Exercise at the Ranch
By Cheryl L. McClure
There are so many things to do at the ranch that require healthy activity. Walking, gardening, working in the barn and cleaning out stalls, for example.
Jan Paul does a lot of walking at the ranch. He is constantly checking on cows, fencing, building structures, planting, mowing or baling hay, moving hay or working on one of the dams.
I like gathering wood and having bonfires!
But my main focus is on the garden which started out as a spot to bury the family horse, Buzzard. She was an old horse that belonged to Jan Paul's mom and she lived a long, full life. She came to live with us in her later years and one day was bitten by a snake, which caused her to become swollen in the mouth area and she lost a good portion of hide on her neck. Jan Paul doctored her up and took such good care of her, nursing her back to health. You couldn't even tell where she had lost the hide because it grew back, fur and all! In her last year, the freezing temps were too much for her and she had to be put down.
We found a perfect spot to honor her life and decided to plant a Bald Cypress on top of her plot. Then, we decided some flowers would be nice around the tree, then some pathways and a fence to keep the donkeys from eating the flowers and the tree! Hence, the Pickle Creek Ranch Botanical Garden!
Jan Paul does a lot of walking at the ranch. He is constantly checking on cows, fencing, building structures, planting, mowing or baling hay, moving hay or working on one of the dams.
I like gathering wood and having bonfires!
But my main focus is on the garden which started out as a spot to bury the family horse, Buzzard. She was an old horse that belonged to Jan Paul's mom and she lived a long, full life. She came to live with us in her later years and one day was bitten by a snake, which caused her to become swollen in the mouth area and she lost a good portion of hide on her neck. Jan Paul doctored her up and took such good care of her, nursing her back to health. You couldn't even tell where she had lost the hide because it grew back, fur and all! In her last year, the freezing temps were too much for her and she had to be put down.
We found a perfect spot to honor her life and decided to plant a Bald Cypress on top of her plot. Then, we decided some flowers would be nice around the tree, then some pathways and a fence to keep the donkeys from eating the flowers and the tree! Hence, the Pickle Creek Ranch Botanical Garden!
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The Pickle Creek Botanical Garden is a nice little spot at the ranch that I like to garden in. Sometimes. Well, not in the middle of summer when it's 100+ degrees outside. Then, I usually let it do what it wants to do and it's survival of the fittest.
The bluebonnets come forth early and then the iris bloom along with the Larkspur. We have some native grasses that are such a pretty blue green color. Then there are the Black-eyed Susan, Indian Blanket, Blue Mist flower, Mexican Hat, Echinacea and Salvia, just to name a few. Anything that does not require much attention and is happy with little rain does great in this garden.
By the end of last year, it looked pretty sad especially since I did not spend as much time at the ranch as I usually do. Come springtime we will want to enjoy flowers again and that means I need to schedule my work days ASAP while everything is dormant. Like right now!
The bluebonnets come forth early and then the iris bloom along with the Larkspur. We have some native grasses that are such a pretty blue green color. Then there are the Black-eyed Susan, Indian Blanket, Blue Mist flower, Mexican Hat, Echinacea and Salvia, just to name a few. Anything that does not require much attention and is happy with little rain does great in this garden.
By the end of last year, it looked pretty sad especially since I did not spend as much time at the ranch as I usually do. Come springtime we will want to enjoy flowers again and that means I need to schedule my work days ASAP while everything is dormant. Like right now!
Before Phase 1
So… while Jan Paul is out working the fields or the dams or whatever, I'll concentrate on my project. I shall call this exercise program "Phase 1" at the Pickle Creek Ranch Botanical Garden. LOL!! Talk about aerobic exercise. I may not be jumping up and down but when I want to get the most out of the day and the goal is to seize the moment, I work as fast as I can. You see, the weather could change any time so I will get out there, pulling, hoeing, digging, raking, toting and carrying the dead plant matter out of the garden - and I don't want to stop until I am done with "Phase 1"!
After Phase 1 Complete (Yay for me!)
At least now, I can see where the bluebonnets are starting to emerge. You can bet I am sore at the end of this workout, so I am happy to have my Deep Relief on hand! Won't hurt to take a long hot bath when I get home either!
I'm looking forward to "Phase 2" and that's when I'll do a more detailed cleanup and start thinning the seedlings that are popping up in the pathways and in the beds. It's a lot of work but I enjoy the solitude and the songbirds in anticipation of the coming spring blooms.
Any kind of activity is good so if you don't go to a gym, get out in nature wherever you can! Watch for the birds, breathe in fresh air, find flowers and smell them!!
One more walk with the cat down to the pond and I think I'll call it a day.
Have a good one!
Cheryl @ Pickle Creek Ranch
Any kind of activity is good so if you don't go to a gym, get out in nature wherever you can! Watch for the birds, breathe in fresh air, find flowers and smell them!!
One more walk with the cat down to the pond and I think I'll call it a day.
Have a good one!
Cheryl @ Pickle Creek Ranch
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