OX TALE SOUP

here we go again....more snow

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 00:21:00 GMT

It seems as though we can just start to get caught up from one snow when another comes barreling in. I haven't seen weather like this since I was a kid. We had an awesome holiday week end and New Year all my Family came in with the exception to my Brother in law who is working out of country. I have not been doing much research as I have not had the motivation, and as you can see I haven't been doing much writing or drawing either. I hope to do better in the future but you know how it is, life happens.

Under the weather

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 19:33:00 GMT

Well I have been a little under the weaher, with a sinus issue for several days. I am feling much better today though and am looking foreward to the comming Christmas day. I dont realy know why though, we had a get together with the kids and mother in law and father in law last saturday and Cody has gone to Texas ith his girl friend and her family for the holiday and its apearing to seem as though it will just be Me and Kim on Christmas Morning. Maybe we should have taken a trip to some where warm.

Preview of the new web page

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:49:00 GMT

Yesterday I got to see a preview of my new or should I say the permanent web pages design. I will tell you that it is going to be AMAZING, and as good as any and better than most on the web. I am so excited, I cant wait. I also have been spending some time trying to figure out how to create my drawings for the coloring books in a new to me format with some new tools that are really cool. I may have to try to get some help with the new program though. Yesterday morning I went out to let the oxen in to the lot and I noticed that levis horn is really looking like it is smoothing out. for those of you who don't know last winter he slipped his casing from his right horn, not knowing how it would actually turn out or if I would have to remove it which would have devastated me I was panicked. The first vet said to cut it off the second said not to worry about it and that it would case over and harden back up which it did slowly, but would be smaller and rougher than it originally appeared. So any way it is really looking good. They are both doing well though and I am getting the urge to do some pulling around the house so they can have some fun.

falling like a rock

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 21:01:00 GMT

Well not much eventful on the farm right now, we spent Saturday night at a rodeo in Ft. Scott KS. watching Cody fight bulls and spent Sunday loafing around the house. I did get some new equipment to draw with if I can get it figured out, Thanks to my awesome Nephew and Niece. I guess with temps dropping like they are today the critters will be staying close to the barn and will be eating just to generate some heat for themselves, so I will have to put another bale in tonight. I have to confess I haven't been doing much reading or research so I don't really have any thing to share. Christmas is coming you know so we have been running.

WOW ITS COLD

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 14:18:00 GMT

Yesterday evening Kim filled the water tank up and plugged in the water heater. They had been able to drink from the creek up till now so we will be watering till warm weather. She also put a round bale in and locked the animals in the lot to reduce the possibility of them slipping on the ice covered slopes going down to the creek crossings. Nothing like doctoring in the winter, it is a terrible way to spend your time so we just lock them up. She also put some hay in the mangers so they could eat inside the barn if they wanted. Usually they will stand out side and eat but this morning they were all in the barn and seemed glad to be there, so apparently this weather isn't fit for man nor beast. Any way she did all this while I was still at work and when I got home only had to spend a short amount of time in the cold to help her finish it up. I have to say I have THE BEST WIFE in the WORLD. How did I get so lucky?

A week end in paradise...

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 14:29:00 GMT

We had a wonderful time this week end in Warsaw, Missouri for the Kaysinger Christmas located at the Truman dam Visitor Center. I drove the hay ride both days and Kim worked in the Hooper House sharing hot Cider and Cookies. The beautiful valley transformed in to a magnificent warm era gone by thanks tho the hundreds of candle luminaries and oil lamps that were hung along the trail and in the windows of the buildings. The food barn was closed in and transformed in to a quaint little cafe serving ham and beans, corn bread, chilly. The rich aroma of coffee mixed with the fragrance of sweet hot chocolate and cider to tantalize every one that was dropped off to enjoy the pioneer Christmas experience. The comforting sounds of carolers filed the school house and the surrounding woods. The temperature was chilly but the warm atmosphere and Christmas spirit mixed with the smell of wood smoke from the stoves sure kept every one warm. If you haven't heard about our little Christmas experience before I hope you will keep a watchful eye for it next year, I will have it on my calendar when I get it on my web page or you can go to www.warsawpioneerheritagedays.com and get the information along with dates for Heritage days which is held in October.

Warsaw week end

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:31:00 GMT

Kim and I are down in Warsaw for the weekend, we are helping with Kaysinger Christmas event at the Truman dam Saturday and Sunday afternoon's and evening from 11:00 am to 8:00 pm. so Cody and Ella will have to hold down the fort for us.

working ox dog?

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 23:34:00 GMT

WEll I didn't have any thing great happen today , but apparently when Kim went out to run the critters out of the lot Levi decided he would do a little cutting. Can you imagine an ox chasing and penning a horse., thats my Levi. I would venture to say that at some point today the horses aggravated him and he was just getting even, or maybe he has been watching Fudge my stock dog too long. Who knows but its always something when you live with animals. Did you know that in 1824 the first wagons were used to haul freight to Mexico which put an end to the sole use of pack mules for that job, and get this the wagons were built in Independence, and St Louis Missouri. This was what started the "trails" to Sante Fe. which came in handy when the war between the U.S. and Mexico started around 1846. and guess who pulled the wagons...OXEN. Makes me want to figure out exactly where the wagon factory was in Independence, more research :o).

Another wonderful day

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:29:41 GMT

What a wonderful day! started out chilly but man it warmed right up. The boys(oxen I call the kids by their names) were waiting on me this morning, but didn't seem to be in as big a hurry to get in the lot as the horses and the donkey. No complaining by any of them this morning though so I guess I was on their schedule. I did read in my book the other day that Alexander Majors lived less than 5 miles from me when he was 6 years old, how cool is that? two ox fanatics just a few miles and a hundred or so years apart.

Another wonderful day

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 00:21:00 GMT

A little frost on the punkin

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 00:23:00 GMT

It was a litle chilly this morning, and frosty. The boys breath was very visible. They seemed to be awfuly rowdy with the cool temperatures too. Put another bale out this evening, they sure like it when that happens, just like kids in a candy store.

open communications

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:22:00 GMT

Rolled out of bed this morning and went to the barn to let the critters in to the lot, Sam and Levi were hanging out in the stall waiting patiently while Nudger the donkey was complaining about my late arrival. Its funny sometimes when you spend so much time with your animals that they communicate so openly with you, especially when your late to feed. Any way the weather is kinda gloomy today and I would say that it looks more like winter than it ever has so far this year even on the day it snowed. Maybe I can get back to reading Alexander Majors memoirs, SEVENTY YEARS ON THE FRONTIER . He was the guy who started the freighting company of Russell, Majors and Wadell and the pony express and a stage company. Did you know that Buffalo Bill was employed by him as a bull whacker (ox drover) when he was a kid?

saturday wrap up

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 03:29:00 GMT

Well Kim and I just got in from over at my folks, they live next door by the way. Any way we ate some more and sat around the bonfire visiting with my Brother in law Bryan Poese and sister Robin, My brother Scott and his wife Tammy, my Niece and her husband Dennis and of course their kids. It was so much fun roasting the marshmallows and watching the little ones figure out how to deal with the left overs on their fingers. Hollie was holding a gate waiting on Robin my sister to come through so she could let it go and whack her with it, it was hilarious, she is only two and some change but she is a hoot. The oxen were as usual when we do a fire laying as close as they could get to the fire. I don't know how many folks have ever hung out at a bonfire with oxen but don't knock it till you try it. besides they were stuck on the opposite side of the fence.......This time.

Learning Curve

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 16:59:00 GMT

WEll .....I have some tech support here this morning, our buddy Rachel is here helping me get this figured out. WAHOO! Not making no promises though, I'm a little slow to this stuff ya know.

The day after Thanksgiving

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Sat, 28 Nov 2009 01:05:00 GMT

The day after Thanksgiving I have ate entirely too much, I have blown my diet and spent several hours catching up with my oldest big brother and his wife. I don't know about you but I love the holidays, not the commercialization aspect but the holiday its self. spending time with family, the time off work, the food, the time off work, the rest, the time off work oh and did I mention the time off work? Yeah I know it may surprise you but I do have an actual JOB.

Welcome

Grassy Ridge Oxen — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:12:11 GMT

Welcome to my blog! I really have no idea what I am doing so be patient while I get it figured out. I guess I should introduce myself just in case you don't know me. I am Rick Lunceford owner and trainer here at grassy ridge oxen, I am a historian with a passion for educating people about the unsung heroes of the westward expansion and development of the united states, the oxen.
I currently have one team of oxen that my wonderful wife and I take to events in Missouri and Kansas to educate people about the use of oxen. I live on a small farm in Eastern Jackson County in Missouri. I hope to educate and entertain those who stop in here and maybe even make some new friends along the way. If you have questions please ask them and if you have seen my team at an event don't hesitate to let me know where it was and what you enjoyed the most. I hope you will take a few minutes and visit my web site at www.grassyridgeoxen.com and sign the guest book there as well. Again thanks for stopping by I know we will have a blast.