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.