Thursday, September 06, 2018

Fencing project...

 I don't know where this bucket came from, but we use it for clips and markers.
 
 
 Fencing supplies
 
Black Swallowtail
 
 
 Steel H-braces should last a long time
 
 Fencing completed with white sage grouse markers.
 
The men have been working super hard these past weeks on new fence.  They've been tearing out very old woven-wire fence in order to put in 5 barb fence that will not only keep livestock in or out, but is also beneficial to wildlife.  The smooth wire on the bottom will allow antelope to duck under the fence without being hurt and the white markers you see on the fence are there to protect Sage Grouse from flying into the fence and being harmed.    This is a big project that will be worked on over seven years, and we are pretty excited about it.  We live in an area where there is a population of Sage Grouse that has been diminishing over many years.  There has been much debate about why, but our state is taking  a pro-active approach to protecting the birds in case the federal government would list them from being "protected" to "endangered."  In that case, our ranching situation could greatly change.

My job is somewhat small, but still important.  I help with clipping wires onto the steel T-posts.  It's one of those "up and down" jobs where I stand upright for a short time and gradually go into a squat in order to clip each of the five wires down on the post.  And let me tell you, there are a lot of steel posts to clip.  I don't do this job alone, and in fact, I decide when I've had enough of the job as my 56 year old hands and knees tell me it's time to stop.  I also help with putting the sage grouse markers on the fence.  That is a much easier job that just requires walking the fence and pushing them on in between the fence posts.  It's like putting the last finishing touches on a Christmas tree. We will work for the remainder of this week on the project and then the men will start on building a shed.  There is a lot more fence to do and I think they hope to move to another area to fence, but at the moment, the rattlesnakes are worrisome since there is tall grass in the fence line that they want to remove and replace.  It'll cool off soon enough this fall and then they will commence on that project once again. 

As I walk along out there on the prairie, I am reminded of how very blessed I am that God transplanted me and put me here.  It is a hard land, a land of extremes, and a rugged place for man and beast to live, and yet there is a beauty in it all.  I love this place, I love this land, I love all that I am surrounded by, and I know that it is all a gift from The Creator.  I say to Him, "Thank you, from the bottom of my heart."

Thanks for stopping by today!  I have been quite absent from the blog lately, but there is so much to do right now in the last days of summer and the beginning of fall.  They are days that seem so full.  The garden is ripening and requires  attention and canning projects.  Salsa is the "product of the day" out here.  The DILs and I have been putting up a beautiful salsa recipe with all the tomatoes and peppers.  I'll share it below.  It's really so delicious.  It reminds me of the salsas that are served in authentic Mexican restaurants. 


Salsa 

10 cups chopped tomatoes
8 jalapeno peppers chopped (or as many as you like)
3 cups chopped onions
1 cup chopped green peppers
3 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup chopped cilantro (opt)
1 1/3 cups vinegar
1 can tomato paste (6 oz)
1 tsp. cumin
1 Tablespoon red pepper flakes
3 Tablespoons pickling salt
3 Tablespoons brown sugar


I blitzed tomatoes in the blender, then did the same with the onions, peppers, garlic, vinegar.
Simmer all ingredients for 1 hour.  Try to cook off as much water as possible.
Ladle into hot jars & seal.  Process in hot water bath for 10 to 15 min.

25 comments:

  1. I'll have to share your salsa recipe with my dil. She's the garden/canning queen in our family. You have been working hard. That's an interesting pro-active approach and I hope it works well. Blessings!

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    Replies
    1. We ate part of a jar of salsa tonight and it was sure good. I hope your DIL tries it.

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  2. Wow, you guys do fencing on a huge scale! I do remember clipping barbed wire to steel posts in the "olden days", but only around a few acres. I wouldn't mind joining you...for a while, lol. Good work!

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    1. My hands are "feeling it" tonight. I hope a night's rest will help.

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  3. Using a blender would make Salsa a lot easier to do. I must remember that trick. Chopping the onions etc by hand is a long job.
    What a good idea to put a smooth wire on the bottom row of fencing so the antelope don't get hurt.

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    Replies
    1. The blender was a great help and I like the texture of the salsa too.

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  4. I wish I had some tomatoes for salsa. I'm afraid I will be salsa poor this year. I made three jars of peach salsa and already gobbled one up. I didn't mind clipping the fence posts, but I still whine like a baby when it comes to digging post holes. We put up some fencing around the orchard and it took me awhile to remember how to clip. I never thought I'd forget how to do that when I was a kid. I am anxious to hear if the new fencing helps wildlife numbers. We used to have tons of ruffed grouse here, but I haven't seen one this year.

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  5. P.S. I love your bucket. I may have to paint that quote on the walls of my school.

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    1. That would be a good quote for a school room! Maybe you can find some tomatoes at a farmers market and get rich in salsa!

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  6. I am glad you took long enough of a break to share this post and share your thanks to God! We must always take time to thank Him for His good gifts, mustn't we? And though my gifts are so very different from yours, there is a bond in praising our God, Father, Saviour, and Friend!

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    Replies
    1. So true, Susan! Today I was asking Him for a breeze so it wouldn't be so hot, and He delivered. Praising God makes the work so much easier.

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  7. I am glad you took pictures and wrote a blog. I love seeing what you are doing out there. Yes, don't let the government get involved with endangered anything. Do you know where Ron works you can't even kill a rattlesnake? He had to go to all of these classes on not harming the environment. Just in wasted work hours its terrible. I just don't know how long we can endure California. I am glad that God put you there too.
    Its a beautiful place.

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    1. There have been many on-the-ground studies here on our ranch and lots of data collected. We are just grateful that so far, the grouse is protected. We want to protect them too. They are fascinating birds. But we do kill rattlesnakes!

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    2. Oh my goodness, Kim! Rattlesnakes? Surely they aren't endangered...? They are, surely, endangering!!

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  8. Good fences make better neighbors; that's been my experience. Unfortunately. Long, sad story there but won't go into it. Your contribution is invaluable, take care of those knees and hands!

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    Replies
    1. Good fences do make good neighbors. It sure does help. SOme of these fences are border fences and some are interior fences. Thanks for stopping.

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  9. Do I understand correctly that you are helping to protect the grouse not only for their own sake but also because if they get moved to the Endangered list you would have to do more than put up special fencing? Would you likely have to leave some of your land unused?

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  10. I love your bucket Ms. Gumbo! Sounds like you've been working hard -- as always. Your salsa recipe sounds wonderful. I haven't done salsa in 30 years. I got scared off -- the last time I made it in the fall, little white spores appeared in the jar in the winter. At the time, we had a young kid finishing our basement and I stored my canned goods down there. I told him one day "You got your drywall dust in my salsa". He believed anything I told him and he was pretty apologetic -- until I told him I was just kidding. It was pretty funny!

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  11. That salsa recipe looks so delicious - so many veggies packed in there. Your fencing sounds like hard work, but an exciting idea for the wildlife.

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  12. That is an amazing salsa recipe! Wow!
    Oh, I can't imagine all that bending and clipping. Take care of your young self, Jody!
    I love your grateful heart.
    I think sometimes (a lot of times) putting birds and animals on the endangered species list really makes life hard for people and I hope that doesn't happen.
    God be with you, sweet friend.

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  13. I always enjoy these glimpses of your daily life, so different from my own, and am always impressed by the amount of physical labor. Thanks for sharing the salsa recipe, it sound delicious.
    Amalia
    xo

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  14. Jody, I don't get online often, and even when I put up a blog post sometimes I'm doing it quickly from the library parking lot! :) So, when I get a chance to read some of your posts, I'm always blessed and encouraged. Thank you for sharing your life, your blessings, your gratitude, your encouragement. Even your hard work inspires me! xo

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  15. Have you ever made yellow tomato salsa? I have and it turns out a little milder than with regular red tomatoes. A unique flavor.

    Kenneth Dwain Harrelson.

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  16. Fencing Supplies Ottawa is my trusted source for top-notch fencing materials.

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