It's Victoria!  Finally home!   A huge thank you to Gretchen Lehrkind for braving so many miles of nasty winter roads to get our new girl home safely.   
We are absolutely thrilled to add Victoria to our herd.  I've been patiently (okay, maybe not so patiently) awaiting her arrival so I could begin the search to find a suitable purebred stallion for a future mating.    I have found about a dozen stallions in North America that are not too closely related.   Tom and I have discussed and pared those dozen down to about half.    It's going to be a tough decision, as each of these stallions are phenomenal in different ways.  Luckily, we have some time.  Not sure if a breeding will happen this year or next, but producing a pure foal is definitely on our list of goals.

In other news, our foster dog, Raffy, is out on a home trial.  So far, things seem to be going really well and her adopter is happy.   The only potential hiccup we can foresee may be the family Guinea Pig, as Raffy has seemed to show a little to much interest in the little critter.   With a  change of location for the pig's cage and a little training Raffy seems to be getting better so we have our fingers crossed this home will work out well for all involved.

February seems to be slipping away from us in a big hurry, and that means calving season will soon be upon us.   I am always very excited to start calving, as it means spring is on the way.   It's a busy time with long hours and short nights, but seeing all those healthy babies makes it worth it.  I'll be sure to take the camera along so I can share the experience!

We have a new house guest.   Isn't  she cute? 
Raffy found herself in a precarious situation in which her previous owner had the choice of finding her a new home or allowing her to be shot.   I had met Raffy on one previous occasion, and this little dog endeared herself to me with her sweet nature.   When Raffy's owner called, upset and wanting to save Raffy's life,  I immediately knew I had to try and help.   I pointed her owner toward a few local no-kill shelters and crossed my fingers there would be an empty kennel Raffy could call home to buy her some time to find new living arrangements.   Unfortunately, there was no room at the Inn's.

Tom, who knows me all to well,  just got a resigned look on his face and gave me a nod.   And so, Raffy has joined us here at the ranch for a temporary stay while a permanent home can be found.   She has been here less than 24 hours and is already settling in nicely. 

She has met the cats and didn't blink an eye- not even with the ever-obnoxious "let's rub up against the new dog and tickle her nose with my tail" gray cat, Ice.    Raffy passed by the black cat, "don't turn your back on me, Dog, I will cut you in your sleep" Alice, without even acknowledging the cranky kitty's threats. 

Raffy has been meeting our dogs a little at a time and while on leash.  Most of our dogs are very good about meeting new dogs.   They learned to accept new faces while I was fostering dogs for several years.   So far, only our Malamute- Kuno, has copped any kind of attitude at all.   He will come around. 

The Crate is not Raffys favorite place to be, but I've learned over the years it's an invaluable tool when introducing a new dog to a crazy household.   Yummy hot dogs drop from the sky while she is in the crate, and so it's not as bad as she first thought it to be.  

I am crossing my fingers we will be able to find this lovely girl a good home.  She is quiet, pretty laid back, and is taking all these changes to her life in stride.   It has to be scarey for her- new people, new sites, smells, dogs, cats.... but she seems fairly content to calmly observe and soak up attention when given.   She is well mannered and knows a few tricks.   I made a friend for life when I found THE itchy spot behind her ear.  And the big bonus?  She's already house-broke! 

I'll enjoy having a foster dog again.   It's been awhile, and I'm a bit out of the loop when it comes to networking to find her a new home.  I have faith though- there is someone out there that will be able to see the diamond in the rough as I do.   If you know someone looking to add a new family member, send them my way and I'll introduce them to Miss Raffy!  

Meet Tag,  the sire of many of our current broodmares.   He is deceased now, but spent most of his life here on the Diamond Bar.    Tag belonged to Tom and his Dad (Steve) and was used to pasture breed a handful of broodmares for many years.   He was injured as a foal (if you look closely, you can see a joint that's a little swollen), but Tom did use him for some light work around the ranch.   
Tag left us with some beautiful and talented mares, including Beauty, 99, Little Bit, Kate, and Cheyenne.  Those mares are now being crossed on William, for our next generation of ranch horses.   Strong roots.   Another reason we are so excited

You can't have just one Cleveland Bay.   I didn't discover that until I got to know William.   Sure, he was beautiful and all, but William also oozes personality.  And then along came Neechi and Elly.   Both of them incredibly smart and willing, with just enough mischief mixed in to keep you on your toes. 

And so,  with the love of the breed in full blossom, we've decided to add another Cleveland Bay.      Born in Wales at the same farm as William and imported to the States as a youngster,  Tregoyd  Victoria will be joining us in Montana in February.   We are excited to meet her!

Victoria (or Ree) is too closely related to William  for breeding purposes, although getting shipped semen for her in the future may be a possibility.    For now,  Tom will have another riding horse, and I have promised to swear off horse classified sites.  For awhile.

A little bit of fun with José the other day.   You just never know what kind of mischief  Tom  and the kids are going to get themselves into.   They have insisted we pick up an inner-tube for them.  Apparently frozen cow pies and gopher mounds are a bit rough. 

It's been awhile since I've been able to sit down and collect my thoughts long enough to write.  Fall is one of our "crazy busy" times here on the Diamond Bar.  Cattle get gathered and worked a couple times, calves get weaned and sold, cows get pregnancy tested and then moved to winter pastures.   The picture above is from the day we shipped... we were sorting cows from calves and although I had my camera around my neck, this was one of the only pictures I was able to stop and take.    All the fall work went well- Diamond Bar calves sold for another year, as well as my Dad's calves.  

I think the last time I wrote, I had mentioned the big storm in South Dakota that had killed so many livestock.  Alisha (a long time friend) and I decided we really wanted to do something to help, so we organized a local branch of Heifers for South Dakota.  Heifers for South Dakota took pledges from cattle producers in several different states to donate LIVE cattle to those ranchers most effected by Atlas.   Alisha and I worked our tails off, and just before Thanksgiving, we loaded a truck with 45 cows that had been donated by our local producers.  It still almost brings me to tears to think of how generous our community was, and how us "country folk" are able to pull together to help our neighbors, even though our neighbors in this case were in another state. 

On the Cleveland Bay front, we were finally able to get the kids weaned and home for some lessons in Halter Breaking 101.   Eloquence is pictured above with Tom, and Tom's silly little grin he wears every time he gazes at one of our CB's.   So far, both foals are proving to be exactly what we were after.  They are calm, level headed, and try to figure out what is being asked of them.    So much fun to work with!

William is doing well.  It seems he has adopted himself a small pack of roosters.   I had hatched these this spring, and after they moved to the chicken house, they began to travel up to visit William in the pasture every day.    They would leave the chicken house every morning and where ever William went, there were three little feathered fowl behind him.    William has since moved down to the barn and his chickens moved with him.  We didn't realize he was attached to his chickens until  an odd hen ventured in to his corral and tried to help the big guy finish his grain.  William was having none of it, and the hen promptly left the corral.  William went right back to eating his grain along with his 3 roosters. 

Cold weather is setting in... the forecast is calling for sub zero temps this week, along with a generous helping of snow.  Sounds to me like a great time to get some things accomplished inside the warm house- and maybe do a little better job at updating the website!  Until next time- stay warm everyone!

About seventeen years ago, Tom and I sold a big sorrel horse to a gentleman up near the Canadian line.   We called the horse "Leap", and he was quite a character.  Leap had come to us as a 3 year old.  Tom used to ride the youngsters for his brother- the deal being Tom would ride three and get his pick of one.   Leap was big- kind of gawky looking, and really kind of a knot-head.  He was a character though- and his willingness to work and his gentle nature made him one of my favorite rides.     It was a stretch to get on, but I was well mounted.   Unfortunately, real life dealt us some vehicle repair bills, loan payments needing paid.... And we decided to sell Leap. 
    Every few years, we'd run in to Leap's new owner.  He'd changed his name to "Big Red", and with every conversation it was clear he thought the world of his big red horse.    As Big Red, Leap had a great life.  He was well taken care of, spoiled in a good sort of way, and didn't have to work as hard as he would of if he would have remained here with us.  His owner would share Big Red's antics, and we were relieved and thrilled to know our Leap had gone to such a great home. 
     Earlier this year, Big Red's owner tracked us down.  It was not such an easy feat, as we had moved three times and had an unlisted phone number.   He had retired from farming and ranching, leased his place out, and was looking for a good home for Big Red.  Arrangements were made, and Big Red was loaded in our trailer, and Leap was returned home.
    Oddly enough,  our third move had been back to the Diamond Bar- the ranch we lived on when Tom and I married, and where Leap was born and raised.  I was so very excited to see him again, and when he walked off the trailer we headed for the barn.  Seventeen years later, Leap walked in the barn, walked into "his" stall, stuck his nose in the oats box, and then turned and looked at us as if to say "Where's my grain?".    After that many years, he remembered the drill as if he'd only been gone a day. 
    Now, I have to admit, it was the sentimental side of us that agreed to bring Leap home.  We thought very highly of him when he was young.  The practical side of us argued with that sentimental side, knowing Leap was for all intents and purposes- "retired".  Tom spends some very long hours in the saddle over some pretty rough ground, and it's a lot to ask of an old horse.   We are limited on the number of horses we can care for.   Bringing Leap home meant we would be taking up a spot that could be used for a younger, more usable horse.  Thank goodness we don't always do things according to logic though, as Leap has been a blessing!
    The old man is still in great shape, with a lot of "git-up-and-go" left.  He's got many years of knowledge under his cinch, and he knows how to take care of himself.  That same gentle nature we grew to love has only matured in his 20's.  And the greatest part?    Leap and Wylee have hit it off, and he's teaching her so much about how to handle a herd of cows.   On Wylee and Leap's first adventure, Tom's instructions to Wy were "Give that horse his head and let him go to work!".   Wylee came home with a big grin on her face, convinced that Leap knew what the cows were going to do before the cows did!  
    As for Tom and I?  Well, we've been reminded of the value of an old horse.  Welcome home Leap. 

Tom and I took a much needed trip over to the "Nick field" on Sunday to visit Neechi, Eloquence, and the mares and saddle horses that are turned out with them.  Neechi never fails to come right up and say hello.  I usually leave there with his nose print on my lens.  Eloquence has not been handled as much as Neechi, so her "personal space bubble" is a little bigger than his, but I've discovered that makes her much easier to photograph.    All the horses are looking good, but I have vowed to wage a one woman war against the burrs next summer.   The horses and the cows are full of them this time of year.  
So much happening here on the home-front.  This year has been a mad rush of trying to get things done before winter.  Usually there is a few weeks in between the time the haying is done and when the fall herd work needs to begin.   That's not the case this year, and ready or not, it's time to start bringing the cattle in from their summer pastures so calves can be weaned and the herd can be preg tested.   From now until the end of October, most of Tom's time will be spent on a horse.  Truth be known,  it's one of our favorite times of year. 
A little off topic, but something I wanted to share, as it is truly one of a livestock producers worst nightmares... A couple links to what our South Dakota neighbors have been going through (pictures may be disturbing to some viewers) - here  and here .   I read a comment on Facebook written by a woman that asked "what do the ranchers care?  They only think about the money lost."    I cannot express in words how far off the mark that sentiment is.  Yes- cattle are our livelihood.  Our entire lives are dedicated to being caretakers of these animals from the time of conception until the time we put them on a truck and they are no longer in our care.    I would like to assure those folks- When Tom and I go out and find a newborn calf  that is chilled and can't get up, and we bring it into our home to warm it up and get it up and going so he can go back to his momma, it is not dollar signs we see.  When we come across a cow that has somehow gotten herself stuck in a bog hole and is unable to get out because she has struggled so long that she is weak... we will get right down in the mud with her to get her out- not because we see dollar signs, but because these are living, breathing beings that deserve the best care we can give them.  I have NEVER met a cattle producer that likes to see their animals suffer.  To suggest such a thing, obviously, offends me to the core.    There are times when we do every thing humanly possible to keep our cattle safe and healthy, and mother nature deals a blow that is beyond  our capabilities.  It's tragic, and yes- it can be financially devastating-  but I guarantee you every one of those producers first thoughts were something along the lines of "Damn it- if only I could have got to them in time" not because of that financial loss, but because the care of these animals is something they have dedicated their lives to.   My thoughts and prayers are with these livestock producers in South Dakota. 

Fall is in the air today.   The temperatures are cooler and I'm spending some time making apple butter while Tom is off moving the old cows to a new field.    We're still very short handed here at the Diamond Bar, although the owners and a few of our family members have come to spend some time helping.    Usually by this time we are done haying, or have most everything wrapped up and just needing hauled in from the fields.  Tom being a "one man show" for much of the summer has our finish date a bit later this year. 
The pink eye in the cattle has seemed to slow a bit as well.  Fewer animals needing doctored, and many of them that were treated seem to be healing up.  We've been riding through the pastures on a regular basis to try and stay ahead of it.   The usual fall herd work will begin later this month and they will all be brought in once again and given a thorough exam. 
Yesterday we visited my parents... traded some horses around and Tom and the girls rode through their cattle as well.  Kate and Little Bit- both of whom were pasture exposed to William- were turned out for the fall and Ruby and Scarlett were brought home in their place.  Ruby had a well earned rest for the summer, but her younger full sister, Scarlett, has had more than a year off.  Scarlett is six this year.  Tom spent a calving season on her when she was 4, and she's been turned out since.  I'm hoping she has retained her lessons well. 
It was late when I got to visit Neechi and Eloquence last night, so no new pictures but they are both doing well and growing strong.  I'm still looking forward to weaning when we can have them in and handle them daily.  Both of them seem to have such different but fun personalities.  
Signing off for now- lots of apples to peal!  Hope this post finds you all doing well, and I'll check in

I'm often told how lucky we are to live the life we do.  Most times I agree, and wouldn't change a thing.   There are times though, when we get stretched a little thin, and the trouble just keeps coming.   
The trouble the last couple weeks has been in the form of a particularly nasty strain of pinkeye in the cattle.  No one is sure where it started, and when it's going around like it is, no one really cares.  The trick is getting it stopped.  With fly season upon us, getting it stopped is a monumental task.   Several herds here in the Bear Paws are being gathered and treated.  Neighbors helping neighbors, and the lines of communication are open and discussing what's working and what is not.  We're crossing our fingers and hoping we can get it cleared up quickly.

We've been  short handed here- still trying to finish up haying.  The big Bosses have been here trying to help keep the day to day going, but it seems there just are not enough hours in the day.  We did slip away yesterday though- to go to our home place and help my Dad move his cows to new pasture.  Luckily- no pinkeye there.   We were able to have a short visit with the horses that have been turned out- the foals included.  Neechi and Eloquence are both doing well.  The mares are fat and sassy!  None of them were feeling to much like cooperating with a photo session, but I did get a few pics I will add to the foal page. 
The girls start back to school on Wednesday, and I am just not ready for that.   I don't think they are either.   I can't hardly wait until T gets her drivers license and transportation isn't such an issue. 
Before I sign off, a shout out to my nephew Steve and his new bride Misty- Congratulations!  Wishing you both many years of wedded bliss!