Back Up "Hired" Help

Being a ranch wife means alot of things. Among things like gate guards, errand girl (only screwed up rake teeth once, yeah me!), chef (ok, not one I participate in as of yet) and back up hired help.

Well.....not sure about the hired part but back up help for sure.

This happens to be one of my favorite parts.....I love,love, LOVE being "another body" when we move cows, and I am very happy driving out into the hills to check water. Today I found my way into the hayfield.


I didnt mind, I volunteered for the job and I was happy to do it. It wasnt terribly hot, the wind was cool and blowing (for Shawn is was a royal pain, but perfect for me and my mission) and I wasnt out there that long.


The most amusing part when when hubby was "teaching" me how to drive the tractor. The conversation went something like this:


Me:Turn the key to start it?
Him:No, just push this button over here


Me:Where are the brakes?
Him: Over there but they dont really work so just use the clutch *Got it..clutch to stop*


Me:How come Im not moving?
Him: Take it out of Neutral and put it in Low.
Me: It is out of Neutral and on Low *duh, I do know that much*
Him: Well, push it a little past Low, till it stops moving...dont worry about the grinding sound, just keep pushing until it starts to move....about 1/2 between Low and High but closer to High *great...grinding is an OK sound*


Him:Make sure the discer is up when you turn the corner
Me: Ok, how do I do that?
Him: Push this lever under the seat down to move it up and up to move it down, but not to far down because then it wont work, just a little ways down and a little ways up...just try it until you see it move but make sure you are watching where your going at the sametime, dont hit the fence when you do that. Make a sharpe turn, but not to sharp, dont want to clip the discer on the tires.
Me: OK. Watch discer behind me yet watch where I am driving at the sametime...check. *Keep in mind that I am 7 months pregnant, so the lever UNDER the seat is not in the easiest place for me to reach. That whole bending at the waist thing....*

Me:What do I do if I see a critter?
Him:Run it over but only get the porcuppines with the discer not the tires. The quills will go right through the tires and that bad. And expensive.
Me: Ok, avoid critters.
Him: No, run them over, just not with the tires.
Me: Like I said, avoid critters.
Him: OK.

All in all, it was a success!! The rows were fairly straight and I didnt miss many areas. I didnt hit a fence, snag the discer on the tires, or hit a critter. I did get 2.5 hours outside of my house, away from my kiddos, without TV or my cell phone. I had my I-pod but the battery died so after an hour, it was just me and sounds of the wind and the tractor. I was dirty, wind blow and sunburned and happier then I had been in awhile. Its amazing what a break will do for a mom/pregnant chick. An afternoon outside without any crying or diapers or food in hair (mine and his) does wonders for my mental health. I am sure there are lots and lots of cowboys who would disagree with me but to bad boys, thats my story and I am sticking to it!