Handsome Studs, New boots & Messy Kitchen

Life On the Ranch

Getting used to writing on the blog instead of using the template for the mail... I don't really like it yet and it's a lot to get used to however we were not wanting to pay an extra $40/month to send emails that don't make us any money. That's $480 a year we can use for other ranch things so.... It will be a blog post on Fridays! I do not have enough emails in my "bank" on here to send it to everyone's email, so if you want to read it please visit our blog every Friday. Share with your friends. I am looking into some sponsors for the blog however that will take some time. Okay back to the ranchy things....

Kyrna did some CRAZY things on Ginger a couple days ago to see how she would react. We keep pushing her to her limits with support so she can grow her emotional/mental and intellectual capacity which will really turn her into a great RED MARE!

See that HANDSOME STUD Kyrna has in the picture on the right. You would think it is Prince since she has been training him for a bit now... however it is NOT! This handsome young gapher is getting his name soon: Here is our first choice... SSR THEODORE N' ORDER (Theo). He is a stud colt, 2 years old and developing VERY nicely. Kyrna took him out to "sack" him out a bit, put on the saddle and pad, groom him, work on his feet and he just loved it! Just like his brother Prince and his tank of a sire TUFF ORDER BY PEPPER (Tuffy). Tuffy was a great stallion he was calm, well mannered, respected the fence even with mares 8ft away and certainly knew how to put on a show for the ladies with his beautiful chunky self - prancing about with his high and his chest out.

Tuffy comes from 6 famous foundation horses, some of them are PEPPY SAN BADGER, DOC O'LENA & DOC BAR. Shelly, (MCR CAJUN QUEEN) also has foundation bloodlines behind her. Some of the line up on her side are POCO BUENO, LEO, SUGAR BARS and KING LEO BAR. These foundation lines have success in roping, ranch riding, reined cow horse, versatility, barrels, cutting, penning and reining (no particular order). These bloodlines create athletic movement, extreme cow sense calm temperament and sturdy high-performance horses. Once she gets Theo out into the arena we will get to see where his strengths are... however this winter spending his time with 5 lovely heifers in the pen we definitely can see he has some cutting in his future! He made sure they were all where they were supposed to be. Check out his rear end...and his chiseled jaw line... he is going to be a looker. Theo is also a 1/2 sibling to Ginger through his TOP side (Tuffy).

Since Theo is a STUD (meaning he has his testicles), Prince is a gelding (NO testicles or jewels as Kyrna likes to say) she has to be 18 years old before she is allowed to show him in horse shows and rodeos. This is to put the responsibility of his behavior on to her as when he gets to be around mares he needs to still be respectful and manageable.

Welcome to our blog! We share a lot of information about life on the ranch and also use it to teach the layman terminology and how things work here in "our world". Keep reading and if you have any questions please leave them in the comments and we will get to them as soon as we can!

SPOTLIGHT

Hudson has been in the spotlight this week as it seems like that's where all our grocery money has gone.... to him getting a new to him roping saddle and a new pair of boots since he has been wearing workboots for riding boots for 1.5 years, and had Kohen's old ones before that. However we do what we got to do to get to where we want to be. The glove in his right hand is for roping as he was starting to get rope burn a bit... and we all know that is horrible.

As you can see on the right... we spent our Friday morning organizing the cupboards to prepare for this next haying season. I can function very well in chaos... however I function optimally when my house is organized. My theory is... is that if we organize ourselves and our homes from the inside out then the outside will fall into place.... eventually. I'm sure our life has looked chaotic from those on the outside looking in however anyone who knows me knows that is not how I function. I sit in the chaos and manage it until I come up with a system that works. I then teach it to my family, and we work out the kinks... because sometimes my systems do not work for ANYONE but myself.... so, we go to the drawing board and start working!

Our goals for the kids are for them to be self-governed allowing them to have emotional regulation and have the capability to create a live they thrive in and be adaptable enough to include others in their lives and co-create with them. As you can see most of my storage containers are glass, we do our best to not use plastic.

Recommendations (Hey DAD's if you read this...it might get you a reward *wink)

Long recommendation... however very well worth the read!

There are 12 steps... I made them a bit fun to read.... BTW we do not have room for giving up in our life so when we fail at something we keep doing it until we get it. Doesn't have to be perfect however it does need a standard. Justin and the kids think I am hard on them... however I would have to say I am the most hardest on myself.

Step 1: Identify the biggest Sources of Friction ( before building systems I ask)

• What keeps repeating?

• What causes stress every week?

• What requires too much mental energy?

• What am I constantly reminding people about?

• What falls apart when I'm tired?

***** example******

• repeatedly the 3 drawers we have for containers is completely disastrous

• causes stress every DAY

• too much mental energy to dig through everything to find a DAMN container & lid that matches

• had to remind people to keep it organized (that might not change yet.... we will see)

• when I'm tired the drawers become messier....

  
  

  p.s. Justin secretly HATES the drawers because he has OCD when it comes to some things and he functions better when everything has a place

Step 2: Build Around your Real Life-Not and Ideal Life

Most systems fail because they are built for fantasy energy levels.

Build systems based on:

• Your actual schedule

• Your energy capacity

• Your children's ages

• ranch/farm seasons

• FIFO transitions

• homeschooling reality

A System should make life easier on hard days, not just work on good days.

****example*****

When dishes are put away now there is a distinctive place for everything... it's not labelled however that is our next step if they use the excuse "well I wasn't sure where to put it".... and supposedly up your rear end isn't appropriate to tell your children.

Step 3: Create "Homes" for everything

Every recurring item needs a permanent home.

• school bins

• chores supplies

• horse paperwork

• backpacks

• laundry baskets

• chargers

• storage containers

• lids

• dog leashes

• BOOTS.... BOOTS....GLOVES and more GLOVES... (tackling this next)

If something constantly gets lost, it usually does not yet have:

1. a clear home

2. an easy return path

The easier it is to put away, the more sustainable the system.

Step 4: Build Rhythms Instead of Constant Decision-Making

Systems reduce decisions.

Instead of:

"What should we do today?"

Create rhythms:

• Monday = Laundry

• Tuesday = deep homeschool projects

• Wednesday = errands

• Thursday = declutter

• Friday= prepare for the weekend in the morning, do newsletter

• Saturday=... we are everywehere

• Sunday = CLEANING DAY!

Children relax when rhythms are predictable.

Step 5: Use Visual Systems

Especially for children, visual systems work better than verbal reminders.

Example:

• chore charts.... we got one

• morning routine cards.... used to write on the mirrors in the bathroom

• animal feed check list.... on the chore chart

• homeschool schedules... yeppers

• whiteboards.... YES!

• labeled bins.... not yet... however that is the next step if these guys continually be delinquent

• hooks instead of closets... got both

Visual systems reduce:

• nagging

• forgotten tasks

• mental overload for me... the mom... the manager... the chef... the chauffer... the grocery shopper, emotional regulator, maid, wife, .... the list goes on....

Step 6: Create "Reset Points"

Home becomes chaotic when there is never a reset.

• 10-minute evening tidy (Kids have to take all of their stuff out of each room and take to their bedroom)

• reset kitchen before bed (working on this being not just my initiation considering my children are older)

• homeschool reset after lessons (check where we are at and where we want to be)

• farm yard reset (garbage first, then make sure the items are back where they belong..... unless you want to walk all the way across the pasture to get the bucket you left there.... hmmm HUDSON!!!

Your know you need a reset when you feel like you are at your wits end.... and you will know better next time to reset before you get frustrated with others and yourself.

Step 7: Put Responsibilities Into the System-Not Your Memory

If the system only exists in your head, you become the system.

Instead:

• write things down (JUSTIN)

• create checklists (JUSTIN)

• assign ownership (Me....)

• automate where possible (as we grow we need to automate to create more time so we can create a bigger farm income so we can transition Justin over)

Examples:

• shared family calendar (if Justin would look at the damn thing)

• feed charts (If Justin would pay attention when he is home)

• grocery master list

• rotating chore schedule (need to do an entire post about this)

Step 8: Assign Ownership, Not Just Tasks

Instead of "help me with the kitchen."

Assign ownership:

• one child owns dishwasher

• one owns chicken chores

• one owns garbage

• one owns the tub (KOHEN!!!)

Ownership creates competence and responsibility. I am here as a mother to make competent responsible children so they can function well in adult relationships and live a more fulfilling life instead of being focused on the mundane tasks it takes to keep life moving forward.

Step 9: Create Transition Systems

This is especially important in our life becasue we are a FIFO family (flyin/flyout)

We have systems for:

• Justin leaving

• Justin returning

• school restart when Justin leaves

• school when Justin is home

• rodeo weekends

• calving

• haying (which lasts for what seems like forever)

Without transition systems, the household constantly has to reorganize emotionally and that is what creates friction. I can write a whole book on this... and plan to.

****example****

Justin and I need time alone together as soon as he gets home even it it is just sitting in silence beside each other staring out into space.

Step 10: Simplify Ruthlessly

A complicated system is usually a failiing system.

Ask:

• Can this be simpler?

• Can this be automated?

• Can this be reduced?

• Do we actually need this?

The best systems often look:

• boring

• repetitive

• simple

• obvious

But they create PEACE.

Step 11: Review Systems Regularly

Families evolve and routines change depending on the seasons of the weather and of life. We are in constant review of systems and if we leave it too long we strain ourselves and the family. The more we are on top of this the better our life becomes. One day the system is going to be just Justin and I....

Step 12: Focus on the "Big 5" First

Do not organize everything at once.

Start with:

1. meals

2. laundry

3. chores

4. scheduling

5. paper/school mangagement (ps.. Justin will put all his recipts into a big box... we have got that far. So they are not... in the glove compartment, in the door of the truck, in the console of the truck, in the wallet... on the table....) Believe you me... this was a sore spot and when I explained to him and he got it... he followed suit and it was GLORIOUS!!!!!

Appreciation: We entirely appreciate everyone for reading our newsletters and we hope you gain something from them. We appreciate your feed back, questions and comments. Keep watching on Instagram & Facebook to cheer Kyrna on at High school Rodeo the things she is learning is fantastic. She has goals she wants to reach by the end of the rodeo season however will share them at the end. Can you guess what they are?

LAST THING: Facebook has monetized us... we made about $30 since April 1st. If you like it tap the like, leave a comment and share. We will use 100% of these funds to put back into the ranch... I have to wait until it reaches $100 before I can cash it out. I will keep you updated on what we buy and do with the $$$! Any ideas for the first $100!