Puppy Love

It's no secret I love my red dogs, Ranger and Rori. When our friends come over to cook out or just hang out, the dogs are the main entertainment. They have giant personalities, and I love them for it. Ranger and Rori are half-siblings, out of the same female. Both came from my mom in Sallisaw, Oklahoma. She raises great Australian Shepherds and I'm glad I own two (well, one and a half since Rori is only half Aussie) from her. I visited my mom this weekend, and as it happens, she had the latest litter of Aussies for me to play with.

Take note of me trying to keep my camera from them. I <3 Aussies!

The world would be a better place if we could all play with Aussie puppies every day. Since that isn't possible, here are some photos for everyone to enjoy.

These four boys are all still available for loving homes. For more information, contact Stephanie Nelson at (218) 280-0761 or www.thecedarcreekranch.com.

Grow Up: Farm Week in Review

"Grow up!" is a phrase I can remember calling out to many of the boys during elementary school. It is also a phrase I use with my husband some days, and it generally goes something like this: "Stop acting like a child! Grow up and pick up your clothes from the floor." In all seriousness though, why is it so hard for men to use hampers instead of the floor? I just don't get it.

On the farm this week, "growing up" has taken a different meaning. Our wheat is coming out of the ground and growing up, thanks to a shot of rain and a quick pass of the irrigation sprinkler. The cotton, despite a very challenging season, is finally beginning to reach maturity. Yesterday, three cotton strippers (yes, you read that right - strippers) drove by my house so someone's cotton must be ready in the neighborhood. We have also been watching the calves growing up, and once corn harvest wraps up, they will be expected to act like real "grown ups" and start their new lives away from their mamas. After the rain shut the planting and harvesting down, the guys had time to fence a field of corn stubble in preparation for the cows once the calves are weaned off. The cows really love cleaning up any corn left behind, and I'm guessing a full stomach helps them keep their minds off their bawling calves.

Much like last week, the middle and end of this week have seen the combine harvesting corn, and the wheat drill running full force. Our early corn should be finished soon (next couple of days). Most of the early wheat will be planted by next week, attempting to take advantage of the little bit of moisture we got over the past weekend. Hopefully, we will have lots of wheat to tell to "grow up."

Hotwire running around a field of corn stubble. The cows will get turned out on this field once their calves are weaned.

Baby Wheat! Baby Winterhawk Wheat to be exact!

We have plenty of emergence left to happen, but so far, so good.

Cotton boll opening up - almost ready for the strippers!

Red Dog Rori in the cotton field. She had to accompany me while I went out to take wheat and cotton photos. Such a good helper!

Red Dogs Do Harvest Photography

Anyone who knows me knows I've got a weird love/obsession for two fur children (also known as dogs). I talked about Rori when I first moved down to Texas so if you'd like some background on the original "Red Dog," read about Rori, the Tractor Copilot.

As for the other Red Dog, Ranger is a half-sibling to Rori and came to live with Royce in February. He is (most days) Royce's dog, and much like Royce, he's a happy-go-lucky puppy who loves to play in poop, cool off in stock tanks, chase sprinklers and cuddle with me. Ok, I'm not sure Royce loves playing in poop, but he does it fairly often. The rest are accurate to both individuals. Ranger is the epitome of "Farm Dog," except for being scared of cows. Apparently he never got the memo that Australian Shepherds are supposed to be herding dogs. Due to his farm-dog ways, Ranger is frequently getting baths, of which he is not fond. Despite his dirt, stink and habit of stealing things, we love this guy to death. And it isn't even just Royce and I (you know that whole "being required to love him because he's yours" thing). The entire clan loves him, so he must be pretty special.

The Red Dogs are obsessed with "going," whether it is to work with Royce, to the barn with me, or anything else. They don't mind the method of "going" either, but I think they prefer the ATVs. Just a hunch I have. So when I was heading out to photograph harvest, they obviously wanted to go too. They were even happier when we made the transfer from my pickup to the Polaris Ranger. (Yeah, I know. Ranger rides the Ranger. It's confusing. Blame Royce.) Because I'm a good dog mother, I ended up with almost as many photos of them as I did of the actual harvest. Go figure. Here are some of my favorites.

Ranger: "Uhhh, Mom, those cows are awfully close. Can we maybe move on now? Please?"

Rori: "Get away, you fat cows. Don't make me come out there." 

Ranger (sitting shotgun) and Rori in their wheels of choice, the Polaris Ranger

Angry Ranger.

Rori has definitely reached the point in her life where she doesn't see the need to pose pretty for photos. I am now required to use buzzwords, like "hungry" and "wanna go" to even get one ear halfway forward.

Ranger hasn't figured out the camera thing yet. "Look cute? Of course Mom!"

Remember my mention of the entire clan loving Ranger? Well, here's proof. Granddad lets Ranger ride on his Gator and smiles about it!

Do you have a dog that loves to go? What is their favorite place to visit, or is it really just the journey?