late October tomatoes from the vines we hung in the garage two weeks ago. At first blush, I pluck and place the fruit in the window sill. There, I get to enjoy watching each tomato ripen. There's nothing quite like the flavor of heirloom, home-grown tomatoes!

Wow! Forty Minutes and I'm On My Way...

My forty minute session with horse trainers Robert and Stacy Jo Hartley of Hartley Performance Horses was pure magic. The dynamic husband and wife team swiftly identified the easy fixes, the things I can do to improve the way my gelding, Irish, and I work together. The bulk of the workload falls to me -- hand, elbow, and body position.

The best part of our time together was the way Irish readily responded to the corrections I made to me. At the end of our lesson, my gelding actually nuzzled me -- something he doesn't typically do.
Thanks, Stacy Jo and Robert!

Someone to Guide Me

It's been a long time since I've taken one of my horses to a lesson, so I'm looking forward to working with trainer Robert Hartley of Hartley Performance Horses tomorrow.

In past years, I've been fortunate to work with some amazing folks, each a wondeful guide in my quest to further my horsewomanship. Robert has a knack for clearly communicating some exceptionally effective training methods, so I know he'll be able to help me.

Will keep you posted.

Free Ranging Chickens and Other News From Sweetgrass

The Sweetgrass Barnevelder chickens have been free-ranging for the past several weeks and seem to adore poking around in the horse pastures. When it comes time to return to the hen house for the night, the ladies are a bit of a rodeo. Unlike the ducks, who naturally stick together and seem inclined to return to the safety of their pen, the hens delight in a maneuver best described as fast trot swirl and scatter. Devious birds...

Last evening was a sleepless and moo-filled night, with Daisy's mournful calls to her bull calf, Tip. As of late, the seven month-old Tip has been drawing his pregnant mom down, so we separated the two to give Daisy's system a chance to recover. For now, Daisy is in a big pasture with Libbey and Tove and Tip is in the adjacent pasture with Tad.

Interestingly, the calf didn't pay much attention to his mom before this afternoon, when he must have started missing his mama's milk. We might be in for a sorrowful duet tonight.

Sunbathing Ducks

Yesterday, the ducks took advantage of the sparse sunbreaks between the downpours and sideways hail. When you are a duck, it's always a good time for a sunbath.

The Return of the Dark and Dreary Northwest Winter

All day yesterday, I watched heavy rains and sideways hail track up the valley. It's a blessing to have such a good vantage when it comes to gnarly weather. Still, a fast moving storm can catch us off guard. Take for example yesterday afternoon's deluge of hail. It hit as we were bringing the horses in and the big Palomino Pinto/Paint, Gin, had refused to walk forward, instead swinging his rear into the stinging pellets of ice. It took a firm reprimand and all my strength to coax Gin forward and into the barn. On balance, it was an incredibly cold, soggy, miserable day, a day that both marked and ushered in the return of the dark and dreary Northwest winter.

Pumpkin helps me watch a storm track up the valley.

Always Time for Adventure

I could have stayed home yesterday, could have gotten fertilizer spread on the pastures or knocked off several of the countless tasks to "winterize" the ranch. Instead, I chose to ride at Del Rey Beach.

This morning, when the rain rolled in and soaked my three layers of clothes, soaked the top side of the thick-coated horses and cattle, soaked the dirt down to the longest grass roots, I summoned up crashing waves, the drum roll of fast moving hooves, the feel of my horse's powerful strides beneath me as we sliced through the the soft, oxygen-rich sea air.

The pastures will wait. This is my life, a life where there is always time for adventure, for experiences and sensations to light the gloomiest of winter days.

 

Ponying Jetblue at Del Rey Beach. Photo by Lorenzo.

Jetblue's First Trip to the Beach

My two-and-a-half year-old filly, Jetblue, has always been special. So the calm, measured way Jetblue took in Del Rey Beach on her first trip to the ocean didn't suprise Lorenzo or me one bit.

 

Come ride Del Rey Beach with us by clicking on these YouTube links: http://youtu.be/U-qr1_B8jz0, http://youtu.be/Gwg1dl01xNE

 

 

Jetblue calmly followed Irish and me into the surf. Photo by Lorenzo.

 

 

Lorenzo says "Jetblue believes" in us. I agree!

Lavender -- Harvesting a Divine Scent

The forecast is calling for rain, bucket loads of the stuff, to begin Friday afternoon. We've been scrambling to get the last of the dry weather chores knocked off; we've sized up our covered areas and thought about where the horses and cattle will go during the worst of the winter storms.

I've picked the ripe tomatoes and soon, I'll pull the tomato plants and hang them upside down in the garage. Someone told me this is a good way to ripen the remaining green tomatoes. There are Asian apple pears to harvest yet. Perhaps tomorrow.

The sun was still shining late this afternoon as I cut and collected the first of the lavendar crop. The bumble bees and cucumber beetles were of like mind. As I snipped the delicious, spent blossoms, the bees buzzed back and forth between the tiny purple flowers, competing with the beetles for the lion's share of pollen.

A Splendid Present

There are so many big milestones in the raising and training of a horse and each breakthrough is incredibly rewarding. This afternoon, during a training session in our arena, my two year-old blue roan filly, Jetblue, dazzled us yet again.

First, we got to observe Jetblue's "spook" when Lorenzo's toe caught the rail, making a noise that shot the filly forward a few steps. With Lorenzo's guidance, Jetblue readily settled. Amazing.

Second, the filly demonstrated her ability to aptly transfer ground work to saddle time. When I asked Jetblue to "fast walk" and then to "slow walk," I was thrilled with her rapid response. Jetblue continued to wow Lorenzo and me -- she listened to my every cue as I asked for turns and a couple of tight circles.

Sometimes, when working with a filly or colt, all you need is a bit of trust and a leap of faith...

At the end of our work session, Lorenzo and I traded places and I threw open the gate. Lorenzo rode Jetblue back to the barn and I walked along beside the duo. All the way, Jetblue was steady as she was calm.

I could wax on and on about Jetblue's future or I can say today was a splendid present, a successful horse human dialog.

Some Heart-Pounding Excitement, A Trio of Boo Boos

Last night, my daughter, Rosie, phoned from her boarding barn to say her horse, Cricket, had "blown" a heel abscess. The leg above the abscess was stocked up (swollen badly) and Rosie needed some help with doctoring her horse. So she made the twenty minute drive home to come collect me and together, we returned to care for Cricket.

We used an epsom salt and betadine mixture to thoroughly clean and disinfect the wound and Rosie walked Cricket for fifteen or twenty minutes to help reduce the swelling. I then wrapped Cricket's heel with an epsom salt Betadine poultice, bandaging with guaze and Elastikon for a snug, secure fit. I used a compression wrap on the upper leg to help keep the swelling to a minimum.

Early this morning, as I was spinning around knocking off chores and getting ready to head to town for a dental appointment, I heard squealing, the type horses make when they're getting ready to rumble. Looking out, I noticed that Whisper was agitated and pawing the ground -- not a good sign. I swiftly moved to the deck and scanned the pastures. My heart went into overdrive as three horses pounded into view -- Gin, Drifty, and Jetblue. Near the corner, Drifty and Gin spun toward each other, kicking violently. I hollered at them and screamed for Lorenzo.

In a shot, I was through the house and had my boots on. Somehow, Gin had gotten into the mare pasture and he and Drifty were going at it full force. Lorenzo sprinted up to the gate at the same time I did and we saw Irish pounding through the pasture with the other three horses. Gin and Drifty whirled and again came to blows.

Lorenzo grabbed the lunge whip and we worked together to cut Gin out of the herd. Irish charged up and stood next to me for a few seconds before joining up with Drifty and Jetblue. With an evil sidelong stare and a kick, Drifty warned him off.   Irish kept a safe distance. Thankfully, Gin had settled enough for me to catch him.

It looked as if the gate had literally been pushed off its hinges. Judging from the way it was bent up, the mares must have taken it down.

We looked over all four horses. Irish and Jetblue were unscathed, but Drifty and Gin both sustained cuts and scrapes. Tonight, Gin has a large hematoma forming. Still, it's minor compared to what might have happened.

I'm thankful that I heard the commotion, that Lorenzo was in earshot and able to come help, that the horses' injuries appear to be minor.

Tonight, Rosie and I were back out at Cricket's barn. The mare's abscess looked great and her leg is not nearly as swollen. Things are looking up, as they always do.

Bovine Hoof Trim Day

Dennis Burlingame of D & M Livestock Service brought his cattle "carousel" to Sweetgrass today, a hydraulic cattle chute/table contraption designed to lift the large critters up and onto their side. Here's a snapshot of Dennis sanding Daisy's toes back -- yes, those are bits of hoof flying through the air. Lorenzo is holding Daisy's head so she doesn't thrash about and bean herself on the carousel.

For the past two years, Dennis has taken great care of the Sweetgrass cattle hooves. He can be reached at 541-788-0458.

While suspended in the air, Daisy spent the entire time lowing to the big steer, Tad, and her bull calf, Tip, both of which remained nearby.

Sweetgrass Salsa -- a Whole Lot of WOWZA on the Flavor Meter!

After making my first batch of home made salsa, I don't think I'll ever go back to eating a commercial product. I used our ranch-raised heirloom tomatoes, cayenne peppers, sweet onions, garlic, and finished with fresh cilantro and lime for a whole lot of WOWZA on the flavor meter.

Sweetgrass Cattle Grazing

Nothing is quite so peaceful as watching the cattle graze.

 

Early this morning, Dr. Steve Vredenberg swung by Sweetgrass to AI or artificially inseminate one of our Black Angus heifers, Libbey. Libbey is our third AI this month and we're hoping she'll take, along with Daisy and Tove, yielding three calves toward the front of next July.

Daisy, our Charolais cow, is bred to N U Option 5012, a Black Angus bull who is Daisy's 2012 bull calf, Tip's dad. Both Tove and Libbey, who are registered Black Angus, are bred to GAR Integrity, a Black Angus bull.

Sweetgrass Ranch Exclusive -- Order Your Horse Hair Bracelet

Are you like me? I've always wanted to take my horses everywhere, but doing so hasn't always been practical. Until now... I'm incorporating horse tail hair into artisan quality bracelets, custom wearable art for the horse lover. If you would like me to make a bracelet for you, please contact me using the phone number or e-mail address in this photo.

Heirloom Tomato Pin-Up -- It's a Beauty!

Last spring, I planted four amazing varieties of heirloom tomatoes. Each one has been a top producer, but a paticular plant is churning out huge, hand-sized beauties; zesty, wonderful pin-up quality fruits. Tonight, I paired this one with home-made chicken tacos, avacado slices, garden fresh salsa, and sweet black grapes. YUM!

"Seeing" and Autumn Light

Different wavelengths of light affect me. I'm particularly taken with the warm glow of autumn light. There's something about the frequency that makes me feel good, that helps me "see" things differently.

Late afternoon always offers up a visual feast and this past week, the morning light was generous as well. I snapped this photo of Lorenzo taking Jetblue to pasture and I think it speaks volumes about the duo.

Fruit of the Gods, Asian Apple Pears

My initial taste of Asian Apple Pear was love at first bite. Every since then, the crunchy, juicy, sweet fruit has ranked among my favorites. This year, we're harvesting a bumper crop of four varieties of Asian Apple Pears. When we're picking, we usually stop for a taste break and after one bite, Lorenzo always proclaims, "Fruit of the Gods!" I have to agree.

Good Night, Sweetgrass Ranch... and, Thank You!

 

Goodnight, Sweetgrass Ranch... and, thank you for this day. A day filled with plucking the soon-to-be salsa or sauce heirloom tomatoes from a garden that just keeps on giving.

 

Thank you, Sweetgrass Ranch, for the simple joy of recycling spent corn stalks, leggy Swiss Chard, and downed Asian Apple Pears to cattle who could hardly believe their good fortune.

 

Bless you, Sweetgrass Ranch, for yet another great day of work with the coming three filly, Jetblue. For Jetblue's calm, quiet nature and her love of work.

 

Goodnight, Sweetgrass Ranch. Rest well so we can do it all again tomorrow.

'Tis the Season for Horse Camping and Trail Riding!

Hands down, fall is my favorite season for trail riding and horse camping. I love the crisp cool air at the early a.m. feeding, the camraderie of the fire pit, the leaves as they abandon their chlorphyll in favor of autumn reds and yellows.

We're lucky. Here in Oregon, we have lots of options for camping with our horses. One of our favorites is just thirty-minutes down the road. Stub Stewart State Park offers deluxe horse camping, complete with full RV hook ups and hot showers. Life just doesn't get any better, folks.

Last Friday, we took three of our horses -- Drifty, Irish, and Venus -- to Stub Stewart's horse camp site #10, a double site with both 4 and 2 horse corrals and generous parking. Here's a snapshot of our camp spot, a site nestled beneath the towering Douglas Firs.

 

Part of the fun of camping is enjoying a cup of coffee around the early morning campfire. Nick, Chelsea, and Rosie did just that. You can see Stub Stewart's awesome horse corrals in the background.

 

 

Since I have three really great saddles that fit the horses backs well, we brought just three horses and took turns exploring the vast network of trails at Stub Stewart. I stayed in camp for the second ride so I could play cards with my hubby, Don. For the record, I handily outscored him during a rousing game of Rummy. I wish I could say it was skill, but I'm more inclined to believe it was luck.

 

Before Rosie, Chelsea and Nick headed out, I snapped this photo of the trio. Back home, I was thrilled to see a wonderful image of the kids and the horses. It isn't often that you get a great shot of everyone!

 

My favorite hack was the last ride of the day. I loved the feel of Irish as he and I wove through the trees at a fast pace, our centers shifting in concert to neatly corner every switchback and curve. There was the thrill of a fast gallop up a steep grade, the way Irish's body lengthened as he surged to keep pace with Venus and Drifty.

 

Most of all, it was a day to be proud. Irish has been my project horse since he was four months old. Saturday, he safely and sensibly carried both Chelsea and Nick on long rides.

To see a short video clip of our ride, complete with hikers, their dog, and some lovely Vine Maples, click here.

Everyday Masterpieces, Tomatoes on the Window Sill

There are lots of everyday masterpieces in my life. Often, I'll be working around the ranch and come upon something so stunningly beautiful that it totally blows me away. If I'm lucky, my camera is close at hand and I manage to make a good exposure or two.

For a week or so, I've been plucking four varieties of heirloom tomatoes from the garden and lining my kitchen window sills with them. Those of you who garden know that tomatoes never disappoint.

So, here's the view that makes me stop dead in my tracks and say, "Oh, my GOSH. That's really lovely."

A Sweet Harvest

All shapes and sizes of tomatoes in various stages of ripe line my kitchen sink window sills. I can't wait to photograph them -- mostly so I can share the excitement and wonder of this Sweetgrass Ranch harvest season.

Yesterday, Lorenzo and I nearly filled a five gallon bucket with our first crop of table grapes. There are lots of big, beautiful bunches still on the vine, a bumper harvest for our relatively new, three year-old vines.

 

That's not all... The Asian Apple Pear trees are full-on with four distinct and flavorful varieties. Thankfully, this fruit keeps well, especially once the cooler temperatures arrive. We should have pears to snack on well into the winter.

Fruits and vegetables are not our only crops. Raising a good saddle horse is an intense and rewarding project that spans many years. One of the most exciting times is when a colt or filly is started under sadlle.

For the past two days, Lorenzo and I have saddled my two year-old filly, Jetblue, and after a brief lunging session and some work to help Jetblue learn the subtle cues of the bosal and mecate, we've taken turns swinging into the saddle and sitting as "ground" handler leads Jetblue around the arena.

Yesterday was pure gold with a couple of huge milestones thrown in for good measure. From the saddle, with the mecate rein in hand and Lorenzo on the ground lightly holding the lead, I taught Jetblue to walk and whoa using my seat and legs. We switched places and it was my turn to lead Jetblue and Lorenzo over the bridge, Jetblue's first "under saddle" obstacle!

There are some exciting things happening with our cattle, too. Dr. Megan Jurasek came by this morning to artificially inseminate our Charolais cow, Daisy. In the next few weeks, Dr. Megan will return to A/I the Black Angus heifers, Libbey and Tove. This year's bull calf, Tip, continues to grow and mature. He's cutting a fine form and we hope to use him as our 2013 herd sire.

So much of life here at Sweetgrass is about sowing and reaping. Nothing is fast and everything requires patience and care. Yet for all the work and worry that accompanies rural life, there is an immense satisfaction in the production and harvest of vegetables, fruits, calves, and good saddle horses.

I'll be sure to post a photo of those gorgeous tomatoes tomorrow. There are four different heirloom varieties in the Sweetgrass garden this year.

Grapes at Sweetgrass! Asian Apple Pears and Tomatoes, Too!

One of my greatest joys is producing enough food help feed my family and friends' families.

So far this year, we've had a record Blueberry crop, wonderful radishes, onions, peas, beans, and Swiss Chard. 2012 was our first attempt at growing corn, so the crop yield was a bit low -- the few ears we harvested were sweet and tasty.

Right now, four varieties of heirloom tomatoes are coming on strong. We're picking loads of Asian Apple Pears, and -- after three long years in the making -- we nearly have a bumper crop of grapes. Life is good.

The first crop of Sweetgrass Ranch grapes are close to harvest.

It seems that people across the country are in some small way trying to return to their rural roots. Backyard chickens and ducks, raising pigs, and farming a small plot in a community garden all come to mind.

When you grow your food, you know what you are getting. There's no guesswork and every part of your harvest will be at peak ripeness and freshness.

 

Garden or farm on, world, and while you are doing so, enjoy connecting with your rural heritage.

“You know, farming looks mighty easy when your plow is a pencil, and you’re a thousand miles from the corn field.” ~Dwight D. Eisenhower

Starting Jetblue Under Saddle

I'm lucky. I get to watch miracles unfold every day. Two-and-a-half years ago, our mare, Drifty, delivered a gorgeous blue roan filly before our eyes.  For me, witnessing a live birth is one of the most profound experiences in life. Watching Drifty give birth to "Jetblue" was an enormous gift.

Jetblue entered the world on her own terms, with attitude plus. From the start, the filly pinned her ears at anyone who dared to get close to her or her mama; she kicked the farrier. Lorenzo sized her up in a heartbeat: "She's an alpha." Clearly, we had our work cut out for us, but we were also up to the challenge.

This is one of my favorite snapshots of Jetblue the day after she was born -- it's easy to see all that attitude!

Every step, from teaching Jetblue to lead to lunging to haunch turns and obstacle work, from trailering and clipping and hoof-cleaning and trimming and bathing, from saddling and biting up, has been a joy. We've managed to successfully channel Jetblue's strengths while making good use of her wonderful work ethic. The results are impressive. Jetblue already has a big stack of blue ribbons, a testament to her try.

Today was another milestone for Jetblue and for us. We introduced the bosal and did some ground training before putting weight in Jetblue's stirrup and laying across her back. It was going so well that we decided to swing into the saddle and sit for fifteen seconds. Did I mention it was fifteen seconds of pure bliss?

I didn't know what to expect, but I placed my trust in Jetblue. As I settled in the saddle, my filly sighed and relaxed her body. We're off to an amazing start.

Weaning Tip

Daisy's Charolais/Black Angus bull calf, Tip, is fast approaching six months. For the past two months, he's been courting the ladies, a pint-sized version of a bovine Romeo. For now, Tip is all try. Next year, he'll fill the role of our herd sire.

Yesterday, I observed Tip butting heads with the large Charolais steer, Tad. One of the Black Angus heifers, Libbey, is cycling and the two boys -- mighty and mini -- were competing for her attention. Tad easily deflected each of Tip's advances and he was fairly good natured about it. Still, it's time.

So this afternoon, Lorenzo separated the bull calf from the rest of the herd. For his entire life, Tip has been in the care of his mama, Daisy, and Uncle Tad. The duo looked on nervously as Lorenzo talked to Tip and stroked his back.

 

Never one to miss a traning opportunity, Lorenzo spent time leading the calf away from the herd. Tip remembered his earlier lessons and was a model citizen for this part of the program.

 

 

Walking back toward the rest of the cattle was a bigger challenge. Tip bolted past Lorenzo in an attempt to pull free and rejoin his mom and the others. It was amazing to see Lorenzo anchor his weight as he delivered a series of sharp tugs on Tip's lead rope. In the end, Lorenzo prevailed.

 

 

For the next couple of weeks, Tip will spend the night in the cattle pen and the rest of the herd will no doubt bed down in the adjacent pasture.

 

 

Tomorrow, we'll turn Tip out with Tad and the duo will graze in a pasture next to the girls.

Weaning is tough, but necessary. We'll do everything possible to make it low stress. Off to check on Tip...

Read These Prehensile Lips: Meadow Grass Hay is Sweetgrass Ranch Horse Tested and Approved

Ed Stabb at Crump Ranch told me that Meadow Grass Hay is a lot like spinich for horses. With its low carbohydrates and starches, Meadow Grass is not all that sweet. It's certainly nothing like the sugary Orchard Grass Hay we've been feeding our herd.

So, when we began to integrate the Meadow Grass Hay into the horses diet yesterday, I wasn't quite sure what would happen. It seems the horses like their spinich just fine, Ed.

Here's a snapshot of Jetblue in the foreground and Gin in the back -- both horses are HOOVER-ing up their Meadow Grass Hay.

 

Speaking of HOOVER-ing, did you know that horses have prehensile lips? The word "prehensile" is derived from the latin term prehendere, meaning "to grasp." It's used to indicate an appendage -- like feet, tail, tongue, nose, or lips -- or organ that is adapted for grasping or holding.

 

Interestingly, Lake Sturgeon, orangutans, rhinos, and horses all have prehensile lips. The Florida Manatee has a prehensile upper lip. Talk about a diverse crowd!

If only I could read the following photo of Jetblue's lips, it might well say, "The new Meadow Grass Hay is Sweetgrass Ranch horse tested and approved!"

Meadow Grass Hay at Sweetgrass

Twelve tons of Crump Ranch Meadow Grass Hay arrived on the big G & G Hay truck this morning. Seeing that huge load of hay pull in was a little like coming home with lots of bags of groceries. I'm feeling a lot more ready for winter now...

For the most part, the Meadow Grass Hay is beautiful and aromatic, too. Here's a snapshot of the truck being unloaded.

Unfortunately, there are around thirty bales -- you can see them in the lower level at the back of the truck -- that look as if they may have been the bottoms on the hay storage stacks. Several of these bales appeared moldy on at least one side. The degree of the problem is unclear and I won't know what I'm dealing with until I crack the problem bales open and take a look.

Moldy hay definitely isn't what I paid for, so I alerted Crump Ranch owner Ed Stabb to the problem and let him know that I may be asking for a credit. I've never met a hay farmer who wasn't honorable and I fully expect Ed to make any loss right.

All of the horses approve of the new hay, even though the protein, carbohydrate, and starch levels are significantly lower. Our Orchard Grass Hay runs about 18% protein and the Meadow Grass Hay is 8%, which means we'll have to supplement the horses with either alfalfa or soybean meal in order to meet their nutritional requirements. On the plus side, the Adel Meadow Grass is significantly lower carbohydrates, the suspected cause of our filly, Jetblue's, colics.

Will keep you posted.

Crossing Bridges

It's time to lightly start my two year-old filly, Jetblue. All of Jetblue's training-to-date will help streamline this process and, to get ready, we've been ponying Jetblue with her saddle on.

This afternoon, we had a chance to ride a few of the trails at Stewart Stub State Park. While there, we crossed two small bridges, both perilous for a green horse.

Neither bridge has guard rails and both have significant drops off either side -- big enough for a frightened horse to step off and potentially break a leg. So, we took extra care and time when teaching Jetblue to navigate each bridge.

Indulging Gin's Drinking Habit

Drinking like a fish can be a good thing, especially if you weigh close to twelve-hundred pounds and have a primitive and extremely sensitive digestive system.

Somewhere in the not-too-distant past, my son, Nick, taught his gelding, Gin, to drink water from plastic water bottles. It was the type of parlor trick that thrilled and delighted other kids.

Over the years, we've continued in the same vein, encouraging, indulging, and growing Gin's "drinking habit" repertoire to include guzzling directly from the water hose.

Yesterday, our good friend, Chelsea Ibarra, came to ride Gin and afterwards, as she rinsed away the sweat and dirt, Gin did what Gin does best -- he took a very big gulp of water!

Meadow Grass Hay Delivery Delayed Until Saturday Morning

Meadow Grass Hay Coming to Sweetgrass!

Twelve tons of Crump Ranch Meadow Grass hay is on the way to Sweetgrass Ranch and should arrive early tomorrow afternoon, courtesy of G & G Hay Supply.

Unlike a lot of grasses grown for hay here in the West, Meadow Grass is a native high elevation grass which is a low carbohydrate, low starch alternative for insulin resistant horses.

Why is this imporant? My two year-old filly, Jetblue, experienced many small colics leading up to a major life-threatening episode this past January. Jetblue had to be rushed to Oregon State University for emergency surgery. There were three subsequent colics, too. Putting Jetblue on a low carb, low starch diet appears to be working for now -- we've had three colic-free months.

Last month, while in Central Oregon for a horse show, I picked up a bale of Crump Ranch Meadow Grass hay. Since that time, Jetblue has been feasting on one flake every evening as a supplement to her soaked Orchard Grass hay (soaking in cold water for one hour reduces the carbohydrate level of hay by about a third).

Laying in a good supply of hay before winter is an important and time-honored task, a slice of rural life shared by all those raising livestock or keeping horses. Finding our 2012 supply was a bit more challenging, given Jetblue's needs, but not impossible.

There's nothing quite like a packed hay storage to generate some pretty strong feelings -- imagine stocking a bare pantry. I'm feeling more settled already! Photos of the Meadow Grass hay arrival coming tomorrow...

Sprite's Laughing Dog Shadow

My thirteen pound Miniature Pinscher/Rat Terrier cross pup, Sprite, is a joy. Her sunny personality, speed, and playful antics are always entertaining.  A wonderful companion, Sprite is a great little bed warmer, snuggler, and a darn good farm dog. She's almost always in motion, making it difficult to snap a good photo.

Late this afternoon, as I was working on braiding the first of the 2012 sweetgrass crop, Sprite posed for the camera and even seemed to be laughing. Not surprisingly, Sprite's shadow laughed, too.

WSSH Clinic: As Plutarch Would Say, "The Mind is Not a Vessel to be Filled but a Fire to be Kindled"

I'm all fired up and eager to apply what I learned at the Western States Stock Horse clinic held today and yesterday in Albany, Oregon.

Robert Hartley of Hartley Performance Horses, showed me how to get my horses to consistently soften and give at the poll. Like any great clinician, he gently pointed out riders' bad habits, offering exercises and advice. With Robert's guidance, I realized instant improvement.

With Jenny Stephen's help, I learned how to train a Reining spin and a roll back, moves that come in handy when working cattle, too.

JoLinn and Mitch Hoover of MJ Rising H Ranch reinforced good horsemanship, planning, and the importance of geometry in Trail course competition. Mitch did an awesome job with the Novice group of riders in the Working Cowhorse portion of the clinic. Thanks to him, my gelding and I can now "box" a cow.

There were two additional clinicians, too. Both were very helpful, but their names evade me at this hour and state of exhaustion.

Stacy Jo Hartley did a superb job of organizing and running the clinic. Through tomorrow, Stacy Jo is coordinating the WSSH show held in conjunction with the clinic.

WSSH is an exciting and relatively new association, one with a lot of positive energy. The clinic/show format is well-suited to anyone looking to improve their horsemanship and performance. I hope to take horses and compete at WSSH shows in 2013.

Goodnight Sweetgrass Ranch: The Perfect Close to a Bountiful Harvest Day

Tonight's sunset was the perfect close to a bountiful harvest day. The garden yielded enough green beans and scallions to feed two families, loads of Ring of Fire Cayenne peppers, sweet peppers, and the first of the Black Plum tomatoes. The orchard blessed us with late season Blueberries and two buckets of what promises to be a whale of an Asian Apple Pear harvest. I spent my evening watching this glorious sky as I braided the first of the 2012 Sweetgrass crop.

 

There are other tangibles as well. My young friend, Eric, spent a good deal of his summer here, helping out and becoming a very good archer. His basketball improved to the point where he's routinely trouncing me at Horse or Pig and he often outsmarts me when we play cards. Eric has gotten tall and strong and his voice has deepened, too.

 

In his first year of showing horses, Lorenzo exceeded all my expectations and excelled. He also managed to teach me to handle a rope, which is no small task! Our combined efforts resulted in high marks for the Sweetgrass Ranch horses.

 

Where's the beef? Tip, our 2012 bull calf, is well on his way to becoming a 2013 herd sire.

 

Here at Sweetgrass, we live a charmed life, one that is never taken for granted. I am ever mindful of my good fortune, of the many folks who dream of this life. To you, I say, may you find your peace place; may you realize all your goals and then some!

Meadow Grass Hay, a Low Carb, Low Starch Alternative

Twelve tons of Adel Meadow Grass hay should arrive here at the ranch the first week of September. The hay is harvested by Crump Ranch and trucked to their Sisters, Oregon operation. Larry DeSannos of G & G Hay sales (503-706-1389), my awesome "hay guy," has agreed to pick up the hay and bring it here to Sweetgrass Ranch.

Why Meadow Grass hay? It's a long story, but here goes...

Last January, my coming two year-old filly, Jetblue, suffered a right dorsal displacement of her colon -- a serious colic requiring emergency life-saving surgery. In the months that followed, Jetblue experienced three minor colic episodes, prompting us to investigate. Here's what we learned.

Orchard and Timothy grass hays are most often high in carbohydrates and starches, energy sources that are typically digested in the horse's foregut, creating a lot of gas bubbles. It's my understanding that the gas can be significant enough to cause a displacement of the colon.

For horses that are insulin resistant, high carb, high starch grasses can lead to colic and  even laminitis. While we have not had Jetblue tested for this condition, she does fit the profile, having grown at an incredible rate all throughout her first two years.

When Jetblue's colic surgeon, Dr. Jill Parker of Oregon State University, recommended a reduced bulk, high fiber diet with a concentrate like Purina Wellsolve, we took her advice to heart. To ensure a high fluid intake, we've been soaking Jetblue's Orchard Grass hay, a process which also reduces the carb levels of this hay by as much as 30%.  Jetblue is fed small portions of hay more often. Following Dr. Parker's recommendation, my colic-prone filly receives a ration of Purina Wellsolve.  As a precaution, we soak the Wellsolve and combine it with beet pulp. Since going to this regimen, Jetblue has not shown any signs of colic.

Clearly, there are other possibilities. Jetblue cribs and cribbers are notorious for colic. When she is in the barn -- where she cribs -- we always have an effective cribbing collar on her.

Ulcers can be a source of colic, too, so we've been careful to keep to a fixed feeding schedule and to provide access to pasture as much as possible. When a horse is chewing hay or grazing on grass, he or she produces a good measure of saliva and saliva is a potent buffer for stomach acid. Incidentally, there is a lot of research indicating that alfalfa has very good stomach acid-buffering properties, too, due to its calcium content.

So to get back to the question, why Meadow Grass, here's my take. Meadow Grass is a fine stemmed native grass which grows at high elevations. It is typically lower in sugar content than Orchard or Timothy -- in this case the worrisome carbohydrate leve runs about 6.5%, well bellow the vet recommended value of 10%.

The protein level of Meadow Grass is significantly lower, about 8%, meaning we'll need to feed more to meet our horses' protein requirements or we'll need to supplement with something a high protein concentrate like soybean meal. The plus side of feeding a horse more hay is that it actively engages them in the process of chewing which results in more stomach acid-buffering saliva.

Since locating the Crump Ranch Meadow Grass hay, I've been feeding Jetblue a single flake of the stuff, dry. She "hoovers" it up and seems grateful to be treated to something that isn't soaking wet.

Will Meadow Grass help colic-proof Jetblue? I sure hope so!

The Many Reasons I LOVE Horse Camping

Horse camping became a part of my family's culture when the kids were younger and partcipating in Horse 4-H. Our first big adventure, with The Mavericks, was to Nehalem Bay State Park. The wide, white-sand beach was a great place to get our hooves wet -- LITERALLY! There were subsequent annual trips to Nehalem, Timothy Lake, and Silver Falls State Park, each one a blast.

These outings were a fun way to wrap up the 4-H show season, a stress-free time for families to get to know each other. Looking back, the horses seemed to enjoy camping, too.

Back then, our activities ranged from story-telling and skits around the fire, to card games, and swimming in the lake. There were twice daily trail rides and plenty of S'mores or other goopy marshmallow inventions.

So, after years of yearning to recapture some of the fun of horse camping, I did something so spur-of-the-moment this last week, that it shocked even me. I reserved a horse camp at Stub Stewart State Park, which is a mere thirty-minutes drive from the ranch. Far enough to be out in the woods, yet close enough to spin home and care for the rest of our critters.

Rosie and Don helped me get the trailer parked at site 3 and the horses settled into their corrals on Friday night. Nick drove in from the coast to join us and we roasted our dinner -- and a few S'mores -- over the fire.

That night, our sleep was punctuated with horses squealing at each other -- mostly our two mares -- and the wind rustling through the tall stand of Douglas Firs that surround the park's fifteen horse camp sites.

Early the next morning, as the sun was rising, I fed the horses their hay and took a snapshot of our camp spot.

 

A couple of hours later, Nick and Rosie and I were saddled and out on the trail. We climbed to Unfit Settlement viewpoint -- the highest point in the park at 1,500 feet, which was deemed "Mountainous, Unfit for Settlement," in an 1879 survey. While there, Rosie snapped this photo of Nick and Irish with Drifty and me.

 

I can't remember the last time Nick and Rosie and I got to ride together, but it felt wonderful to do so once again.
 

From Unfit Settlement, we dropped down to the Hares Canyon Trail, one of the longest trails in the park. A work crew was grinding branches ahead, so we cut over on Bullbucker to Sidewinder Horseshoe to Bucking Pass to Boomscooter, all sections of trail named after logging terms. We made a quick loop through Skidder Row before heading back to camp.

 

Come lunchtime, we were eager to visit with Don and Nick's sweetheart, Chelsea, who brought Ima, an adorable Black Lab pup she was dog-sitting. Here's a snapshot of Ima with the water bottle she's been chewing.

 

Our lunch fare was a reprise meal -- tube steaks (chicken hot dogs), pickles, olives, carrots, chips, grapes, watermelon slices, and S'mores. Afterwards, Rosie took a nap while the rest of us played Kings in the Corner, a card game we learned from one of our 4-H friends, Dea Tran. If you look close, you can see Nick pretending to sneak a peek at my cards!

 

 

Rosie soon joined us and it was time for the afternoon ride. This time, Chelsea rode with Rosie and me and we definitely picked up the pace for some fast canters and trots.
 

First, we dropped down Boomscooter to the Banks-Vernonia Trail, where we encountered a lot of bicyclists. Steady as usual, the horses did great. We set a fast pace south until we hit the base of the Hares Canyon Trail, swinging into the Brooke Creek Hike-In Camp for a rest stop. From there, we climbed high up over Jackstrawed Tarry, dropping down on to Bullbucker and then Hooktender Horseshoe back into camp. Here's a snapshot of Chelsea and Irish with Rosie and Venus.

 

 

We fed the horses their dinner and loaded up our gear before heading home late Saturday, leaving much of the unpacking for today. Everyone had a great time and we hope to horse camp one more time this fall.

Jetblue's Baby Barn Swallow

The Barn Swallows who take up the rafters in the horse loafing sheds are a chatty, multi-generational crowd. Interestingly, they seem to know and tolerate us. That isn't the case for the ranch cats or the small dogs. The swallows form a veritable air force, dive-bombing any critter who threatens their fledglings.

Over these past several years, we've developed an appreciation for the swallows' aerial feats and their ability to pluck a wide range of insects from mid-air. When you live with and care for livestock like we do, Barn Swallows are a potent front line in the pest control program.

This past week, as temperatures hit the century mark, a late season nest of Barn Swallows was clearly in danger. The heat drove the youngsters out of the nest. One survived the huge drop and is living in Jetblue's loafing shed, having perched on a rather large pile of road apples.

Jetblue knows the baby is there -- I've seen her nuzzling her small charge -- and the adult swallows swoop in frequently with the day's fresh catch. So, I expect this youngster will not only survive; Jetblue's Barn Swallow baby is going to thrive.

Water is Life

There's nothing quite like a heatwave to remind a person that water is life. Leonardo da Vinci said it best: "Water is the driving force of all nature."

For the past three days, our high temps have run at or near the century mark, meaning we've spent just about all our spare time dumping and re-filling stock tanks, hosing horses down, wetting hay and feed, or watering plants.

Amazingly, the potted plants on the deck, like this Geranium, have held up quite well.

 

Thankfully, a cool breeze blew in off the ocean this evening. The forecast for tomorrow calls for a high in the mid-eighties, which should feel downright chilly!

A Hot Day, Roping Practice in the Shade

It was a blistering ninety-eight degrees outside today and the forecast calls for our part of Oregon to hit the century mark or better the next two days. On hot days like this, we hurry to get the horses rotated out to pasture, knock off all the chores and essential watering, and settle in for some serious roping practice in the shade
.
More than anyone I know, Lorenzo is masterful with a rope. He credits his Zen-like skills to the multitude of chickens, turkeys, and other stock he roped as a youth. Thankfully, Lorenzo is a darn good teacher, too -- something Lorenzo's son, Eric, and I both appreciate!

Enlightenment On a Soft Summer Breeze

The farmer who rents the fifty acres across the road decided to harvest his crop yesterday morning. Harvest time is nothing new here at Sweetgrass, but something happened yesterday that really got my dander.

The wind -- a strong, warm Noreaster -- blew an immense plume of dust and crop debris over Sweetgrass. This was followed by shower of weed seeds. Bits and particles landed behind my eye glasses, somehow making it into my eyes. My home's clean windows and my truck and horse trailers were rendered filthy within seconds, my organic blueberries and Asian apple pears suddenly coated in a thick layer of non-organic crop dust. Seeing red, I phoned my neighbors.

My message was, at best, terse. Something about how I worked hard to maintain my property and how the shower of unwanted weed seeds and dirt had clogged my newly cleaned stock water tanks and dusted my normally tidy home, barn and outbuildings. The neighbors' daughter phoned back in minutes to inform me that the farmer was conducting a "commercial" operation, one with crucial deadlines way more important than my concerns.

Shocking as her statement was, I didn't give up. I gently explained how the farmer's "harvest" meant a greater cost to me in terms of clean-up and future weed control. I suggested that my neighbor ask the farmer to consider the prevailing wind conditions before deciding to blow crop dust all over Sweetgrass. Thankfully, the neighbors' daughter agreed.

The farmer called me this morning to say that he had asked his crew to try to harvest at a time when the wind direction wasn't toward Sweetgrass. I thanked him for his consideration and made a mental note to phone the neighbor's daughter and thank her, too.

Before I could do so, the neighbor phoned to say that the farmer had threated to cancel his lease, that I was the cause, and that she did not want me giving her lessee trouble.

I thanked my neighbor for visiting with the farmer about my concerns and told her that our conversation had gone very well, that I had done nothing to jeopardize her lease agreement with the farmer.

Once again, I explained what had happened -- the massive cloud of crop dust and debris that had settled over Sweetgrass, the mucked up stock tanks, the layer of inorganic dust on my organic fruit crop, my now filthy windows, barn, and outbuildings. My plea for understanding seemed to fall on deaf ears and I was again informed that the neighbor's farm was a commercial operation, that harvest would resume.

Sure enough, I heard the diesel thresher fire up this afternoon. This time, the direction of the wind had shifted -- it was coming from the southeast. A massive cloud of dust and crop debris swirled high above the farmer's equiment, drifting steadily toward my neighbors' home and outbuildings.
In no time at all, my phone was ringing. The neighbor asked if I knew that the farmer was harvesting and I told her I thought he was, but that the wind direction was away from Sweetgrass.

"I told him to quit!" she shouted into her phone. "This time, that nasty stuff hit me. I told the farmer "No more!" Next year, he has to plant a different crop. If you have trouble, you go ahead and tell him to quit!"

"It's pretty awful, isn't it?" I replied.

"It sure is," she answered.

It seems that enlightenment chooses its own path, sometimes arriving on a soft summer breeze.

I'm thankful that my neighbor is a big person, that she took the time to phone back and say that she now truly understands my concerns.

Horse Show Results, Another Great Year

Three of the Sweetgrass Ranch horses -- Drifty, Irish, and Jetblue -- scored high marks at the National Foundation Quarter Horse Association Western Regional Competition held at Brasada Ranch near Powell Butte, Oregon this past weekend. The trio netted eight first place blue ribbons in the double judged, double point show; two seconds; one third, three fourths, and one fifth.

The show competition was incredibly stiff and the Trail and Ranch Trail courses contained some very challenging obstacles.

Often, I'm asked if I have fun at a horse show. The question always causes me to pause and carefully weigh my answer. For me, horse shows are a way to measure the progress Lorenzo and I have made with the horses and ourselves. There are instances of great fun, like seeing folks you've not seen in well over a year, but for the most part, competitions -- especially distant ones like the Regional held at Brasada -- require an immense amount of planning, preparation, and hard work.

Is it worth it? Absolutely. Is it stressful? You bet. Why do it? I guess the best answer is that it's a huge rush to put yourself and your horse out there and have it all go smoothly, to know that your training efforts -- the ones you applied to both your horse and yourself -- really paid off. Another plus? The "outside" and "independent" assessments, like that of Regional's two judges, help to guide all future training efforts.

Thanks to everyone here at the ranch, all those who "held down the fort" while we were away!

A Horse's Report Card

Here at the ranch, we're always working to improve our horses' skill sets. A horse show can be a great way to measure progress, a sort of horsey report card.

There's are lots of ways to gauge success. Does my horse clip and bathe well in preparation for showing? Does he or she load and trailer to the show facility like a pro? Does the horse settle into his or her show stall swiftly? Is the horse willing and compliant in the warm-up arena? Can I both feel and see progress in our performance?

I suppose I could base how well my horses' perform on judges' marks, but there's way more to a successful show than one person's opinion and I believe most judges' would agree.

As I write this, I'm thinking of all the items that need to be loaded to the horse trailer, the things we'll do, the fun we'll have just getting away with our horses. It'll be good to get a sense of how far we've come and how far we've yet to go.

Good Night, Sweetgrass Ranch

Last night, Mother Nature treated us to a gorgeous sunset. This, following a blistering hot day. Today is going to be warm as well, with temps soaring to the mid-nineties.

If you look close, you can see Drifty nibbling her hay in the foreground. Just beyond her paddock, the cattle have collected and are getting ready to bed down for the night -- they always sleep as close to the house as possible.

Making Hay

The valley floor is buzzing with activity these days. Farmers are mowing, threshing, and baling hay at a feverish rate -- it's reminiscent of the old saying, make hay while the sun shines.

Yesterday, there were seven big farm implements working a large field off Gordon Road -- threshers fluffing winrows of hay and baling equipment chugging out big bricks of the stuff.

The bricks are stacked into tall towers and within a day or two, semi-truck drivers pull into the fields where their rigs are loaded with this year's hay harvest.

The Importance of Grazing

Unlike a human stomach, a horse's stomach is always producing acid. Thankfully, nature designed the oh so fleet equine to graze twelve-plus hours a day.

Munching on grass may not seem like a solution, but it is. You see, a horse salivates while browsing and his or her saliva, a very neutral solution, actually helps buffer stomach acid.

Most forage, like pasture grass, takes a lot of chewing and produces a good measure of saliva. By comparison, horses tend to bolt their grain. The results vary horse to horse, but generally, when a horse swiftly digests a concentrate, there is an increase in stomach acid.

There are additional benefits to grazing. As a horse actively seeks green grass, he or she also engages in greater physical activity which yields benefits like a more regular digestive system, less stocking up, etc., etc., etc.

Another Chapter: Does Jetblue Have Gastric Ulcers?

Late yesterday, I tuned into a Keeping Horses Healthy and Sound During Transport webinar provided by TheHorse.com. This is the third such educational webinar I've attended and each one has been informative and very worthwhile.

As part of the discussion, the topic of horses with gastric ulcers came up. Some of the symptoms were discussed as well as ways to minimize stress during transport. After the webinar, I did a bit more research and learned that gastric ulcers affect 50 - 60 percent of all horses.

As luck would have it, Dr. Megan Jurasek was in when I dropped by Banks Veterinary Clinic this afternoon to pick up more horse wormer. I gave her a quick update on my filly, Jetblue's, status and asked if the symptoms of insulin resistance and gastric ulcers might be similar.

Last year, Jetblue experienced a series of colic episodes that culminated in the big one this past January. I had to rush Jetblue to Oregon State University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital for emergency, life-saving colic surgery. Since that time, Jetblue has had three additional colics.

Dr. Jurasek told me that both conditions, insulin resistance and gastric ulcers, can indeed produce colic and that gastric ulcers are prevalent in horses that crib soon after being weaned. Bingo. Talking it through with Dr. Jurasek, I decided to pick up some Ulcergard, a preventative medicine used during stressful times like trailering a distance or going for a trail ride.

For now, Jetblue is stable, holding her weight, exercising routinely, and getting regular pasture time. I'm researching the cost and benefits of "scoping" a horse's stomach and, if ulcers are identified, treating accordingly.

Here are two links to a couple of really good articles on the topic of equine gastric ulcers:

http://www.equisearch.com/horses_care/health/illnesses_injuries/eqhorseulc217/

http://americashorsedaily.com/controlling-horse-gastric-ulcers/

Trash Day

Sooner or later, if you maintain an acreage property along a busy road, you get to knock off the inglorious task of trash patrol. It isn't fair and it isn't right, but some folks just seem predisposed toward littering.

Over the years I've found a wide assortment of items. There's the old standards like beer and pop cans and the less frequent items like womens' undies and a full set of men's clothes.

At the base of the power poles, there's always a lot of shattered wine and beer bottles -- debris from some sort of high speed game where the participants hurl empty beverage containers from a fast moving vehicle. The high point must go to the joker who hits the power pole.

There are cigarette packs, too, and cigarette butts -- God help us if one ever starts a range fire. Nails and washers must rattle off construction vehicles, bouncing along the asphalt until they land at the edge of Sweetgrass.

Some items have been keepers, like the huge quartz crystal we scored following a big concert up the road. The event drew people from as far away and New York and Florida -- tie-dyed, sandal-footed, dreadlocked, crystal-packing young 'uns. Occasionally, I can hardly believe my good fortune. Like the time I found a perfect intact crystal glass, one I now use as a vase.

So this morning, my friend, Eric Robles, and I set out to patrol one of the Sweetgrass borders. We were in search of trash and a story. The road did not disappoint.

Our first stop netted an entire bag of tortilla chips (mostly uneaten), two empty cigarette packs, one Marlboro and one Camel, a Sprite pop can, and lots of cigarette butts. As Eric and I bantered back and forth, we began to contruct a profile of the person who had left us their trash.

Further up the road, there was a towel, lots of broken glass, an empty take out box, the remains of a fast food barbecue sauce, various pieces and parts of things mechanical, a sticker package, and some rusted out poultry fencing.

"She's a tortilla-eating, cigarette smoking, bad-to-the-bone granny who dies her hair red using Kool-Aid," I said.

"Yeah, and she likes to dip her tortilla chips in barbecue sauce," Eric added.

"She speeds past Sweetgrass on a motorbike and throw her empties at the power pole."

"The bike has lost a part or two and is decorated with spike-collard Chihuahua stickers. Granny wears black rubber gaskets for rings on her fingers."

"What do you think her name is?"

"I don't know."

"It's gotta be Gert. Gert keeps killer turkeys behind rusted bit of this old poultry fencing."

Trash day. A day where the inglorious task of picking up litter takes on a whole new life.

Earlier this evening, my husband and I did a drive by of a horse property that sold recently. Our realtor had asked us to swing by and see if we would be happy with a similar property.

As it turned out, there was a woman power washing the arena and that was about all we could see of the property from the road. We didn't want to be intrusive, so we kept driving.

Not far up the road, we saw a herd of Golden Limousin cows and their calves. Those cattle were so darn pretty that I actually turned the car around and went back for a second look. It's not often that I see cattle as sleek and well cared for as mine, and I always admire a fine specimen of any breed.

Standing on the side of the road, I got to thinking about the phrase "till the cows come home." Where did it come frome? What does it mean? How long have people been using it?

So, I snapped a photo of the cattle as they moseyed across a pasture aglow with evening light. Tonight, I did a little research and here's what I found about the phrase "till the cows come home" courtesy of The Phrase Finder, a wonderful UK web site:

Till the cows come home

Meaning

For a long but indefinite time.

Origin

Cows are notoriously languid creatures and make their way home at their own unhurried pace. That's certainly the imagery behind 'till the cows come home' or 'until the cows come home', but the precise time and place of the coining of this colloquial phrase isn't known. It was certainly before 1829 though, and may well have been in Scotland. The phrase appeared in print in The Times in January that year, when the paper reported a suggestion of what the Duke of Wellington should do if he wanted to maintain a place as a minister in Peel's cabinet:

If the Duke will but do what he unquestionably can do, and propose a Catholic Bill with securities, he may be Minister, as they say in Scotland "until the cows come home."

Groucho Marx was never one to pass up an opportunity for a play on words and this occurs in his dialogue of the 1933 film Duck Soup:

"I could dance with you till the cows come home. Better still, I'll dance with the cows and you come home."