Drowsy Water Guest Ranch | Granby, Colorado

Time for Ranch Chores with the Pink Marshmallow

I suppose most of us that grew up in colder climates went through some kind of mother-inflicted marshmallow phase during childhood. Peyton, our ranch 1 year old, is not exempt from the marshmallow rule. I always wondered what the deal with all the clothes was, but now that I have my own child to dress to go outside when it's 5 degrees, I get it. Here she is, the Pink Marshmallow!

and in this shot, a sneezing pink marshmallow! Bummer timing on the shot, I guess.

All decked out in multiple mommy-inflicted sweaters, coats, hats, and mittens to be out in our bitter cold weather, she is slowly learning to pull her own weight around here (all 25 pounds of it). She's learning to do some chores!

The bunny gets leftover veggie scraps from our kitchens.

So do the ducks.

And the funny little doggies accompany us to make sure that the bunny doesn't escape!

Labels: border collies, bunnies, Colorado dude ranch, dogs, Drowsy Water Ranch, ducks, dude ranch, feeding, Peyton, rabbits

Mud Season Monday from Drowsy Water Ranch

I know I've sort of fallen off course with the Monday at the Barn thing. Don't worry, the barn is still here. And as for life on the ranch, I'll say it has been typical for this part Colorado in April.

Warm.

Then Cold.

Then sun.

Then snow.

You know where that leaves us?

With mud.

This family ranch does a Jeckyl and Hyde transformation in the next few months. From a mud covered squishy and squashy patch of brown, to a green, blooming, beautiful mountain valley. We're all anxiously awaiting the latter. In the meantime, we'll be here, in the mud.

Labels: Colorado, Colorado dude ranch, dude ranch, guest ranch, Mondays, Mud

New Baby for Drowsy Water Ranch

I've said it before and I'll say it again: living on a family ranch in Colorado means you get to experience life up close. Births, deaths, traumas and triumphs are all just part of the job. Today's post is about one of the happiest (and cutest) parts of the living on a Colorado dude ranch--the babies.

We had our first baby calf towards the end of last week. She is a heifer (girl-cow) and comes from one of Randy Sue's newest cows. Isn't she just adorable? Baby cows are some of the cutest things you'll ever see at a ranch. They are all awkward and leggy but fluffy and full of energy also. It really is a shock to the system watching a baby calf run and play and hop around like a little puppy. You almost think they must be a different species than the big, slow, chubby-chicks they have for moms.

Don't get me wrong, the moms are no joke. Can you imagine getting pregnant every year, being pregnant for nine months, then having your baby in an open field laying in the snow and cold? Seems like they'd get sick of it. But, every year they guard, protect and care for their little calf with the utmost of seriousness and concern--just like any other mom. Honestly, having cows around was part of my reason to decide to forgo much medical intervention during Peyton's birth. If a cow can have baby after baby while laying down bellowing in an open field with no help, then, by-golly, I should be able to have a baby just fine in a warm room surrounded by a swarm of attendants catering to my every need. Sure, like people, it's not always that simple but cows seem to live through the experience no matter how painful it might have been. That was the lesson I learned from them and it's a lesson I wouldn't have learned if I didn't live at Drowsy Water Ranch.

Once again, I've digressed from this family ranch blog to odd topics of motherhood. Lucky for me, we have many more calfs on the way that will need ample ooh-ing and ah-ing.

Labels: calfs, Colorado dude ranch, cows, Drowsy Water Ranch, dude ranch, Randy Sue Fosha

Hijacking the DWR Blog

This is Lauren: summer wrangler and winter office assistant extraordinaire. I'm filling in for Gretta this week while she sunbathes on powder white beaches and swims in clear, turquoise waters.

I'm not jealous at all. I like to think that mud season on the ranch is a lot like a tropical paradise.

Now, I was originally going to devote this post to my fantastic wrangling abilities, my gorgeous horse, and my humility. But everyone already knows these things and there's no sense in preaching to the choir, so instead I'll leave you guys with some pictures of last summer to remind us that the mud season will one day end and that we have a beautiful, fantastic summer to look forward to.

Enjoy.

And don't worry, Gretta will soon be back to keep you updated on all the ranch happenings.