Cow-Girl BLOG

There are life lessons to be learned on the ranch

Welcome To Cow-Girl Blog

A cattle ranch is in constant transition with the changing of the seasons. Nothing is static or predictable and circumstances require adaptability and resourcefulness on a regular basis. There are life lessons to be learned on the ranch. Join Elin Rusher on her Cow-Girl Blog and interact with her as she shares her perspective of the life she lives on Music Meadows Ranch.

March 2010
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“Time Really Does Fly Mom”

Posted By cowgirlblog on January 12, 2010

Out of the mouth’s of babes… my precious daughter Autumn spoke these words of truth at the tender age of eight as it’s reality settled in on her even as a child.

So, I stand here with my hat in my hands…so much water under the proverbial bridge since my first post.  So much I could have and should have written about while it was still fresh.  Alas, here it is winter…snow on the ground…cattle gone for this year, yet the memories linger and plans are in progress for the coming year.

Late last April most of the snow had melted away.  Grape ceek started running and I opened irrigation head gates to start the water flowing over the thirsty ground.   I know that each day of April that comes and goes has me one day closer to a full immersion in the work of the summer.  For all practical purposes there is no spring here and no fall.  It simply goes from winter to summer then back to winter.  Any transition that might be called spring or fall is so fleeting as to nearly be missed.

I eagerly await a special group of guests who I am told are coming to work and to play!  Girls (women, but we are all girls at heart) who have horses of their own back east and are ready for adventure on a western ranch!  The coordinator of this happy intersection of women, work and adventure is college best friend and polo team mate Andrea.  Other members of the group were her daughter Lindsey and friends Patti, Susan and Debbie.  I plan our work goals and our play goals.  The cattle won’t arrive till after they leave and the weather is a wild card with snow a distinct possibility. 

We “rocked” and the weather was very kind to us!  First the saddles and bridles got an overhaul of cleaning, oiling and repairs.  All were rewarded with a pleasure ride through part of the ranch that afternoon.  Next we attacked the overgrown and trashy willows in the Little Horse Pasture.  Two days of chain saw work, raw labor and fire had the Little Horse Pasture looking like a park!

Each day was closed out with a horseback ride somewhere we had not been.  Sunday it was unanimous to have a day of rest with a steak dinner and hot springs soak at Buena Vista…  only a short 90 minute drive out of town.

I saved the best ride for the last day.  Riding through the ranch, up to the National Forest and Crystal Falls, a favorite spot for me was beautiful and shrouded in ice.  The Rainbow Trail still deep with icy snow on the northern slopes looked somewhat forbidding yet I wanted to lead us in a “round-trip” as I hate to follow the same trail  home as I take out.  I led my horse a couple hundred yards, struggling through the deep snow, trying to stay out from under him and nearly failing.  Once to good ground I tied him and went back to get another horse.  Susan went ahead to catch the horses as I tied the reins to their necks and sent them on their own down the trail the first horse had broken.  We encountered a couple more spots like that and then headed off the mountain and back to the ranch on a “fresh trail”.  It was soooo worth it. 

This was the first time I ever had guests at this time of year and it was so rewarding and memorable for all…and we even got a ton of work done!

Happy Trails!

Elin

Greetings!

Posted By cowgirlblog on May 21, 2009

Wow!  This blog business is all new to me and I am so excited about sharing a bit of the life I experience here at Music Meadows with you.  I hope that one day you will see your way to join me at the ranch for a piece of the unfolding saga…but if not, perhaps being connected through this blog will give you a small break from the dailiness of your own life and let your imagination roam for a bit.

This is a unique life from the perspective of sheer numbers.  Less than 2% of the population are engaged in production agriculture of any kind.  Those raising cattle on ranches are a small fraction of that number.  The number of those operations run by a single woman is yet another fraction.

Ranching life is a unique occupation due to the fact that creation is the work place where nature has a mind of it’s own.  Weather, land, water, cattle and horses are the raw ingredients I have to work with to produce a profit each year.  The key word is “work with” as working against these elements and creatures would only produce frustration and failure.  The truly “wild card” in this business is the market…but that’s another story.

I would be remiss if I failed to speak of the importance of the human element in the success of the ranch.  It is critical to have reliable help when needed and I am fortunate to have a full time hired man by the name of  Bud.  We work like a team of good horses to ‘git er done’.  In addition, I have a few local ‘volunteer’ hands who come on board when needed with their own horses.  My guests though provide the most interesting and rewarding “ranch help”.  

 The learning curve is steep and not to be had from a “how to” book.  Still, the most important element is a good attitude…the rest falls into place as my helpers learn and grow with every project completed.  

Happy Trails…Elin