I had been listening, for some time now, to countless people extolling the virtues of something called a Smoothie – and, seeing that it’s something to eat, and so is always of interest to me, I investigated further. It appears that one can make this concoction by using frozen fruit and good stuff like yoghurt – but I am… Continue reading
It Only Does EVERYTHING!
What a Show This Will Be!
You know that Arizona is on the national map when the New York news channels start talking about the awesome spring flowers that are about to appear! Generally, especially with the weather news, we are, to put it in cow vernacular, sucking on the hind tit. Are there storms in the east? More than well covered. Frost in Florida … heat wave in Chicago …mud slides in California… you bet you hear about it…. global warming, global cooling, long and short summers – we are treated to it all, as long as it doesn’t concern the south west. Perhaps they think we are still a part of Mexico, before the Gadsden Purchase? Continue reading
Introduction to Cow Camp
I have just come from the camp site where we are holding this week’s Cow Camp – a program where would be cowboys can learn some of the art of handling cattle. We spent a couple of hours erecting a big 7×10 ft. tent, where our cowboys and cowgirls can take shelter in case it rains, and it occurred to me that the rest of you may enjoy reading the… Continue reading
Fiesta de los Vaqueros
I am looking forward to a riot of wildflowers due to the lovely rains in January, and I wonder how many of you know that a seed can live in this desert earth for up to 200 years without germinating – and then, when it gets some rain just at the right moment, it bursts out with a flower you’ve never seen before! I remember one year when almost overnight all the bushes on the mountains became entwined with long, thin tendrils of green covered with the most delicate, tiny mauve bells, so that each manzanita bush looked like it was shrouded in gauzy veils. Continue reading
The Sonoita Cowboy
As I am sure all of you know by now from my last two postings, we have had wonderful rains this January, totaling to date an exciting 4.8 inches, which should make for some spectacular spring wildflowers. Some of the moisture came in the form of snow, and, as much as I hate to be cold, I thought that the attached photo of the cattle ranch headquarters under snow is too beautiful not to share with you. Continue reading
The Life of a Vaquero
How time flies when you’re having fun!! Our fun at the moment is more rain – following on from last week’s news. So far we have had 3.70 inches for January, which may not seem much to you, but to the high desert it’s bounty indeed. When the first day’s rain was over, I rode up to the South Fork Tank, high up in the Noonan Canyon. Predictably, it was… Continue reading
Indian Days
And so, guess what – news, news! As I sit here, it is raining! And you wet land rats, who probably grump at the sight of a cloud in the sky, don’t realize what a blessing it is, to us in the high desert, to get some rain! It has rained for a day and a bit now, and in that time we got over 2.50 inches of rain, and the tanks in the Flats, which were all empty but one, have filled up with just this one bonanza! Just as well, as if they hadn’t, we had every prospect of having to water the cattle out of our domestic well, not a very nice thought at all. Continue reading
In Loving Memory of Rio
I guess life isn’t always sunshine and roses – having as many four legged friends as we have, it comes to us more often than to most of you to have to say goodbye to one of them. This happened a while back to us, when a much loved horse called Rio went to the pasture in the sky. Continue reading
Joy, Health, Love and Peace
Our Deluxe Cassita — The Chaparral
I hope your New Year is going as well as ours! We are making progress in all areas, including a massive clean up of not only accommodations, but also of the public buildings, barn, maintenance and corral areas – what better way to start a new… Continue reading
Happy New Year!
What else can one say on January 1st of any year but a great big HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!
For our part, we had an awesome New Year’s Eve party – the best for many years, if not ever. The ranch was booked out, so that’s always nice, but the party itself, our second in the new building, had a great air of buoyancy, optimism and a sense Continue reading
