The First Real Day of Work!

I went to bed early last night so that I could jump out of bed this morning...well regardless- I didn't jump.

But I did get up after the second alarm and headed down to do chores at 6:30. Since no one was around quite yet and I don't know who all gets what I ended up hanging out with the cat and the bucket calves- and let me tell you, they're quite the company. But, eventually Merle came out of the house and showed me how much to feed everybody and such. ...hopefully I can remember that for tomorrow morning. So, we did chores and Dean ran the horses in for oats.

As soon as we were done I picked up Bart and brought him home- on my way in the door I managed to drop the clay flower pot that I keep his food in (random, I know) and fish food and clay pot pieces went everywhere....always a good way to start the day. After cleaning that mess up, Merle came and picked me up and dropped me off at the shop to sweep the floor.

There's a nice thick layer of dirt that has developed there and it was past due for a cleaning so I started in and Dean came later. We swept for about a half hour and then headed down to saddle our horses. Today's task: bring home the fall calvers and work the calves and preg check the cows. Merle's cousin Lee came down and him and Dean and I rode out. I rode Nelly today- she's pretty much the boss mare of the ranch. I have never been able to ride her before so that was fun. She's basically smarter than I am, so it's a good fit...at least I think so! I had somehow managed to never formally meet Lee before, so I had a chance to get to know him- he's a really fun guy.

The three of us went and rounded everybody up- it didn't take long as they were only a couple pastures away. We didn't have much trouble bringing them in and getting them into the corrals, but the fun had just began. Then, we sorted out cows from calves and steer calves from heifer calves. After moving everybody around into the right holding pen we realized that we were about an hour ahead of the vet. Delbert had just showed up with his hired hand, so, we went out and set up panels for branding the later calvers in the close pasture.

By that time we were right on time. The vet showed up at 11 (amazingly) and we got right to it. I worked in the back pushing cattle up with Delbert's new hired hand, Mike, and Dean. Mike and I sure did get an earful...we decided that we might need some waders! (If you don't get it- it's probably best that way).

After getting everybody sent up the alley way and worked we decided to go in for some dinner. There were only a couple open cows- so that was a good deal. Adreanne Had made some pretty good dinner in the crock pot and we sure liked it:) But, back to work!

After dinner Lee and Dean and I rode and Delbert and Mike took forwheelers to take everyone out to grass to the Baldy pasture. This is a few pastures away, but it didn't take us long- some of the old cows knew where they were headed.

We dropped them off and loaded into the trailer that Merle and Adrienne brought out and headed home. I felt pretty good about where I was at and having by directional bearings straight- but we'll see how long that lasts! We came home and went straight out to grab the late calvers. Ross had come while we were gone and had already started rounding up with the four wheeler. We were able to get them all crammed into the branding panels except one annoying little calf. But, after a time we managed to coax him in with his mamma and sorted cows off. Then, came the fun part.

Mike came over with his two boys and Dean brought his two kids down (who are too small to wrestle by themselves but can still watch the gate) and we heated up the irons. We ended up with Lee roping by himself and Dustin and Brady and Mike and I wrestling. I'm not sure how many calves there was but we didn't have too much trouble. It was a good way to break me into the summer! We gave Lee a pretty hard time evertime he missed a loop...but then Mike and I once let one go without a fly tag and later I went to flip the rope on a calf that was roped at the hock and it just slipped and let him go back into the corral- so we pretty much last that battle! ;) After an hour or two we had them all done and back out to pasture.

I unsaddle Nelly and ran up to eat some pizza that Merle had Matt bring in from town. After eating quick I left early to go help Ross with chores and such. Then, we tied up the day by unloading an orphan calf from the branding and loading up a couple open cows that Merle took out. I unhooked old homemade (an old pickup bed trailer) and shut the shop doors and headed home.

It sure is nice to be back. I often am nervous about my ability to do things but have decided that it doesn't matter becasue I've got to do it anyway! It was fun to see everyone again, and I'm glad the last couple days have been pretty productive for Merle. I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring- but it'll come soon enough.

"Tomorrow is the most important thing in life. Comes into us at midnight very clean. It's perfect when it arrives and puts itself into our hands. It hopes we've learned something from yesterday." -John Wayne