Category Archives: Ranch Journal

Ode to the Crew 1: Six Pix

Posted on February 13, 2015 by John | 9 comments

We set the ‘point and shoot’ on the branding table, the following were shot by several different people.

There is no easy tribute to good neighbors necessary in the branding pen, whether horseback or on the ground. Trading labor is part of our culture, and the work’s not done until everyone’s calves are branded and vaccinated. Towards the tail end of the branding season, our last bunch of calves were big, which makes Robbin and I happy of course, but it also means harder and more dangerous work for everyone.

Our gather to brand in Greasy began Sunday, over a week ago, interrupted by welcome rain that kept us from finishing the process until last Tuesday — some cows and calves had spent eleven days in out Gathering Field waiting for yesterday. Additionally, wood had to be cut for the branding and cook fires, and the weeds in the corral, nearly two-foot tall, had to be addressed with a weed-eater before we were ready.

It was a long day, shirtsleeves weather, warm in the mid-70s.

Always some exciting moments, even though everyone tries to be respectful and gentle with the calves, some were a handful, pushing 500 pounds.

Calm and steady, we have acquired an efficient routine of ropers and ground crew. Divided into two groups of ropers so arms and horses have time to rest between bunches, there’s always time to visit.

9 Comments

Posted in Photographs, Ranch Journal

Tagged branding, Calves, cows, Greasy Creek, neighbors, photographs, weather

AFTER RAIN

Posted on February 9, 2015 by John | 12 comments

Sun sets on the sighs
that cling to wet hills grinning
color into clouds.

WPC(3) — “Scale”

12 Comments

Posted in Haiku 2015, Photographs, Poems 2015, Ranch Journal

Tagged Dry Creek, haiku, photographs, poetry, rain, weather, weekly-photo-challenge

Rain

Posted on February 8, 2015 by John | 9 comments

4:00 p.m., February 7, 2015

WPC(2) — “Scale”

9 Comments

Posted in Photographs, Ranch Journal

Tagged Dry Creek, photographs, rain, water, weather, weekly-photo-challenge

Ranch Journal: February 6, 2015

Posted on February 6, 2015 by John | 4 comments

The wildflowers were trying to bloom before we left for Elko on January 24th, primarily the ubiquitous Fiddleneck and Shepherd’s Purse, but yesterday as Robbin and I went to the Paregien Ranch, we could add Foothill Poppies, Purple Lupine, White-veined Mallow, Popcorn Flowers, Scorpionweed among others—all 30 days earlier than normal that may indicate an early, and perhaps short, spring, especially with record breaking temperatures in the high-70s the past two days.

As we enter what appears to be our fourth drought year with only 5.47” of rain to date, it could be worse. Last year at this time we had only accumulated 1.6”, a year in which we had to feed hay from August through March with a total rainfall for the season of 7.78”. Our 9-year average, including the last three dry years, is 14.36”.

Fortunately, some rain is predicted for this evening and Saturday that may linger into Sunday. Our south slopes have been stressed for the past three years, showing mostly brown with no cover of old feed to hold moisture or offer protection for the new grasses.

Additionally, there is little snow in the Sierras to supply surface water demands from Valley farmers. Water storage in flood control and irrigation facilities is at an all-time low. Half-way through our rainy season, it’s too late for any snow the Sierras might receive to freeze, thus we have lost any time-released benefits farmers might ordinarily enjoy, leaving us more susceptible to spring floods if the Sierras get any amount of snow for the remainder of the season.

No matter how you look at it, it doesn’t look good.

Fiddleneck wilting – 2/5/2015

4 Comments

Posted in Photographs, Ranch Journal

Tagged Drought, Dry Creek, flower-friday, Greasy Creek, Paregien Ranch, photographs, rain, weather, wildflowers

KESTRELS COURTING SPRING

Posted on February 5, 2015 by John | 3 comments

Nothing sudden, poor dry hills
like thin cows show too much bone,
I look away for a spot of green

in shadows of trees, on north slopes
to weigh our hopes: how many days left
before it rains? Bankrupt with years

of debt, of dirt exposed, of dust released,
the old oaks have given-up to start over—
to become earth again, and we

make plans to brand another bunch
like Kestrels courting spring, falling
in a flutter before me yesterday:

fourth of February, seventy-seven degrees.
Nothing sudden, we plod against the obvious
knowing nothing stays the same.

3 Comments

Posted in Poems 2015, Ranch Journal

Tagged birds, Blue Oak, Drought, Dry Creek, Kestrel, poetry, rain, weather, wildlife

RAINDROPS

Posted on February 5, 2015 by John | 3 comments

Following fifty tons
through light showers
across Nevada,

big alfalfa bales
towards our dry
California home,

we focus on raindrops
streaking reality
after a week of poetry

and song, to feel
our poor possibilities
grow by the truckload—

heavy with an endless
emptiness in our bellies
beneath the straps

of seat belts
before another wreck.
We hang on.

3 Comments

Posted in Photographs, Poems 2015, Ranch Journal

Tagged alfalfa hay, Drought, National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Nevada, photographs, poetry, rain, weather

Six Pix: Great Basin Home

Posted on February 4, 2015 by John | 6 comments

With a leisurely, late start from Elko, we encountered a few midday showers Monday, crossing Nevada’s Great Basin between Carlin and Tonopah, making for some interesting high-speed photos with the point and shoot.

Under a dark cloud outside Eureka, a blurry foreground beneath a crisp Lone Mountain on the ‘Lonliest Road in America’ (US 50).

Hay headed to dry California.

We stopped for a bowl of soup at the refurbished and reopened Mizpah in Tonopah,

then headed into to the sunset towards Bishop.

6 Comments

Posted in Photographs, Ranch Journal

Tagged Drought, Great Basin, National Cowboy Poetry Gathering, Nevada, photographs, rain, Tonopah, weather

It’s Not All in a Hat

Posted on January 27, 2015 by John | 11 comments

I was so happy to see Ramblin’ Jack Elliott last night after the full house, Baja California show concluded that I rather rudely interrupted his conversation with a young lady to shake his hand for a quick hello. I caught up with her later to apologize, only to learn that she was a reporter for Reuters looking for a real cowboy poet.

The Poetry Gathering won’t officially begin until Thursday, and few of us are here yet, but Robbin and I come early to acclimate and set up camp in our motel room. Looking at my Giants hat, she didn’t believe me when I told her I was one.

Try as I might to break free of the urban stereotype, the ensuing interview and conversation confirmed so many misconceptions about our livestock culture that I was somewhat dismayed, even frustrated at times trying to explain that we’re not all Republicans, not all isolated from the rest of the world in a mythical West — that there is a difference between dairy and beef cattle.

The interview concluded where it should have begun, that we, just like the livestock culture of the Baja Californians, are land based, our physical and mental health dependent upon the health of the land and our cattle. We are not looking to blame the current drought in the American Southwest on Global Warming or the tsunami in Japan, nor are we looking to US politics for drought relief. As a self-reliant bunch, we try to solve problems, working with the current drought the best we can.

I probably didn’t change her mind much, but that’s what the National Cowboy Poetry Gathering is all about, offering varied perspectives to help bridge the gap between the range livestock culture and the urban majority — it’s not all in a hat.