The Great Outdoors

Been so much going on around here, been picking rocks in the arena I think they grow overnight

And then the young geese who I think are looking for a nest been waking my up at 6 with all their honking

And the goose nest we saw in the creek hill which now has been found by coyotes, she needs a better spot

Oh and I been working on the deck and one morning the crows were having a fit and I looked out and a horned owl was out there chasing them off, yay!  And he stuck around all morning while I was out there.  No nest in the yard but I think there is one in the creek.

And the house guy came and fixed our crooked window so now can work on the window seat as soon as I find baskets what a hassle finding big enough ones.

And I headed on a long tour to help a friend haul horses home and saw pheasants on the way (also saw other cool stuff but with a trailer hard to stop and take pics, like a bull snake)

And our cows laying on the hay field, we are half done calving now that's nice there's a pile of calves out there and I haven't even been out riding out there :(

(have to look hard at this one she was a long ways down in the brush by the creek.)

And then last night we had a few neighbors over for turkey supper and the one brought me a cool colored rose and another a houseplant (I'm so bad I don't even know what it is) I said they dont have to bring anything but they did.

And I got a package int the mail, totally forgot about it, its from the Alberta Equestrian Federation rewards for riding or driving my horses.  I didn't realize I was supposed to send them in when I got them so sent in 4 at once and got all the prizes too, not very many hours last year, stupid sore back but this year is better already.

Now it looks like rain today but I'm hoping to ride first and then on to the Mane Event in Red Deer tomorrow should be fun!

Weaning Day

Last Sunday we had a bunch of neighbors come over to help us wean our calves.  We had lots of help, more than we really needed but I much prefer it that way than not enough help.  We said 9 but everyone showed up early and so they went and got the cows early.  The cows start in the small field just north of the house (my horses other summer pasture, about 200 acres)  The cows don't really like that field for some reason, not sure why but they go in there good and then they just wander, and there is lots of grass, good water just not sure if its cause its too small and they have to hang around each other or what but they don't like it.  That's why we only put them in there a couple days before we wean.

Then they cross the road into my horses regular summer pasture and into the corrals.  It works really well and the cows just go in quite nicely, and it only takes a half hour or so.  Then we cut out the cows and let them into the bull winter pasture and the calves get put up the alley, when all sows are out, we put heifers in one pen and steers in another.  Then the truck comes and we loaded up the steers, he was here way early, was supposed to come at 11 and he left the yard at 5 after.  But worked well, he knew he was early and wasn't in a hurry just come to visit with us while we worked.

The we went for lunch, I wasn't really ready for lunch that early but no one minded, they came in had a drink and bull shitted until I was ready and then we ate.  The vet come had a bite to eat as well.  15 for lunch, more than we had ever had at a weaning.  But we had more plans.  We always get done so early we decided to preg check the cows the same day.  Just a test to see how it works, since last year we were done before lunch as well.

Well we got the cows back in the chute all ready, everyone had a job and off we went.  221 cows and it took us about 2 and half hours, of course that includes loading the heifers when the trucker come back.  Pretty good timing, after the open cows were in the pen with a bale and the other cows turned back out, we went to the house and had another drink and it was only 3:30.  Everything worked really well.

Then today our dry cows went to town as well, so we are pretty well ready for winter, tomorrow our cows will get to go up north onto the hay and oats field and hopefully weather is nice and they will be up there 6 weeks, boy will they be fat and happy after that.

And somehow didn't get any pics of weaning and just this one of our truck leaving hauling cows today.

Our Branding

We did our branding on Monday.  I went to town in the morning like I usually do to pick up buns and Tim Hortons donuts for desert.  It was already 30* at 10 am I knew it was gonna be a warm one....little did I know how warm.

Came home and we said round up around 3 and so I got my horse ready and just before we left the yard I put in some of the food to warm up in the oven, I didn't really wanna turn on the oven but I had to have a hot meal for the crew.

We headed out to the corrals and complaining its hot and then we looked at the temp and it was 36*  Its not supposed to be that warm this early in June.  Ugh.  But what do you do?  We were all there so we went and got the cows.  I wore my go pro again and the cows were close by (the first bunch) but we had to take them out of the field they were in and wound a big slough and back to were we were going.  I don't know where all the water come from in that slough it hasn't rained hardly any this year.  

After getting them in we sort the cows from the calves and they worked really well this time, its not always that easy.  Then it was beer time.  And water.  I think we used more water than beer, which is weird for a branding.  But it was needed.  

When they went to work I headed back to the house to check on how things were going in there.  It was good, switched out some food in the oven and got buns and pickles cut.  And sat around and visited with Neil's Mom and sister.  I am lucky they come out and help me cook so I can go help gather.  After an hour or so I went back out and they were just finishing up that bunch and so we sat for a few minutes and visited and then the gatherers got on horses and went to get the second bunch.  They were about a mile away and we walked out there and then got them back in.  Just as we got to the corrals a huge wind picked up. it actually felt nice going by the slough the water cooled the air down a lot. 

Got them in and still windy.  The dust it raised was horrible and the cows didn't sort very good this time around either.  Probly cause of the wind.  And then we had trouble keepin the stove lit and so had to move that but finally got everything all organized and they got going.  Michelle was gonna rope off Jess again but she did not like that wind and she was just getting upset so we quit before we had a wreck.  I was kinda sad I wanted to get more roping done off her but it was for the best for everyone.  I got a few pictures of this bunch and then headed back to the house again for getting the rest of the meal done.  It took forever and we mostly just sat around and visited....was way better inside than out in that wind anyways.  

Was a pretty miserable day, going from so hot to super windy and then got cold at the end.  But its done for another year and hopefully that will be the hottest day we ever brand again.

Moving Cows

We have a piece of land up towards Stettler that is just grass and we didn't use it last year because we had so much grass at home but usually we have cows up there.  This year it got a little late but we finally got 47 pairs up there.  We hired a big truck and Neil took his stock trailer and I took the old one and away we went.  

(he looks like going in the ditch but there really is an approach there)

Its not a big piece, but its all tame grass and they get a lot more rain than we get so it holds a lot of cows.  The trucker was coming about noon so about 10 we went out and got them in, Neil had sorted them out a week ago.  And we separated cows and calves and bulls too.  We ended up with 47 cows, 46 calves and 2 bulls.  We could not see another calf anywhere bauling and so we hauled them up and figured wed look up there as we mothered them up to find the one who doesn't have a calf and take her back home.  We never heard anything in the field the last few days bauling so I don't know what happened there.

(odd pic of the calves in Neils trailer)

(My truck and trailer in lots of grass)

We got loaded and up there about 4 and let them out, left them in the corral for half our or so and no noise whatsoever so we looked through them, we saw what might have been a dry cow but hard to tell for me in a corral.  So we let them out and went home, stopped in Stettler at Smitty's for supper even though we were not entirely clean but we were hungry.

(Neil witching for water while waiting for cows)

We had to leave the bulls behind, not enough room, kinda sucked but Neil went up with them early the next morning which turned out goo cause he could check on them cows and there still wasn't an unhappy cow up there. So he left them and looked at home and nothing crying here either, so I guess all is well.

(the cows love the trees to rub off bugs)

(happy cows and calves in long grass)

We took all cows with heifer calves up there and the plan is to just take them to the Stettler Auction Market in October on the way home, rather than haul them home and then a few days later haul them to town.  We are hoping it will only take one trip home that way.

Jessie Drags Her First Calf

Wednesday was our last branding of the year, they start calving over a month after us so the calves are about the same size as ours when they brand and still a couple new ones.  It was a hot day as it usually is at their branding but they kept working short and beer plentiful so it was good.  I took Jessie for the roundup, only been there once before and it was good so we went and I was a little late and they were just getting on their horses and riding out, no biggie, Jess was saddled so I just got her saddle tightened and put on her bridle got on and we trotted off to catch up.  The cows were pretty fast and heading to the far corner so they turned them and then they headed to corrals which was nice....kinda.  They have a big wing and so we had to chase them around the wing, sill cows.  A young calf wouldn't move and we couldn't chase it, I'm still teaching Jessie to push calves with her legs she doesn't like to and so I just took a step and the calf followed me, so I kept going and led him in the corral,  it was cute.

(Branding)

(this grey horse was so funny, one tall patch of grass in the corral

 and she went over it ever time she drug a calf in and

 had a bite to eat without stopping)

(The whole crew when no calves were down)

(I love the way he and his horse work could watch them all day)

There was a few dry cows and some yearlings he wanted cut out so we did that and then sorted cows and calves and then waited for the rest of the crew, rode a couple hours and it was good, Jess looses patience when we are standing in the cows but its good for her to do that.  We had an incident with a cow while sorting, she didn't want to go out the gate and started turning back and saw the guy on the ground with the stick so she spun back the other way right into Jessie.  She run out the gate after that, lol but Jess was a little concerned cause that doesn't usually happen to us (if ever)But she was fine, watched a little more when we got close for a while though.

(Jess just watching)

(Chasing them out when we were done)

We started branding and I was vaccinating and after the second break Michelle was changing horses and I asked her if she wanted to rope off Jessie, she said she had Chewy so was OK unless I wanted her to and I kinda did so I said and so I got her and she saddled her and got on and I thought Jessie would be fine but first thing she did was smack the rope on her leg and it was kinda loud and Jess jumped and was all goofy about it so she keep doing it and she didn't really relax but was fine when she did her neck or butt  so she uncoiled and then threw the rope in front of her and Jess just watched didn't move and then she coiled it in front of her and accidentally flipped it up and it hit Jess nose and she didn't even flinch.  So she said I guess just gotta go try it.  So we had a bit more time and so quit for a while and had more beer (and water cause it was hot) and some pepperoni sticks and peanuts :)

(First look into the herd)

(she caught one)

(Dragging it in)

(and letting go, pretty good for her first time, they both are looking at me, lol)

Then we went it and Jess just walked in the herd, Michelle said she was a little fidgety but she caught  a little one and drug it in and Jess just done it, she said she wasn't sure she even knew what she was doing, lol.  So she did a few more little ones then went for a bigger one so she could really pull and she did, head down and relaxed.  Even had to hold one and wait for wrastlers and not a big deal.  I was pretty happy with her :)  I only got a few pics between when I wasn't busy vaccinating but I am glad I asked her cause shes so calm and drug a million calves in so much better experience than if I were to try.

(I love this picture, her third calf I think and she just looks so relaxed)

After the branding she wanted to load her up and take her home, haha another Jessie Fan :)

Our Branding

Monday was our branding date and so we been working on cleaning up the yard and the house and cooking and working on getting everything ready for the big day.  Sunday night we headed out to another branding so we had to be ready before that.  I like that we go in the evening so we have all day to finish up small stuff.  I headed to Drum Monday morning for buns and Tim Horton's donuts (a regular for dessert around here) and we hadn't forgotten anything else so that was all this year.

 (roundup help)

 (High five)

(draggin in a little one for the kids)

(lots of wrastlers!)

It was cold and rainy and windy and just plain miserable but as long as it didn't pour we were going.  And so we all wore coats and worked faster cause it was cold but we got done.  Neil's sister volunteered to help finish up the meal so I could go roundup and so I took her up on that.  It worked well, I had pretty much everything done so as long as it was warm and served up when people started coming in she could make coffee it was perfect for me.

(working hard)

(Ropin one)

(I think this one is cool with horses going both ways)

(the branding pot is a few years old)

(coiling up)

Nothing ever goes as planned, lol.  We got them in and as we were sorting a calf got out cause I scared him when I went to move and slipped on a fresh cow pie and went down on my knee, boy did that hurt!  Flt like my kneecap moved sideways. OUCH!  But I kept on and we thought we just get the calf back in and go again, but as we were not looking he run all the way back to the far end of the field, so we had to grab our horses and lope out after him and about 3 cows and we got him back in - bad calf!

(branding smoke)

(Haha -HI)

(freshly branded lazy E over 4, right hip)

(Bringin in the second bunch)

(Me and Jess and Levi and his good mare)

(Jess matches the cows)

We did that bunch and then we had a bunch of cows in another bunch and so we went to get them, I didn't want to ride again as i was sure my knee would be sore but no one else wanted to take my pony and so I did and it wasn't bad, surprisingly.  They were only a mile away so it was pretty quick and all went well except the cow and her calf that ran through the fence into the hay field and we never did get her back but at least her calf was a heifer so no brand and vaccination for her but at least we don't have to worry about castration, might have to take her to the neighbors when they brand and so she can get done.

(Big Boy, Stoney)

(in the herd)

(weird the moon was up)

(calmly draggin one in)

(supervising)

(Smokey castration)

We finished and headed to the house for supper and no one even stayed late, but it was chilly and they all seemed to want to go home.  That was alright I was tired as well and so an early night it was.