Spring Break '10 is over & Duke is sweeping the NCAA

Go Duke!!! ~~~ Go Carolina!!!

Having been raised in North Carolina, being an Ole ACC fan,
it is hard for me to turn my back on these two teams,
and my ole pal Dr. Bob who played for Duke
in his undergrad days while being tall.

Go Duke!!! ~~~ Go Carolina!!!

I just finished my nice long stretch of Spring Break 2010. It actually began on Thursday the 18th as school was out of session that day and also Friday the 19th. What a break.

Thursday, I made a road trip with the MacHi Track team to Pendleton for a major division meet. It was a beautiful day for running track events. After dropping the students off at PDT High School I dropped the trip bus off at the Caterpillar shop to be worked on. Kittee came out to the CAT shop, picked me up and we headed for downtown PDT for a very good lunchbreak. I spend a bit of time running around town buying our 2010 Pendleton Round Up tickets, some Stretch Magic for tying flies, and some spicy Bloody Mary mixer to make red beers when I got home, and for Spring Break. Round Up tickets- there were NONE available for Friday and Saturday's rodeo, and only a few for Wednesday and Thursday. I bought tickets for Thursday's show and there are no seats yet assigned. What I got was a voucher for money paid, as the Round Up Grandstands are being rebuilt and added on to for this year's BIG event.

“Let’er Buck”!!

This should be quite the show year for the 100th Anniversary. This year will make my 57th year of showing up at the Pendleton Round Up.

“Let’er Buck”!!!

Friday, Kittee had Milton-Freewater city court in the a.m. and that afternoon we did some horseback riding with Downriver Robert in our riverside arena. That same afternoon, our dear friend Kasey, home from college, dropped by and had her first Rusty ride. She is now only the second person to ride Rusty, so that was exciting to watch, not scary. After Kasey settled into the saddle, she kept saying "Dale you can ride Rusty... he is easy." I told Kasey that she can ride him all she wants to, and I hope by the cool of autumn I will be riding him. Our handsome Arabian stallion - sire of Summer.

A frame from our YouTube video of Kasey's - Rusty ride
and YouTube video of Kasey's - Rusty ride II

A beautiful end-of-winter afternoon.

Saturday and Sunday Kittee started coming down with a cold, the weather was beginning to turn back into winter, so we spent most of our time indoors those days. Saturday evening I missed all of the Carolina B-ball game but saw that we won and are still in the NIT Tournament. Hip-hip-Hooray.

Sunday we had a few sun breaks and I was able to get a full blooming photo of our driveway daffodils.

as once again Sunday the mountains to the east went snow capped.

The first part of the week –Spring Break– the weather was early spring-like crappy, cool, some sunshine with showers.

Monday and Tuesday I bussed the MacHi Girls’ Softball team to Boardman, OR for a two-day tournament. The eastern view of the snow capped mountains as we left Milton-Freewater was a beautiful eastern Oregon Blue Mtns. site. Traveling west on I-84 the Washington Cascade snow capped mountains were visible most of the way to Boardman in the morning sun. There the weather was favorable, mostly clear and dry with plenty of pollen in the air, when we got to Boardman. Monday with an afternoon shower, the hay fever attack was not too bad, but Tuesday being a very nice sunshiny day, the hay fever clobbered me. I had to spend half my day watching the ball games from inside the bus. The MacHi girls made a winning sweep of the tournament, with a slight close call -Pilot Rock comeback- half way through the last game. Go Girls!!

Wednesday I was pretty whipped by the Monday – Tuesday hay fever attacks, so I spent most of the day Wednesday and part of Thursday indoors working on our Walla² Fly Fishers Facebook site.












The Facebook site is progressing well and on Friday and Saturday we had some splendid fly hatches around the ranch, so that gave me some great specimens to expand the fishing club’s site with fly hatch info.

Thursday we had a pretty horses sunset to enjoy.

Friday we also had a good day on horseback in our arena. Kittee still has a sore foot from when she sprained it a couple of weeks ago so she has been riding easy in the stirrups, and Misty and I are working more and more on leg and rein control, without using the bit very much. We were getting good at that last year before I had a wreck on Nugget and busted some ribs. Friday evening I polished off the day watching Duke win over Purdue...

This one was not a nail biter...

Saturday, we just hung out around the ranch doing one small chore after another. I have been working on our pastures, Kittee worked a couple of horses in the round pen and washed Sunny’s mane.

Sunny is an Arabian boarder from AZ and her mom Jaz has given Kittee permission to ride her through the summer. Sunny and her sister Raji have been here for almost two years, and will be returning to AZ after the summer heat wave for Jaz and family to ride.

Saturday we celebrated Summer’s eight-month birthday.

Sunday after a breakfast of sausage gravy biscuits, eggs and coffee we headed out to groom our rides for the day. Downriver Robert came up and worked on Nugget and thereafter we had a most enjoyable riding session. Again I worked with Misty not using stirrups or reins in the arena. After that bit of schooling we went out to pasture, where I found Misty a bit unwilling to follow my cues so she really got a good workout. I too enjoy these arena & field workouts as it is a time of connection with my horse, and a chance to work up a sweat for both of us. Lately I have had to downsize my blue jeans, and that is feeling better.
I did get to watch the Duke against Baylor game from the get go Sunday, that was a good game.

Once again the mountains to the east got snow capped Sunday night. Made it cool getting back on the bus, going back to work at 6:30 a.m. Monday.

So all and all, over the Spring Break I had a chance to get most of the pastures I wanted to re-sown, I got the garden sprayed with Roundup and a few rows burnt off with the Red Devil torch, and found that as the lawn grass is getting taller, that I have a dead 8-year old battery in the lawn tractor. Gonna have to go to town soon for a battery and propane.

Now with the garden ⅓ prepped, as soon as it stops raining, I can spread horse manure across the burned off rows and in a couple of weeks I will be tilling and planting... fresh veggies for '10.

And that the way it has been around the ranch
during Spring Break ’10 --- Dale

Finishing off Winter with March Madness

This past week has been busy, busy, leading up to Spring Break.
Last Friday Downriver Robert came up and did some mid-morning horseback riding, while Kittee was defending the Rights, the Wrongs, and the nearly insane, in Milton-Freewater city court. She had a good morning working with Judge Sam and hardnose Prosecutor Dave. Not long after court and my afternoon bus run we sat back, put Kittee’s foot in the air and had a beer to celebrate TGIF. Thereafter we headed out to do a split hamburger and sweet potato fries, a beer at Kelly’s for dinner. Had a wonderful dinner w/tip for less than 15 bucks… for the both of us. Now that is what I call frugal, and having fun.

Mid-Week ACC Basketball @ McKuster Ranch

When we got back home Kittee wanted to watch a movie, and I had an appointment to watch ACC basketball on our new high speed broadband Internet connection. Tonight was the second ACC b-ball game I got to watch during the past week, and since Kittee brought home a new wide screen 'puter monitor this evening it was almost like sitting in the Greensboro Coliseum in realtime. Gee, we are really enjoying our high speed cable connection with whole house wi-fi.

NCSU beats Clemson in a close one...
Yeehaa, good game, good beer

But due to our busy, busy outdoor schedule after Friday evening, I didn’t get back to watch any further ACC basketball tournament. I was really hoping to watch the Carolina and Duke games but it didn’t happen. I do plan to follow our ACC teams through the NCAA tournament play. GO DUKE!!!

Friday evening on our way back home from Kelly's we hit a few snowflakes, Saturday morning's daybreak showed snow on the eastern mountains...

Rusty coming and going... running his mini-pasture, he enjoyed
seeing the fresh snowfall on the eastern horizon

The mare herd working on breakfast after some heavy
overnight rain and fresh snow across The Blues

Saturday, we started the day with coffee in bed, Kittee's foot elevated for a day off. I went out to feed the herds, take the above pictures, then came in to put together a hardy morning breakfast of hot yellow grits with whole kernel white corn, bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, and eggs, before our farrier Kevin was to show up. Again like clockwork, Kevin was here at 9:00 a.m. to trim 60 hooves to start his day. All of this went well, with the slight exception of Summer. She wanted to be just a little testy that day, but she did A-OK for a baby horse, and holding all four feet up - off the ground.

Saturday afternoon, it was a bit chilly outside, so I spent the afternoon working on creating a Facebook page for our Walla² Fly Fishers club. That was interesting, and I hope will help keep everyone in the club posted/reminded of what's happening in our Walla Walla River Valley fly fishing world with the click of a mouse.

Sunday, another day which started much like Saturday with my feeding the herds, taking a few pictures of the new snowfall on the mountains, down to the 2000’ level, while Kittee's foot was elevated. After feeding the herds I put together a relaxed morning breakfast of hotcakes and sausage in preparation for another horseback riding day. Again Downriver Robert came upriver, caught Nugget, I called Misty in out of pasture for her tack- saddle/bridle, and Kittee brought in Derby to test ride her banged up foot in the stirrup, for the first time in a week. All went well for everyone as we had a rather slow start to this day, late breakfast, and easy riding time.

Misty and I were the only one’s to push our talents in the saddle as I ran her through the arena obstacle course as though we were chasing cattle, and racing barrels. LOTS of fun and good exercise for both of us. With our jogging, cantering, and running the obstacle course Misty did not work up very much of a sweat that day with mild air temperatures of mid-day, but when she took her saddle off she rolled. That is as much of a ritual for her as getting a scoop of sweet grain after a morning of fun run.

After Misty's after-ride-roll, she gets hugs and kisses.
Such a sweet pet, a sweet ride. We love these horses.

This past weekend everything around here was looking a bit more like spring with daffodils almost in full bloom, the willow tree in the front pasture and the lilac bush next to the house is starting to leaf out. Sunny a boarder mare was showing some signs of being in heat, and Rusty had his nose/curled lip pointed towards the sky.
Spring is in the air.








The Fairy Ring in our front yard made a complete circle this weekend.

Our afternoon temperatures Sunday were in the mid-50’s as we sit out sunning, Kittee with her feet up, while everyone had a beer to wash the arena’s riding dust out of our throats, from our late morning, mid-day riding session. Life is tough around McKuster Ranch, but someone has to be here to handle the situation.

Sunday afternoon, I sprayed our ½ acre garden area with Round Up, as the grass is growing well in there right now, and it is nearly time to burn it off and start tilling. Hope to be planting Sugar Snap Peas, chard, lettuce, etc. soon.

Monday, again after my a.m. bus route Robert and I rode horses and after my p.m. bus route I worked on fences until time to go to the watershed council meeting.

Tuesday was about the same work schedule without any horseback riding for that day. Tuesday after my p.m. bus run I sprayed 5 acres of the riverside pasture with Round Up as I will be harrow/spike raking it and re-sowing that pasture in new grass the next couple of weeks, as well as fertilizing our lower 18 acres for spring green horse munching.

Tonight's dinner- St. Patrick's Day '10, I have just put the lid on a boiling 2½ gallon pot of Irish style potlicker comprised of a corned beef brisket, potatoes, onions, 8-quarters of two green cabbage, salt and pepper. Now going out to feed the herds, with plans of a pint of Henry's Classic Dark brew and dinner when I get back in. It is now 7:00 p.m. with plenty of daylight to play in. We love Daylight Savings Time around here.

Busy, Busy, Busy as today was the last day of school before Spring Break and there is plenty to do around the ranch, pasture work, garden work, irrigation work, horseback riding, fishing, fly tying. Starting tomorrow, I have 11 days out of school--- winter is over, Spring Break is here. Gitty up!

That’s the way it is around the ranch this past week, and daylight savings time has felt GRRRRReat all week. --- Dale

Early March '10

This past weekend we stayed close to the ranch, riding and tending to our herds of horses, goats, and cats. Kittee had last Friday off ~out of court~ so we had downriver Robert come up and together we rode the arena with Derby, Nugget and Misty. It was rather uneventful, as we trotted everyone, then Kittee pulled the saddle off Derby and rode him bareback while I cantered Misty a few time halfway around the arena. Robert broke Nugget into a trot a few times. After our riding session I jumped on the school bus and made my p.m. run.

Saturday started much the same as Friday; while I prepared breakfast, Kittee went out and fed the herds. After breakfast we call downriver Robert to see if he wanted to ride with us, he did and so he came up, we groomed our horses and headed for the arena. Again we had another beautiful warm, sunshiny morning to enjoy the great outdoors. I got back to the arena with Misty first, we got warmed up and before Kittee and Robert got to the arena Misty and I were trotting the arena, and I was putting her into tight circles... to the left and to the right while staying in a trot. Misty and I are working up to making these moves at a canter run in the near future. When Kittee with Shaiela, and Robert with Nugget got to the arena, Misty and I were ready to make a couple of passes around the arena in a canter. Everyone is connecting with their steed much better now and we started talking about riding the Ole Cache Hollow Trail on Sunday, or maybe heading out across the backyard and working our way up Bowlus Hill.

After Kittee and Robert made a few laps, walking Shaiela and Nugget around the arena, Kittee had her stirrup fall off. (?) Not sure how that could happen... but it did. So Kittee stopped Shaiela and dismounted. Oppppps, in the process of dismounting she twisted her ankle and heard a snap. With that happening, Kittee politely said... OUCH! and a few other words. She instantly knew her riding was finished for this day. Kittee immediately got off her feet and put her foot up. As I went riding by, to catch and put up Shaiela, I did take a few pictures of her enjoying the morning's sunshine.

Robert and I continued to make a few more laps around the arena, but soon our riding was done so we threw Kittee on Nugget's back, hopped her to the house and passed her a beer as we tack-down and put away our rides for the day. After everything was put away and we settled back with Kittee, her crutches and a beer, Robert ask if we would like to take a break that evening and come down to have dinner with he and wife Sherry... join him in having some very smooooooth Kentucky pain reliever. We thought that would help Kittee's painfully delicate condition well.
Later in the afternoon Jennifer came out to play with and trim Ginger's hooves. Ginger is still with Kittee and I for the winter, and we consider her "our" pony even though we sold her to Jennifer for a buck. She and sister Jasmine have had a wonder winter sharing their pasture once again with the herd of goats, and visiting over the fence with Derby, Nugget, Summer and the herd of mares.
Saturday late afternoon, Kittee and I had a most pleasant evening with Robert and Sherry, watching the sunset from Robert's favorite sunset viewing station, sipping whiskey, having dinner, and then watching a BBC nature DVD. While watching the nature documentary, Sherry brought out servings of the best pineapple up-side-down cake, I think I have ever eaten. This evening of physical/spiritual therapy did work well for Kittee's ankle injury.

Sunday was our scheduled day for late winter worming of the horses. Kittee was taken out of this picture with her foot wrapped in ace bandage, and walking with crutches. Fortunately for me Robert and offered to help with our worming if Sherry had nothing else planned for Sunday. Sherry didn't, so he did. Now worming a herd of horses ~17~ is not a bad or really hard job, but it is much better when there is another set of helping hands to make it happen. Thank YOU, Robert for your help. After our worming session, Robert and I saddled up Misty and Nugget and rode for about an hour, before the wormer started kicking in and made our rides start feeling a bit puny.
NOTE: We have been keeping Goldfish in our stock tanks since last summer, just to help keep the tanks clean and eat the algae/ horse food scraps. Two days after worming, all the Goldfish in one of our mare's water tanks were dead. Reading the fine print of the pamphlet that comes with the wormer, it says that the stuff can be very hazardous to aquatic life. So we learned... the residual wormer paste in the horses mouth can KILL fish. FYI -- FTR
By the end of this beautiful late winter day, the good news was... Kittee was able to hobble around without using crutches, even though her foot was still swollen and tender. I was able to get a few late afternoon shots of the progress of the daffodil bloom late Sunday afternoon. I did notice this past Friday on my bus run, that the daffodils in town are now in full bloom. It has felt and looks like spring is here, even though Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday nights has snow in the weather forecast for here and the mountains to our east.
Monday Kittee was able to walk around in a bedroom slipper and drove to work and back home well. Sunday and Monday nights the mountains did re-cover with fresh snow. Hopefully we are on our way to getting a good 10' spring accumulation on the hills.

And that's the way it is around the ranch this week --- Dale