Sierra Ranch, LLC

Where You Leave The City Behind!

Tale of Two Tails…

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If you live on a ranch you know that things can get a bit on the weird side sometimes. If you follow me on Twitter or Facebook then you know since before Christmas (maybe even Thanksgiving) I have been tormented by a possum. Well now I get to torment it, well them.

Rick laughed because I took pictures, but you need to know the situation, because I need help getting these danged things out!

See the possem in the hole?

Overview of corner.

Now there has been a hole in the heater room since we moved in April 2003. For several years there was a cabinet sitting there blocking the hole. I moved stuff around a couple of years ago and didn’t realize that the hole went in to the heater room. Here is a view of the heater room.

Veiw of heater room.

The door to this room always has stuff in front of it since the washer and dryer are just outside of it. We don’t store lots of things in it and I tossed some of them this morning. There was storm windows for the house, drying rack, some tables (that are ruined) and two windows to some truck that have been there since we moved in. Yeah, we are great at collecting things and not so great at tossing. LOL!

The picture above is after cleaning and spraying bleach in the area. We got to smell the bleach through out the house, but that is much better than the poo smell we had been getting a whiff of every now and then. ACK!

Last night Rick heard things moving in the garage. He had not believed me that the critters were in there, until he saw the one last night. We started looking and there were actually two possums. What fun. NOT!

We tried to get them out last night, but they got between the wall and the heater and us nor Bubba could get them to leave. So we left the door open thinking, OK they will leave since they have been found. NOT!

Silly critters did not to appear to be in there this morning. I got the old horse beet pulp soaking and started cleaning out the closet. I finally found something to put between the wall and the chest. I started moving said things above, when stuff moves. Yeah, fun. NOT! I keep pulling things out and get down to the big glass from some truck. The critters are sleeping on a towel back behind the smoked glass. Still not sure how the towel and other nesting stuff got in the room.

The possum were not so happy that I found them. I tried to shoo them out the door. Not thinking about the fact that the escape route that they were used to was the hole I blocked up so freaking well. (Sometimes it doesn’t pay to be smart!) So the smaller one moves and I am thinking “Just please don’t run up my pant leg!” and the silly thing runs into the wall and is clawing in the wall trying to get out. Dang!

The bigger one just sits there. I don’t have any thing that I could loop him with and he is not scooping well with the shovel. So I figure I will leave them alone, go feed the old horses, wait for Rick to get up, and regroup.

Where they get in...

 

I go out to start laundry and finish this thinking the danged things have left. Rick sees the silly critters up in the wall. So we place the auto glass between the heater and the wall. It’s pretty heavy and I don’t think they will move it. We blocked it up against the hole on the inside wall as best we could. I tried to get it tight and broke one pane. Oh well, not like we were ever going to use them. And with the coating it should not totally shatter. We will see.

 

I sprayed the area down really well with bleach hoping to run them out into the garage, but I think it just made them mad. I heard lots of hissing. LOL!

 

Later I looked the silly critters are still holed up on the wall, but I don’t think they can get back into the room. I know these guys have been eating the cat food and I think they are moving onto the dog food. So, I may have to get the food source to go away for them to actually leave. I am hoping they don’t have babies, and probably don’t yet, but they so need to leave.

 

And yes we have the fire power to kill them. And we have numerous ways to kill them, but I can’t do it. Even Rick was touched by their cute faces last night. Between that and running the risk of hitting the heater or TV (if it went through the wall). He is considering using the cross bow. Might sic the girl that feeds on the target. She likes killing small woodland critters, so maybe she could get them out. It’s worth a try.

 

If anyone has any tips on getting the silly things out of our wall I would be willing to listen. Hate the waiting game, but right now that’s the only way to do it. Hope you have enjoyed life on the ranch. Yes, some days are good ones and you get to ride a race horse. Other days you get to chase possum out of the cat food. All pays the same.

 

Hope you enjoy. Make it a great day!

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
https://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/

Reasons Not to Assault a Ranch Woman

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Copied from an email. Applies to a lot of my friends here. I know my co-workers are not gonna mess with me after telling them of tales on the ranch. 🙂

Violence does not scare us. We ride 1,500 pound horses and stare down an alley full of mad, snot-slinging cows that weigh over 800 pounds. We’ve held down calves that outweigh you by four times.

Don’t try to intimidate us. Most of our husbands stand a head and shoulders taller, outweigh us by 100 pounds and we aren’t scared of them. Why would be we be frightened by someone who can’t keep their pants up?

Every time we work cows, our husbands threaten us if we don’t get out of the gate. They threaten us if we don’t stay in the gate. We are pretty much not impressed by threats. Plus, if you get much closer we may give you some threats of our own to consider and be able to back it up.

Don’t wave that knife at me, boy. I castrate when we brand, throw the ‘mountain oysters’ on the fire AND eat them, dirt and all. You probably don’t want to go there.

Don’t threaten to steal my pickup. I work for a living, so have insurance.

The chances of you being able to drive a standard are next to none and there is no spare. I’ve walked home from the back side of the ranch, I can walk from here.

You want my purse? Take my purse. It has little money in it because, as I mentioned, I work for a living.

You will find various receipts for feed and vet supplies, some dried up gum and the notice for my next teeth cleaning.

The only ‘drugs’ you will find is something that is either aspirin or a calf scours pill but its been in there so long I’ve forgotten which it is.

Don’t threaten to hurt me. I may look old and fragile to you, but I can ride horseback for 12 hours, with nothing to eat or drink. I have been kicked, bucked off, run over and mucked out.

I’ve had worse things happen to me in the corrals than you have experienced in the little gang wars you’ve been through, and still cooked supper for a crew.

You may whip me, son, but you’ll be a tired, sore S.O.B. in the morning and yes, I will remember your face because I am used to knowing which calf belongs to which cow.

I’ll also remember which direction you went and what you were wearing because I’ve tracked many a cow with less information than you’ve given me.

You are not going to scare me with that little ‘Saturday Night Special’ when I have a .38 in my boot.

You need not think I won’t shoot you. I’ve shot several coyotes and numerous rattlesnakes.

I put down my horse when he broke his leg and shot my pet dog when he killed some sheep. Don’t think I won’t consider you a rabid dog and go on my way.

Written by: Welda McKinley Grider was raised by a ranch woman and knows many
and would pity the thug that tried to rob them.

34 Things Only to Say Around Horse People!

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1. He won’t come into my hands!
2. There’s nothing like having 17 hands between your legs.
3. I’m gonna get off now.
4. More leg, less hand…
5. It was a great ride, but he’s kinda sticky.
6. He needs a good 20 min warm-up…
7. Relax your back, dont pinch with your knees, go with the motion, rock your pelvis…
8. When he gets excited he really foams up!
9. If he’s not ridden 5 days a week he gets cranky…
10. I rode him yesterday, but Samm is gonna ride him today.
11. Go ahead, ride him, you’ll like him…he’ll be good for you
12. Push!!! Squeeze!!! Pull hard!!!
13. He’s being a pig, get his head up!
14. He bends to the left, but he’s really stiff to the right.
15. He really over reacts when I sit dow n into him…
16. Smack him if he refuses!
17. Good, that looks much better with his head down.
18. Dont pump too much.
19. You want his hindquarters to be balanced and even with yours.
20. If you squeeze with your thighs and legs he’ll take off earlier.
21. You two perform really well with each other!
22. I need spurs and a whip to really get him going.
23. Turn him loose for a while, get rid of some of that energy!
24. I rode bareback today.
25. She’s been around and is very experienced.
26. I’m gonna do him in Short Stirrup and my trainer will ride him in the Hopeful class.
27. He’s too much for her, maybe you should get on.
28. He’s a bit of a bumpy ride, just try not to grip with your thighs too much.
29. Make sure you release.
30. Don’t lean forward unless you want him to go faster.
31. As he comes up, lean forward and run your hand s up the crest of his neck.
32. Squeeze and release… squeeze and release…give and take…
33. “How was he today?” reply… “Excellent, very obedient for once.”
34. Wow, I just love riding the big ones!

Definitions for Horse Lovers

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Hock: Financial condition of all horse owners.

Stall: What your rig does at rush hour in an unfamiliar city on the way to a big horse show

A Bit: What you have left in your pocket after you’ve been to your favorite tack shop.

Fence: Decorative structure built to provide your horse with something to chew on.

Horse Auction: What you think of having after your horse bucks you off.

Pinto: Green coat pattern found on freshly washed light colored horses left unattended for 2 minutes.

Well Mannered: Hasn’t stepped on, bitten, or kicked anyone for a week.

Rasp: Abrasive metal tool used to remove excess skin from ones knuckles.

Lunging: Popular training method in which a horse exercises their owner by spinning them in circles until dizzy.

Gallop: Customary gait a horse chooses when returning back to the barn.

Nicely Started: Lunges, but not enough health insurance to even think about riding him.

Colic: Gastrointestinal result of eating at horse fair food stands.

Colt: What your mare gives you when you want a filly.

Easy to Load: Only takes 3 hours, 4 men, a 50lb bag of oats, and a tractor with loader.

Easy to Catch: In a 10×10 stall.

Easy Rider: Rides good in a trailer; not to be confused with “ride-able”.

Endurance Ride: End result when your horse spooks and runs away with you.

Hives: What you get when receive the vet bill for your 6 horses, 3 dogs, 4 cats, and 1 donkey.

Hobbles: Walking gait of a horse owner after their foot has been stepped on by their horse.

Feed: Expensive substance used to manufacture manure.

Dog House: What you are in when you spend too much money on grooming supplies and pretty halters.

Light Cribber: We can’t afford to build anymore fencing or box stalls for this buzz saw on four legs.

Three Gaited Horse: A horse that. 1) trips, 2)stumbles, 3) falls.

THE 12 “MOST IMPORTANT” THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU OWN A HORSE..

-To induce labor in a mare? Take a nap.

-To cure equine constipation? Load them in a clean trailer.

-To cure equine insomnia? Take them in a halter class.

-To get a horse to stay very calm and laid back? Enter them in a liberty class.

-To get a horse to wash their own feet? Clean the water trough and fill it with fresh water.

-To get a mare to come in heat? Take her to a show.

-To get a mare in foal the first cover? Let the wrong stallion get out of his stall.

-To make sure that a mare has that beautiful, perfectly marked foal you always wanted? Sell her before she foals.

-To get a show horse to set up perfect and really stretch? Get him out late at night or anytime no one is a round to see him.

-To induce a cold snap in the weather? Clip a horse.

-To make it rain? Mow a field of hay.

-To make a small fortune in the horse business? Start with a large one.

Rick’s favorite statement is the last one. First time he told it to Mom she didn’t wuite appreciate it. 🙂 Theres several up there that are more true than folks without horses know. Hope you have a wonderful week!

How to Stay Young!

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[]We all need to read this one over and over until it becomes part of who we are!

1. Try everything twice. On Madams tombstone (of Whelan’s and Madam) she said she wanted this epitaph:
Tried everything twice…loved it both times!

 

 

2. Keep only cheerful friends.

 

The grouches pull you down. (keep this in mind if you are one of those grouches)

[]

 

3. Keep learning: Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain get idle. “An idle mind is the devil’s workshop.” And the devil’s name is Alzheimer’s!

4. Enjoy the simple things.
[]

5. Laugh often, long and loud.
Laugh until you gasp for breath. And if you have a friend who makes you laugh, spend lots and lots of time with HIM/HER.
[]

6. The tears happen: Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. LIVE while you are alive.

7. Surround yourself with what you love: Whether it’s family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
[]

8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.

9. Don’t take guilt trips.

Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county, to a foreign country, but NOT to where the guilt is.

[]

10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity.

I love you, my special friend.
[]

11. Forgive now those who made you cry. You might not get a second time.

And if you don’t send this to at least 4 people – who cares? But do share this with someone like I did with you all.
[]

 

 

Lost time can never be found.

 

Be kinder than necessary, for
everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

 

Horse Barn Rules

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Posted on Plus Sized Horse Chicks Yahoo Group!

To be posted at eye level to the horses of the barn.

(not in any specific order)

1. The barn is your home, the house is mine. Just because I am gracious enough to allow you to graze in the yard that does not mean you get to walk onto the porch to see if I have left anything of your interest there. I love you all but you are just too big to keep in the house. I am sorry but if the door is propped open that does not mean we are having an open house party.

2. Why did I go to all the trouble of building a barn with each of you a stall when you either A) all crowd into one, B) stand out in the rain like dummies, or C) everyone crowds onto the back porch.

3. Speaking of the back porch again, it is not a crossover between one side of the yard to the other side just because you like to hear the sounds your hooves make on the wooden planks.

4. Just because you know where the feed is kept does not allow you to go into the shed looking for it. We keep the barrels secure. Don’t open daddy’s grass seed then sling the bag around because you are upset it was not horse feed.

5. When I pull the truck up to the front of the stalls with bags of shavings does not mean you get to open each one just in case it is food. And don’t think the silly face you make because you now have saw dust on your lips will get you sympathy from me when I have to clean up the mess.

6. I give you snacks that are yummy and gooey and chewy. Do Not think I am going to let you have my candy bar, that is my treat for me.

7. It does no good to smack your lips thinking I will feed any sooner than feeding time. Slamming your feed bucket will also not get you fed any sooner.

8. When I am feeding it does no good to try and crowd me to get your nose into the bucket so you think you will get extra. Go to your own stall and wait till I get there.

9. When I am scratching that wonderful spot that you love, please try not to go to sleep leaning on me. You greatly outweigh me and we are both going to fall. The same goes when the farrier or I are trimming your feet. WE CANNOT HOLD YOU UP!

10. It would also be nice if you could be considerate of where you place your feet when I am bathing or brushing you. When you shift and place yours on top of mine, Do Not look so surprised when I scream and suddenly push you. Especially at the few bad words I say as I hobble toward the house later.

11. Is it really necessary for you to blow up like a puffer fish each time I put the saddle on you? You should know by now I have learned this trick and will walk you around till you blow so I can tighten it up again. Sliding down on your side while riding is not as funny to me as you think.

12. It is not funny to me either when I decide to ride in the pasture that as soon as I let my guard down you see this wonderful patch of grass that just has to be eaten. The sudden stop with me almost on your neck and the saddle horn in my gut is not a laughing matter though you seem to enjoy it at times.

13. Just because I pull one horse out does not mean I want the whole crowd. You all are not Siamese quadruplets joined at some functional body part.

14. Quit teasing daddy by escaping every time he thinks he has the fence fixed right. You know he is new to this horse thing and has to learn!

15. It is not funny to be scared awake at 2am with the window shaking like an earthquake. The air conditioner is not for scratching.

16. While in the yard grazing could you please place your poop more strategically away from the house. Daddy will drag the yard and use the fertilizer you have left but until then pooping by the windows is very inconsiderate.

17. You have a salt block to lick in the pasture, plus mineral blocks. This does not give you the right to stick your head into my vehicle and slobber all over the steering wheel just because I left the window down on a warm day.

18. When I am working on something in the yard while you are out, could you please return the tools that you borrow.

19. Passing gas just as I walk behind you is not an acceptable substitute for the fact that you do not kick.

20. Nibbling on my hair, clothes etc. to get attention may not get the response you expect. Especially when you pull my hair or tear my clothes.

21. Just because the vet has the back of her truck open when she is here, does not mean she needs your help in taking things out for her. I’m pretty sure she knows where the things she needs are located.

22. What is it about finding dirt or mud to roll in right after I get you cleaned up? I mean the pigs get a mud hole because they can’t sweat so it cools them down. But all it does for you is cake in your fur and mane and tail then you gripe and complain when it hurts a little bit when I have to brush it out. THEN YOU DO IT OVER AGAIN!

Now if we could just get the silly things to listen. Hope you enjoy. I know we have about 22 at our house that resembles these comments. Most TB’s with that silly TB sense of humor.

That picture above is what you get when you try to take a picture of one of the silly critters without help. I love them cuz they are the most friendlist critter on the planet. But dang it if they don’t think they know how to use a camera. that is Showing the Flag’s head. At lease we have a good shot of his blaze in case he goes missing. LOL!

Hope you all have a wonderful week. I still need to write out what has been going on with me, but that will come. Sending hugs and prayers!

You might be an Oklahoman…

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Forget Rednecks, here is what Jeff Foxworthy has to say about folks from Oklahoma …

If someone in a Lowe’s store offers you assistance and they don’t work there, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you’ve worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you’ve had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you may live in Oklahoma.

If “Vacation” means going anywhere south of Dallas for the weekend, you may live in Oklahoma.<>

If you measure distance in hours, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you know several people who have hit a deer more than once, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you install security lights on your house and garage, but leave both unlocked, you may live in >Oklahoma.

If you carry jumper cables in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you may live in Oklahoma.

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph — you’re going 80 and everybody is passing you, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you find 60 degrees “a little chilly”, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you see a tornado warning on the television but don’t get too awfully excited about it until you actually SEE it coming toward you, you may live in Oklahoma.

If you actually understand these jokes and forward them to all your Okie friends and others, you definitely live in Oklahoma.

We’re friendly folks!

And we are celebrating our 100th birthday! I know I resemble a few (ok, more than a few) of these remarks. Hope you enjoy and pass on to other Okies!