Before We Pack a Single Sock…

What’s Happening at the Ranch

Before we pack a single sock, the cattle get packed first.

This week, with Christmas approaching and a short trip planned to see our youngest son and his family in South Dakota, we ensured everyone on the ranch was set up before we left.

Cows in their Christmas pasture.
Extra protein is rolled out in the form of alfalfa.
The water tank is full.
Fence checked.
Barn cats accounted for.

That part always comes first.

Christmas Pasture

Everyone is settled into the Christmas pasture now.

We use this pasture just a couple of weeks each year, around Christmas and New Year’s. It keeps the cows close to home and makes them easier to check, especially when we’re preparing to be gone.

We rolled out alfalfa twice this week. Grass this time of year has plenty of energy, but not much protein. Alfalfa fills that gap and helps the cows make better use of the dormant grass.

They also think it’s better than ice cream.

Rolling out a bale a couple of times a week meets their needs at this stage of gestation. These cows will calve in May and June, and the heifers are still growing, so keeping them in good shape matters.

A 48-Hour Getaway

The weather decided to take a Christmas break, so we did too.

Our neighbors are checking the steers while we’re gone, giving them their developer pellets twice a day and keeping an eye on the water. We are incredibly grateful for their help. Without neighbors like this, ranchers don’t go anywhere.

They even feed the barn cats. With a couple of litters of three-month-old kittens, that’s no small chore. We may have a lot of cats, but mice are not an issue around here.

Before we leave for any length of time, all the cows, bulls, heifers, steers, and cats need to be accounted for and set up.

Fritzie is getting to come along for Christmas. When her collar and leash come out, she knows something’s up.

Making a List and Checking It Twice

Everyone was accounted for.

Presents and pie packed.

Extra socks and pajamas added.

We headed east on Christmas Eve morning. The Montana wind can blow you all the way to South Dakota, though sometimes it tries not to let you come back.

If you don’t hear from me next week, you’ll know it’s still blowing.

We hope you had a Christmas to remember and that this last week of the year brings a little calm before the calendar turns again.

P.S. We have so many everyday blessings on this ranch. My goal for this last week of 2025 is to notice and count five each day. It’s a good way to remember where you’re starting from before making plans for what comes next.