The location of a proposed personal and RV storage project off Airport Road, the third storage project heard by the Planning Commission in as many months.
For most ranchers in our part of the West, a new year simply means a long stretch of feeding cattle and breaking ice on our creeks ahead.
So far, we don’t have much valley snow, so our herd can forage and it hasn’t been cold enough to freeze the creek. I always feel very lucky if I can avoid feeding until after the holidays.
We have a fair number of late ‘24 calves on the ground; but, they just might get treated like early ‘25 arrivals. So far, everyone looks healthy and happy and that’s a nice way to start the year.
I was happy to get a new pair of insulated boots for Christmas along with two pairs of flannel lined jeans. Those new additions along with my old Stormy Kromer hat, a couple sweaters and one of Fred’s old jackets should keep me warm this winter.
My dogs and kitties all have their winter coats and they seem eager to help us with all our chores. The barn cats follow us around the yard and seem to have a lot to say. The dogs all think they should go everywhere with us and absolutely love it when our feed wagon pulls out of the yard with them aboard.
The magpies have made some kind of deal with the dogs and cats for part of their kibble and spend half their days pooping on my porch. The rest of the birds have made their transition to winter and seem to be making a living on what we spill off the feed wagon. That is, except the owls and hawks. They are still hunting and looking beautiful soaring above snow covered fields.
I’d like to tell you that winter is an exciting time on the ranch; but, it’s usually best when things aren’t too exciting.
It’s best when we can get into a rhythm of feeding each morning, looking for new calves, making sure everyone is healthy and checking to be sure that all our horses are accounted for.
Then we either load up hay for the next day or come in for lunch and load hay in the afternoons.
Spare time is spent checking gates and water, and doing a few repairs in the shop. If we get a big snow, I try to plow the road before it has a chance to get too messy. We also try to keep a lid on coyotes so they don’t get the chance to prey on our new calves.
I’m no glutton for punishment, so when my outdoor work is finished for the day, I’m happy to come inside where it’s warm. Housework always awaits and Patrice and I share that and the cooking. The interior of our home will tell you that neither of us is obsessed with doing more than the basics. We both love homemade soup, and we generally make a new pot every few days. It’s a welcome winter staple for us. Patrice usually gets up before I do and has her coffee. I’m always glad when she’s already made us a fire by the time I pad my way into our living room.
Our evenings are filled with snoring, splayed out dogs at our feet and silly show off kitties, warm fires in the woodstove, good books, interesting conversations, occasional movies and almost always an early bedtime.
That’s what fills the New Year on this old Nevada ranch. It’s not edge of your seat exciting, but it’s a living, and a life; and for us, it’s darn sure better than sitting in traffic on a busy highway or spending our days in front of a computer screen.
My office has spectacular views and my coworkers; human, canine, feline, equine, and even bovine always keep me entertained or at least engaged.
Kris Stewart is a rancher in Paradise Valley, Nevada.