The Writing Rancher

It’s very dry here at the Blum Ranch–a condition not unique to our central South Dakota location😕

Though green, the grasses seem to have stalled. Hot, dry winds suck any moisture we hoped to have right from the ground.

Yet, this morning a little sprinkle went through! It didn’t register in the gauge, but even the smallest amount of moisture refreshes the earth and fans our flames of hope🌈

Our spring planting is underway. Branding time is around the corner.

With each day, we prepare for the possibility of another drought year by living in our faith and hope!

#WeAreRanchers #SDbeef

As my husband comes home hot, tired, and filthy–especially on windy, dirty, dry days like today–I find myself feeling guilty for my uselessness. There is so much work to do on any given day!

Alas, I am resigned to not being helpful outdoors, and I have found myself searching for the good.

A silver lining in my injury cloud has become quiet time with our kids.

Our middle son and I have nearly finished reading a special book, which has allowed me to really know him as a growing boy.

Our youngest son catches me up on school and ranch happenings before kissing me goodnight on the forehead.

Our oldest son has hung out on the couch with me to watch fitting and clipping videos on YouTube, and our daughter has shared more of her school girl life in two weeks than she has in two years.

This down time will only be a blip in our big picture. However, I hope being forced to slow down and listen makes choosing to live in the little moments easier once we’re back to work full force!

#WeAreRanchers

Ranching from the window and parenting from the couch are no longer on my bucket list😂

This not-dreamed-of experience makes me long for dirty days in the outdoors, but it’s also given me time to reflect on the “why” of what we do.

Ranching is not easy. It’s not simple. It’s not understood. We do not live by the clock or a day on the calendar. Yet, there is an idyllic romance in our work that fuels the core of ranching’s importance in our world.

There are few greater feelings than those stirred up when you ride through the pastures to see and hear only the peace of cattle grazing while birds sing and wildlife plays. There is pride and hope in our work when you see someone who has never experienced ranching light up with appreciation because we took time to answer their questions.

Caring for cattle and the land is what we do every day, but people and our relationships with them are at the core of why we do it.

We ranch because we care about people–your family, our family, meat-eaters or not.

#WeAreRanchers

☆☆“Health is not valued until sickness comes.” ~Thomas Fuller☆☆

As ranchers, our work is up, down, and influenced strongly by people who have never done it, so an open, grateful heart dedicated to a bigger purpose is required. Yet, even we who are grateful take pieces of our life for granted.

We weathered the April 13 blizzard fairly well. What could have been tremendous loss was not. We gave thanks, rejoiced, prayed for those who didn’t fare as well and went back to work.

Then, instead of our herd falling sick due to storm complications, someone else was taken down…ME!

As we finished barn chores on April 19, I had a freak accident, which resulted in my right ankle being dislocated and shattered🙁

Seven days on the couch, three hours of surgery, and the perfect mix of pain pills mean I’ve got 14 more days on the couch, nine screws, one plate, and weeks of changed plans to contemplate!

Our bump in the road is minor and inconvenient; it is also a gift of time and perspective. Prayers for patience, purpose, and growth are appreciated!❤

#WeAreRanchers

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” ~Proverbs 22:6

No matter the paths our children take, I pray they journey with faith, compassion, and joy. I pray we are raising them to appreciate the rewards of hard work and the nobility in an honest day’s work.

Our profession gives them opportunities few others can; yet, it also requires sacrifice.

There is so much to learn and gain from what we do each day, and I am grateful for our little helpers!

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#WeAreRanchers

Today, we drank coffee!

Morning dawned with a fresh batch of snow, but this round was different–warmer, calmer–than last Friday’s blizzard.

The Rancher’s early morning check revealed nothing new or in need. Then, we all exhaled what felt like a lifetime of tension.

We did chores as a soft snow felt. Cattle grazed the pastures. Calves bucked and jumped around the cows.

By mid-morning, chores were done. Nothing needed extra help for the first morning in awhile. So, for an hour, we sat at my mother-in-law’s kitchen table and caught up.

It felt good to breathe, to laugh, to relax together. When we all returned to the work of our day, it was with renewed strength … fueled by a little coffee and a lot of love!

I know this wasn’t the kind of morning waiting for a lot of our rancher friends, so when your turn comes, I pray you enjoy every ounce.

#WeAreRanchers

As the sun shines again today, we can all enjoy a chilly but needed reprieve before another round of winter weather!

Our animals are resilient and came through the weather well.

Ranching is often an isolating, misunderstood way of life, so all the prayers and kind words really mean a lot!

#PrayersMatter #WeAreRanchers

What a humbling 24 hours!

Like the trees we planted, we are tattered and tired yet standing strong.

Uncertainty remains as we begin the work of keeping our herds healthy after such stress. But, we are grateful for all the prayers, encouragement, and help!

The late afternoon sunshine was a beautiful, appreciated reminder of God’s grace.

Please continue to remember all those ranchers and animals facing Mother Nature’s fury.

#PrayersMatter #WeAreRanchers

Tonight we quit. Not because we wanted to…because we had no choice.

The blowing snow and dark made safely locating anymore newborn calves in need impossible.

As I drove out of the last calving pasture, I cried, said a prayer, rubbed the calf on my lap, and wished the girls good luck.

Our life is hard to understand, especially if you have no experience with raising livestock.

But, we really do give all we can to taking good care of God’s creatures, and we appreciate your prayers.

Snow-covered cows in this spring blizzard cause us worry, but the snow cover also indicates healthy, well-insulated cattle whose bodies are keeping them protected.

#PrayerMatters #CattleTales #BeefMagShares #WeAreRanchers

Daddy’s hands take care of us all!

This baby was born with complications. We worked together to save him, but even our best efforts weren’t good enough.

As my husband and I attempted to save another calf, I couldn’t help but think about how much ranchers have in common with nurses and emergency workers.

Our patients differ, but our commitment to saving every life does not. We have brought calves back from the brink of death, rejoiced in that blessing, only to have them die from fluke, unrelated accidents.

Like nurses, ranchers also suffer exhaustion, burn-out, and lack of appreciation. Yet, we forge on.

Our way of life isn’t easily understood by many, but please know, our way of caring for you hinges on taking care of our animals!

#CattleTales #SpringBlizzardPrayers #WeAreRanchers