Look Who I Found on the Fence
It may only be August, but around here we're already getting ready for winter.
And this morning we woke to half an inch of rain and fog—in August!
But before I tell you about that, I need to introduce you to Whoo.
Last Friday, I found this little short-eared owl hanging from a barbed-wire fence when I went for my morning run.
Her wing was wrapped around the wire and a couple of barbs. I untangled her; she didn't fuss a bit, and set her on the ground in the grass.
Went for my run and she was in the same place when I came back by.
So I brought her home and called the Montana Raptor Center in Bozeman.
They take in wounded raptors. A raptor is a bird that hunts, like a hawk, eagle, owl, or osprey.
One of my friends, Sherry, is a person EMT, but she volunteers for the Raptor Center. We put Whoo in a box, met up with Sherry, and she took Whoo to Bozeman.
Whoo's wing was badly bruised, but not broken, and she was exhausted from hanging on the fence.
But the good news: She is expected to make a full recovery.
She certainly wasn't something I expected to find when I started the day.
Whoo catching her ride to The Montana Raptor Center.
Winter's Coming
This week has been one of those weeks when we've been fixing all the things that need fixing before cold weather gets here.
The pickup got four new 10-ply tires. That's what it takes to hold up to the miles we put on these Montana gravel roads.
We've been repairing corrals, replacing worn mineral feeder lids, and cementing and caulking concrete water tanks—getting things fixed now while the weather is good.
None of those jobs are particularly exciting, but they're the jobs that keep everything working when winter arrives.
And around here, it's a whole lot nicer to fix them in August than January.
Then Management Got Called to a Meeting
Yesterday morning I went out to check the cows.
They spotted me, followed me all the way to the water, and proceeded to let me know that they thought it was time for a move.
It reminded me of an office meeting where everybody sits down and has an opinion about how the week should go.
They were unanimous.
Then we got .5" of rain overnight.
This morning was foggy, cool, and quiet, and everybody was contentedly grazing again when I checked on them.
They're still getting their move. Monday morning we'll move them onto fresh pasture.
Another Date for the Fog Calendar
If you've been riding along with us for a while, you might remember our 90-day fog calendar.
The fog we had on June 13 has us watching September 13 to see what weather it brings 90 days later.
And this morning we were fogged in again.
So now we've added another date to the calendar: November 13.
We'll see what Mother Nature has in store for us.
The Steers Are at the Butcher
This week we also took our next group of steers to the butcher.
They weighed up well, and their beef is now beginning its 14-day dry-aging period.
Taking the steers in is never an easy day for us. We've raised and cared for them from birth, and we don't take that responsibility lightly.
The families who already have shares reserved from this group will be hearing from me as their beef gets closer to being ready.
And this week I heard from another one of our customers, Kelly.
She wrote:
"This is the most tender beef and full of flavor! Nothing like the store-bought beef I usually buy."
Kelly went on to tell me that in her 60 years, even compared with expensive Angus and Wagyu cuts she's purchased, our beef was unlike any she'd eaten.
She also told me she's planning to come back for more beef this spring.
Thank you, Kelly. Having families enjoy the beef we raise and come back to our ranch for more means a great deal to us.
Thinking About Filling Your Freezer This Fall?
I've just finished a new Beef Share page to make buying beef directly from our ranch a little easier.
Whether you're thinking about starting with a 1/8 beef or filling your freezer with a 1/4 or 1/2 beef, you can see what's included, how much freezer space you'll need, how deposits and delivery work, and answers to the questions we hear most often.
Fall deliveries begin in September, and shipping is included.
Let's Find the Right Beef Share for Your Family
A Little Family Update Before We Go
Several of you have asked about our granddaughter Ayla since I last mentioned her.
She and her family are still at Children's Hospital preparing for her bone marrow transplant. She begins the conditioning process Monday, with her transplant to follow.
Thank you to everyone who has asked about her and kept our family in your thoughts. We are grateful you care.
I'm glad you rode along with us today.
Take care of the little ones in your neighborhood, whether they are kids, calves, or owls.
P.S. The cows haven't forgotten about that “staff meeting.” They get their move to fresh pasture Monday morning. I'll take you along.
