How many of you Ranch Wives can relate to this!  I sure can!

Julie Carter, guest columnist:   Hazards of a ranch wife

JULIE CARTER Guest columnist Sunday December 5, 2010 Email Print The score: Gate 1, Ranch wife 0. And the town folk likely wanted to call police to report a beating when they saw her in town. Anyone with any knowledge about ranch wives knew exactly what had happened when she said the words “a gate and a cow.” With a shiner that sent black and blue over most of one side of her face, an eye that peeked through a narrow slit in the swelling, and bruises that obviously weren’t leaving anytime soon, she laughed and said, “You should have seen it yesterday. It was a lot worse.” It’s an old story and this tough woman proved that it’s still an ongoing hazard for the ranch wife — a husband who says, “Hold that gate and don’t let (the cow) by.” In 100 years of cattle ranching, the bovine species has never gotten the memo about that particular plan. At something maybe close to 5 feet tall, this little gal grew up holding her own in the corrals sorting and working cattle. Gender has never required allowances for special treatment when it comes to ranch work. When the operation is a “mom and pop” deal, mom has to pull her share without regard to stature, age or domestic duties. As 1,000 pounds of cow steamrolls toward a gate with an obvious determination to exit through it, and the little woman holding said gate knows, “this is gonna hurt.” There is a flash of mental calculating that determines what happens next. With Herculean strength, at least in her mind, she more often than not will try to hold her own, ergo hold the gate, against the cow, steer or even a freshly weaned 500-pound calf. With a hope of the odds and perhaps angels on her side, she prefers that option to the likely hollering or even a cussing from the “boss.” Or worse yet, the thought that she “can’t do this job.” She knows there are consequences if she decides to pitch the gate and run. With any luck, the results won’t require a wild and bumpy pickup ride to the “local” hospital emergency room a couple of hours away. That would really mess up a well-planned afternoon of getting some cattle sorted and tended to before dark. But, sometimes, the cow wins. Odds are she’ll be a favorite cow, one that’s raised five or six good calves. And although she’s a little on the cranky side even on a good day, her production stats determine that she be given dispensation for her attitude and grievances against the little missus. And the missus? Well, according to the head cowboy, she needs to get a bag of ice on that eye because she’s got a job in town that she needs to tend to on Monday. Have to keep the priorities in order so as to make a living. There are a few tough gals who have learned quitting is sometimes a temporary option. Nothing taxes a good ranch marriage like working cattle together in the corral. Sign language and hollering are a given, as are threats of cold meals or worse yet, a week of Spam sandwiches. Worth remembering is the story about the cowboy who, in his anger at his non-compliant help in the corral, told his wife to “just go on to the house. I’ll finish up by myself.” Obediently, she got in the pickup and drove home. However, in his tempered state, he had forgotten that they’d come to the pens together. That pickup she drove off in was the only vehicle at the corrals. It was an eight-mile walk back to the house.

The Swinging B Ranch has added a facebook page. 

 Keep up with Bullet Proof, Gameday, and Smith and Wesson.

Keep up with our website:  http://swingingbranch.mysite.com   There will be new pictures of  herd reduction sales.  We also, have lots of new calves hitting the ground.  Come pick out your new show calf!

Check us out!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Axtell-TX/Swinging-B-Ranch/122179011146688

We headed out to Vegas for a MCAA Convention with the World of Concrete. 

Tuesday Valerie and I went to a Lady’s Brunch and to Madame’ Tussaud’s Wax Museum.  It was very interesting.  Everyone of the models were made exact to size of the celebrity, with all  perfections and imperfections.

Come on Tiger…this is how you do it!

Go Debra….make that hole in one!

OK Vaerie, what’s up now!

Grandkiddos hit town!  Breakfast together!

Then on to M & M World

Lots to chose from:

Learning how to make  M & M’s

I love M & M’s

M & M’s are good….but M & M balls are the best!

On Las Vegas Blvd.

I found my castle….now to find Cinderella!

Dinner at Del Frisco with the whole Brazos Family

Fun time:  Autumn and I had our hair put up for the closing reception.  Since her Pappy was becoming president of MCAA we were celebrating! lol

We’re done

Wish I had a picture of Kent and Valerie..but they weren’t dressed yet.  They looked so cute.  She had a black dress her mom and her had made with a hot pink sash…Kent matched with a pink tie.

Hoover Dam:  We rented a Van and headed out to Hoover Dam on Friday.  We did the Hoover Dam tour.  It was really interesting, even though this was my third time to see it.  It is fascinating, to imagine they built this back in 1929.

The Suspension Bridge they are putting across the river!  I’d hate to be working up there….and would you believe on the top beam there  is a port-a-potty. 

Waiting on Pappy!

And last but not least the little sweetheart!  Even the security guard was quite impressed with our princess.  She had to take her tiarra off to go thru’ security, but he was so helpful, and told her she was the prettiest princess they had every had to come thru’ the Dam Tour! 

Our little sweetheart!

Can I fit in this little car?

I did it!

Autumn gave it up!  No nap, meant a early bedtime!

Night-night!

Styling a new type of hat!

We headed north to the Ft. Worth Beefmaster Show on the 23rd of January.  Here are a few of the pictures, I took.  As you can see the quality is not the best, since I had my ISO set high.  But anyway, these are some of our cattle on our ranch that were showing that day!

All lined up!

Flags above the stands

Cody K

JD L

Braden J

Gareth

Jacob J

Heather K

Heather waiting to go back in for the Championship Class. 

Congratulations to all of our exhibitors of our Swinging B Ranch cattle.  You all did a great job showing. 

Congratulations Heather, on your first place win!

Mason and Vince sharing giggles

Yeah!  This room is neat!

A lesson in grocery shopping!

Balls are where ever you look for them…..even a plum will do!

Beep!  Beep!   I’m out of gas!

Come on Mommy…there’s lots more upstairs!

Sharing!

Wow!   These drums can make lots of noise!

I can too float my boat!

Ducky, where did you go?

Bubbles, are lots of fun!

As you can see we all had a fun time!

And that’s the last note of the the day!

 We enjoyed ending the year around some of our favorite people!  And as if you didn’t know who!  Our grand kiddos.  Here’s a few quick pics. 

What can I find to get into now!  -mason-

What beautiful eyes!

I just can’t wait to be a real bride!  -autumn-

I love the way his little tongue comes out, when he is busy with something or concentrating on something!