This entry was posted on Saturday, May 29th, 2010 at 8:36pm and is filed under Media and information, Local, ranch life, Ranching, Agriculture, Environment, Farming, Food Production. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Our home ranch is featured in this month’s Edible Austin magazine. If you like the photos, they are a credit to my husband and partner, Ralph Mitchell. He’s also the one responsible for doing the steak grilling for the taste-testing we do of each harvest of beef, not to mention the bulk of the ranch work.
This article presents an idyllic view of our life. In reality, it is hard work almost every day. It is also the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done in my life.
While I was in Washington D.C. last week, a cab driver from Mauritius, upon hearing that I ranched for a living, asked how many hours a week we worked and what we did for a vacation. He seemed surprised when I explained we pretty much worked while the sun was up and that time off the ranch was only by necessity.
I found myself explaining that although we work really hard almost every day, our “vacations” come in small moments that don’t happen during most people’s work life. Often, in the midst of a stressful event, I’ll be caught by the beauty of a nighthawk chasing insects in the morning sun, or the smell of clover in bloom. As it mentions in the article, we sometimes turn a routine chore like checking on the cows into a mini romantic interlude. Honestly, if I had a week with no responsibilities or duties, I wouldn’t want to be anywhere but here on our home ranch.
I wonder how much different the world would be if most people were able to find the same kind of reward in their daily labor.
April 4th, 2011 at 12:59am
Whatever your job is, when you make a living from doing something you love it is something like a permanent vacation. I can quite imagine that your lifestyle is both hard work and relaxing at the same time, with the big advantage of being close to nature.
April 4th, 2011 at 4:51pm
Hi Sara,
I really believe the world would be much more peaceful if, as you said “people were able to find the same kind of reward in their daily labor.”
I can totally identify with you as I used to live on a farm. As well, in my spare time I love to do renovations, which is really hard work, but the pleasure is immense.
April 9th, 2011 at 8:28am
I am inspired on how you enjoy being with the nature. and be so productive out of it. How I wish to be like you having fun with own ranch but that may cause me much.
Your story will continually inspire many people.
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