A few photos of Jamie Oliver during his stay at the TX Ranch!

Hi all,

"Already" we're now gathering and driving home our last cow/calf pair herd for the season we just can't believe it, where has this season gone! We have been fortunate to have met some absolutely wonderful people and see once again many very dear friends returning to the ranch yearly or when it's possible to do so. It sounds like Hip, Dez, Christine, Poncho and Kathryn enjoyed all our guests and friends though out the spring, summer and fall. They had a great time working cattle and covering many a mile horse back with some of the best people in the world.

This season we enjoyed getting to know Kathryn better during her stay at the ranch while working. She's a great gal, she worked hard and she did a very good job, she's a good little rider too. Before we knew it in August she was off for her first year of college at Harvard, Good Luck Kathryn!

Dez, will continue to work for the ranch this fall. Hip really relies on Dez she is his right hand and then some. Dez will return working for Ken McNabb this winter. Dez, really enjoyed working with horses and for Ken last year. It was great for her to get away for a while and get to know new friends and family at the Diamond Ranch also Ken's family, employees and friends too. This year a huge arena has been complete at the ranch. Dez, is really excited and she's looking forward to learning and continue riding skills astride some new horses this winter and spring. Dez did well with her horses, showing them in Ken's sale last June.

Christine is a jewel we absolutely think the world of her. She has helped us a couple years now cooking. Christine's a great cook! she is a very hard worker, she knows the country and she's a good little rider too.

Poncho is a nice guy. He did a great job working for us this year too. He's really learned a lot, he's more comfortable and experienced with livestock and horses and he's turning into a good, reliable cowboy!

It's been a busy season we're so glad and thankful it has been a busy year. This year we had a few weeks that were down a bit due to the economy but most weeks were mostly filled up or full. Were already gearing up for the next 2010 season and we're very excited about it! We're very thankful we have a couple weeks almost filled and one fully booked now. It sure helps the ranch during our spring and summer season.

Sheena, is beginning to help me with bookings. She is learning, lot's to learn! and she's doing a good job so far. Sheena & Nick just had another new baby girl "Harley Lynn" she is a beautiful baby girl 6'8 ounces and 18 1/4" long. Her big sister "Payton Dawn" is going though the "big sis with drawls" at the present "poor thing"! It shouldn't take long Payton will get all of attention from her auntie Dez, nana & papa Hip real soon. During Harley's birth I was a lucky nana to have Payton for four days. Sheena is the best mother she sure hates to have Payton leave her.

Abbie, is doing well, she is such a trooper keeping busy as she loves and wouldn't have in any other way. She walks everyday and she raised a garden with veggies and flowers which kept her busy. Abbie, loves her flowers and raises some fantastic color variations in her garden! Our family really enjoys visiting with her because she is one true character you just can't replace.


Hipster, is looking at calf prices now and anticipating the fall calf sales at the moment. He is looking forward to some home time, company with friends and family and of course working all the cattle and getting them ready and organized for the winter months. This is a whole separate picture. Lots of sorting, pregnancy testing all cows, separating cows, heifers, bulls, calves, old cows and horses. We'll be driving cattle or hauling to winter pastures and separate left over non sell able smaller calves to a pasture or feed lot to feed and watched closely. We have to prepare all our equipment and winterized it mechanically ready for cold weather months. Once the feed is gone on the home place Hip will begin feeding daily though the winter. It's a big chore with about 1700 to possibly 1800 large animal mouths to feed this year. As our good friend Emil Doerr said "It Keeps Life Interesting". With that being said I'll leave with a little something to think about!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Loretta, well you can see what I'm up too! I do wish to thank each and everyone for your help concerning the ranch. We had a excellent season. Your visits are a wonderful help and we truly appreciate it. We're gearing up for our next 2010 season! We already have a full week and a couple getting close, so far, so good! Our family, friends and crew are already getting excited for the following 2010 season!

Have a great fall, till we meet again, keep warm and safe,

Hip, Loretta, Dez, Sheena, Abbie and the gang!

September 19, 2009

Hi all!

Hopefully this should get you to a page on Jamie Oliver's site with TV shows, video clips, etc. Look for Wyoming or TX Ranch if you would like to watch some of Jamie's ranch video clips. After watching the video's underneath the photo at the bottom you can add a comment about the TX Ranch or what ever your fancy! Interesting enough a lot of times our horses pick up nic names after meeting folks though out the years. This year during Jamie's visit we nic named his horse "Oliver" Jamie was smiling ear to ear! Well to Hip's surprise since then we have come to learn that in "Jamie's American Road Trip Cook Book" he too named a recipe after Hip! ; - )

http://www.bing.com/search?q=jamie+oliver+at+TX+ranch&FORM=MSNH90&mkt=en-gb

Have fun and a good day,

Hip & Loretta

London, UK friends!

Next Tuesday night the Wyoming episode of "Jamie Oliver's American Road Trip" will begin at 9:00 p.m. London time! This is a change we just heard about.

Don't miss out, hope you enjoy!

TX Summer 09

Hi all,

It's been a very good summer riding for cattle, branding, doctoring and meeting some of the best people out there and seeing our good friends once again too! We've kept real busy with all our guests helping us along the way during our summer weeks. During August we catch up with late branding, continue with any calves found that need to be castrated, doctoring, etc. We also ride our spring country checking for strays on Deadman and the Robinson Place. We drive the strays back to their neighboring pastures a mile or two away. Any of our cattle found will be driven back to Hanks or the Lone Wolf. This ride is a good long, scenic ride which takes up a full day. Our main cattle work is keeping pretty well caught up although no dote there is always something else we can find on the to do list. We're vaccinating to prepare for weaning right now. The calves will have this booster shot to help them along during the weaning process. Late September we'll look forward to our cattle drives. These weeks we'll be gathering cattle and cutting out cow/calf pairs most likely cows with the largest calves are cut and separated for the drive. After a few days of riding and locating cattle and calves we'll have a size able herd cut out for the drive. The drive is about 55 miles to Crooked Creek. This trail goes through gorgeous and very versatile changes of scenery. If we wean at Dead Man it will be a bit shorter drive although it makes for a absolutely beautiful scenic ride back to Lone Wolf camp. Either way we'll know with in the next couple weeks after Hip thinks it over.

Our daughter Sheena is helping me with our guest ranch bookings now. So far things are going well. She's a lucky girl I think because she has someone to help her out with the computer procedures. Looking back when I learned I didn't have anyone to show me. We choose to use the computer and Internet since I bought my first computer anyway. My mother in-law Abbie had never used a computer before however neither had I! Abbie, Hip's mother is our foundation along with her husband, Hip's father Lloyd Tillett. Anyway I remember those days very well and have learned so'ooo much since then. Many of our guests have helped me along the way too and I couldn't have done it with out them. Now I can help Sheena and very much enjoy our time together and watching Payton our grand daughter. This will free me up to help the ranch hopefully with feeding, hauling livestock and especially during spring time when foaling, gentling and halter breaking the colts also re-exposing ranch mares. We're getting some very nice registered Q.H. babies that will become two year old next spring. Dez our wrangler and Hip will start riding them. It will be fun to see how much the halter breaking and gentling them helps during the breaking process, keep our fingers crossed we'll see! Sheena, seems to be enjoying helping the ranch too. Now that she has Payton she can be with Payton and help the ranch combined.

We have truly enjoyed each and everyone who have visited and still yet visiting the ranch this season. It is hard to believe our 2009 guest season will come to a close after Oct. 10th. Where has the time gone??? it's flow by already! In case your interested our 2010 dates are available!

Thank you for your time, we'll keep you posted!

Loretta

FINALLY!

It's about time gosh it's been so'oo long I'm sure you all about gave up on me!

We've been having a real good summer so far this season. It's been busy with a lot of wonderful guests that Hip & I, Dez, Christine and Poncho have had the opportunity to meet and get to know this year. It's been so great seeing many of our good guest friends from previous years too. We feel so lucky to spend and share time with all of you!

The first week of June we were also fortunate to meet Jamie Oliver with his work crew and film crew. We truly enjoyed them all. Jamie, is making a film, a six part series for his new cook book "Jamie's American Road Trip". The TX Ranch is with in his six part series and Cody, WY too. It will air in UK, BBC, etc. this Sept. through Oct. and later in the US channel 4 next spring. Jamie started his first day at our home on Crooked Creek with Hip's mother Abbie and myself. Abbie and I were making apple pies and cinnamon rolls. Jamie popped in that morning and pitched right in starting another apple pie and finishing off a batch of cinnamon rolls. What t treat everything turned out tasty and delightful. Afterwards we decided to head off to Deadman camp and bring the cinnamon and apple pies into camp for everyone there. When we found them they were holding a large herd of cattle and just started to brand calves. Jamie, was so excited he began helping everybody throw calves right away. With everyone involved and working together it turned out to be such a good time we'll always remember it. Afterwards we needed to take care of castrating a few calves. Jamie got right in there too watching squeamishly along with our eager group experience "Rocky Mountain Oysters"first hand! Hip and Jamie cooked them that same evening along with the rest of a very fine meal prepared by Jamie. The next day Hip and Jamie rode up to the Robinson Place and camped out with steaks cooked on sticks over the camp fire and on a rock that evening. Hip mentioned how fantastic it was and truly enjoyed watching Jamie do what he does best! They sleep under the stars waking to a big blue sky and cooking breakfast over the fire the next morning. It was time to get to work before the cattle moved out of the country so they saddled up, gathered cattle at the Robinson Place and drove them down to Deadman camp together. They rode, gathered and branded that day and cooked up a storm. It was quite an experience for all of us to see first hand how Jamie and his team work so well together. They have been with each other for 10/12 years which speaks for it's self. With our crew, guest friends, Jamie and his entire crew we feel so fortunate to have met and shared some exciting, excellent and fun times together with some of the finest people out there.

Spring and summer keep every one of us busy with all the cattle and horse working activities and irrigating combined both in Dryhead and back at the home place. Sam and Tim are taking care of the bum calves this spring and summer which seriously helps a great deal. Nick is taking care of the irrigation which helps a great deal and will give the cattle some good grazing when they are driven to Crooked Creek this fall during our cattle drives. Me, it's difficult to get into Dryhead like I use to with taking care of ranch business, adverts, guest referrals and bookings, gentling foals, covering mares, feeding horses, etc. it keeps life interesting all right. No complaint's I truly enjoy and love all of it. I simply wish there was a remedy for catching up! Abbie, Hip's mother is doing well. She went on a road trip this spring with Gail and her sister Doris from CA. They visited Ab and Doris's sister Donna from Missola and her daughter Margaret from CA. They had a great trip and returned home with a lot of fun artifacts, rocks, food, goodies, etc. Abbie is taking care of her garden now and her new little home that Hip, Bill Coleman, Tim and Sam helped rebuild. You may not have known this, Abbie's previous home burn down June 2007. Abbie has a very good son and some absolutely wonderful friends!

Off the beaten path Hip and I, Dez, Christine, Poncho and Kathryn, were thrilled to be invited to go boating a week ago Sunday on Damion and Annie Jordan's boat with Lyle and Debbie Procter and all of us together. We had the time of our lives, what a thrill it was for all of us. It was so good to get away and spend the day around the water on a boat. They took us tubing which every one loved, water skiing and boarding in the Big Horn Canyon. Damion was a great driver he took such good care of all of us rookies. Dez, was to funny she really went all out trying everything. She crashed quite a few times so we had plenty of good laughs. Dez no doubt took full advantage of every minute of the day. Christine did everything too and water skiing to boot also Poncho tried everything and wreaked a few times too. It was funny to see him in shorts Poncho was white as can be even more them I am! At the end of the day however both Dez and Poncho looked a bit like a couple lobsters. Kathryn was cute and quite good at tubing, etc. she is more fortunate to have a bit more practice then us rookies. We all had so much fun together with Damion, Annie, Lyle and Debbie thank you so much for July 5th!

I'll add some Jamie and July 5th shots as soon as I can.

We'll try and keep up and talk to you soon!

A week later March 31st we now have over 400 calves on the ground and counting! So far the weather has held it's own. We started with excellent spring like warm weather however it has turned cold with a few passing storms. Luckily we lost only one calf each time it turned cold and that was mainly with-in our heifer herd. The mothers are okay we're glad the mothers survived at least. It never gets easier losing a calf however you need to keep trying and go forward to the next cow or calf you can save. When that happens it makes your day!

Desiree, on the other hand was up to her hip in storm at Douglas, WY last week. They had well over three feet. Hip says Desiree got her PHD alright! "Piled Hip Deep" what ever Hip?????????

We'll keep you posted!

Nancy Finn, enjoys making a few sample items in her spare but talented time. If your interested look her up! http://peppermintannie.etsy.com/

Happy Spring! Today is the first day of Spring and we now have a lot of new little black calves on the ground. Well over 125 as of today! Hip is pretty proud of our heifers they are calving especially well for their size. With a bit of up breeding and attention the mother cows seem to be getting better and better mother slowly but surly as the years go by.

Hip and I are busy and doing well. Calving is keeping us busy also feeding especially for Hip, Tim and Sam. Lot's to do so I'll keep it short this time.

Hip, Desiree, Poncho, Christine and I are all looking forward and getting excited for our 2009 guest season which begins mid April! Our first three cattle drives we will drive in cow/calf pairs as many as possible that can make the long trip. It all depends on the calves size, age and the mother cows age, etc. as well.

Desiree, is still at the Powder Horn Ranch near Douglas, WY. Last weekend she went to Tenn. to watch the "Road to the Horse" finals with Ken McNabb and his family. Dez and friends learned a lot. They enjoyed the entire event and their short but sweet stay. Dez, is pretty excited with what she is learning over there with her showing horses, sliding stops, etc. This is really good for her.

Sheena, is a wonderful momma she loves her daughter Payton so'ooo much. Nobody can get enough of her. Payton is really starting to excel with her communications skills. Hip and I couldn't believe how much she had changed and progressed in just a few days since we previously saw her. She went with us to her great cousin's birthday party last night and what a entertaining time we all had chatting back and forth with her.

This season we'll be having a very special guest from England visit the ranch also the Wyoming area along with his staff "Mr. Jamie Olivier" himself will be here also known as "The Naked Chef". It has been very nice speaking with his staff Pamela and Holly who will be part of Jamie's group. They will be filming during the week and also cooking! I'm sure we'll all enjoy the most fantastic meal ever!

We'll keep you posted, Happy Spring!

Our Payton sitter Dally : - )

March already and spring is around the corner!

It's March already also our calving month so this month will keep life awful interesting during most day light hours especially for Hip, Tim and Sam. All of them have been feeding and taking good care of the cattle this winter and doctoring, pregnancy testing, etc. when necessary. The weather is warming up with spring around the corner. We hope it will be a fairly warm month for the mother cows during their calving season it surly helps both cow and calf 100%. We've sold some cows to help eliviate calving problems, poor mothers, udder problems or just plain old cows, weak cows, or cows that no long produced sufficient milk, etc. This should help some what, no doubt there will always be those that will have problems, need help, death from calving and bummed calves. It never gets easier but unfortunatly a fact of life.

Dez, came home last week end for a Billings horses sale. We purchase one nice horse and told each other "since she and I were partners" that this one was it for how ever long that lasts! It is both Dez and my weakness that's for sure. If the horse market prices come up again we have a few to sell as well. Dez left for Douglas, WY after the sale with a couple friends that work just under Ken McNabb. Dez is truly enjoying her time there because she's learning a lot more about showing horses. One of the gals next in line when Ken is away is quite good with show procedures, training and

collecting show horses. Dez and her friend share the same interests. It sounds like the horses they're working with in Douglas are coming along well. They are working them on just about everything that could possibly

come there way. They'll be bomb proof and capable for arena, work or trail how ever the horse is qualified. I think it will be a sale offering some real good horses.

Me "Loretta" well I have finally finished all the ranch tax work which is a big relief for me. I could go on but it doesn't sound interesting enough to even write about. Now I'm able to move on to the next desk project fun, fun, fun! Thank goodness for the weanling colts in our home corral. When I have a chance as much as possible I enjoy working with them. They're rewarding and that basically make my day! Most of them are gentle their use to me and they lead fairly okay. There are a few others that are use to me but they still need some hands on. I have ten horse colts so I just haven't quite got around to each one individually since we weaned the Dry Head colts late in January and one just last month. Six horse colts are finished and ready to be turned out. That will ease things up in the corral for me.

Sheena, is busy with Payton our darling little Grand Girl!!! we just love every minute with her! She made the entire winter and our Christmas a true joy this season. Hip enjoyed the home time with Payton this winter. They got to be pretty special buddies Hip just loves to tease Payton and she loves every minute of it. Above is another picture of Payton for you and our new pup Dally that my sister brought to us late last summer. Hopefully I can get both their photo's up. Right now Payton and Dally are a like everything they find goes straight into their mouths. Payton enjoys Dally and Dally loves to have Payton around. Dally enjoys cleaning Payton's face and ears on occasion. Thank goodness Payton is now smart enough to turn her head and crawl at a high spead in the opposite direction. Together after spending some quality floor time exploring everything in sight they end up exhausted and ready for some down time together, what a life! they're pretty cute.

From all at TX Ranch, thanks for your time and please take good care!