Bottle Baby

Its been a lot of years since we have had to feed a calf.  But this year so many twins and we have a set still on the cow, one we transplanted and this one we never found a cow for so he is getting bottle fed.  Its been about 5 weeks now and he really sucks the milk back which makes it a lot easer but still what a pain at least twice a day.  We are gonna get some calf feed when we get a chance to go to town next and that should help some but 3 months is the minimum we have to bottle feed and that seems like forever.

Good thing he is cute!

2017 Branding

Early in the morning, 6 I got up and did chores.  I normally don't get up that early but I should so I can ride before it gets too warm.  Anyways I took Pally over to the neighbors to help gather.  We were there by 8 and it took about an hour.  She was pretty good.  Shes fun :)  She does want to lean towards the trailer and she wasn't fond of going through the slough but we did and she wasn't too hard to convince to go away.  I also stayed on her to help sort the cows out, they like to use horses and she wasn't great but not bad.  Probly never done that before and she's the same height as the cows lol.

(Dusty likes his job)

(Cookie has a creepy  blue eye)

Then after we branded there then went and ate we came home and got the food in the oven for our branding and went out to catch the horses.  They decided they wanted none of that so we were kinda late but a neighbor showed up grabbed our quad and gave us a ride back in while leading the horses it worked good.  They were not that good to gather, we had a little smaller crew and I think the cows knew lol.  But we did get them all in, Razz had to work hard though and she's fast and jumps over holes, I was glad for my cutting horn.

(my Mom even got a pic of me working)

(He was so adorable, trying to throw rocks at gophers and 

gigling when they would pop out of the hole)

We were short a couple people, 2 were not feeling well and one had a graduation so I helped brand for a bit, been a while since I did that and there is a lot of steps.  Good thing Karyn came out and helped finish up the food.  I got back about half hour before everyone else and so we got the food all out and sorted and then we ate.  No one stayed too long I think we were all tired.  I had a bath and bed finally at about 11, I sure slept well too.

I found we went through less beer but more food being the second branding in a day.  I think I like only one a day.  Or we should go first next time.  Specially since we had 2 the day before as well.

My Trailer is Home

Been to 3 brandings now, just getting started, this week is gonna be a busy one but after it we only have 4 more so that will be kinda nice.  I took Razz to one and Jess to one.  Was planning on taking them Wednesday to the breeders but I may be exhausted but that means I need to wait till the 15th so not sure yet what I am doing there.  I have no branding pics not sure why was working but usually get a few. I will try better this week.

I took my trailer in to get a few things fixed up and a few things added on.  Ha more than a few I had a whole page.  Well one was an inspection and they found one of my axles was bent so I asked if that was warranty and he said usually not but he will ask.  And ask he did and turns out they said yes!  so they actually replaced both and the tire that was worn.  They also rewelded the step into the tack area, added a blanket bar and replaced a saddle rack.  Ad finally got my door organizer hung up.  And I wanted them to find some way to hold open the back divider if I wanted and so he did that was perfect I love it.  And the jack was pretty crappy and the coupler had gotten seized so they fixed that and replaced the jack.  Wasn't cheap but cheaper then I expected so I am happy with that even if it took longer than I expected.  I wanted them to put another tie hook on and they forgot (and never charged me either) but I may take it back cause now I see they have neat shelves that attach in the tack area and I may get a couple of those put in as well.

(I missed having it home)

(back divider holder opener)

(new welded step)

(door hanger partly full)

(and the blanket bar I love! 

 only got one saddle in there now but can fill it up again :) )

Weather. And Horses

Monday before the plant sale, Neil was out farming and he messages me that Nita was out and heading east across the farm field.  Stinkin horse, maybe that's why she was for sale.  But anyways that's a couple miles away and I'm not walking that far so I get Jessie and figure Ill ride out.  Well I had her saddled and Neil says shes heading south in the winter pasture now.  OK that's the way I was gonna go out anyways.  I had a hunch she would come back to the yard anyways and sure enough just as I was bridling Jess she comes running in the yard.  So I drop my reins and corner Nita put a rope over her neck and lead her to a still in my arena.  Since Jess was all ready to ride I figured I might as well go anyways.  So instead of on a horse hunt we went south to look at our mismatched cows.  We got the cow with the twins out there and the cripple cow and the one we put a twin calf on after she lost hers.  They were all hanging out by the dugout and just happy so we headed back home, kinda short ride but I hadn't planned on riding at all so it was good.

Then I don't want Nita out again so I figured turn out Jess and Easy and keep Nita in with Razz, that was gonna be interesting when I went to the clinic Nita would be along, but I know she cant get out of the corral by herself and shes done it before, and she has ponies on the other side of the fence.

(George just want cookies lol)

 Well that worked well till after the plant sale I came home and Easy had himself just in a lather, what a nut, so I turned out Razz and Nita and so far all is good out there.  I have to fix the close fence so they can be where I can lock them in the corral in the daytime so I can ride and they don't get too obese.

And well it didn't matter about the clinic, they cancelled cause of the miserable wind and rain, or maybe snow over there I don't know.  Kinda sucks but not much you can do when its all outdoors.  Oh well he said he will give us a refund or we can do another clinic or he will come to our place to do a clinic.  Not sure what I want.  I was kinda excited about it but now I just have too much to do that I would rather my own thing for now, not sure I need a clinic on anything but driving and I don't see anywhere he does that so I will go elsewhere, maybe in July there is a clinic I think. Anyway before the storm we had the most orange sky it was so pretty.

(carraganas)

(also got flowers cause I had the camera out lol, the lilacs just opened)

And yesterday and today are just awful wind wind and wind, can hardly stand in the house never mind outside.  And we hardly got any rain even, maybe 1/4 inch but its been blown away for sure.  I was hoping for more rain as we just got the crop seeded so it woulda been perfect timing.  Really was hoping today was nice so I could get the rest of the plants planted but I guess maybe Saturday as I am going shopping in Calgary tomorrow.