Country Lifestyle
Life of a Ranch Wife

By Lanna Mills
Do you take your lunch to work with you? Maybe you go out to eat on your lunch break, or you drive through a fast food joint to grab a quick bite. A lot of jobs give you a set time for lunch. If you do not have a set time you just eat when you get hungry. What about cowboys? When is their lunch break? Just ask a cowboy that question and they will probably laugh and tell you- lunch comes when it’s handy, when you get to a stopping point, or when all the work is done.
Many times ranch work takes you miles from the nearest restaurant, so going out to eat is out of the question. Sometimes the work takes you miles from home, so going home to eat is out of the question as well. Cowboys are quite versatile. They do not mind if a meal is served out of the back of a pickup. They do not mind if lunch comes at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. or 1 p.m., just so they get to eat.
As a ranch wife I get to prepare food for the cowboys when we are working cattle. Do not let that fool you; that does not mean I’m exempt from the work. It just means I might skip out a little early to get everything ready. It’s easiest to cook the night before if possible and just keep it in warmers, or if we’re close to home I can start a brisket early in the morning so it’s done at lunch time. I absolutely love cooking for a crew of cowboys. They are always grateful, they tell you it tastes great and they always say thank you.
A couple of months ago we branded a set of calves. Like always, we called on some of our cowboy buddies to help. Along with the help of my mother-in-law, we prepared lunch for the crew. We did what we could the evening before and finished up what we could not that day. We served ham, potato casserole, mac and cheese, corn and rolls along with apple pie and brownies for dessert.
We have a great friend and fellow rancher and cowboy, Charlie Stanford, who owns a chuck wagon. He sets up during some cowboy gatherings nearby. It takes hours for him to set up everything and get ready to cook. It may be 100 degrees Fahrenheit outside and standing over a hot fire just makes it that much warmer, but cowboys still have to eat. Many folks would think it was too much work for a meal that’s devoured in minutes. With all things cowboy, it’s not about what’s easy, quick, or convenient. It’s about tradition, hard work, and doing things the right way.
We are lucky that in this day and time we have modern conveniences such as coolers to keep meat and other perishables from spoiling, canned and bottled drinks, canned foods, electricity, pickups and so much more. Can you just imagine trying to prepare a meal for a bunch of hungry cowboys in the old times before all these handy tools?
Cowboys work hard. They work long hours and work in all types of weather. They are not ones to complain. They are trustworthy, and without them ranching would not be the same. Therefore, cowboys deserve a nice meal. They deserve a few moments to sit under a shade tree and enjoy a big plate of food and maybe even some cobbler or pie for dessert. They deserve a few moments to rest their horses, who have been working equally as hard.
Country Lifestyle
Farm Dogs & Table Scraps

What’s Safe and What’s Not?
Growing up on a farm, our dogs were tough. They roamed the pastures, slept under the barn, and ate just about anything they could get their paws on—whether we meant for them to or not. I’ll admit, I never thought twice when one of our old cow dogs snatched a biscuit off the table or licked up a spill from the barn floor. I’ve even seen a dog steal a whole rib bone off a plate and trot off like he’d won the lottery. And somehow, they always seemed fine.
But here’s the thing—just because they survived doesn’t mean it was safe. For every farm dog that lucked out, there’s another that wasn’t so fortunate. Some human foods can be downright toxic to dogs, and a little bit of bad luck (or a smaller, more sensitive dog) can turn a harmless snack into an emergency.
Common toxic foods lying around the farmhouse
If you’ve got a farm dog—or any dog, really—you need to be aware of the dangers lurking in everyday foods. Some of the biggest culprits include:
Chocolate – The darker it is, the worse it is. Even a little can cause vomiting, seizures, or worse.
Grapes & Raisins – No one’s exactly sure why, but they can cause kidney failure fast.
Onions & Garlic – In large enough amounts, these can destroy red blood cells, leading to anemia.
Xylitol (Found in Sugar-Free Gum & Candy) – This artificial sweetener can send a dog’s blood sugar crashing and cause liver failure.
Alcohol – Even small amounts can be deadly to dogs, affecting their nervous system much more than it does ours.
Bones from Cooked Meat – While not necessarily toxic, they can splinter and cause serious internal injuries.
Macadamia Nuts – These can lead to weakness, vomiting, and even paralysis in dogs.
What to do if your dog eats something toxic
First, don’t panic—but don’t ignore it either. If you know your dog ate something dangerous, call your vet immediately. They can tell you whether to induce vomiting or if it’s something that requires urgent care. If it’s after hours, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (888-426-4435) or the Pet Poison Helpline (855-764-7661).
Prevention is always the best medicine, so keep toxic foods out of reach. That might mean keeping the trash can secured, making sure kids don’t slip the dog a treat under the table, or just being more mindful of what’s left on the counter.
Our farm dogs might have been lucky, but luck isn’t a great strategy when it comes to their health. A little awareness goes a long way in making sure they stay happy, healthy, and ready for the next day’s work.
For more information
ASPCA Animal Poison Control: www.aspca.org/pet-care/animal-poison-control
Pet Poison Helpline: www.petpoisonhelpline.com
Visit www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/foods-your-dog-should-never-eat
Country Lifestyle
Summer Squash and Corn Chowder

By Lacey Vilhauer
Total time: 40 minutes
Servings: 6-7
Ingredients
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled and 1 1/2 Tbsp rendered bacon fat reserved
- 1 1/2 lbs yellow squash, chopped (about 3 medium)
- 2/3 cup thinly sliced celery
- 1 cup diced onion
- 1 Tbsp flour
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 3/4 cup milk (I used 1%)
- 5 cups canned or fresh cut corn (from about 6 ears corn), divided
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 1/2 tsp chopped fresh thyme (or 1/2 tsp dried)
- 3/4 tsp salt, then more to taste
- 1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper, then more to taste if desired
- 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese, for serving
- Chopped green onion for garnish (optional)
Instructions
Heat 4 tsp reserved bacon fat in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add celery and onion and sauté 2 minutes then add the squash.
Saute until tender, about 6 minutes, adding in garlic and flour during last 2 minutes of sauteing. Reduce heat slightly.
Add 1 1/2 cups milk, 2 cups of the corn, thyme, salt and pepper to the sauteed veggies.
To a blender add remaining 3 cups of corn, remaining 1 1/4 cups milk and the cream. Process in blender until nearly smooth (about 30 seconds).
Add pureed mixture to pot and stir to blend. Cook until mixture reaches a light boil.
Serve warm with shredded cheese, crumbled bacon and sliced green onions if desired.
Country Lifestyle
Western Housewives – May 2025

By Summer McMillen
All my married life I have thought that when husbands all got together horseback after a hard days work they were probably rating their wives on a scale from one to ten based on their various capabilities. Did Wife A have a good hat crease? Was Wife B good help in the branding pen? Was Wife C an excellent mother? Was Wife D hospitable to everyone? Could Wife E make a decent gallon of sweet tea? Did Wife F keep a tidy saddle house?
Presumably, when Wife B did not live up to Wife A there was a fist fight followed by wife shaming of Husband B. His status amongst the cowboys immediately fell and he would be behind for the rest of his life in his cowboy career.
He would come home ashamed his wife couldn’t flambé a decent bananas foster and she couldn’t hoolihan either. He would be distraught and said wife would feel his pain.
Of course, this never happened to me like I thought it would. My husband always came home with a smile on his face and I’m pretty sure “flambé” isn’t even in a cowboys vocabulary.
Nonetheless, these imaginary fights and social rankings have plagued my brain for years. It has caused me to always be in competition with myself to be the very best at everything I did. Which I have eventually realized is a trait of women all around the world.
While we are cooking a four course meal for our families we start to think about how we actually should be practicing heading steers instead.
While we are practicing our horsemanship we start to think about how we should actually be preparing a nutritious and elaborate meal for our families.
It is a constant battle that women have created and proceeded to fight for centuries.
One day the inner battle got to me and I finally broke down as we were riding wheat pasture and confessed to my husband my guilt. I was so sorry that I wasn’t a better cowgirl. I was so sorry that the house was a mess. I was so sorry that I would never be on The Cowboy Channel. I was so sorry that I had lost his good pair of gloves. (Except I didn’t actually mean to confess that last part. Some things are just better left unknown.) I apologized again and again and told him I was sorry and he probably never wanted to bring his friends over for supper ever again.
Instead of consoling me, he just started looking at me like I was crazy. Which is what all good husbands do.
He stopped his horse and looked at me and said “Do you know how cowboys rate each other’s ranch wives?”
So many thoughts started filling my brain. Was it looks? Gentleness? Laundry speed? Work ethic?
Then he revealed their secret. “Cowboys rate each other’s wives by how well they can cook eggs for breakfast.”
His point of course, was that men don’t think about each other’s wives. As long as they get their eggs for breakfast. In another twist of irony, my husband taught me how to fry the perfect egg. What can I say? It’s a man’s world.
Since then, I have let go of my irrational fears and doubt and have simply been living life. It’s all anyone can do. I may not team rope the best. I may get my fingers when I’m trying to dally and I may not have the tidiest saddle house. But I try hard at everything I do and I do it all out of love for my family and finally, myself.
So, if you’re a woman this Mother’s Day and you catch yourself feeling down amongst life constant pressures just remember you are not alone. You can almost guarantee there is a woman in every household that needs a little pick me up. Maybe you should just go outside. Maybe you should sit down and count your blessings. Or, maybe you should have your husband fry you some eggs.
-
Attractions8 years ago
48 Hours in Atoka Remembered
-
Country Lifestyle8 months ago
July 2017 Profile: J.W. Hart
-
Country Lifestyle9 years ago
The House a Treasure Built
-
Country Lifestyle3 years ago
The Two Sides of Colten Jesse
-
Outdoors7 years ago
Grazing Oklahoma: Honey Locust
-
Equine8 years ago
Umbilical Hernia
-
Outdoors5 years ago
Pecan Production Information: Online Resources for Growers
-
Farm & Ranch7 years ago
Hackberry (Celtis spp.)