The Reilly Ranch

Summer at the ranch

2011-08-07T09:13:00.000-06:00

Wow... It's been a long time. I haven't had time to blog much this year. Life happens and I don't always take the time to write it down. I'm sure most of you are like that too. And there's always Facebook. That's much easier to write down a few sentences and post a few pics.

So, I had a few minutes this quite Sunday morning and thought I'd update things around here. Had quite a few changes around here. In January, I fell and broke my ankle... I got to sit around the house while Ben was out in the cold feeding everyday. We had some wonderful help from the local church and my neighbors brought over food and called and sent cards. It's so nice to live in a small community. We are many miles from our family, but I feel I have ties here now.

We were flooded in a lot this spring, thanks to all the above normal moisture. Our road washed out too. I was stuck here for 15 days.. Ben could get out but it was tricky. Our spring was spent with lots of mud and rain. Which was nice, for awhile.

Then Uncle Joe came, my brother. He's here for the summer helping us out.

The boys are sure happy he's here!

The cattle all got branded, a week or so late, but they got done. Like I said, it was a wet spring. The pasture roads are washed in places, there are water holes that you have to drive around and creeks are up. It was a long branding this spring, we are all glad it is done!

We got into the hay meadows late due to all the moisture, but wow do we have some hay! Of course we've been stuck a lot..

In this picture... Ben got the Case and MoCo stuck on the far right. Called Joe to bring the JD 4440 down to pull him out... That tractor got stuck, so out came the D6 Cat. I took this from the house, Sheldon and I had a good view of all the action!

Now summer is in full swing, actually there is a feel of fall in the air, just a little. It is starting to be cool off in the evenings a lot faster and get dark sooner. We've had some warm temps, nothing unusual, but it sure beats the heat to cool off in the water. We cleaned this tank out this spring and now it's a great pool!

Sheldon is getting so big.. runs after everyone and always wants to be where the action is. He's had a fun summer with his older brothers and sister. This fall, Payne will start school and will be gone for 4 days a week. It's going to be awfully quite around here.

So, here's the short and condensed update and I hope to be blogging more. In a few short weeks we are off to Iowa to visit family then school starts. Never a dull moment, that's for sure!

Spring is sprung

2010-05-10T07:38:00.000-06:00

Wow, it's been awhile since I posted anything! These past few months I've only had time to sit and the puter and check stuff, not do any typing. Having a baby on my lap makes it hard to type! Sheldon is old enough ( and big enough) to do some sitting and he's been loving that, trying to get over and crawl too. Just had his 6 mo. check and he is 19 lbs... yeah, my arms can feel that!

We've had so much going on here, 2nd place in the state of MT AAU wrestling Yay Camron! Lost bunches of teeth Addy's 1st, all of Sheldon's milestones, Payne's first wrestling tourney and 3rd place medal.. A birthday Camron's 8 now, Easter, last day of Kindergarten, Grandma Feinberg's visit with cousin Kevin, a dance recital, and soccer. I just can't get a picture or sit down to write about each and every activity!

here's Camron (2nd)

And the ranch activities, we've been calving, and while I don't have that much to do with it all, I'm still out driving around in the cake truck. We've quit the old cows for the year. The heifers still need it. Ben had 275 to do and we've got about 15 left. Here in a few short weeks we'll be branding and then I'll been even more busy, I'll try to get in with pictures and all. My mom is coming out to help keep track of the kiddos while I'm baking and cooking and heading to the corrals to feed all the hungry cowboys. It will be nice for here because she's never seen Montana when it's green. It's so beautiful right now. Seeing all the green just transforms this place and even tho we feel like it's been winter for ever we know it's spring and time to change the seasons.

Feeding cows

2010-01-10T13:45:00.005-07:00

So, this post is about what I do everyday in the winter. Most of my readers have no idea what goes on out here, and by most of my readers I mean the family memebers who stop by. They are back in Iowa with their snow and canclled school days and a crazy/awesome football season and now are gearing up for the U of Iowa wrestling.

Here in Montana it's been snowy and cold, like -25 below with the wind, cold and we've got around 6 inches of snow on the ground right now. We send our kids to school by God, just with a few more layers! Drifts some where around a foot. The wind really blew for a few days there. Of course temps have come up the past few days, 20 degrees feels like a heat wave after those -20 days. But cows gotta eat, everyday no matter what and here's a few pictures

To start off, here's the cake bin. Cake is a feed supplement for the cows. It comes in a pellet, about the size of your finger, and just as round. The cows love it, it's full of corn and protein and keeps them warm and fat. A semi comes and fills the bin about every week, 40 tons, and I feed it out, about 3 lbs per cow 4, if it's real cold.

I back in under the bin and turn the wheel and it opens up underneath and drops the cake in my truck like this.

When I'm full I drive off to find the cows. They are usually waiting for us and stand around looking at me till I start feeding.

I just drive around in ever increasing circles making sure everyone has room for cake. This bull is under the door where the cake bangs out. A conveyer is under the hopper and the door lifts open and the cows come running when they hear that sound.

Ben runs the tractor. We stay right with each other through out the morning. We try to time it so we aren't waiting on each other at the gates. He coes out first in the morning and that way the cows are usually gathered up by the time I get there. He doesn't have to wait on the cows like I do. They take their time with the hay, the cake is gone as fast as they can gobble it up. The straglers miss out sometimes.

This here below is our biggest pasture. When Ben has them all strung out at the hay it makes an impressive picture.

Gotta check the water tanks too. Chop the ice out and make sure the overflows are working.

Our sometimes cow dog Daisy
"Don't come out my gate!"

I call her Bessie.

1 cow out of 900+ and she is the only one that will eat cake from my hand. Here she is trying to see if my camera tastes as good.

"Where's my cake?!"

My ever present helpers

There you have a day in the life of Reilly.

Happy Birthday Adaline!

2009-11-20T13:29:00.004-07:00

So, It's been a week since Miss Thang's birthday and here are the pics from the Princess party. Her official day is the 13th and we had the party with Grandma here before she left. It turned out to be a week long celebration almost. With taking treats to school on another day too.
She decided to go with the Miss Monster cake. Which was fine with me, it was easy to decorate! I think she just wanted to use the straws and marshmallows.

I had to include this picture, she's been wanting a clock in the worst way. She even drew one on a piece of paper and hung it on her wall. I've put it away with the story written down so I can show her when she's older. That way I can tell her how deprived she was growing up being the only girl! I know she doesn't look very happy but this was the top gift along with her Barbie computer.

Of course we had to bring birthday treats to school. I'm so thankful she only has 4 classmates. These 6 used up all of my creativity!

So Happy Birthday to our one and only little girl, Addy Lu!

He's here!

2009-11-05T14:14:00.003-07:00

Ok, just turn your head to the side for this first one. I didn't realize the camera was turned and it's to late to go change the pic now. Just tilt to the right... There now you can see him!

Sheldon Dean Reilly was born Tuesday, November 3rd at 11:16 am. After a long, long labor, 2, count em' 2 trips to the hospital.. And a wonderful epidural :)

He weighed in at 7 lbs. 14 oz 20 in long.

Healthy and with all this fingers and toes.

Everyone was excited to see him and hold him. They tried kissing and mauling him the whole way home!

Addy wasn't too happy when she heard she had a new brother. She really had her heart set on a sister. When Ben told them the news, she cried the whole way home from the bus stop he said! But was soon calmed down when she was told Grandma White was coming for a few days to visit.

I asked her on the way home if Sheldon was ok, even tho he wasn't a girl and she said he was. She thought he was cute and we could keep him. (whew!)

Payne is just happy to be my new helper!

Ben's mom came today and will stay and help us all get adjusted to a new little one around here. So I'll check back in when I can. Just wanted to get this out while the babe is sleeping. I'm sure it's one of the fleeting free moments I will have for awhile!

Nesting

2009-10-21T09:11:00.005-06:00

Only a few weeks till baby is here so I've been nesting a little. All tho not the typical house cleaning but the hurry up and get all my projects done, letters sent out, sewing and mending done kind of nesting. I found this tutorial here at SewMuchAdo for rag edge receiving blankets. They worked up really quick and I made blankets and burp cloths for myself and my pen pal in Italy who is expecting the same time as me. I can't show you her blanket yet, I'm sending it out today so I'll get it posted when she gets it. Here are the ones for me.

And I'm not giving anything away here! We really don't know what we are having but I have been leaning more towards pink and purple things. Just in case, I found this fabric in the remnant bin and will make another blanket so I can be prepared either way.

This one I will just sew and tie together. The rag edge is nice but I now have little pieces of string all over my pantry and clothes from washing and shaking out the ones I made!

Here is what my pen pal sent to me. I love the cream fabric and red stitching. The little blankie is so soft, it's like touching air. I didn't have a coming home outfit so I'm glad she sent this!
(wow, those wrinkles are really bad :-o Don't judge me. I do have an iron, I just don't like to use it for everything!)

Here is a sling I bought from a Farmgirl Sister at Mary Janes on ETSY

BebeBella She found the perfect fabric and made it up quickly. Even sent instructions and a pattern so I could make a bigger one as the baby grows.

So, are you baby'd out yet? I am. I'm ready for this little one to get here.

Happy 4 to Payne!

2009-10-14T08:18:00.002-06:00

Where does the time go?!? I was just remembering that I started this blog around this same time last year for Payne's 3rd birthday and now he's 4!

He has grown into such a wonderful little guy this past year. Always my helper in the kitchen
Just a goof to have around, always laughing and with a smile on his face

Always trying to get in there and do what the big kids do. And so serious when there is a big chore to be done!

I try to make cut up cakes for the kids. Let them pick out what they want and colors and such.. This year we had lots of choices. First it was a dragon, then it was a horse. Those I could try to do, I mean I would have figured it out some way. Then he decided upon Diego, there was no way I could do that one! So Dairy Queen to the rescue! lol He was very excited and this morning told me in an amazed voice that his cake had ice cream in it. !!

Addy told me last night before bed that if Dairy Queen has a princess cake, she'll have that. I may have started a new thing with the store bought cakes.. lol

Happy Birthday Payne!

Flamingos, Cherries and Hot Peppers, Oh my!

2009-09-29T17:51:00.005-06:00

I like quilts.

I like to cuddle up with one, look at them, touch them, wonder who made them and for whom.. I hate to see them in the thrift shop, they seem so abandoned to me. You know they were made by someone and given with love and I could never give mine up. I especially like the ones that are made just for me by my grandma and aunts. This one below is one of them. My Aunt Leggs just sent this one out for the new babe. Don't you just love the flamingos?! And what about those cherries, the whole back is just the cherries. My poor child will be cross eyed! I can just see a little baby trying to pick the cherries. :) To quote from her letter... "Heck with that pastel pink and blue and those baby designs...how about some flamingos and hot peppers!" I can't wait to get the crib up and put the quilt in. I'll be taking it to the hospital for sure to bring the new one home in.

My other favorite quilt is my graduation quilt. My Grandma makes one for each grandchild with the help of her daughters and daughters-in-law. I treasure mine. It hangs on a quilt rack in my room on my side of the bed so I see it every morning and night. I don't use it anymore because I don't want sticky fingers and dog hair to attack it. But I will take it down every now and then to cuddle up with it and have that connection with my grandma and aunts.

I especially like crazy quilts and that's what I requested from my grandma. I wanted pieces of fabric I could look at and remember the dresses or shirts from my old clothes and others in my family. I have pieces of red velvet from my Aunt Mary's bridesmaids dresses made by a great-great aunt Flossie. I have pieces of a dress my mom made for us to match in. Fabric from a nightgown, dress, and shorts my Aunt Leggs made me, pieces of a jumper grandma made for all the girls when they were in school. I could go on and on... Every piece was part of something once before and now it's all together again to make a quilt for me. I love the FFA jacket too! That was an added surprise, I didn't know you could cut up the National Blue corduroy, but I'm glad my advisor gave up a jacket to the cause and they didn't use mine!

I couldn't decide which picture was better, so you get both!

I admire the attention and detail that goes into every quilt. I could never accomplish that. I like to sew and am trying to learn on my machine by making curtains and bandanna skirts and I may try a few receiving blankets, but I know I will never be able to create a quilt. I am content to make my x's in cross stitch and sew my crooked lines on my machine. I will just enjoy and cherish each one I have. And think of the women who were thinking of me as they sewed.

Aunt Jan, Aunt Mary, Aunt Leggs and my mom

holding babies Ryan, Camron and Mary

4 generations

my mom, grandma, Adaline and me

Still here...

2009-09-26T07:57:00.004-06:00

Well, really not a whole lot going on here at the Reilly Ranch. Just a lot of running kiddos back and forth to the bus stop, school activities, shopping trips, doctor appointments, and work. Just not real exciting stuff.

Had a dr. appt earlier this week. Everything looks ok, my amniotic fluid is border line low so doc ordered another ultrasound for my next appointment, just to keep an eye on it. I'm 34 weeks now and ready for this to all be done! lol It's so hard to get normal chores and things done. I feel so heavy and low. I make the kids pick up things from the floor for me. Payne was amazed the other day when I actually picked something up.. He exclaimed "You can bend over!"

Ben is busy over at the feedlot, packing silage. He's not really enjoying the 12 hour days in a tractor driving up and down a silage pile, but at least it's only for a short while. He's been at it for 2 weeks now so it's just me and the kids here. We get on each others nerves pretty easily when we don't have dad around!

He's on his way back home now, isn't needed today, so that means we get to watch the Hawk game on time. Last week I recorded it and the boys got to stay up and watch too.. But Camron just couldn't make it to the last quarter at 11 pm. He crashed. Hawks have been doing good. We'll see how they play today against Penn State. We are 3-0 now. We'll get our black and gold on in a bit to cheer them on!

1st day of School

2009-08-26T08:41:00.004-06:00

Ahhh, the First Day of School.

New supplies, new clothes, new pack packs..

Getting back to a routine and seeing old friends again.

This year we have one more off to school. Addy starts Kindergarten and goes 2 days a week. She all ready knows the school, half of her class (there are only 5 including her) and her teacher. That's the fun of a small school. She's excited to go and ride the bus. She gets to learn new things and use all her new Disney Princess gear.

Not to be left out, Payne had to have a picture taken too. He still has 2 more years till he can start school. Yesterday was strange to just have one at home. We ran a few errands and got to visit and he got to play with all the toys and and be my constant companion. We'll see how tomorrow goes.

Wet day project

2009-08-09T08:40:00.012-06:00

What do you do when it's to wet to work outside? Play of course! Dad and the kids were tired of being inside, well.. Mom was tired of Dad and the kids being inside. So up to the shop to build stuff. Such fun!

What is it??

A table?

A bench?
A kiddie bar?

A massage table?

Nope, a roping dummy!!

Every cowkid needs one. It's such a fun way to spend the summer evening.

Here, just like this

Payne does it the easy way.

Maybe it will be a bench after all...

Sewing project

2009-08-08T17:38:00.005-06:00

This is what I accomplished today. Besides getting a few groceries and looking at all the water. We had a good storm last night, dumped 1 in and 3 tenths. Quite a bit for this country and especially when it all comes in just a few hours time! The creek was up and there was water standing in most low spots. Even washed over a bit of the road.

So, I found this tutorial here from V and Co. She does some great things and I love looking over her blog. Lots of other sewing tutorials too. I have been wanting to do this for quite some time. I think it turned out ok, had to finagle the bottom trim, wasn't quite wide enough. Anyway, Addy Lu likes it and that in and of its self is something. I have visions of doing this with a green bandanna and some John Deere fabby or even a black bandanna and some Hawkeye trim.
Hmmm...
Maybe I'll have to talk The Cowboy into stopping at a Hobby Lobby on our way back to Iowa. They have lots of bandannas. :)

Garrison Kellior and A Prairie Home Companion kept me from throwing my sewing machine out the window today. I love his voice and when I read his books, I read with his voice. Sounds strange but it helps the story. I wish I could get it on the radio, but I am able to listen via the net and set my machine up right next to the pc so I could follow the tutorial too.

Stitchy present

2009-08-08T17:31:00.001-06:00

Finally got this one done and framed for Grandma Reilly. Sent it off to her last week.

Hay is done!

2009-08-05T09:16:00.004-06:00

Yeah!

Finally got the hay put up and hauled to the stack yards. There are still some that need to be stacked and then there is 2nd cutting to do, but those won't take much. We won't do 2nd cutting till the end of Aug.. after we get back from Iowa. We are taking a short vacation to see the fam and play with cousins. It's been over a year. The kids are excited to go see grandma's. Addy wanted to pack up and leave for Iowa the Monday we were done. lol School starts right when we get back, it's getting crunch time, end of summer is almost here.

Running into town today for a doc appointment. I have my nasty glucose test to take. I wish I could tell them that I haven't had gestational diabetes with the other 3 I shouldn't have it with this one, but doctors like test results not my say so. Ben has been up at cow camp moving our cows farther north spreading them out some. They have never been where they are going so he says it's been a fight. We went up last night because he didn't take a towel and soap, needed more shirts and socks and frankly the kids and I are tired of each other. We needed a change of scenery. We had friends come over to play yesterday and that was a nice break too. He thinks he'll be home by Friday. And I hope so, he'll really be out of clothes by then!

He was gonna be home today so he could keep track of everyone while I was at my appointment but we'll suffer through without him. I think I must go to the worst clinic with the wait. I show up early like a good patient and then have to wait for 30 min just to get in, on top of the 15 min I was early. Now I just so up right at the time or a bit late. lol

till next time...

A little blackmail

2009-07-28T08:46:00.012-06:00

This next post is for my cousin.

He came and worked for us the first summer we were here. He had no idea what work was done on a ranch, he's a plumber by trade but a country boy so he was up for the change of farm country Iowa. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved hanging out and getting to know Cousin Kevin and he and Ben really hit it off. They didn't know each other very well before that summer. We dated and married with in a year and then moved out of state so our families really didn't get to know each other that well. My family just thought I married a really nice guy who moved me far away to live on a ranch but that we seemed happy enough. And his was glad that he finally found someone and settled down.

So now Ben and Kevin are BFF"S and talk like little school girls on the phone weekly. If too much time goes by between their chats I tease them and ask if they are having a tiff.

OK so back to the topic...
That summer of 2007 they had fence to fix and took the 4-wheelers. The creek still had a little bit of water in it, but not bad and they needed to cross to continue up the fence. The Cowboy said, "We'll make it! I crossed here the other day on my short horse and my stirrups came out dry!" So the Trusting Cousin-in-law said "OK boss." And this is what happened...

Then the Cowboy, not to be left stuck and afoot told the Trusting Cousin "To drive down aways on those sticks and you'll make it across and pull me out!"

And this is what happened...

So then the Cowboy and the Trusting Cousin are completely and totally afoot 7 miles from the house. The cowboy climbs the nearest hill and calls The Wife and tells her to 'bring the tractor and get us out!' So I loaded the 3 kids up, drove a tractor I didn't know how to a place I didn't know where to pull them out. After many oil changes and filters the green 4-wheeler was running like a champ.

Then flash forward to Spring of 2009.

This is what happens when you have 1 impatient Cowboy trying to gather 8 stubborn horses who don't want to work that day. They know the creek is high and are standing across it looking at The Cowboy daring him to cross.

But the story here is even better. Here I am standing at the point of entry and looking down the creek at where the 4-wheeler ended up. Yup, he drove it in, stalled on a wash out and then the 4-wheeler floated down and got stuck in the banks. Lucky for him, there is a huge washout deep, deep hole just after that point.

I would like to add that the man standing on the bank doesn't want to be mentioned and said he wanted no part of getting the 4-wheeler stuck. He was just there to help get it out. But if you look back a few posts, you'll see the same man in a red shirt riding in the parade! lol Even Kevin hid in the pictures, they want to make sure Ben has all the glory here!

Here is another shot, looking up to the point of entry, just above where his arm is pointing.

Smile!

Have you ever been this tired?

2009-07-28T08:29:00.007-06:00

This is how I feel... Just too tired.

lol

Since you can't see his face, this is Payne

We've been busy here getting the hay done. Haven't taken any pictures since branding. It's hard to remember the camera let alone the lunch coolers, snacks, toys and kids. The guys are on the the last 2 fields, I'll try to get some pics taken. Been hot here too, another reason to nap the day away and stay where it's cool. Finally this week it has cooled and brought a little rain. Not enough to keep us out of the hay fields for too long but enough to green some places back up.

But August will be here soon, summer is almost over! We have one month before school starts and Addy is too excited. Camron too for that matter. I think we bore him and he needs his friends to play with now. The tractors have wore off their fun-ness for the summer.

Intoducing #4

2009-07-14T08:21:00.003-06:00

Well, here is a picture of the newest member of our family.. Reilly #4 will call him/her. We didn't find out what we are having yesterday and won't till it decides to arrive between October 28th and November 6th. (the due date and ultrasound don't match up so somewhere in that time frame!)

This one was a surprise-sorta talked about-let's have have another one it will be fun-but welcomed addition. This will be one crazy household come fall.

Just wanted to post a quick pic and let all you know what's going on here. We've been helping in the hay field this weekend and the house shows it! It's a cool day here, had some rain showers come through so it's a good day to clean house. Well it should be a good day cuz it needs it!

Till next time,

Elise

Giveaway!

2009-07-09T08:35:00.002-06:00

Tina over at the Garden Goose is hosting a giveaway in honor of her 500th post! Her and her husband make these great decals and she is offering $75 worth of decals to the winner. Contest ends July 15th so head on over and enter her great giveaway and check out her store on Etsy. I have been dreaming of the tree branch and bird feeder to go over my kitchen sink for awhile now. Click http://gardengoose.blogspot.com/ to enter and good luck!

What we do

2009-06-18T10:23:00.002-06:00

Here is an article from the local paper last week. Miles City had a big time last weekend with the 125th anniversary of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. Our boss had a little get together for some buyers and associates and the paper wrote about it. Here it is from the Miles City Star at www.milescitystar.com

Friday, June 12
Wacker partners in ranch to retail By Tamara Beardsley Choat

As the Montana Stockgrowers converge on Miles City to celebrate the history of the cattle industry, a local ranch family is taking historic steps in a new business model for Montana beef production. Fred Wacker and family, owners of the Cross Four Ranch headquartered in Miles City, hosted on Tuesday representatives from Tyson IBP, the nation’s second largest cattle processor, and Whole Foods Market, one of the nation’s most progressive grocery retailers, to tour the ranch. Cross Four Ranch recently signed an agreement with Tyson IBP to provide all-natural cattle on a weekly basis, with the objective of marketing all-natural beef through Whole Foods Market stores. This agreement is parallel to a growing trend in the industry to meet consumer demands and create added value – with the benefit of promoting the culture of Montana ranching. “This is the first time, in all the years I’ve been ranching and all the years my father and grandfather ranched, that a major retailer interested in helping us improve our product and create a financial benefit came and sat down at the table,” said Wacker. “It has a real historic aspect to it.”The Cross Four Ranch, located northwest of Miles City and owned by Wacker and his wife Gwen; daughter Sarah and son-in-law Shane Rehm; daughter Julie and son-in-law Brian Nowicki; and son Mike Wacker and wife Nicole, raises cow-calf pairs on pasture and backgrounds feeder cattle in a feedlot between Miles City and Rosebud. For more than 10 years, the Cross Four has raised “all-natural” calves, meaning they are not given hormone growth implants, treated with antibiotics or fed animal by-products. Although there are some trade-offs in producing all-natural cattle, ranchers like Wacker feel the benefits outweigh the losses with the creation of value-added beef many consumers are willing to pay more for. This kind of beef is exactly what Whole Foods Market is looking for. The upper-scale grocer with more than 280 stores in major urban areas (the closest to Miles City is in Fort Collins, Colo.) has established its reputation on “healthier” foods, and sells only natural and organic products.Additionally Whole Foods Market strives to buy regionally and locally when possible and ensures transparency in food production by offering the “story” of where food products come from, according to Theo Weening, Global Meat Coordinator for Whole Foods Market. “Our biggest push is we want to work directly with the ranchers,” he said. Whole Foods Market often invites its beef producers to visit stores to do product demos and share information about their ranch and production practices, which the Wacker family may eventually do. Tyson IBP’s role in the agreement is more than converting live cattle into beef products. Brad Brandenburg, director of cattle procurement for Tyson, said creating such relationships has “been a dream of mine for a long time. It’s really a means to bring the producer to the retailer in order to reduce the overall cost to the consumer and return a larger percentage of the dollar to the producer.”As with most consumer-driven specifications, there is usually a premium for all-natural cattle, both feeder and fats. Tyson has had an all-natural program for many years, and pays above market for verified cattle. The Samuel Roberts Noble Foundation of Ardmore, Okla., published a study in May 2009 saying the average premium offered by marketing companies (of all-natural beef) is $5.79 per cwt. [hundredweight], while feedyards are paying an average premium of $4.76 per cwt. for all-natural cattle.To meet Tyson IBP all-natural criteria, cattle must be Angus-based in breed, of U.S. origin, and produce beef that is 75 percent USDA Grade Choice and 80 percent USDA Yield Grade 1, 2 or 3. Whole Foods Market, as part of its food guarantee, sets standards including traceability, consistent quality, and an audit of the slaughter and processing facility for food safety and animal welfare. Wacker said not much will have to change in their day-to-day operations with the new agreement. Cross Four owners and employees follow all the humane handling of livestock standards set by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, as well as the guidelines set through the national Beef Quality Assurance program. These protocols range from providing safe working conditions for employees to humane treatment of sick or injured cattle and conducting sound animal health practices.Wacker said their cattle have a history of meeting the quality and yield grade standards, which is part of why their ranch fits into the partnership so well. As far as providing tracking for the all-natural program, careful records are kept on all cattle, and any sick animals that do have to be treated with antibiotics are pulled from the herd, specially tagged, and do not return to the main pens, according to Travis Good, head pen rider at the Cross Four Ranch feedlot. Additionally, a third party will come in and audit the procedures on the ranch and feedlot to ensure the claims are being met.Cross Four will continue to wean and background calves in Montana, fatten them at a finishing lot in Colorado and harvest at a Tyson plant in Lexington, with the beef marketed as all-natural.Wacker said the agreement means a lot to his ranch and his family: “We have a good solid, stable buyer for our product and a partnership that allows us to grow our business.” Furthermore, he noted the opportunity is there for other Montana ranchers. “If they follow the protocol and the rules, there are [other options] besides taking what the market gives them, and instead get a premium,” he added.

Thought I would share it with all of you so you can see a little bit of what we do here with the cattle. It will be really interesting to see what our boss can accomplish with this. It's fun for me to be behind something like this, to see that the cattle we raise are being sought after by the consumer for the natural program we use, not just some random burger at Mickey D's. We raise good beef and I'm happy that we can provide that.

Addy Lu

2009-06-17T19:58:00.001-06:00

Addy
Originally uploaded by ranchmama

Here is a picture of Adaline. I took it at a branding. She was just watching the action and waiting for lunch. She scrunches her face a lot, I don't know why.. But it sure is cute!

I'm entering this in a photo contest over at http://acowboyswife.com/
Check out her neat blog to see the other enteries and her recipies.

The Cowboy and his Top Hand

2009-05-20T16:16:00.002-06:00

There, can you see my cowboy now?? Addy had to ride with him yesterday after they branded. That's Borracho they are on.

Spring is Here!

2009-05-18T22:32:00.003-06:00

Ahhh! It's finally here! Unlike our northern neighbors, we have been having wonderful spring weather. It has been a bit chilly but we haven't got the feet of snow that they have. I almost feel guilty that we have had green grass to look at when all they have is snow. But the calves are here and getting bigger, the hay meadows look good. There are wild flowers and kittens everywhere. It must be spring!

Another sign of spring around these parts is the World Famous Bucking Horse Sale. To us it signifies that calving is done and branding will start, as soon as all the cowboys make it back from town! The BHS is a 4 day event with a concert on Thursday night, bull riding on Friday night, the parade and sale on Saturday and then a matched bronc riding on Sunday. We went in on Sat and stayed for the day. Most of the guys went to town Thur and made it back out on Monday! There are street dances every night with bands and the street shut down, for most the party never ends. So here are a few pics of the parade. I forgot my camera for the sale and we sat too far away anyway.

Here is the ranch wagon. The outriders are cowboys from the feedlot Mark and Travis. The driver is Bill one of the neighbors.

Here is Ben, in the white shirt. He is always on the wrong side of the street from me! I only had a moment to take it. Not very good I'm afraid. Charlie is in the red shirt, he works her at Sand Creek with us

Here's the back.. and a view of main street. I really need to learn to take better pictures!

So now that the excitement of the BHS is over, we start branding. We've all ready got under our belt. With 12 to do, I'll have plenty of pictures to take just no time to post! Maybe by the end my picture taking skills will have improved!

Happy Birthday Camron!

2009-04-09T13:20:00.002-06:00

Today is our oldest 7th birthday. 7 years!! It's crazy how the time flies. He has turned in to such a caring and lovable little man. He is very social and friendly and always wants to be the center of attention. He took some brownies to school today for his birthday treat and we will have a party with his classmates this Saturday. He's really excited about that. He wants a wrestling cake.. I'm just going to make a square and frost it like a mat. I thought about putting a wrestling action figure on it but while looking at the selection at the store yesterday, I wasn't so sure. They are big action figures, lots of muscles and scantily clad, not very appropriate I thought. His 1st grade class is made up of him and 5 girls. They all have sisters for siblings too, which will be coming also. There is one boy in 2nd grade, which is in the same room as the 1st grade, and one other boy that maybe coming. If it was all boys that were gonna be coming, it would be different, but I don't think all these girls really care about a burly, speedo wearing WWE wrestler. All they want is cake and ice cream anyway and to run amok and have fun outside of school. I hope the weather is nice, than I can ship them outside and I can visit with the other moms that will be there.

Pics to soon follow, but I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my special guy today.

Let's Wrestle!

2009-03-31T10:38:00.003-06:00

Well now that wrestling season is finally done, here I am posting some pictures! We had a good season, Ben got to help coach and made it to the earlier tournaments before we got busy calving. Payne is reading to start next year and loved going to practice with the boys. Addy had fun at the tourney's running around with all her new made that day friends. And I'm glad all the running and sitting on a hard bleacher is done! For this year at least!

In all the pictures, Camron is the one in the black and red.

Up on your toes!

Here was at the Colstrip Tournament. He took 3rd there.

This is one of the tournaments earlier in the season. He is the one in red. We missed a few weeks of practice and 2 meets due to sickness, but the ones we went to he placed 3rd, 4th and 5th. He wrestled up in most of them and had older and heavier kids to wrestle against but he held his own. That is one thing that differs from wrestling back home in Iowa. There are more towns, closer towns and more kids out for the sport. Here we have to drive 2 hrs for a tournament and can only go to 5 or 6 over the course of the season. But we are glad there is a team close by and we are able to participate. The Cowboy has been helping coach this year... so maybe during wrestling season I should call him Coach.. lol

Our last tournament was this past weekend in Billings at the Montana Open. 1124 wrestlers were there and it was a 2 day event. Camron wrestled 43 lbs and had a good time. He got to wrestle kids his own age and skill level for the first time all season. Most of the teams were from the other side of the state so we didn't see them at the tourney's we wrestled at so it was a good experience for him to go.

Here is a shot of all the wrestlers that competed this weekend. They had a parade of athletes and announced the teams and towns. We had a few teams from Idaho and Wyoming too.

Here is Camron waiting to start his match at the Montana Open.

Stitchy Update

2009-02-13T17:12:00.005-07:00

Here is my latest stichy update. I was finally able to pull out my cross stitch and get a little bit done. I finished up an ornament from a swap. I'll post a pic of that as soon as Donna gets it. I was a little behind on the chart print outs, but got caught up with them and there is just one square left to go! After this SAL, the designer Tracy Horner has another beautiful chart in a magazine I would like to try. I'll probably hold off on that so I can get some other projects started. I still have those Teddy Tees to start.

Here is a close up of the top corner. The corner fishtail should have some green in the middle, but I like the black.white contrast. Tracy's designs have that contrast going on and I wanted to enhance that in the middle bit. It's suppose to be green and I thought it would make it more busy to the eye. I may fill it in later. I'm not done by a long shot!

Answers

2009-02-10T11:56:00.003-07:00

Whew! Look at me go! I get the day off and I'm a blogging fool! lol Actually. Lindsay-ann had some questions from my last post so I'm gonna answer them before I let more time slip by :)

She asked what a typical day is here. Well, that all depends.. Right now we feed. We have almost 1300 head of cows to feed, that takes most of the morning. It's faster now because we have the Hired Hand. He just got here last week and has taken over my feeding. They get out earlier than I and the Cowkids can. They have to get the feeding done before the ground warms up and makes it slippery and sloppy out. The Cowboy feeds hay in the tractor and I drive the cake truck. The afternoon's are spent catching up on things to do. That can vary from day to day. Depends on if anything broke down and needs to be repaired, fence might need to be fixed or water tanks de-iced. When it's really cold like it was last month, as soon as we're done, we just head to the house. No reason to be out unless you need to, right?

Now that it has warmed up, The Cowboy is getting around some fence, fixing gates, repairing the corrals and getting the calving barn ready to go. We calve the heifers in about a month. The older cows start later and they do it on their own in the pasture. The heifers are first timers and may need a bit of help. The winter is our relaxing time. We are busy enough the rest of the year, we can kick back and take it easy for a bit.

And yes we ride horses. Well.. I don't but that's because someone has to mind the kids and the stove. The Cowboy says that as soon as the last little buckaroo is off to school, I'll be outside more... we'll see about that! We have so much country to cover and it isn't always the smoothest, that the only way to get around is by horse. We have roads all through out the ranch to drive pick-ups on and that gets us to the reservoirs and salt bunks and around some of the fence. But you can't just drive strait across the ranch, anywhere you want to go. The country is to rough for that. We have 4-wheelers to zip around fast or to gather the horses from the pasture or to get to a piece of fence to fix, but horse power is how we run. We have 4 of our own, the ranch has 5 soon to get more now that the Hired Hand is here. I'll get pics of them up soon!

Winters are lots of snow and cold, 40 below sometimes. We are told that this winter was a typical one. We've only been here for 2 years so we don't have anything to compare to. We might have snow starting in Oct. and ending in April maybe even May. Those snows don't last. They are here then melt to the 4 letter word I mentioned before! Just here to be annoying really. The snow came and stayed in Dec. and we just got rid of it this month. I'm sure we'll have a few more storms but I would think we are done with the below 0 temps.

So anymore questions, fire away. I'll keep answering them as long as you like to read my long posts!

Here's another picture of the creek.

Come Hell or high water !?!

2009-02-08T08:30:00.004-07:00

You've all heard the saying right ?? Come hell or high water? Well we had the high water this weekend. This is Sand Creek on Saturday. This is the creek that runs through the ranch and gives the ranch it's name. While I call this blog the Reilly Ranch that's just us, the family, the ranch really isn't named that.. it's not ours..

All the snow we had and then the warm weather made the creek rise and we were stuck here. The Cowboy and the Hired Hand made it out on Sat morning to go to town, but by noon when they got back, it was too high for us to leave. The kids had a birthday party to go to and were disappointed but we made up for it by looking at the little waterfalls, throwing rocks and sticks in the churning water and walking in the mud.

In the days since taking these pictures it has come down quite a bit. The creek runs at least 1/4 mi. from the house and you can hear it rushing through the horse trap onto the hay meadow and to me it's a lovely sound. All this water will make for a good hay crop this summer we hope.

Thanks to my good friend Lisa, I was able to post these pictures today without stressing like I was on Sunday. She answered my cries for help and I am grateful! I just may figure this blogging out after all!

This is another shot of the road. The road goes through the trees that are widest apart.. make sense?! and then on up the hill.

I'm a boy, gotta throw stuff!

peek-a-boo

Addy's pretty boots

On my favorite radio program.. Ken Overcast's Cowboy Show..
He sometimes end's the broadcast with.
"We'll be here next week. Lord willin' and if the creek don't rise"
That's us for sure!

Is it Spring yet??

2009-02-07T09:06:00.002-07:00

Temps have been in the 40's and almost 50's all week!! The snow is gone and now we have mud... Mud should be a 4 letter word. It's slippery and sticks to tires, boots, paws, and hands. I can deal with snow I don't mind walking through it because I know I won't track it with me the rest of the day!

But.. all this mud means moisture and means we should have a good hay crop this summer. This is the only reason I put up with mud, to see the green grass in the spring.

Another thing I like about the mud.. means I don't have to feed!! The kids are excited about that too! It's to greasy and slippery out and it's near impossible to go anywhere off road. So that means I get to spend time in the house goofing off on the computer! yay me! lol Got a new computer desk last week so last night and today I'm rearranging.. lots of fun :)

Ya know, I blog all the time in my head when I'm not sitting here at the computer, and now I can't think of a thing to type! So, leave me a comment with a question or note or and then I'll have something to write about!

till next time

Elise

Woot Loot Giveaway

2009-01-11T18:37:00.004-07:00

Here is a giveaway I found through a friends blog..
http://onecreativequeen.blogspot.com/2009/01/resolution-revolution-2009.html
I can't post a pic and I can't make the link look nicer. It is what it is! lol

She has a beautiful watch up for grabs so head over, check it out and all her other cool stuff :)

Attention Quilters!!

2009-01-03T08:01:00.002-07:00

Good Morning :) Cold and windy here brrrr!

For those of you out there that are quilters or just better sewers than I... lol I visit a blog regularluy over there ----> Called Sew On and Sew Fourth Bev there does some amazing stuff with her sewing machine.. I drool over her aprons all the time :) She has made up a quilt design using fruit and veggie fabrics and jar templates.. Check it out! She is offering a tutorial and you can sign up a giveaway on the fabric, she has the directions on her blog.

So that's all for this morning. Gotta get out there and feed... One of my Christmas presents was a Bunn coffee pot and it really helps get us out the door in the morning with the fast brewing. Now if I could say the same for myself. When it's 4 below and the wind chill is 20 below, it's just hard to go out!

Hope everyone is warm where ever you are!

E

Sneakin' In

2008-12-31T14:08:00.003-07:00

Happy New Year!!

Here we are, at the end of the year. Hard to believe it. I say that all the time about how the days, weeks, months go by, but it's true! December was here for a wink and it's all ready January.. So much to do and happening... sigh.. where does it all go?

Christmas came and went and we are still here. Mom finally made it home! She was to leave on Christmas Day but our truck broke down. Thankfully we were still close to home and that we have a neighbor with a stack yard on the road to park the truck in! (A stack yard is where the hay is stored for the winter btw) So we called around and got a truck borrowed from a guy we work with and got mom's flight changed to the next day. Then the 26th comes and we wake to a snowstorm. The one they were predicting all week. So flight's are changed again and this time till Sun. 2 days after said storm to give the roads time to clear and the skies.. My aunts and Grandma though mom would have to stay on the Montana prairie till spring! The kids got in plenty of grandma time and it was nice to not have to worry about them being outside with us in the freezing temps. Oh boy! That was a cold 2 weeks! It didn't get above 0 at all.. I was glad mom was here to keep the coffee going and the food cooking.

So, now we are back to our normal routine with the feeding and kids and all... The days are going faster for us now, we aren't breaking down and are keeping on top of the water tanks. Got most of them flowing nicely to keep the ice from forming so less chopping for me. Camron goes back to school on the 5th. I think he's ready to go back. Addy will start dance again mid Jan and I think wrestling starts then too. Dad and Camron were practicing the other night. Refreshing Camron on all the moves. Last year Dad would have Addy stand in for the opponent so he could show Camron the move. She was closer in size.. This year I think it will be Payne's turn to be the wrestling dummy, he's ready to go!

till next time

Elise

Random things...

2008-12-11T17:18:00.002-07:00

Hello all my blog readers!

Just droping in quick while I have a little time.. ha! Like that ever happens!
I love having you all visit, it makes it fun to see who all comes and stops by, I have been wondering who the wonderful visitor from Terre Haute, IN is.. I think I might know, but I'm not sure.. So who ever you are say HI next time you come by :)

Also, wanted to let you know about my other blog I am a part of. I you click over there --> on the A Teddy For Keeps blog, that's my little charity.. :) A group of us cross stitchers have started it. We stitch up tees for teddy bears and give them to deserving children. We have donated 50 bears so far to The Boys and Girls Town and another 50 to a org. in New York where the founding member lives. You'll have to check out the blog for more info. And in this wonderful time of year, if any of you feel like donating to an organization, here's one to think of.

OK, that's my little plug for the day.. I owe you all a stitchy update, but I just can't get my camera out to take a pic! Oh, those cows think they have to be fed.. *sigh* Going to get cold this weekend, like, highs below zero. How's that for fun?! My mom got me some fleece lined pants and I'll be wearing them for sure!

Other than that, not much else is happening.. Camron had his school Christmas concert and it went well. Payne did really good sitting still for that long. But I did bring a few race cars and he tried getting our seat neighbors to play with him. :) Addy has a dance recital on the 19th and she is getting excited for that. Nest week she'll have 2 practices and maybe I can get my exchange ornament stitched up and sent off.. (sorry Donna if it's late!)

I still haven't gotten the tree up, Camron was bugging me about it the other day. I can't do it while he's in school, that wouldn't be fair to him, and I need Ben's help with the chaos of unwrapping and hanging of ornaments. I don't even want to think about getting Christmas cards out. I'm thinking I might go for a New Year's or Valentine's mailing date.. Maybe I'll have caught up by then!

Maybe....

December is here!

2008-12-05T18:30:00.002-07:00

I changed my blog up a bit.. Hope it makes me more in the Christmas mood :)

I have gotten one Christmas card all ready! It came from some friends and I'm amazed she is so on top of things! We haven't even taken the annual kids pic yet.. I still have a few weeks tho, right?!

Wed we started feeding, well, I started. We feed the cows a range cube we call cake. It's in a pellet and it's chock full of corn and minerals and protein the cows need this time of year. It helps the hay last a little longer and the cows love it. You should see them chase me down! It's crazy. But once Ben puts his horse away and stops riding the range looking for maverick cows he'll be riding the tractor feeding hay. Right now we/ I feed every other day. We'll start feeding them everyday, even Sunday's, in January, when the snow and cold is really here. We got a few inches of snow on Tuesday, just enough to cover the grass and the cows think they are hungry. We've had warm Chinook winds today and I think during the night now too. That will help melt that snow and show the grass. We almost have all the cows moved to winter pasture. The old cows go on their own. There is now clear way for the guys to move them, they just drift through to the winter pasture.. at least 3 miles.

Tomorrow at the school, the kids can go eat breakfast with Santa and do some shopping all by themselves. We'll hit that then maybe on in to Miles City for some shopping for mom. lol just household stuff.

So that's what's been happening here. Most of the cows have been weaned.. That's why Ben is still out riding, finding all those that got missed last week. We survived Cousin Kevin's visit and it was great having him here. He and Camron went up and shot prairie dogs and did a lot of 'Shake and Bake' and fun stuff. Our next visitor will be my mom for Christmas. She is flying in on the 17th, Ben's birthday (the present he's always wanted!!!!) and leaving on Christmas Day. Bad dates, but good rates.

till next time...
Elise

Busy Month

2008-11-25T09:55:00.004-07:00

Whew! November is almost over, and I'm so glad! This is our busy month and it has finally hit. Weaning time is here. We have 4 different ranches to gather, heifers and then the old cows. This past week the guys have been getting the old cows gathered in. Today they are finally here. We'll have this day then maybe Friday. We'll have Thanksgiving off for sure, but Ben will still be out and about, he's just that way. I have been stuck in the kitchen or truck cooking and hauling food out. It's been fun but I'll be glad when we are done!

Also we'll have company for Turkey Day, my cousin Kevin will be here for a visit! He worked for us last year and we all miss him!! I haven't told Camron yet, because I don't want to hear the endless questions, "Is he here yet?!" "When is cousin Kevin coming?" "Why isn't he here yet?" So we'll tell Camron as soon as we see Kevin on the road!

The cowboys from the feedlot will come too, they are single guys with no family around, well the new guy has family but they are still in Florida. So we'll have a full and happy house. I'm fixing steaks and side dishes, don't have room or the time for a turkey, but that's ok.. We'll all just sit around and catch up and the kids will run through every now and again and it will be fun.

I hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!

2008-11-13T17:28:00.003-07:00

Happy Birthday Adaline!

Today is our daughter's 5th birthday, where has the time gone?! Some days I see her and can't believe that this is my baby girl all grown up! She grows more beautiful every day. I'm so thankful that she is ours.

Tonight, Dad is off riding the range, bringing in the cows, so we will have a big party on Saturday. We have been teasing her all week that we got her army men, trucks and tractors for presents! Instead we got her the usual girly toys, Barbie and a few outfits. I'm sure she will love those more than the dinosaurs and army jeeps we have been promising her!

Pictures of the cake and presents and party will follow soon. But for now, I just wanted to say Happy Birthday to my Addy Lu.

Love ya,

MOM

Scary Scary!

2008-11-06T10:27:00.005-07:00

Happy Halloween!!!

Here are my little goblins! Addy is a cheerleader but didn't want to shake her pom poms all night. I had to carry them on our walk around town getting candy. Camron loved his pirate sword most of all and Payne was roaring at anyone who would listen. They had a fun night and got lots of candy, which their father and I have eaten most of all ready! Oh we dole it out to the kids, but we sorted it out first for our favorites! One of the perks of being a parent. ;)

Giveaway!

2008-11-05T10:15:00.004-07:00

Giveaway!!

Go here http://tribalwitch.blogspot.com/ and enter in Lisa's drawing. She has some awesome stuff, jewelry, door draft stoppers, and hand made items. Or you can click the link to the right, the Items For Barter, that is her site too.

So check it out and find some neat stuff!

Camron and Daisy

2008-11-01T13:06:00.002-06:00

Camron and Daisy
Originally uploaded by ranchmama

Wanted to post this picture even tho it's a year old. But this is my oldest, Camron. I don't have a picture of him on here yet! And Daisy our dog. Kinda looks like Payne's cake,no?

Or his cake looks like Snoopy, hard to decide which one!?

Latest stitching picture

2008-10-31T13:26:00.003-06:00

stitching 026
Originally uploaded by ranchmama

This is what I am currently working on. It's a Mystery Stitch A Long or SAL for short. If you click over there on the side to the Book of Ink Circles link, you'll find what the pattern looks like so far. I got a late start so am just jumping in anywhere to stitch something. The spiral was just released on Oct. 21st and the next piece comes out in a few weeks. This will continue till sometime next year. Lots of Fun for sure!

2008-10-24T08:21:00.002-06:00

Well, finally.. I've got the pictures figured out!

So here is Payne's birthday cake. Addy helped me frost it, she did the collar. And she told me where to put the spots. :) I liked frosting it because I didn't have to get the frosting real smooth, this was a fluffy, furry dog!

I'm this many!

Payne's favorite things right now are Puppies, Thomas the Train and tractors. What boy doesn't like those? He got two Thomas the Trains for his presents.

Below is Addy coloring Payne's wrapping paper. I never seem to have any in the house, but always lots of brown paper. It's

more fun to make our own anyway.

Happy Birthday Payne!

2008-10-13T09:47:00.006-06:00

So, it's day two on the blog, so far so good ;)

Today is also our little man's 3rd birthday. I can't believe it's been 3 years... That's a picture of him from yesterday. Yes, yesterday, yes we haave snow. About 5 inches of the stuff. The picture didn't take very well, it was so bright out! Today it's even brighter! No clouds and the sun is just shining away. The snow will be gone by the weekend and we will be left with a muddy mess. Yesterday they were outside twice to play in it. Not for very long tho.. And it takes more time to get the 3 of them dressed they they spend outside! With snowsuits, boots, hat, gloves... Then when they want to come in they ask for hot cocoa! Today, we went up to the shop to help Ben then back down to the barn to feed the cats and let a horse out. Addy stayed outside to shovel my walk. When she got back in she asks for hot cocoa... lol I said maybe later :)

So today I have to decorate Payne's cake. I like to make cut-up cakes for the kids. This year I'm making Payne a puppy cake. He has a thing for puppies. ;)

I'm not the best at the decorating part but I like to make them something special because store bought and decorated cakes aren't an option for this family, we just live to far away.. And I've found out from my aunts that my grandma made up cakes for all of them, so I feel that I'm carrying on that tradition with my kids and I hope to make their birthday's special memories for them.

Happy Birthday Bud.

Hi, my name is Elise.... and I'm a Blogger...

2008-10-12T09:14:00.003-06:00

Ok, this is my first attempt at this! I'm jumping on the blogging bandwagon, even tho it's a little late. I hope to be able to use this to keep my family in Iowa updated on all that goes on here and give everyone a little picture of what we do everyday.. It's not that exciting, really!

Like today... it's Sunday and the thing I look forward to the most is The Cowboy Show with Ken Overcast. http://www.kenovercast.com/
It's a radio program for an hour with cowboy songs and stories. Usually I will sit and stitch for that hour, it's an hour I can have to myself.

Today, the snow finally got here. It has been a rain/snow mix since Friday and last night it finally turned to snow. We woke up this morning to about 4 in. on the ground and it's still coming down. Ben wants out of the house and to go do something. He and the kids will head up to the shop later and change the oil in my work truck. Since it rained all day yesterday, we didn't go out. Now today, we're sick of the house!

So that's today... Stay tuned for more fun from The Ranch!