Ranch Life~ It isn't always "fun"...

...but it is, interesting! Living on a ranch, is more work than many realize, there's chores to do, sure, but then, there is "work", what's the difference you might ask?

Well, chores, are those things you do every day, feeding the sheep, collecting eggs from the chickens, moving the sheep to the pasture, locking them up at night to keep them safe from predators. One could fill a whole page with my list of daily "chores". And then there is the "fun", training the dogs, working with students and their dogs.

But, what is the work you might ask? Well, that is things like, building a new barn. Building a "hoop house" for the livestock. (my next project) It might even be, in my case today, trying to load a broken down golf cart onto a flat bed trailer...

That doesn't sound all to bad, by itself, but it was challenging, as the thing weighs in at approx 800 pounds, and had 2 flat tires. And did I mention, it doesn't run. Totally d-e-a-d. Due to the terrain here, and where it was parked, the flatbed trailer couldn't even get close. So, haul the cart, unhook, haul the trailer, unhook, chain the cart to the truck, drag it, oh and here's the fun part... part rodeo and part amusement part ride... pull the cart onto the flatbed! hmmmm ok... I can do this!

It's a long flatbed. Think of, a kids teter-totter, drag the 800 pound cart onto a trailer that is no longer hooked up to the truck, whooppppeeeeee the trailer, rocks back, lifting it's front high into the air. Yep, i'd blocked the tires, but not the rear of the trailer!

I'm sure glad, I hadn't asked a friend to sit in it and steer!

Not much choice but to move ahead, and pull that cart forward enough to stop the tilt in the trailer!

sad broken down golf (chore) cart gets loaded up in flatbed

Whew, we made it. But then, unchain the cart, re hook up the truck, and tomorrow, strap the cart down and away we go to the golf cart repair shop!

So that was an interesting bit of "work" for the day, still have to feed sheep, move them in, stack the hay, take the dogs out, feed the dogs, and then move on to making dinner... huh? maybe not, I'll take ranch chores over cooking any day!

Without my friends on facebook who gave me ideas and help on the "how" I couldn't have got this done, I owe you a huge THANK YOU! You're the bestest!

Old Friends

"look", me and Trix, in "our" field

I'm finding it hard to watch my 2 old Open dogs grow old... at 14 and 15, Lill and Trix are beyond "old and still work", they sleep most of the day, and seeing them not able to do what they once loved is heartbreaking. Seeing them not even want to, is even more heartbreaking. 

We spent many hours out in the field, many hours doing chores, loading sheep for sale, and many more on the road. They were both special girls, Lill for taking me to Wales to compete in the world sheepdog trial, and Trix, for being her tough self, moving anything, and I mean anything, I asked her to. 

Lill puts on a "happy face"

I treasure our time together, our journeys, adventures, from getting stuck on the way home from Soldier Hollow, UT, in the middle of the night and needing a tow, (yes, we were invited to that prestigious trial) to our time setting stock at small local trials. These girls gave their heart in everything they did. I just hope I have it in me, to be with them when they need me, which will be all too soon I'm afraid. 

Trix, always serious

So we remember the "old days" and enjoy the time we have together now. They are awesome girls! They taught me a lot, about sheepherding, and now they're teaching me about grace, and patience. Growing old, it seems, is not something dogs are really that aware of, they live in the moment, accepting what life gives them. They enjoy life, and when they aren't enjoying it in a waking moment, they sleep, and enjoy their dreams. So even now, they are teaching me about Life. Luv u Lill and Trix! xx

Something Special? Sometimes, IMO, there is that "something special" that makes a great "team" in a trial or ranch dog. As much as we may "want it" or "work" for it, it just isn't there for us in every dog, and it can't be "forced", it just "is". And despite how much we might "want" it with a dog we are esp fond of, it oftentimes just isn't a good match for the trial field, for various reasons. I spose that is what makes it so "right" when you get that "special" dog? Not easy to come by, they seem to show up when you least expect it. Just like a friendship, tho, that dog you might not "click" with, may just be someone else best friend.