Surprise Snowstorm

We woke up this morning to discover snow outside! The weather forecasters had warned us that we might have rainin the morning turning into afternoon snow, but right from the beginning we had two inches of snow. I got all excited, I always do when we have new snow, even if it isn't yet the middle of October.

Before we could go out, though, we had to get properly outfitted. We didn't have our snow clothes ready, but I was able to find a snow suit that sort of fit Desert Boy, along with some boots that made it difficult for him to walk, and hat and mittens. He loves to be outside no matter the weather.

We went down to the lower yard, where the normally drab stack of tires looked a little more artistic with a layer of snow covering it.

Fortunately there isn't so much snow that the giant loader has to be called into action. The snow is putting a damper on chopping corn and baling hay this morning.

The cows still are eating away, and getting fed a little extra today since they're burning off extra calories to stay warm.

This calf is just adorable, with her dirty nose, big eyes, and slightly damp hair. 

We'll be back out to play in the snow soon, after Desert Boy wakes up from a nap. All the excitement wore him out. And after I make a big pot of stew for lunch--we need that on a day like today! The forecasters warned that we might have power outages due to tree limbs breaking and falling on the power lines, so if I'm not back bright and early tomorrow morning, be assured that I'll be up just as soon as possible. Have a good weekend! 

Photo Caption Contest

It's time for another photo caption contest! What caption can you come up with to describe what Desert Boy is doing in this  photo? I feel so fortunate to have a son who provides plenty of opportunities for y'all to be creative. 

The rules are simple: one entry per person, leave your name or initials, and contest ends at 6 p.m. Saturday Pacific time. 

Why should you enter? You mean besides showing the world how witty and wonderful you are? You want more incentive then that? Okay, I do have a prize. The winner gets a packet of wildflower seeds that will help beautify your home. It's a Northern Nevada seed mixture, but I have a feeling that some of the flowers will grow where ever you live. Besides, wouldn't you like to have a little of the sights and smells of the wonderful high desert right at your house (assuming you don't already live in the high desert!).

Good luck, and I look forward to reading your entries!

Gates in the Desert

Some ranchers are really creative when it comes to gates. Here is the entryway to one nearby rancher's house. I like the patriotism and symmetry.

This is a gate into a corral. It's called the "visitor gate," I guess because it impresses the visitors. It sure impressed me! 

Here's another fun gate, painted blue.

Behind the gate is an old hay derrick, which in olden times before loaders, backhoes, and forklifts was used to stack hay. 

This gate was made by a master metal craftsman in our little town. Desert Boy had a lot of fun checking it out.

He took the gate as a challenge--can I get through?

He had some problems with his head. 

Then he figured that out and perhaps got into some bigger trouble!

Eating Unfried Green Tomatoes

Desert Boy loves to play in the garden. I always yell at him to get out, but he ignores me and heads straight towards the tomato plants. They have a profusion of green tomatoes.

Desert Boy can't quite help but pick a green tomato or two. Usually he carries them around in his grubby little hand and then drops them when he tries to climb the gate.

Today, though, he decided to eat the green tomato. Notice how he looks straight at me, his eyes telling me, "Ha, ha, Mom. I'm eating your green tomato." 

The only problem is that he doesn't really like it. I knew this, he's tried a few green tomatoes over the last couple of weeks. Apparently Desert Boy has trouble remembering, though.

He takes the tomato out of his mouth and flicks it to the ground. Good-bye tomato. Tomorrow he'll be back to pick another.

The Feedlot

It's fall, which means it's time to move the cows off the summer range. Some go to winter range, while others are brought into the feedlots. In addition to feeding our own cows, we also feed cows for other people.

As you might imagine, one of the main activities in a feedlot is feeding. The feed wagon usually distributes feed to the cows anywhere from two to five times a day. Can you imagine having food delivered to you that many times a day and never having to prepare it? On the surface, it sounds really good! Of course, when you realize how repetitive the feed is (a mixture of hay, barley, corn), it might not sound quite as tempting.

Usually you see the cows bent over the feed, eagerly chewing it up so that it can go into their first stomachs and then be regurtitated later so they can chew the cud and send it back down through their digestive system. This photo shows what the cows look like from behind, just in case you were wondering.

These calves, a black angus and a red angus, take a break from eating to glare at me. Don't they look mean? Usually cows have such sweet dispositions, but I don't think these two like having their brunch interrupted.

This particular calf escaped from the pen. Instead of being happy about it and eating somewhere along the trough, she just stares at me. Maybe she likes having her picture taken.