We're a Long Way From The Ranch
I'm writing this week's Ranch Roundup from Denver.
That's a little unusual for me.
Most Friday mornings, Al and I are somewhere on the ranch checking cattle, moving something, fixing something—or figuring out what needs doing next.
This Friday, we're exactly where we need to be.
But before we left Montana, there were still a few jobs to finish.
And one of them required a shovel.
Some ranch jobs are pretty glamorous. This wasn't one of them.
Those big fuzzy-leaved plants are common mullein.
It's an introduced plant, and for some reason we find it primarily in our calving pasture. We suspect the snow geese may have helped bring in the seeds.
They land there when they make their flights back and forth to Canada with the change of seasons.
It is interesting because hundreds will land during the day. They fly at night and sleep during the day so they can see any predators more easily.
We also have some Scotch thistle showing up in that pasture as well.
Both are biennials, and both put down a long taproot.
Which means the best time to deal with them is before they go to seed.
There's nothing particularly exciting about walking through a pasture with a shovel digging weeds, but taking care of grassland is often made up of little jobs like this.
Take care of the problem while it's small.
Dig up the plant before it makes seed and crowds out the grass.
Pay attention to what's changing.
And hopefully leave the pasture a little better than you found it.
That's ranching, too.
Then there were four passengers headed down the road.
Tuesday we took the last four steers from this group to Stillwater Packing.
There's a lot that happens before a package of T Bar J beef ever ends up in someone's freezer.
These are the days most people never see.
Calving.
The pasture moves.
The water checks.
Weaning.
The hay.
The feeding.
The early mornings and late evenings.
And finally, the trip to Stillwater Packing.
We know where your beef has been because we've been there with it—from the day it was born.
And even while we were getting ready to leave town, orders were coming in.
A new customer ordered a Steak Box.
Beef-stick orders came in from Facebook.
And Ann—the Minnesota customer I told you about who was trying our beef sticks and thinking about a beef share—decided to reserve her 1/8 beef.
That made me smile.
The ranch keeps moving forward even when life pulls us somewhere else for a few days.
Before we could leave, we needed one more thing taken care of - the cows.
Doug and Julie are handling things around the house and barn for us.
Another neighbor, Josh, is keeping an eye on the main bunch of cows, calves and bulls—and especially their water.
You've probably figured out from reading these emails that we're pretty particular about water.
A float can stick.
A tank can quit filling.
Something can happen along miles of pipeline.
Cattle can wait for quite a few things. Water isn't one of them.
Knowing good people are keeping an eye on things at home makes it possible for Al and me to be where we need to be.
And this week, that wasn't Montana.
Thursday was a very big day for our family.
Yesterday, our ten-year-old granddaughter Ayla received her bone marrow transplant at Denver Children's Hospital.
There have been a lot of days leading up to this one.
Appointments.
Tests.
Conditioning.
Waiting.
And an awful lot for a ten-year-old girl and her family to go through.
But Thursday was Transplant Day.
And now the road to recovery begins.
That's why Al and I are in Denver.
For a few days, Doug and Julie can handle the barn.
Our neighbors can keep an eye on our cattle.
The water can be checked by Josh.
Because right now, our most important job isn't one anyone can do for us.
Right now, we're simply Gramma and Grampa.
And we're very grateful to be here.
Of course, Fritzie is really in charge at home.
She's keeping an eye out for anything unusual—and keeping her “stuff” close by in case anyone has time to throw something for her.
I suppose there is a common thread running through this whole week.
Dig the weed before it goes to seed.
Raise the steer one day at a time.
Make sure somebody is watching the water before you leave.
Prepare as well as you can for the things you know are coming.
And when life hands you something you can't completely prepare for—you put your faith in good hands, good people, and the next step in front of you.
That's what we're doing this week.
Back in Montana, the cattle are being watched.
Here in Denver, Ayla is being watched very closely, too.
And Al and I are right where we're supposed to be.
I'll be back Tuesday with the Cut of the Week.
Thank you for coming along with us—not just for the beef, but for all the things that happen meanwhile, back at the ranch.
Thank you for all the prayers.
Thank you for supporting a local rancher.
Amber, Al and Fritzie
T Bar J Ranch
P.S. To Doug, Julie, Josh, and the neighbors keeping an eye on things while we're gone—thank you. Ranching has a way of reminding you just how valuable good neighbors are.
