Writing (and laughing) through life
So, you found a man who can start a colt, And ride and rope and shoe. He packs a roll of tape in the pickup, And always carries a can of chew. You like the way he shapes his hat, And his horse is always bridled up nice. If he ever asked you out on... Continue Reading →
On most ranches, wrangling the cavvy is a chore. Cowboys can earn more wrangle duties by having a messy stall, being late to the barn in the morning, or losing a game of "Out" on the roping dummy. When I worked for the Van Norman ranch, wrangling could take the better part of an hour;... Continue Reading →
In ranching, we use many words and phrases that might confuse someone who doesn't begin a day's work by catching a horse in the dark. Here's a basic dictionary of common cowboy terms. Horse (n): A horse is a beast of burden, tool of the trade, partner and buddy all in one four-hoofed package. A... Continue Reading →
He grows a handlebar mustache...sometimes. He uses a reata in the branding pen....sometimes. He rides a swell-fork saddle and team ropes in town, but with mulehide on his horn. He sports a government handle haircut but listens to classic rock. Is your man a buckaroo? Here are ten clues.1) He has never seen the ocean.2)... Continue Reading →
I took Grace out to the corner of the Airport Field where the cowboy crew was branding calves out of a rodear* the other day. I threw my camera and extra batteries in the diaper bag, but once I got there I decided to not take it out. I wanted to just be in the... Continue Reading →
As I was doing a mental countdown of the days until I left to go visit my dad recently, a wave of low-level anxiety accompanied my preparations. I HATE being away from my husband for even a single night. I have trouble falling asleep without him in the house, and whenever I pack up the... Continue Reading →
That tall, handsome, hand-holding, rope-twirling, bronco-twister charmed you out of your pants and into a wedding dress. Then he plunked you down boots-first 10 miles past BFE and kissed you good day as he headed to the barn to catch his horse and go to to work. What do you do now? Following these 10... Continue Reading →
"Most people go to Hawaii to vacation," my husband said. "We're going to Bruneau."I was just glad we got to take a cowboy vacation and didn't have to quit a job to do it. Technically, Jim went to Bruneau, Idaho to haul water and feed cubes to cows there for a week, so it was... Continue Reading →
Going to town from the Diamond A in Northern Nevada is usually an all-day affair. If it doesn't take all day, it takes 15/16ths of a day, so it might as well take all day. The two-hour drive to Twin Falls, Idaho, the closest hub of civilization with a grocery store, is peaceful and beautiful.... Continue Reading →
Are you physically, mentally and emotionally equipped to be a woman living on a remote ranch? Men, if you score too highly on this, we may be suspicious - and hit you up for advice. 1) If you run out of milk while fixing biscuits for dinner, do you: a) Pull on your muck boots,... Continue Reading →
Jolyn Young 