Life on a Ranch

 After a couple of full days at both high school and middle school track meets, I found myself with an un scheduled day at home. With more to catch up on that I can fit into any one day, I knew picking up groceries and the ever-present laundry situation would both need to be on the priority list. But first, a walk, because the sun was shining and the wind, well, it actually wasn’t blowing! Not yet used to the warmth of the spring sun, I over-dressed with a down vest and had to stash it in a dry culvert part way. Luckily, I remembered to pick it up on my way back home. When I walked in the driveway, Buck had just finished unhooking a trailer and stopped me. “Plan change!” He said. I wasn’t entirely sure what that meant given my lack of set plans for the day, but since it was a novel day in Union County where the wind wasn’t blowing, he suggested burning. We had piles to burn and a bunch of spring clean up to do. The never-ending limbs and sticks from our willow trees added a lot of fuel to our fire and I also had yard piles to add. The day was warmer than we’re used to; the dogs kept retreating for the shade, their tongues hanging out like it was a hot summer day. By afternoon, I ran to town to pick up groceries and Buck left for the farm. Upon my return, since I was in cleaning mode, I turned up my music and went to work cleaning out the barn. I did take a break to fill water troughs for the horses and some cows in the corral. (You’ll be glad to know the water-tank-goldfish survived another winter.) As the troughs filled, I grabbed a curry comb and brushed out any horse that wanted to come hang out with me. I love spring cleaning the horses- there is a hardly a thing in the world more satisfying than combing off their winter coats. They’re a few really warm days away from the best combing, but looking at the forecast, I imagine there will be a lot of winter coats shedding by the end of the week. Our two youngest horses and Rose, our oldest, spent the most time with me, enjoying a thorough brushing in the sunshine. The rest of the horses only have one thing on their minds: green grass. They’re ready to be turned out, but unfortunately, as ready as they are, the grass isn’t quite ready for them. After being distracted and over-flowing a trough, I headed back to the barn. Earlier in the day, Cooper claimed an old bike of Buck’s, one that had been stashed away, unused for several years. With two flat tires, he reclaimed the tubes off an old unfixable bike that I had thrown in the back of a pickup to go to the dump. In between stints of helping me, he worked diligently on the bike most of the afternoon. He figured out how to change the tubes and since Buck was gone with the shop truck and tools, he managed to find a small air compressor to fill up the tires. He oiled up the chain and washed the bike and was extremely proud when he rode it in circles around the driveway. I really love when Cooper gets on a mission like that—he’ll figure out how something works and then hunt down whatever he needs to get it functioning. I know he likes the process as much as the outcome—each new challenge (like not having the right tools) presents a chance to figure it out another way. When my work was done and every last pile was scooped and hauled, I gazed around the barn and the barnyard, feeling quite refreshed by the clean up. I turned off the barn lights, and I gimped my tired, dirt covered-self right to the house. By then, the girls were home from a variety of things they were trying to get done. Lucy has been on a mission to write scholarship essays and fill out applications, each application requiring something a little different. Meanwhile, Katelyn has been on a running mission- she’s working really hard to gain speed, namely in the open 400 meters. When I walked in the mudroom, it brought some serious joy to my heart to see them working in the kitchen. They had dinner going- steak bites cooking on the stove top and sweet potato fries in the air fryer. With a few minutes left before it would be ready to eat, I retreated to the bathtub. We’ve now entered the season where dinner can be at nearly an hour and eaten by whoever is home. We ate, then the girls kept dinner warm in the oven for Buck who ate when he made it in well after dark. ‘Tis the season! And with six weeks left before graduation, I’m on a mission to enjoy this season. For the last ten years, writing about our life in this column, we’ve made some big changes. For example, moving from the Anchor Bar to Union County, that was a big change. While outside circumstances have changed, our family life hasn’t. And somehow along the way, it didn’t seem like it ever would. But with Lucy filling out scholarship applications and writing essays about her childhood- the events that have meant the most to her, the experiences that have challenged her, the work that has built her confidence, it all hits me. On the one hand, I’m thrilled for her- she’s anxious to forge ahead and take the next steps. And on the other hand, I’m so sad. I’ve been gathering old pictures for graduation; in so doing, I’m reminded of all the adventures and experiences we’ve had as a family and I’m really thankful. It hasn’t all been perfect, but after reading Lucy’s essays, I don’t think it was ever meant to be. Up until now, we’ve transitioned together, as a family. It feels different this time because this transition is hers. And of course, I’ll let her go- I’ll cheer her on and be her biggest fan, but for now, I’m going to soak up this time and cherish the end of this season and cry while I finish writing these columns, right out here in Union County. ~Chelsea