River Ramblings South

 

September 9, 2020



Summer is nearly gone, and I cannot say I will miss much of it. I was dealing with back pain most of the summer, which definitely puts a damper on gardening and doing the work I usually enjoy. Generally, we have an enjoyable summer, busy working, but still having time to stop and smell the roses. Nevertheless, this summer, it seems the wind blew more, the grasshoppers were overwhelming, and irrigating and watering was never done; we just went from one field or garden to another. The respites were not there from an occasional rain shower or storm, and with the wind, everything dried quickly! We were thankful for the river and our abundant water supply; crazily, the river ran muddy most of the summer, so there was a storm of some kind somewhere up the line.

We limited our time in town because of the coronavirus and had no out of state visitors or friends stop by. We had an exceptional horse clinic with Jordan Lee as trainer and teacher; we learned some new training techniques and tricks, thanks to Jordan and Tom. We kept our participant numbers low to follow state regulations. We are also selling our 2020 foals at the October Production Horse sale in Billings instead of the ranch’s private treaty. We enjoyed the company and help of Kayla and Quinn Rodewald off and on through the summer doing ranch work, hauling hay bales, helping Raynee put hours in on young horses, and helping her halter break and train our 2020 foals. Everyone enjoys riding here in the Breaks, and moonlight riding was a fun treat for Raynee and Kayla. Thanks, Traci and Kyle, they are so much help and great kids to have around. Our granddaughter Tyla who is 2 ½ years old, helped also and loved her foal, Marmalade. The isolation was enjoyable on the ranch with our family and neighbors.

Thankfully, our hay crop was swathed and baled before the grasshoppers got busy, mowing it all down. We still have a second crop to cut, and it does not look to bad. Our cantaloupe had a severe grasshopper infestation, and we had so many melons scarred and eaten through to the flesh. We were lucky to get a hot, dry high wind that seemed to blow them out of the area! I can’t say I like wind, but that was a good one. I guess, as the old saying goes, “there is some good and bad in everything.” We worked on our house last winter, as soon as the weather was nice, we put that on the back burner. I am hoping when the works all done this fall. We will get it finished. The work never seems to be all done; just put on hold!!

Today, September 3, would have been my Mom, Inez Halter’s 100th birthday. She was the backbone of the beginning of our ranch, a true pioneer woman, living on the ranch as a housewife, mother, gardener, excellent cook, washerwoman, hired man and lady of all trades, before we had electricity, running water, or good roads to get to town. I cannot imagine!! I will forever admire and miss her; she was one of a kind.

Remember to stop by the Grocery Store and get a Big Sandy cantaloupe; our melons will be there through September. They are juicy, sweet, and delicious, with a few grasshopper chews thrown in for good measure. I don’t think there is a creature who doesn’t love cantaloupe; it is a nutritious treat where we can genuinely say we are enjoying the “fruits of our labor!”

 
 

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