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