Good Thing They Had Another Water Tank

Here we are in September already, and it sure feels like fall around here.  We've had a couple of mornings start in the 40s, which makes you grab a jacket when you head out.

 

I always enjoy the fall season.  After a busy summer of ranching and grass growing, things are starting to settle down to a slower pace.

 

Before Al and I left for Colorado last week, there were a lot of things to think about and get done.

 

Who was watching the cows?

 

Who was checking water?

 

Who was taking care of things here at home?

 

Cattle can wait for quite a few things when we are gone.

 

Water isn't one of them.

 

So before we left, we made sure the cows had two different water sources.

 

Good thing we did.

 

While we were gone, Pat, another neighbor, was out looking things over and found this.

 

Yep. A heifer in the water tank.

 

He called Josh.

 

Josh came and got her out, but somewhere in all the commotion, the float was broken, and the water to that tank had to be shut off.

 

Thankfully, the cattle still had their other water source.

 

Everybody was fine.

 

We certainly didn't leave for Colorado thinking, What if a heifer climbs into the water tank and breaks the float?

 

Some things you just can't predict.

 

But that's one of the things ranching teaches you.

 

You can't prepare for everything.

 

But you can put yourself in a better position for whatever comes next.

 

Sometimes that's having another water source.

 

Sometimes it's putting extra hay away before winter.

 

And sometimes it's having good neighbors who will notice when something isn't right.

 

We're very thankful for Pat and Josh keeping an eye on things while we were gone.

 

And Doug and Julie for feeding my old limper cow at home, along with the three calves and all my cute barn cats.

 

Right where we needed to be

Knowing things at home were being looked after meant Al and I could be where we needed to be—with our family in Colorado.

 

Our granddaughter Ayla received her bone marrow transplant last Thursday at Children's Hospital in Denver.

 

She and her mom, Kendra, have had a few bumps along the way, but both are doing well.

 

We've received so many prayers, emails, and kind notes.

 

Thank you.

 

It means more to our family than you probably realize.

 

These two South Dakota gals are pretty tough, and we're sure proud of both of them.

 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, one of the cows apparently decided we could all use a little advice.

 

A Little Cow Logic from Bubbles

I caught Bubbles blowing bubbles in the water tank the other day.

 

And that turned into a little Cow Logic:

1. ✔️ Drink plenty of water.
2. ✔️ Get some exercise every day.
3. ✔️ Eat good food.
4. ✔️ Take care of the little ones.
5. ✔️ And get plenty of rest.

 

More than 2,000 people have watched Bubbles and her advice so far.

 

Maybe the cows have this figured out better than we do.

 

Tap Bubbles to watch her Cow Logic

 

The Pig Parade headed south

By the time you're reading this Friday morning, Al and I should be in Colorado making deliveries.

 

We left Montana Thursday morning with the truck loaded.

 

Every family getting a pork share on this trip has already filled their freezer with T Bar J beef.

 

So in a way, it's Christmas come early.

 

Along with their pork shares, some are getting hamburger patties, brats, or hot dogs, and beef sticks too.

 

There is honey all around, along with a few T Bar J hats and tea towels.

 

And one family added a 15-pack Family Variety of Beef Sticks and 30 Ghost Pepper Beef Sticks to their delivery.

 

Thirty Ghost Pepper sticks.

 

Bubbles says drink plenty of water. That may be especially good advice. 😂

 

But there was one more thing going to Colorado with us.

 

A Half Beef for Brent's Place

While Ayla has been in the hospital, Eb and his family have been staying at Brent's Place.

 

It's a place where families can stay in their own apartments at no cost while their child is receiving treatment.

 

They also serve meals for the families during the week—two suppers and a Friday breakfast.

 

When Al heard about that, he wanted to take them some beef.

 

So, tucked in with everything else when we left Montana was half a T Bar J beef for Brent's Place to help with those family meals.

 

They know it's coming.

 

And they're excited.

 

We're pretty excited, too.

 

Sometimes “What's for supper?” is a fun question.

 

And sometimes it's one less thing a family needs to think about.

 

We're glad we can help with that.

 

Speaking of Christmas...

We have also been weighing hay around here.

 

And if you asked the cows what they wanted for Christmas, I'm pretty sure alfalfa would be somewhere near the top of every list.

 

I hook a chain around one of our big bales, Al lifts it with the tractor, and I watch the scale.

 

This time I took pictures and a video, so you can see another day's activities on the ranch.

 

But I'm not telling you what it weighed yet.

 

Take a good look.

 

How many pounds do you think that bale weighs?

 

Our scale goes up to one ton—2,000 pounds.

Tap reply and send me your guess.

 

No fair changing your answer later. 😉

 

Some things we plan for.

 

Some things we don't.

 

And some things apparently involve heifers climbing into water tanks, cows giving health advice, and alfalfa on Christmas lists.

 

Just another day on the T Bar J...

 

Thank you for coming along with us.

 

And if you're new here, bring your work gloves next time!

 

Just kidding.

 

Grab something to drink and spend five minutes with us instead.

 

Consider it your little mini-vacation to the ranch.

 

A little Montana fresh air and sunshine might do you good.

 

Amber, Al and Fritzie
T Bar J Ranch

 

P.S. Fritzie is holding down the fort again while we're in Colorado. We've left her strict instructions to keep the heifers out of the water tanks.