In Other News

So I've suspected for some time that my daughter likes to go to work with her new step dad more than she likes to admit. Perhaps out of some unfortunate loyalty to her biological father, she doesn't want anybody to think that she may enjoy spending time with an alternative father figure? (There is a lot of expansion that could be had here, but I'll refrain.)

In support of my suspects, Isabella came out recently saying that when she grows up she wants to be a hairdresser! BUT only until she is a teenager, then she wants to be a rancher." Internally I was patting myself on the back for being so intuitive and wise in reading my daughter. Externally, I smiled and asked questions about both drastically different career choices. I encouraged her to ask my partner to go to work with him more often. I think she may, but she may also be hesitant because that would mean that she enjoys spending time with him, which I believe she perceives as a betrayl. Hopefully with some support, and nurturing, and reassurance we can ease her out of that mentality.

Isabella has always been into horses, as most little girls inexplicably are, so one of the major appeals of moving here was that she would be surrounded by horses day and night and would hopefully be able to learn to ride. It's been a little difficult because of time restraints and serious lack of child-friendly equine available, but she has been able to go a few times, both just short recreational rides, and also work-related rides chasing cows. She loved chasing cows! She was over the moon excited about that, and now weeks later, still talks about how she wants to go again. Who knows! Maybe she will be a cowgirl when she grows up.

In other news, we recently discovered that one of the chickens we purchased a couple months ago is actually a rooster... And apparently he is going through poultry puberty, ie. he is learning to crow. Problem is he doesn't quite have the internal clock thing down, and therefore he crows at all hours of the day. This wouldn't be so bad except that he and his harem live just under our bedroom window. Needless to say he is not going to live long. I hear fresh-killed chicken tastes nothing like store bought chicken. I''m sure the taste of revenge will only sweeten it.

Partner #1 is gone again, this time only south for a few days, but that leaves us walking his dogs again. It's not so bad this time around. This time he took several with him, so we are down 4 dogs. The other night I learned walking cow dogs in the horse pasture after a few drinks is probably not the best idea... Lets say we discovered which of the dogs are ankle bitters, and one of the horses looks like he has leprosy.... interpret that how you will.

A cow and a bull who had both injured themselves early in the spring have found a hole in the fence where they were previously quarantined and are now in the field where we store our big round hay bales. This wouldn't be such a big deal if a) they had been handled at all over the last few months. As it is they figure they are wild cows now, and therefore kinda a-holes. And b) if partner #1 were here, we wouldn't be left trying to herd these two "wild a-holes" out of the bush with sticks, and a dog who has no idea what she it is we are asking her to do (And c) if I wasn't scared of cows....). In the process of all this partner #2 managed to get a rusty nail through the foot and two legs covered in stinging nettle. (In her words, "Who chases a bull in a skirt?!") As it stands, they will just have to stay there for a couple more days and wait until the boss man gets home. There shall be retribution!

Partner #1 moved our one horse Lewis to another pasture, which happened to be located right next to a small field where our resident studs reside. Lewis is boss horse, of all the horses, apparently, and the studs, Ese in particular, have felt the need to engage in some egregious posturing. It's provided quite a bit of entertainment for me. I've come to realize that horses who are playing tough guy, are just like dogs playing tough guy! They puff and snort at each other, pee all over the place, and bite each other. It's rather funny. Especially because Lewis doesn't seem to care one whit, he just nonchalantly strolls past, gets the studs riled up, and then walks away! He's so full of himself.

More things I've learned since moving to the ranch:
9) Seasonal allergies are not restricted to spring time!
10) Falls starts mid summer when you live up north.
11) "Cabin fever" is not just a concept for a horror movie. It's an actual, real thing!