Sunday, October 23, 2011

Home Again

When I ask my mom about round up in days gone by from when she was young, she covers her eyes and shakes her head. Shows like Heartland might give you a romantic idea of what a round up in the mountains might look like; mercy, I tell ya, there are too many stories in the family that aren't suitable to immortalize on my blog.

The cows are home now and I'm happy my husband is back in cell reception. Things were quiet this year and went without a hitch. It was snowy and cold, that wet cold that get's down into your bones.  When we popped in to see the neighbours, the girl that was riding with them out there had a mysteriously bright looking sunburn on her neck, with nary a ray of sun in the sky, you knew it was damp - the dye from her red scarf leaked onto her skin.
They're ba-ack!
My Dad and Uncle rode up to the 'top end' one year, in minus fourty degree weather and trailed strays back into corrals down at what we call the junction. They got back to the cabins around 10:00PM and when I gasp, "you could have froze to death," Dad just says they almost did. I'm glad the ugly weather this year pales in comparison to others. As much as we know a cold snap will help bring any of the cows left wandering the bush down, I'm quite content with our Indian summer.
I love the term Big Sky. It reminds me of who I am.

One of the boys I grew up with married a lovely lady from Calgary. She always gets such a crack out of things when I say my husband is out bringing home the bulls and that I'm on pins and needles waiting for him to be back in cell reception in case I go into labour. I know she pictures me out in a sod house with the wind a' howlin' and my babes round my ankles praying for Daddy to come home. That's fine, she can picture things like that because I picture her with her homeboys in the heart of the city, waiting for her man to bring her a latte from Starbucks.

Just so you know, Rebekah, if I had a clue how to run photoshop, I would put your picture right smack in the middle of the herd with a rope in your hand and poop on your boots and send it as a post card to the unit you work on .I am going to get you out here one day to help haul water and stoke the stove and maybe you could explain to me what a dishwasher and that thing they call the tee-vee is. I'll send an invite with the pony express on Monday and maybe we'll see you and the boys sometime early January.




16 comments:

Julia said...

I just love hearing about your life! I can only imagine how you feel not being able to get a hold of your husband! Your pictures are gorgeous:).

~Julia

Allison said...

These pictures make my heart sing!

LindaG said...

What a great post.
We all have skeletons best left in the closet, I think. ;)
Glad to hear you have heard from your hubby.
I love your big sky, too!
Hope you all have a blessed week. ♥

Shirley said...

You're funny!
The cows look fat and sassy.
Here's to the simple like. I'll take the sound of cattle to the sound of traffic any day. Except, where I live, there aren't many cattle- only a couple dozen, mooing for their calves.

Unknown said...

That's wonderful to hear everyone is safe and sound at home!

Anna said...

Beautiful photos!! So glad everyone is home safe :)

Cartoon Characters said...

absolutely love your photos!! :)

I remember the brief space of time I spent in the country...the "round up" running through our front yard....then grabbing the horses and joining in... :)

Love your commentary! :)

PS are u going to show the inside of that little "playhouse on wheels"? :)

Lindsay said...

Your pictures always take my breath away! We have so many mountains around here that I am always in awe of wide open spaces and vast expanses of sky. Beautiful...

basebell6 said...

YOU LIVE IN A SOD HOUSE?! that's sooo cool!! ;)

all kidding aside, i sort of do picture your life like that, you know a bit "little house on the prairie" [do you canadians know that story?], and wish i was in your shoes sometimes!

glad no one froze to death and that the cows made it home!

Sherry Sikstrom said...

I used to love riding out to bring in the cows, we have such a small herd now I can just call them in . I don't miss the being cold part of it though

Jenn Jantz said...

haa haa haa! I love this post!!! Great writing my friend!!!

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous pictures! I want to live where you live! :)

(Love Heartland btw.. J makes so much fun of it. But the scenery is gorgeous, and I happen to enjoy the storyline. ;) )

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

Love your pics!

Brandy said...

Love your pictures and so glad everything went well. After growing up in that lifestyle all I crave is to get right back into it. Keep up the wonderful stories, I always loved when my grandparents would regal tales of ranching. It's amazing the adventures it provides!

Rebecca said...

Beautiful! LOVE the BIG sky & the wide open spaces! Much different than our neck-of-the-woods! ;)

Anonymous said...

You make me laugh. Love ya to pieces for that:-)

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