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Cowpokes Who Cry Preview
I cringed, sympathy pain for the cow that was being lifted into the air by our HydraBed pickup. The chain hooked up to her allowed us to maneuver the cow who’d just given birth. A prolapsed birth. Her entire uterus was on the outside of her body now. The sex education I received on the…
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Writing for the future…
Alarms started beeping as we left Guinness headquarters, our doors slammed on the Uber driver’s van. “Ya teevin’ bastards!” He yelled at us as we drove away from the tourist attraction. I truly was scared. Did we just steal those mugs? When you enter the Guinness brewery they hand you a mug to learn how…
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Thank a rancher…
You may often see me on here talking about my respect for all life on Earth. Taking care of baby calves was an experience that left a lasting impression on me. These animals will grow and ultimately be slaughtered one day for meat and other animal products. But… Regardless, they deserve a happy and healthy…
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Be the bridge, not the gate…
It isn’t a question that the ranch shaped me into the woman I am today, but when followers first stumble upon my page I think there can be some confusion. I no longer reside on a ranch, and my husband and I work with people, not cows. But, that doesn’t mean we aren’t still a…
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A Little Christmas Spirit
My horse’s neck swayed back and forth as he trudged through the sand. I focused on the movement, lost in the beauty of his shiny black mane. The contrast between the coarse hairs and his dark brown body, partially distracted me from my inner thoughts. I had come home for Christmas. Frosted tamaracks thawed as…
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We can do hard things…
Written by: Tayla Waite “I can’t wear this cowboy hat. I haven’t earned it.” I said these words to my husband Chance, who I was dating at the moment. He screwed a felt hat on my head the first time I helped move cattle horseback after moving to the ranch. We trailed pairs six miles…
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Who’s Watching?
This story is based on true events. Wait! Have you read part two, Ghost Riders? My sister and I sat on the floor of our new modular home floor playing with Bratz dolls. It was an October evening, Dad was working in the shop about 200 yards away from our new humble abode. It had…
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Ghost Riders
This story is based on true events. Wait! Have you read part one, The Slithering Walls? The old Brown Mill ranch house used to sit on a snake den. Being an older home meant that snakes found the openings, and they took over. It was said that the families that lived there long before us…
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Poor Mama
It was March, and the springtime snow began to fall on Rush Creek. The barometric pressure sent our 500 mama cows into a synchronized labor. Baby calves were hitting the ground. “I think she’s been here a while.” Dad mumbled as he spotted a cow by herself. We rolled off of the two-track into the…
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Always close your gates…
I could hear myself breathing. It wasn’t because I was stressed or vigorously exercising. It was just the ranch! It was so quiet that day. An occasional bird would chirp, but the air was so still–mute. I waited inside the shop, a small building we designated for mechanic jobs or leisure activities such as reloading…