GASP! Just coming up for air. Yes, I am here. It’s been insanely busy this summer. I’ve been taking pictures so I’ll try to get y’all caught up on summer life on the Ranch.

The cows were out of feed so it was time to move them to a fresh pasture. We all gathered and began saddling the horses.

Two of Nate’s sisters, Anna and Lisle, get their horses ready,

then give their daughters some early cowgirl training.

My oldest holds the Shetland Pony while her cousin saddles him.

Paul puts the reins on Talinka.

Matt’s got his horses saddled and is trying to figure out who’s riding up front, behind, and what path we’re taking to the new pasture. Finally, everyone knows their position, the lead and tail cars are loaded, and Grandpa takes a group of little cowgirls and cowboys to shut gates and guard openings along the route.

The cowboys (and cowgirls) gather the herd as the storm gathers. Sometime before I snapped this picture, Nate’s horse Canyon decided she didn’t want him on her back. She began crow hopping and then all out bucking. Nate stayed on a good eight seconds and beyond, but eventually Canyon got her way. Nate has NEVER been bucked off a horse before. He says forty is not the age to start. He climbed back on Canyon and together they helped herd the cows the four miles to the new pasture at which point it was all Nate could do to get off the horse and into the car.

Paul on the other hand looks like herding cows in the rain is the best way to spend a Saturday.

We brought the cows out and immediately crossed the road.

Here they come

to cross another highway. These crossings are why lead and tail vehicles are needed. They park off to the side of the road, one on each side of the crossing, with flashers going and a stick poking out the window with something red on it. This hopefully alerts oncoming traffic in both directions if they haven’t seen the animals on the road yet.

The camera doesn’t show the rain or the wind.

I drove the tail vehicle. Here’s my windshield.

We arrived at the new pasture …

and the neighbors were pretty excited to greet some new cows.

Our cows immediately headed over to make friends. All this neighborly kindness led to a long night a couple of weeks later. I’ll have to post about that another time.

The storm was picking up momentum about this time so horses were quickly loaded.

Done socializing, the cows spread out to enjoy their new pasture, and we drove home to warm houses.  Nate collapsed on our coach to finish watching a soccer match and I thought we might never beable to get him up again. After a hot shower and good night’s sleep he was doing much better and was able to hobble off to his early morning church meetings. By Monday morning, his limp was barely noticeable, and by Tuesday, his aches were almost gone.