Category Archives: Coulee Creek

The unusually warm days of December have us fooled into thinking autumn might last forever. Scooter still thinks it’s good weather for a swim in Coulee Creek, although he doesn’t linger in the water as he did back in August. When daylight doesn’t spread across the land until after 7am, and the sun tucks awayContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: December 6, 2023”

Today we are feeling especially grateful for our community of customers, friends, and family. With your support, we are able to take care of this little piece of prairie and all of its residents while raising grassfed beef and living out our values. Thank you for all you do to cheer us on. We appreciateContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: Nov. 20, 2023”

My oh my, October did sure fly by! It is well past time for some more Scenes from the Ranch. We moonlighted as a couple of munchkins on Halloween, joining the Lehfeldt family’s Wizard of Oz crew. The town of Lavina on Halloween is a great place to be for some good old fashioned trickContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: Nov. 10, 2023”

I wrote the following this past spring during the Field Notes Writing Workshop at the Montana Natural History Center. You can hear me read it for Montana Public Radio on the MNHC website here. Hiking across the expanse of central Montana prairie that I call home, I can see at least three mountain ranges inContinue reading “Coulee Country”

Sunday Surrey ride! We enjoyed an unusually cool August day with a ride up the county road to Belmont. The gentle movement and peace of the prairie eventually lulled Maverick to sleep. I wasn’t too far behind. A couple of weekends ago, it was incredibly hot and so we spent my birthday floating on theContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: August 6, 2023”

We’ve had some lovely weather for riding and checking on the cows. Seventy degrees is my idea of perfect! Jack and I are getting along well as I regain my confidence and seat in the saddle. Meanwhile, I’m doing groundwork with Ruby to strengthen our relationship with hopes of future rides. One evening we hadContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: July 17, 2023”

We had the immense good fortune to float the Smith River with a great group of friends last week. It was the first time we got away together in many years, and was made possible thanks to help from friends who took care of the animals while we were gone. It was relaxing, beautiful, andContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: June 30, 2023”

Wildflowers are in the spotlight for this week’s Scenes from the Ranch: On a short jaunt from the house this morning I found White Beardtongue. Note the two petals up and three down that is characteristic of the penstemon genus. Thread-leaf Phacelia with it’s delightful pink-purple blossoms Scarlet Gaura (also known as Beeblossom) a memberContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: June 12, 2023”

Time for our Scenes from the Ranch. On this soggy Friday we have gotten three inches of rain! And I thought it was green already. Chicks! On Sunday 14 healthy chicks hatched in the barnyard. The two broody hens were Arcana chickens that are proving to be good, protective mamas. After a couple days ofContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch: June 2, 2023”

It is with a heavy heart that I share this week’s Scenes from the Ranch. Our sweet Jersey cow Hot Lips died this week. Despite our best efforts, we were unable to save her following complications from milk fever. I miss her calm presence in the barnyard, the licks from her rough tongue when IContinue reading “Scenes from the Ranch May 26, 2023”