baby Jig.

Our friend's baby carseat was left in our car and this is what Jigs thought about that!

yes, it's true. i've been a baaaaad blogger.

It is obvious life has happened and my blog has taken a back seat for the past few months.

A lot has happened in my world since my last post, but I’m sure it has for you as well.

Let’s start off with how I fell off the blogosphere…

A few months ago it was brought to my attention that I could be doing more around the ranch. A few other things were said to me and it really got me down. It was a huge blow to my ego since I really felt and still feel like I am doing as much as I physically can. 

Besides, I wasn’t raised doing physical labor and it’s definitely not something you can learn overnight. I truly believe with time, I will feel more comfortable working around big pieces of equipment and animals that weigh more than me.

Looking back I realize I took it way too personal, but at the time I began to feel like a failure so, I backed off the blog for a while. I started to think maybe I hadn’t earned the title “Rancher’s Wife”. It took me a few months and a few good pieces of advice from some good friends to realize that I have.

Why?

Because I’m here, I’m trying and it’s working.

So, now that it’s been decided (at least in my world) that I’m not a failure I want to tell you about some recent successes!

This photo won 2nd place in the Action Category of the American Sheep Industry’s 2011 Photo Contest.

This photo made it into the 2012 Grow Your Flock ASI Calendar:

The photo above also made the FRONT COVER of the ASI National Convention brochure!

Another photo of mine made the inside of the brochure:

Not bad, eh?

I am going to try and get back in the swing of things soon, but in the meantime

thanks for sticking around!

National Hug a Sheep {winner!}

Congratulations to Janya! 

She is the winner of the National Hug a Sheep Contest!!

Here is her photo.

Janya, email me at citylifetoranchingwife(at)(gmail)(dot)(com) to claim your prize!

I apologize for being two days late on this. 
Life happened. :(

Happy Shipping Day?

Found this over at The Rustic Chick

It's shipping day at the ranch and I've contemplated writing about shipping day because it's a day of mixed emotions. I don't really know how I should be feeling about it yet.

I love all furry things and I have really enjoyed watching the lambs at the ranch grow, but the reality is that we do sell them in order to make a living. Does that make me any less of an animal lover? Is it okay that I am proud of our success in raising our first herd to sell?  Or am I expected to only feel heavyhearted?

Today, I am feeling a bit of both.

I guess this is just how it goes.

We can't keep every single one of these animals because it's just not possible and they are not our pets. Our job is to raise the lambs, give them the best lives possible and make sure they are happy, safe and healthy while in our care. I can say that we have done all this and now it is time to ship them off.

I think people take having food so accessible, for granted. It's easy to do. I'm guilty of it as well!

Today is a reminder that milk doesn’t come from the carton, meat doesn’t come from the deli and vegetables don't come from the produce section at the grocery store. These things come from farms and ranches like ours.

Found this at the Missouri Farm Bureau website.

Just know that ranchers and farmers truly care about their product(s) and it's good to remember the hard work and care that goes into making the food you eat.

{don't forget to submit your photo!}

National Hug a Sheep Day! {contest}

Crazy Sheep Lady has coined National Hug a Sheep Day and I am loving it.

This year, National Hug a Sheep Day will be on October 29th and you better believe I am celebrating it!

So, here's how we are celebrating at City Life to Ranching Wife.

No, we aren't strangling sheep despite what the picture above looks like.

We are {hugging} sheep!

All you have to do is email me a picture of you hugging a sheep (it can be any kind of sheep – a doll, a picture. Get creative!) before October 29th and you’ll be entered in my little giveaway. That's it!

What will you win?

The winner of this contest will win this sheep picture frame.

How will I pick the winner? 

I will pick the winner at random, using a random number generator like this.

So, get to hugging and send me the picture! That's it! It's simple. 

By entering you are giving consent to have your picture posted on the ever so scary internet! I don't mind linking your picture to your blog or website, either. (Just a little more incentive to enter.) ;)

Email your pictures to citylifetoranchingwife(at)(gmail)(dot)(com) on or before Friday, October 28th.
 
The winner will be announced on October 29th.

Can't wait to see the entries (and crossing my fingers that I have at least one participant)!

Wordless Wednesdays - Pups in the high country

Here are a few pictures J managed to get a few weeks before the sheep came off the mountain. 

Nell taking a break.

Handsome Wito.