Old Wire

We have now got the 3/4 worth of fence on our pasture, that isn't the highway department's responsibility, rebuilt. And, I'm proud to say that we haven't bought a single stitch of new wire.

I'm an old wire guy. Not rusty wire. Just good old wire. Which, there is plenty siting around our place. Also, White Horse is back in action!

At this point in our three year project, we are down to some pretty small rolls. So splicing it as we go to make up this 1/4 mile stretch, is pretty common.

When it comes to tightening fence that you are rebuilding, you usually stretch at the brace post. I thought bringing two sections of wire together might go better. The problem with doing that is that you run out of stretcher, trying to get the slack out of both halves. So, once I was out of notches on the first stretcher, I just hooked a second stretcher up and kept tightening. Why not.

Then a guy has room to make a splice.

Works. I like these windy splices because you don't create a kink in the wire. There are quite a few around the pasture now.

We took this section of fence down earlier this spring. Most of the wire on it was good. So we just tucked it into the pasture, and today we recovered it and stuck it back on the fence. 

Good stuff. The old fence only had two strands of barbwire on top, so we added a third. New fence, with old posts and old wire. My style.

Should work.

Just got some gates to build and brace posts to cut and cap, and the fencing on the pasture is done. I don't consider myself cheap, but I do like to see old equipment be put back into use. For the most part on these fencing projects, we have salvaged the old wire and posts that were on the existing line. As long as any rust was surface level only, we put it back on. There is a practical side to reusing old wire. New barb wire is about $150 for a 1/4 mile roll and woven wire is about $300 for 300'. The only cost we have in re-fencing 3/4 of our 25 acre pasture is about 80 new posts and new clips for everything. Pretty inexpensive compared to all new. Maybe I am cheap, but not to the point of compromising quality and longevity. Ranch on and on. 

Succession of Love

Love one another as Christ has loved us.

           https://youtu.be/FZjz-mdLK6w         

Christian Philosophy

Faith and Reason.

           https://youtu.be/o90rJFlsbL4         

Baptism

Is an anointing of the Holy Spirit.

           https://youtu.be/mBlpqUPFbCI         

 

We

Paul and Luke.

           https://youtu.be/VP9jadAPc88         

Watering Cows

Wanting to take a little Sunday afternoon drive, I ventured out to the cows. All gathered around the water hole, I knew something was wrong.

Cows are doing good. Spread out most of the time. All were accounted for, but something wasn't right.

Blasted! Out of water.

To my credit, the ditch near by had been running water for irrigation. However, with the dry spring, looks like they killed it early. Fortunately, they hadn't been out of water long.

So I jumped in the water truck and headed for town.

It takes about 2hrs to fill with Jack's well. In town, they have a high volume system for the public. Just costs a little cash. Worth the effort to fill it quick.

Now, back at the ranch, we filled the trough straight from the hose, instead of the float which would have taken a lot longer.

Then reattached the hose to the float. Back in business.

Good stuff. That's just ranchin. I'd rather not water out of the ditch anyway. Pretty steep banks and deep water that a calf could get in trouble in. Alls well that ends well. I still enjoyed my Sunday afternoon drive, just took me a bit longer than planned. Ranch on. 

Ride It

Do you know what the 7 Gifts of the Holy Spirt are?

           https://youtu.be/9oJIQZlrcEU         

Foster Branding

Awhile back, Paul and Laura Foster invited me to their branding in the Sheridan County. Fun to look forward to and even funner to partake in.

Don't tempt me with a good time!

Ride out was at 6:30. So the horses stayed the night in the backyard and we left town a bit after 5:00. 

Our ole buddy Kurt rode with us today. He and Chief got along real good.

Paul was our tour guide.

Pretty rugged country around here.

After we were all gathered up, we let the cows mother up a bit before punching them into the pen.

Then lit the fire and got ready to ranch.

Rope and drag was the method of choice.

They use the Nordfork set up. Pretty easy duty compared to wrestling. 

Paul gave us a good lesson in roping.

I got put on the branding iron.

Double F on the left rib is the ranch brand.

After our mid morning break, Chief and I hit the pen and drug a few in. 

Beautiful day for a branding. 

200+ head later, we were done, pulled down the corral, and headed to the house for lunch.

Then a little brush down back home.

Good stuff. Special thanks to the Fosters for letting Kurt and I enjoy a little spring fun. Brandings can't be beat. I hope we get a couple more in this spring. But if not, a good day like this will last me a long time. Ranch on. 

Play Freely

The Commandments and Church Teaching are in place so that God's peace my be in us!

           https://youtu.be/29bibDusQzc         

Remain in Me

Through communion with the Body of Christ, the Church. 

           https://youtu.be/XUTuKgrIBak         

Spring Training

With branding smoke in the air, I took some time to get on the horses and remind them of their duty in life. 

I've really tried to take a nice and easy approach to the horses this year. So far they have responded well. 

Once Chief makes the shift in his mind that he is a horse and not a brumby, he's calm, cool, and collected. 

For Mollie, it takes a little longer. As a rule of thumb, if you can fit a beer can between the back of your saddle and the horse, don't get on!

So we ventured out. Me on Chief, ponying Mollie. 

Stopped by the ole stock tank. Still running well. It's good to water the horses off their back. Pretty common procedure when we're out gathering up. 

Then we headed through the hay field, where we were all winter, to the pasture where we keep the cows. 

Good wildlife around here. Antelope in the distance. Nothing new for these two guys, but a good reminder that other critters pop out of no where. 

Like cows!

Doing great. Roaming on grass is how cattle were meant to live. 

Calves and cows look strong. 

Water truck is holding up. Good for the horses to see foreign objects. 

Then we charged across the hills of the pasture. Good exercise. 

This 150 lies right along the highway. Sensitize and desensitize. 

On our way back, we spooked up some geese. No problemo. 

Once back at the trailer, I got on the brute. 

Spirited horse. Fun to ride. 

A good time was had by all. 

Ranch hard and prosper. Everybody loves spring. Ambition is in the air. We all want to get out and work, and so do the horses. Good idea to get a few miles on them before showing up to your first branding. Not the place for a wreck. Even though these horses are solid, a little spring training is good for us all. Let's ride. 

Glory to God

AMDG! 

           https://youtu.be/oQojFv9Llnw