What's Been Happening??

I dunno if anyone looked at my sidebar but I try to keep it up to date with whats going on, works well, I look at it often.  But it was full a couple weeks ago and now its almost empty.  I much prefer it this way.  Finished almost all the brandings, got 2 left, a clinic and a wedding and cows to go to Stettler place.

Both my nephews graduated this year, Tristan from grade 12 and he is going into Sait in the fall to take some computerized drafting course.  Got a full scholarship so that is pretty sweet.

Jaret from grade 9 and he doesn't know what he wants to be yet but hes got a few more years yet.

I been doing a bit of woodworking, finished Neil's golf caddy for his birthday, built a raised bed (I want 4 more but later) and started on the deck.

Sometimes while out there I have a few visitors, barn swallows and a deer (he was unwelcome)  We also have a couple baby bush bunnies in the yard, haven't gotten a pic of them yet but I will keep trying.

I took Pally to a few brandings, she is kinda fun not real ambitious but does what I ask, I may be taking her in the clinic next weekend.  I also got a pic of Neil while we were waiting for cows to mother up cause his mom always asks for a pic of him riding.

And a funny colored mushroom, the kids were bored lol

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 :) )

More Long Branding Days

Last weekend we had 3 big days.  It all started Wednesday I was supposed to help a neighbor move cows to a smaller field but they all showed up early and by the time I got there it was raining and they looked like they had it under control so I just visited and Jess didnt even get out of the trailer.  The next morning we had an early branding.  Me and Jessie got up early, we were ready and waiting by 6:15

My neighbor Craig come and picked me up and then we picked up Richard and off to Slorstads for more branding.  I was on the roundup crew.  I was kinda thinking of taking more horses but after an offer of a ride I figured one would be enough.  It was kinda a cool rainy day so it wasn't too hard.  Lots of black cattle there, I think over 900 over the whole day got branded.

The first group is always a hard one to get in, they know where the gate is and resist pretty hard but we got them all, and then after a coffee and a egg and ham bun we were off to the next bunch while they were branded.  We went to the corrals no idea whats going on and then we got there and there was a group of 100 heifers on what used to be farmland and they reseeded to grass/hay and boy was it thick, so much grass it was laying over.  Weird to see on a dry year like this.

As we gathered them closer to the corral we saw a few cows across the fence come up and thought nothing of it till we saw more and more and then a few riders.  Apperently everyone didn't get the message the heifers first and they got the cows.  Well a phone call later and they just let the cows rest in a big bunch.  They were told to leave them and have a beer, but they just stayed out there, they cows laid down and didn't even try to leave.

Stratton felt bad for them and wanted to bring them a beer and I said I had my saddle bags but they are pink and he was not interested.  But about 10 minutes later came by and asked how much beer they would hold.  So I grabbed them and we filled them up and off he went.  They were much appreciated.  I had to get a picture, its kinda blurry but no doubt about the pink :)

We got them in, it worked well and we went to get those cows in they just run in, was the fastest gather of that herd ever.  Had lunch and then on to the last bunch.

The last bunch come in pretty well and then we were done.  I took this pic when watching the storm rolling in.   It shows almost all the crew, kinda  a neat photo I thought.

Then this one as we were about to leave there was a rainbow with both ends on the ground.  The corrals are on a hill and I tried to get the whole rainbow and didn't see the trailers under it till later.  Turned out better than I planned for a phone pic.

Then after supper, Craig dropped me off and said he would be back in the morning at 7:30.  I said I don't go to Joan's branding and he said they need help hes coming so be ready.  Well I was ready.  Wasn't so bad, that extra hour of sleep was appreciated.  And he was right those cows tried everything to leave the group.  Glad they put them in a section field on Wednesday.  It was a super humid morning and we trotted through the field and Jess was sweaty from head to tail, Looked like we rode a lot harder than we really did.  Then after that I jumped in with Justin and headed over to Grants, we were a little late but we got in time to sort the cows and brand.  I was tired after 2 16 hour days.  Whew Saturday was a day off.  Even though Brent asked if I was going to Douglass' and I said no he says I'll pick you up....I laughed and said I fell for that one already lol.

Then 3 brandings on Sunday, Whew that was another long day, All 3 had not too many cows so that was kinda nice.  And not we have only 2 left, the 30th and the 2nd.  Will be glad to be done and move on with summer, even though I love branding season.  I hope I got everything in, I had written this up Saturday but somehow when I went back to change a picture and it all dissapeared.

More Dee Videos

Took a couple more videos of Dee and finally got time to upload them this afternoon.  First is loping and trotting after cows 

and the second is getting them in the corrals.  Shes kinda fun to ride in a group.  Now I'm sad I have to wait till Monday to see whats wrong with her mouth before I can ride her again.

Also got an email on Chili and shes coming along good, Hes gonna try and get some pics or video of her when his wife is out next. 

More Brandings.

We had a day off after our branding....actually 3! But I went to the massage on Wednesday and that was exhausting, she's tough on me.  And Thursday we went to Brooks to try and order our house again....what a schmozle.  Never succeeded yet.  That's 3 times we been in and a couple hours each time and maybe next week we will have better luck.  Then 2 brandings Friday that were both cold.  And another Saturday that's always kinda  a fun one....not too many calves and good company i enjoy going there.  Got a few photos there but not many cause I had to work.

Then today another one and I took Dee.  She was super good since I hadn't ridden her since January and never around cows but after I got off I seen she had an abscess?fatty growth on her inner lip.  Never seen anything like that before.  Guess a vet trip is in order if I can fit it in.
Tomorrow we load 50 cow/calf pairs to go the community pasture.  Trucks coming at 9 so its gonna be an early morning.  And Wednesday I am going to help a neighbor move cows across the highway and Thursday an all day branding and Friday another branding and finally a day off next Saturday.   Whew I'm gonna need it.

First Branding for 2015

We went to our first branding of the year on Saturday.  I took Jessie and my gopro and so got a 10 minute video of the last part of the roundup.  Whole thing maybe took an hour they move them to a smaller field (only a section) the day before so its quicker.

Love it when I get to take my horse to brandings :)  Although I do notice when I watch the video I sure talk a lot, never noticed it before....and I dont think I sound like that either lol

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 :)

More Fun at Branding

Last Sunday the 22nd was one of my favorite brandings, the one where I get to be on the roundup crew and just ride my horse all day :)  It was a little different, there were 4 herds this year instead of three but it didn't seem to take any longer than usual.  Pretty efficient way to get a lot of cattle branded in one day...I'm guessing around a thousand maybe a little less.

I got up early, around 5 so the ponies could eat before we went, I took Jess and we got there at 7 just in time to visit for a few minutes and then mount up and go.  The first herd comes in super fast usually but of course not this year, they just didn't wanna move and we had to push them the whole way in.  After they were in and cows sorted out we had breakfast and coffee before the rest of the crew came.  Mmm I love it when others cook :)

Then as they got started branding we headed out to the second corrals, I wasn't on the ball enough this year to get a ride with my neighbors and so I had to go all the way to corrals, usually I get dropped of just past the texas gate.  We headed west and got a bunch of cows moving and another group come from the south and joined us and just before the gate another group come from the north and they went in really well, they are getting used to that corral, its only been there a few years before they went the other way across the field.

We stayed there a while and waited had a couple beers, the rest of the crew came and they branded a bunch and took a beer break and then we had lunch and the gathering crew left.  We headed out to the third corrals and I was with a group that went to the creek, a few cows across the creek and 2 guys went to get them I stayed to push others up but I wish Id gone with them they saw a baby deer still wet, aww.  Anyways got them pushed up and they always get to the gate and try to rush back, well we were ready this time, we got them turned around and out the gate and into the corrals, a couple calves had to be roped in but that's pretty normal.

We sorted cows and the other crew came and we sat around for a while, the 4th set was using the same corrals so we couldn't be too fast.  Finally we went, pretty big field (about 4 sections) and it was mostly 2 year olds, they like to go fast so that was interesting but at least they moved well.  We got back a little too quick and had to hold them in the corner, we gave them lots of room and they were pretty good till we let the other cows out and then in they went.  Worked a lot better than I thought it would.  Not too many there so it didn't take long, I was tired and it was pretty sunny and warm and I was really tempted to go home but I waited it out and went back to the house for supper and boy was it worth it!  I was sooo full though.  Finally got home, fed the ponies and went inside and headed to bed, I cant do those 19 hour days very much anymore, whew.