Where We're At
Like many in the intermountain west ranching community, our lives, here at the Vineyard Ranch, in the Northeastern corner of Nevada, follow a seasonal pattern. At this time we have finished our branding until we pick the slicks up in the fall, fixed the fence that was on the ground after a good snow year, made our pre-haying/ Fourth of July float trip down the river and are now in the throes of haying.
Steve Boies and Victor Gonzalez at Hubbard field. Photo by Robin Boies
We found a cook so I am off the hook in that department. I have felt just a little guilty about not cooking this summer. I admitted this to Steve the other day and he said, “ well you’d better enjoy it, you know it won’t last.” Cooks are one of the hardest jobs to fill on a ranch. Wives are the inevitable fall back position and in theory the path of least resistance.
One project that will be taking up some of my somewhat lazy summer is this blogging/ editorializing, essay, photo opportunity provided by the WFC. I have been excited about the prospect, but panicky about what in the world I’ll do.
I do have one request for you out there and that is to tell me what you would like to know about. But please don’t ask me anything you wouldn’t ask your mother or spiritual advisor. Sometimes I may pose a question to you. In fact here’s one that you can ponder, if you had a dream for the West, what would it look like, how would it behave, what would be its goals for the future? Who and what would inhabit the land? Would it play a role in the larger world community? I guess that is more than one question.
Take your time and think about it, then write to me and share you thoughts. This is supposed to be a blog you know. Plus, I am in transition and need some intellectual stimulation out here.
