Enjoy the Privilege of VOTING

I posted this at  http://ranchwife4life.boxoquarterhorses.com/ which I'm thinking I'll double post til you all move over to that site.  Hope you get to go vote on TUESDAY!!!!!

I have been impressed in the past couple days of the privilege it is to vote. Men & women of our armed forces have fought and died for our privilege to vote. Because we have become somewhat complacent in our political endeavors or perhaps we have just become sick of the way politics are running, we don't exercise this tremendous honor of voting. No matter what your position may be, our right to vote should not be neglected. It is one of the basic reasons our country is so great. I encourage you to exercise this honor and go to your local polling place on Tuesday or vote early at your county office. I am reposting an article I wrote earlier this month on the candidates. I've also found two more resources for Republican voters to get information on the candidates.  The Voter Information site may have information on judges which is very hard to find!!

http://www.negop.org/site/c.dwKULiO6LtKeF/b.6360265/k.949A/Sheridan_County.htm

http://www.voterinformation.org/

Please go and enjoy this honor of VOTING!!!

I got asked the other day if there was anyone of importance running this off season election. Actually it happened twice in one week. Because we are in a remote area and all have dish tv or direct, we don’t get much local news. So I thought I would compile a few people and their web sites that I know we will be seeing on the ballot this November 2nd. This applies to Nebraska and mostly to the western half of Nebraska. :)

This is a link at the Secretary of State site of all elelctions across the state. Doesn’t list the county elelctions. http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2010/pdf/general%20election%20list.pdf
1. Governor Dave Heineman – yep there is an on-going governors’ race but we don’t hear much about it. Governor Heineman
2. Representative Adrian Smith – there will be three candidates on the ticket. The democrat running is a very very lift wing liberal, very bad for Nebraska. There is an independent on the ticket who petitioned to be on the ballot, Dan Hill. He has been a life long republican. My concern is splitting the republican vote which could allow the democrat a win. Here are Adrian’s & Dan’s web sites. Adrian Smith Dan Hill
3. Secretary of State John Gale - http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Gale/86779768800
4. State Treasurer Don Stenburg - http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Don_Stenberg.htm
5. State Attorney General Jon Bruning - http://jonbruning.com/index.php?PID=1&TYPE=HOME
6. State Auditor Mike Foley - http://www.auditors.state.ne.us/
7. State Board of Education – Cindi Allen – This is one those of little known about positions that has such a large impact on state education. Cindi is a Republican, Conservative, LEAD Alum that we are backing. She is doing a great job but is not endorsed by the union, (which in our opinion is good) She will be representing 35 counties across the western part of our state. Cindi Allen If you know of people or friends in the east part of the state (North Omaha-Spencer) John Sieler John Sieler
8. Regents – Bob Phares - http://www.northplattebulletin.com/index.asp?show=news&action=readStory&storyID=18107&pageID=3&sectionID=3
Frank B. Svoboda - http://www.svobodaforregent.org/

Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District
District: 01
Jim Irwin 2380 CR 59, Alliance, NE 69301
District: 02
Curtis Roth 6072 – 270th, Gordon, NE 69343
District: 03
David E. Kadlecek 6473 – 440th Lane, Hay Springs, NE 69374
District: 04
Tod M. Dorshorst 4745 – 410th Ln, Hay Springs, NE 69347
District: 05
James Lees 106 Haynes Rd, Whitney, NE 69367
District: AL
Steven M. Sandberg 4473 – 470 Ln, Hay Springs, NE 69347

Northwest Rural Public Power District
District: 01
No filing
District: 02
Bruce Troester 3143 River Rd, Marsland, NE 69354
District: 03
Michael Van Buskirk 4597 – 420 Rd, Hay Springs, NE 69347
Marjean Terrell 4412 – 436 Trl, Hay Springs, NE 69347

Educational Service Unit No.13
District: 01
Patricia K. Dobry 1011 Sweetwater Ave., Alliance, NE 69301
District: 03
Rosalene B. Tollman 211 Squaw Mound Road, Marsland, NE 69354
District: 05
Mark Sinner 180076 Nash Drive, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
District: 07
William D. Knapper 2002 E 32nd, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
District: 09
Marilyn Wimmer 635 – 2nd Ave, Bayard, NE 69334
District: 11
Donald Egging 2382 Maple St, Sidney, NE 69162

There are school board positions and county positions that I don’t have at this time. I will try to add to this post when I find out about those. Hope this helps you all out!!!

Moving Moving Moving!!!

Well - with many friends encouraging me that I can do many more things with WordPress I Have taken the plunge and made the move.  I have also had my web guy, Shaun, link everything to my web site.  So if you haven't seen our site, please take a look around and let me know what you think and what you'd like to see or what maybe you don't   :)   I had a few moments to be thankful this evening so I shared those thoughts  :)  check it out at  http://ranchwife4life.boxoquarterhorses.com/

THNX so much and I hope you are able to follow me there also!!!

There's an app for that!!

     You know I think it's pretty crazy, but I said it again..."There's an App for that!"- and with enthusiasm I added that you could get it free!  Good grief - How many of these silly things am I using?  Actually using, maybe a couple but I have the ability to have them there.  I saw a tweet today that Omaha Steaks has an app so you can grill the perfect steak.  It gives you tips and suggestions and ideas on grilling your steaks.  
     See the really nonsensical part of this equation is that I don't use my cell phone at home.  Well, ok I don't have service at home at the ranch.  So my app usage is restricted on top of everything else.  I wonder how long we have had the capability of coming up with apps?  I remember as a kid that we used hot shots on cattle in the crowding pen.  Is that an app??  And before the handy hot shot (which we no longer use) there was the stick and we just pounded on critters down the chute.  Today our apps consist of paddles with bb's in them so they rattle.  Cattle can see the big paddle end and hear the rattle and they change direction.  My favorite app on my horse is a flag.  Now it does take some effort to get the horse to trust you with the flag.  I start on the ground and introduce the flag and show my colt that it doesn't hurt them.  After I have convinced them on the ground that the flag can make noise but not hurt them, I go ahead and get on with the flag.  This is usually another lesson of trust because the position of the flag has changed, it's actually connected to them.  :O  A rider on a horse in an alley with a flag can move cattle quietly without causing them added stress.  I think the cattle business, well ranchers in general, have come up with some very creative apps.  Anything we use to make our lives simpler, or to make our livestock happier,  has the same application as an 'app' on a DRoid or I-phone.  
     Ok - so let me take this one step further  :)  I read in my copy of 'Our Daily Bread' on October 2nd, something that made me smile.  We have an 'app' with us in nearly home in America.  A Bible!  " The "applications"of the Bible are direct notes from God telling us ow to apply the truth of His Word to all of life. Take Philippians 2, for instance: The unity app (2:2), the humility app (2:3), the no-grumbling app (2:14), the shine-as-lights app (2:15). Or look at the apps of Ephesians 5: The imitate-God app (5:1), the walk-in-love app (5:2), the purity app (5:3), the tongue app (5:4). And the book of Proverbs? It’s teeming with applications.
You don’t have to wait for someone to offer these on the Internet. Just open the Bible and see the hundreds of ways to apply Scripture in your life. Got a question about the Christian life? Search the Bible. The answers are there, waiting to be discovered. "

I just thought this was the best use of an app I'd heard since 'apps' started!! 
           Apply your heart to instruction, and your ears to words of knowledge. —Proverbs 23:12  
     Let's each one of us - apply this 'app' to our lives.  I'm betting it can have the biggest impact the world has EVER seen!!!  

Western Nebraska Elections!!

I got asked the other day if there was anyone of importance running this off season election.  Actually it happened twice in one week.  Because we are in a remote area and all have dish tv or direct, we don't get much local news.  So I thought I would compile a few people and their web sites that I know we will be seeing on the ballot this November 2nd.  This applies to Nebraska and mostly to the western half of Nebraska.  :)

This is a link at the Secretary of State site of all elelctions across the state.  Doesn't list the county elelctions.  http://www.sos.ne.gov/elec/2010/pdf/general%20election%20list.pdf
     1. Governor Dave Heineman - yep there is an on-going governors' race but we don't hear much about it.  Governor Heineman
     2. Representative Adrian Smith - there will be three candidates on the ticket.  The democrat running is a very very lift wing liberal, very bad for Nebraska.  There is an independent on the ticket who petitioned to be on the ballot, Dan Hill.  He has been a life long republican.  My concern is splitting the republican vote which could allow the democrat a win.  Here are Adrian's & Dan's web sites.  Adrian Smith   Dan Hill
     3.  Secretary of State John Gale - http://www.facebook.com/pages/John-Gale/86779768800
     4.  State Treasurer Don Stenburg - http://ontheissues.org/Senate/Don_Stenberg.htm
     5.  State Attorney General Jon Bruning - http://jonbruning.com/index.php?PID=1&TYPE=HOME
     6.  State Auditor Mike Foley - http://www.auditors.state.ne.us/
     7.  State Board of Education - Cindi Allen - This is one those of little known about positions that has such a large impact on state education.  Cindi is a Republican, Conservative, LEAD Alum that we are backing.  She is doing a great job but is not endorsed by the union, (which in our opinion is good)  She will be representing 35 counties across the western part of our state.  Cindi Allen  If you know of people or friends in the east part of the state (North Omaha-Spencer)  John Sieler  John Sieler
     8.  Regents - Bob Phares - http://www.northplattebulletin.com/index.asp?show=news&action=readStory&storyID=18107&pageID=3&sectionID=3
                         Frank B. Svoboda - http://www.svobodaforregent.org/


Upper Niobrara White Natural Resources District
District: 01
Jim Irwin 2380 CR 59, Alliance, NE 69301
District: 02
Curtis Roth 6072 - 270th, Gordon, NE 69343
District: 03
David E. Kadlecek 6473 - 440th Lane, Hay Springs, NE 69374
District: 04
Tod M. Dorshorst 4745 - 410th Ln, Hay Springs, NE 69347
District: 05
James Lees 106 Haynes Rd, Whitney, NE 69367
District: AL
Steven M. Sandberg 4473 - 470 Ln, Hay Springs, NE 69347


Northwest Rural Public Power District
District: 01
No filing
District: 02
Bruce Troester 3143 River Rd, Marsland, NE 69354
District: 03
Michael Van Buskirk 4597 - 420 Rd, Hay Springs, NE 69347
Marjean Terrell 4412 - 436 Trl, Hay Springs, NE 69347



Educational Service Unit No.13
District: 01
Patricia K. Dobry 1011 Sweetwater Ave., Alliance, NE 69301
District: 03
Rosalene B. Tollman 211 Squaw Mound Road, Marsland, NE 69354
District: 05
Mark Sinner 180076 Nash Drive, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
District: 07
William D. Knapper 2002 E 32nd, Scottsbluff, NE 69361
District: 09
Marilyn Wimmer 635 - 2nd Ave, Bayard, NE 69334
District: 11
Donald Egging 2382 Maple St, Sidney, NE 69162


There are school board positions and county positions that I don't have at this time.  I will try to add to this post when I find out about those.  Hope this helps you all out!!!  

Long Hours

I live the best life!!

Yes - I took this on our ranch and that's my son who has grown up working with us and has come back to join us in out ranching business!  We were up before dawn and out of the house this morning to gather yearlings (year old cattle) to sell at market.  Although I know I live the best life - it is NOT an easy life but one I love.  Most of the greater populous of America would not work as hard or put in the hours that we do on a ranch.  And yet we LOVE IT!!!!  14 to 16 hour days are pretty normal this time of year and all through the summer months.  I'm not complaining or whining, it's just that there is work that must be finished.
     This week I watched as a comedian made a mockery of our legislative process.  Because of  Rep. Zoe Lofgren's (democrat) invitation, I watched in horror as our country's legislative process was turned into a side show.  Stephen Colbert (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert) had spent one day working with illegal immigrants to pick a field;  that made him an expect witness to the enormous problem of illegal immigration.   GIVE ME A BREAK!!!  Many would argue that any press is good press.  I completely disagree!! This was all bad press for agriculture.  The underlying tone represented here is that the farmer, who works the land, doesn't understand the severity of the issue of immigration.  The farmer, who has hired the immigrants, doesn't grasp the type of hard labor that is being done.  The arrogance of the current administration is mind boggling!!!  Because I chose to own my own business and dictate my own time and work with my family - somehow that makes me less educated that the idiot who asked this man to testify.  This was a political ploy to gain press time and unfortunately it has worked.  It has taken our eye off the main goal - what can we do about immigration.  In the Bible, in Proverbs 18:2 it says - "A fool finds no pleasure in understanding, but delights in airing his own opinions."  Colbert doesn't understand the problem, he was just airing his opinion which is worth absolutely nothing because he has no experience to draw his conclusions from.  One day does not make anyone an expect.  There isn't an American citizen that would want to work as hard as illegals unless the pay is increased.  And yet those same Americans want to keep their food costs at the current levels or lower.  If you ask the illegals to leave  - you will pay more for food in the grocery store.  It's that simple.  This problem has so many different issues...it will be extremely difficult to make progress.  But we must!!  Any idiot can make a statement or spew his opinion.  That was proven in Congress.

Sound of Silence

This week has been full of sounds that are very loud and don't really subside for several days.  You see we 'weaned'.  We brought all of our cows and calves, which is over 900 cows & calves, into our corrals.  That's a bunch of sound makers. :) We did this on Monday morning and were expecting a long night of hearing them bawl.  However, at 4:30am I was awake to an odd and unnerving sound when you are weaning.  SILENCE.  This was not a good sound on the first night of having the cows and calves apart.  Upon inspection in the early morning we found that a gate had the chain latch broke in the night and let everyone back together again.  The only sound that is worse than silence when you are weaning is the sound of a fence splintering.  We called our neighbor and friend to come back and help us out.  Each one of thought that we were in for a long day of bringing a few head to the corral at a time.  You see, cattle get suspicious when you bring them to the corral. They know something is up and usually it's unpleasant for them (although always in their best interest).  We were mounted pretty well - this isn't the time to be stressing a young colt.  My rancher hubby Cash decided to bait the cows with the caker pickup.  It has cake or cubed feed that is kinda like candy to a cow.  They followed the pickup better than any of us imagined and they all went into the corral on the first try.  :)  :)  :)  I can't tell you or express how thankful we were that it worked that way.  We truly feel it was an act of God's intervention.  :)  Anyway - that intervention continued as they resorted themselves, moms from babies rather easily.  We do it all horseback and work cattle between the horses with one person on the gate and one person horseback to block the occasional mistake. Once the cows realize we aren't trying to contain them and are letting them back into the lot, they start walking by rather calmly.  My rancher hubby and son made a few revisions to the gate that broke and by Thursday, this am we have the calves moved to another meadow where they are grazing quite contentedly.  By putting the cows in the lot and the calves back out on the meadows, they calm much easier and don't go off feed.  Most calves go back to the last place they saw mom and lay down to wait for her.  We also start the calves on a supplement feed long before we wean and that becomes like a surrogate mother to them after weaning.  They know that the feed is there and it's yummy so they go back to it when mom is no longer available.

These were the last holdouts that we hauled up to the new meadow this morning.  

We feed the cows hay in the lot while we wait for the calves to become content in the new meadow.  We will drive them to a new pasture in the morning and they will be glad to see the fresh grass.  (and yes it was raining this morning which is nice because we don't have dust to cause problems

for the calves.)

This day as I'm typing I'm realizing I'm hearing silence again.  But this time it's when I should be hearing it because the cows and calves are weaned and HAPPY!!!

Immunizations for Fall

When someone in ranching mentions fall cattle work, I wonder if people understand what that entails.  I got to thinking while I was sitting on my horse, (my second best place to think) about how 'natural' we try to keep our calves before they go into a feed yard.  Yes, we do give them shots to prevent certain infections that have devastated herds years ago.  I think it's a lot like giving your own child childhood immunizations.  The calves we raise are given 'childhood' immunizations when we brand them at about 4 - 6 weeks of age.  Because we don't want our kids to suffer from MMR, polio and other diseases we have vaccine to prevent those.  Same thing with calves - we are giving vaccine to prevent disease from making them sick.  During the fall these same calves get a booster shot.  We work very hard to help these calves get thru this process with as little stress as possible.  We've spent a week dragging hose and sprinklers all over our corrals and a VERY large lot to help control the dust. When we started I told my rancher hubby that the one lonely sprinkler against the size of the lot looked impossible - however with perseverance we succeeded.   Dust can cause calves to get sick, mostly lung trouble which would mean we would have to give them more vaccine which we work hard not to do.  As soon as we were done on Tuesday we moved them back out on our meadows so they could find their moms again.  

While these calves are on the ranch - they live natural with a little help from vaccine.  Not much different than what our boys grew up doing.  They got to enjoy living out in the country, camping, fishing and enjoying nature.  Our boys were healthy because we cared enough to give them childhood vaccinations.  We also care about our livestock and give them the same advantage of vaccine so they won't be sick either.  

Well - my thoughts for today - we're working more cattle tomorrow so I will probably have more thoughts since I'll be back on my horse  :)

Have a GREAT day!!!