He is lucky I am a good sister and my daughter really wanted to help get the cows in. How can you deny this little face!?
It was a perfect afternoon to gather cows and have a branding.
Not sure why I am so blurred out in this picture. That is my horse Patrick and my daughter's horse Strawberry.
So glad I skipped the things I was hoping to do, and my run, and did something priceless with my daughter.
Yes, Mr President, the Department of Labor and all concerned..farm and ranch kids learn by doing and working alongside their family whether it is immediate or extended. Learning to work at a young age is not a bad thing. So glad the Department of Labor and the Obama administration listened to the rural agricultural community and dropped plans to not let kids work on farms and ranches.
When I started working in the operating room I had several people say to me "You must be a farm kid" or "I can tell you were raised on a ranch because you are such a hard worker" This is not a bad thing! Sure there were times growing up that I thought I was abused because I couldn't do things with my friends because we had to work cows or cut hay, but looking back I am so grateful for the work ethic instilled by it.
and it isn't just the work ethic I appreciate, it is the many memories formed from working with my family. Clearly the department of labor is out of touch with what goes on in the family farm.
Okay enough of a rant.
Good luck to everyone racing this weekend, I am excited to read race reports!
Ok, I love this post and getting to see more of what you do up there! Very cool :)
ReplyDeleteThanks!
Deletethis post moved me...best post by far! My entire extended family grew up milking cows, stripping tobacco, harvesting and farming...my parents had moved when married so my dad could have more opportunity as a printer...so I didn't grow up that way but learned some through them when we would go and visitoften...i LOVED THE FRAM...and when my kids go and visit Ky now from NY and we go visit "west" were everyone still is...they have a ball...but I totally get it! totally...
ReplyDeletethese pics are amazing and i think your daughter is quite lucky to being raised as such...Kuddos to you ;)
Thank you. I can't help but be passionate about it, I love it so much.
DeleteSO cool! I love that your daughter can ride a horse already, very impressive:) What a great reason to toss the "to-do" list!
ReplyDeleteI thought so. I have to lead her since she isn't strong enough to lead the horse herself yet, but she loves every minute of it :)
DeleteWhat great photos of your daughter!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I want your life! I would LOVE to live there. Your daughter is gorgeous. I can't imagine how awesome it must be to run in all that beautiful open area.
ReplyDeleteRant on! Right on! I agree with you.. and I learned my work ethic from my farmer/rancher parents and other relatives who had me stay with them when I was a kid. I loved branding time. Not only the work but I kinda liked being around all the men and boys too!
ReplyDeleteGlad you had such a great day and that your daughter was so happy too. Great pics, Christy. Love the story and so happy you shared it.
Great photos of your daughter! I have to say branding was never my favorite part of living on a ranch, but I agree with the idea of learning how to work at a young age. I know so many people who have never done any kind of physical labor in their life and it's pretty common now!
ReplyDeleteSo good to read a post from you. And thanks for posting this! I love how you share your perspective with us because so many of us that live in the city and suburbs, etc. don't see this way of life and it is great to read. I think this hard work is benefiting your kids in soooo many ways. More people need to teach their kids to have have a strong work ethic! Your little girl is so cute!
ReplyDeleteMy kids want to learn how to ride horses, but it's hard to find an inexpensive option for little kids when you live in the city (and I'm not much of a rider myself). Your kids are lucky and seem on the way to being as much help to you as you were to your parents!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great post! Your little girl looks super happy! :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous area!
ReplyDeleteAs far as the bluriness on the photos, if you notice it is on the same spot just right of center for each of them, so it is likely a smudge on the camera lens itself and just needs a quick wipe.
Your daughter is adorable. She looks like she is having great fun "working"!
ReplyDeleteAw, what a nice day with your daughter.
ReplyDeleteMy parents owned their own business when I was growing up, and I was raised to help the family from day one. When I was about 13, the government imposed child labor laws, even if you were part of the family, but the rule was if you WERE part of the family, you had to be 12 (otherwise, I think it's 16?), so I still had to work.
I don't think it did me any harm. I am a hard worker; I rarely sit and watch TV; I am always looking for something to do. Relaxing just wasn't a habit growing up, as there was always work to do. However, I do remember resenting my parents for not letting me go and have fun, especially in the summer which was our busiest time, but was when all my friends were going swimming at the river and stuff like that!
What a cute little cow girl! I agree with you, even though I didn't grow up on a farm and don't have children yet. If kids don't learn at an early age that things in life aren't a given and instead have to be earned and maintained, then it's hard for them to learn that as an adult. I grew up in a very prominent suburb where children were often gifted things for no reason growing up, and it was rare that teenagers had jobs or responsibilities. Now most of my peers, at nearly 30 years old, are still living at home with their parents unemployed. Coincidence? I don't think so...
ReplyDeleteYou daughter is so sweet. I love that her horses name is Strawberry and she had on the cutest little pink top. Adorable.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter is just absolutely adorable. Especially in the cowboy hat. Running is fantastic, but sometimes time with family has to overrule it! Believe me, as a teacher, I so wish my students had even the tiniest bit of work ethic instilled in them, because they are so entitled and lazy that it's maddening. Don't share this blog comment with my boss :).
ReplyDeleteaw love seeing this side of your life and those pics are great!
ReplyDeleteA 22 mile run, you are crazy!!!! Congrats my friend :) A new "christy world record" as I like to say!
ReplyDeleteAnd I love how people at work admire and comment on your strong work ethic, I'm not surprised :)
I think you have a smudge on your lens. I always envy the ranch families here in Texas. They are part of such a rich local history- and they all know each other. Its like a big family I will never really know much about.
ReplyDeleteWe have some acreage fun dont farm or do animals so when my kids whime about picking up garbage that blows into the pasture I often feel like a terrible mother. HA!
LOVE BRANDING!!!! They start next weekend around here and Ill be in Lincoln for the race, but there are plenty. Do you all share help and do a big meal after for everyone?? Its my favorite time of year, we brand on May 15 and always have a ton of kiddos, all horseback, riding and chasing cows. They get down and wrestle. Im thankful the govt realized that our kiddos are learning LIFE lessons...ones that so many of the politicians could have stood to learn when they were young themselves.
ReplyDeleteOh she looks so darn cute and looks like she is loving it!
ReplyDeleteYou're like a real cowgirl! Crazy!
ReplyDeleteWow you live in such a beautiful area! The scenery is just breathtaking!
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures - she's too cute on that huge horse:)
ReplyDeleteI love this post! I'm so grateful for everything I learned being a farm girl and the memories of growing up on a farm really are priceless.
ReplyDeleteThat precious smile on your girl's face is priceless.
ReplyDeleteI love that horse's name "Strawberry."
THis is such a wonderful post because I Get to see what it is like up there. I think kids should be put to work (not mean, child labor) but just work (like milking cows, picking peas, stacking wood). It is important to teach them good values like consistent, hard work, good work ethics, and love for their family. These are values you cannot learn by merely opening up a book. I'm glad you got to have such a good day with your family.