Category Archives: Coulee Creek

We flipped the switch on our new solar array, which will generate enough power to offset our pivot irrigation system’s use. This project was in the works for over a year, and we are thrilled it is complete. Let the sun shine! Yep, Bart in the BIG city of Chicago with me. We enjoyed aContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: September 2024”

When the temperatures soar into the 90s, my cold plunge pool becomes absolutely essential to my survival (or at least to my positive mental attitude). Immersion in the chilly water brings my core temperature back to normal, and I stay in long enough to get goose bumps from head to toe. When it is 100+Continue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: August 2024”

Our Scenes from the Ranch from July features a clip of our new 25 foot mower in action. It is propelled by four horses, and has a small gasoline engine that powers the sickle bar mower. The engine takes a tiny fraction of fuel compared to a traditional diesel-powered swather. The 25 foot mower lengthContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: July 2024”

The whirlwind of busyness that is summer has begun! I managed to capture a few Scenes from the Ranch for June between all the activity: It was a cool month, though not nearly as wet as last year. The prairie is drying out, yet the wildflowers continue to bloom. It has been a banner yearContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: June 2024”

Time for a few Scenes from the Ranch from May, which already feels like a lifetime ago. This time of year is a whirlwind of activity on the ranch. The days are jam packed with projects – from harrowing fields and irrigating them to planting cover crops and stringing up electric fence for frequent cattle/horseContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: May 2024”

April’s Scenes from the Ranch. It was a busy month with calving, farming, and a load of off-ranch work. Here are a few of the delightful moments: Cat nap Nuttal’s violets, among the first wildflowers to bloom Cows, Coulee Creek and the Snowy Mountains Maverick tries his hand at herding cats. Bear doesn’t care.

March’s Scenes from the Ranch capture calving season in full swing. I’d much rather have snow than rain during calving. This year March brought a mix of both. Between storms it was a muddy mess most days. Most of the month things went smoothly with a couple of exceptions. During an absolute downpour around midnight,Continue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: March 2024”

It was mostly a warm and dry month. We did have a few good, albeit brief, snowstorms. We enjoyed an amazing ski day with over a foot of fresh snow at Showdown on Valentine’s Day. I couldn’t have asked for a better date on the slopes! The north-facing cliffs above Coulee Creek don’t see muchContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: February 2024”

Time for our Scenes from the Ranch from January, which was a real weather rollercoaster of a month! I created a cozy straw bale home for the barn cats to snuggle in during the cold winter nights… Apparently the chickens are also fond of it (or perhaps Suzie has some magical egg-laying powers). During theContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: January 2024”

The moon at sunset a day before the Winter Solstice A beautiful blanket of snow the weekend before Christmas. Sleigh bells ring! A lap full of cats. The eaves under the barn are the perfect place to rest and soak up sunshine and animal cuddles. There is nothing quite as relaxing as the purring ofContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: A last glimpse at 2023”