End of September Ranch Ramblings - and the cow did not Jump over the moon

The Top Five signs that Autumn is upon us and doing what she does best:

1. Fall colours are in full bloom on the ranch
2. the "Rookie" of the crew is willing to pose with the foliage
3. the harvest moon has been round and plump the last few days 
4. the heifers look pregnant (thanks to Bull-Jolais and Pendelton) and refuse to Jump over the moon,   
5. and, the Canadian geese have purchased their tickets to fly south! 

Young Master Rook at the entrance of his ranch with his fall foilage

The Rookie tracking the scent of a moose across our entrance of gold

Rook says "Slow down working dogs on property"

Rook says "Hey boss, I think the cows are looking a bit chunkier"

Goodnight Moon; Goodnight Bull-Jolais

Bye geese

Goodnight Rook:-)

Fall Training with the youngster of the Crew & A Sweet Remembrance

Fall is starting to enrich us with some splashes of colour on the ranch. I am a huge fan of fall and wish it could last forever. My "Rookie" in the crew has been working hard with more ranch chores. I have been working on slowing his pace down when asked to do some of the chores that he can get too eager about and cause a bit of stress on the stock. Teamwork is essential. As a youngster in the crew, he is progressing like our seasons and I can't imagine working with any other "Rookie".

Some pics of fall training and memories of the past of Rook's sire "Macc" and soulmate Larry with the training of "our Crew". As I always say" many miles before we sleep." Larry would have loved to work with the Rookie of this crew:-) 

One of Master Rook's favourite ranch chores is to help me bring out the minerals to the herd. I bring them out on my quad roped in a bucket. He does his duty at keeping them at bay until I unstrap the bucket since they do like to congregate at my quad and try and push off the bucket before I can put it into their trough - thanks Rookie!

Master Rook watches over the herd while I get back on my quad.

That'll do boy! We have more work to be done. I like this pic because I can call him off nice and calm and one can see my lakes in the background. 

This is Rook heeling at my quad while I try and take a pic. I am teaching him to do this so we can work together on the rounds as a team. I am working on his pacing here asking him to slow down -  nice work here buddy!

Here I am asking him to do an easy and slow it down to a  stop - notice the footwork:-) He is looking out to his herd before we carry on to check the fencing on the west side of the quarter. 

Miss Lulu B number 13 and number 30 among the falls colours - and if you look closely there is another Lulu B behind number 30 - I did not notice it until after the photo - you have to look closely. Number 30 is definitely one of my lead bossy gals:-) 

Our bovine brigade showing off the early fall fashion - and I am hoping that all are pregnant!

Rook Loves to rodent hunt  like his crew gals Ash and Cybelle -  here he is on the hunt like an ostrich burying his  head in the ground  on his homefront. I think he caught a few for a snack before supper!

A proud Rookie with his herd

And there is nothing like Fall back in my home province of Ontario. But, no complaints on our beautiful weather in AB. I Just miss those spectacular fall colours back home. A few nostalgic pics back east on fall hikes with the Crew .

Me and my crew members "Macc" & "Cybelle" back in Ontario on a glorious fall day 

"Cybelle" with  her puppy boy "Tungsten" on the left with sire "Macc" on the right on a beautiful fall day in Ontario

"Macc", "Rook's" sire among the beautiful red fall foliage

Our good friend Gordon from Toronto on a hike with the crew members "Macc" & "Cybelle" on a fall hike in ON

Fall time "Macc" in Ontario

And in keeping with the fall training theme on this post - here are a few pics taken in fall 2006 in Ontario of Rook's sire "Macc" and Larry at sheep herding lessons. Macc is practising his pen work where he has to bring the sheep out of the pen into the large field. Macc always loved "chore" work. 

Rook's sire "Macc" waiting in line for fall sheep herding lessons in Ontario

"My boys" Gone but never Forgotten - Larry & Macc having some downtime between lessons. I am sure they are working together taking care of the sheep and cattle up above me in the ocean-wide sky.

Click Here to view a Tribute of our Rook's sire Macc

Catching up with the Country Sisters "Ash & "LL"

Asherah "Ash" & Lacy Lue "LL" live across the border. LL lives in Fromberg, Montana on a sheep ranch and her sister Ash in Raven, Alberta lives on a cattle ranch. LL's owner Annabel sent me some recent pics of Ash's sister and her Montana crew members "Jake", "Trixie" and "Mackenzie". Can you see the resemblance in the beautiful Canaan sisters?

Thanks Annabel for sending the pics of beautiful Miss LL! The girls seem to share that  "easy breezy cover girl" look and their love of their big backyards:-) The "country sistahs" will turn four year's of age this January.

Some pics of the "country sistahs" at home with their livestock and their crews

Miss LL Miss LL on her homefront in Montana - she has that "easy breezy cover girl look" like sister Ash

Miss Ash on her homefront in Alberta

Miss LL watching over her kingdom

Miss LL keeping watch on one of her bales

Miss Ash on her homefront

Annabel and her beautiful girl "LL" 

Miss Ash

Miss LL

Miss LL

Miss Ash

Me and my beautiful girl "Ash" after a day of tracking

Miss Lacy Lue with her Canaan crew member "Jake" on an irrigation night walk 

Miss Ash with her Canaan crew member "Rook" watching over their herd while I fix some fencing

"Cowgirl" Ash helps our neighbour by heading off a bossy heifer who did not want to be corralled

Miss LL with her crew member "Trixie"

Miss Ash with her crew member Diva"Cybelle"

Miss Ash having a bit of R & R with young Master Rook

Easy breezy cover girl Miss LL 

Easy breezy cover girl Miss Ash

Miss Ash putting up with young bratty boy Rook

 Miss Ash & her free-range grass-fed herd on a beautiful September day - a good cowgirl always keeps an eye on the bossy one in the line-up as I bring out their minerals

Ash looking satisfied after helping to move the herd to their new grazing zone

Ash as a pup training on moving her first calf

LL's Montana Ranch crew members "Jake" & "Trixie" on the hunt for the skunk inside the irrigation pipe - fun on the farm:-)

Miss Ash with crew member "Rook" last summer on the ranch

Miss Ash says "will this brat ever leave me alone for some peace and quiet!"

Miss lovely LL with Canaan Crew member Master"Jake" on their Montana ranch

Miss LL's other Crew Member Miss "Mackenzie" watching over the moms and babes - what a fantastic photo of a guardian stockdog!

Miss Ash with her Lulu B. Bovines

Miss LL with her woolies

Miss "Ash" says "cheers!" from Alberta to her country sister  "Lacy Lue" & her Crew in Montana

For early ramblings about the Country"Sistahs" CLICK HERE

To View a Video of Ash With Her Canaan Crew Members CLICK HERE