Long, good day

We got up at 4 and were out of here by 5. Rick and Caden rode along, as did Eric, who we met up north a bit. Drove over to the ranch Chance and Hope are on and branded two bunches of calves. Good crew and the work went well.

We blew a cap on a tire on the trailer about 15 miles from where we were headed, but just slowed down a bit and went on. Tire held clear out into the pasture where we started gathering at. When we got the first bunch done, Caden and I went over to try and change it but the lug nuts were too tight. We drove back to one of the camps and used the air wrench and got it changed then rode from there, east a few miles and gathered a second bunch and worked them.

Weather held, never got real hot or real windy. I branded one iron on the first bunch and roped on the second about half the bunch than switched and finished up wrestling.Big ol’ calves but the crew was handy. Every time I looked up on the first bunch there would be from 2 to 4 calves on the ground and more coming.

Eric brought along a horse and he and Chance made a trade. so if he likes the Blue Dog he will keep him and Chance will keep a little bay who looks like Woody’s little brother. We got home about 9:30. Cindy rode along to help Hope and wrestle with Grandkids.

Fathers Day

I have heard from two sons, so far today. Both wished me a Happy Fathers Day, as did one of the girls. I wished it right back to them, as all three of my son’s are fathers, tho’ Tyler is the Good Father and has to share in the children in the parish where he happens to be assigned ( of all ages). And he is fine with that.

I think of my Father this day and all the good fathers I have known. Some of them never had any children of their bloodlines, but yet, they were good fathers, or father figures. I think all males are called to be good fathers or father figures and I have to remind myself of this at times. Even if the child (of all ages) is not our blood child, we should still act as fathers to them and give them good examples and encouragement.

I am very proud of my son’s and the fathers and father figures they are. Must have learned something from their Mom… 🙂

Happy Fathers day to all you men out there…

Me and the kid…… some more….

Went south and finished up our fencing project yesterday and then shot BB guns last night. He is NOT as good as I am…:-)

We had visitors this morning and then we went out and he opened gates for me so i could get the tractor in the corral and clean up some of the mess in front of the feed rack. We are heading to the Bronc match at Philip after bit.. supposed to rain and get wild. Wind is blowing hard here now….

The continuing saga of me and the kid and gramma

Me and the kid went down south and worked on our fencing project this morning. Drove over to get a tank where the yearlings are drinking and some were out. Could have been cuz’ somebody left a gate open! I won’t mention any names but he’s in hot water…..

We had the dogs with us, so we shut the gate and put the lost little dears back in with the other yearlings. They were thankful and thirsty…

I took the tire off the trailer that SOMEBODY ruined while coming back fro a branding so we drove to Punkin Center to get a new one put on and ate at the Cafe while that was being done. Then this afternoon, me and the kid saddled up and moved some pairs farther west. The kid rode Beaver and done good. I swear if that boy got to stay here all the time, why I am sure I’d make a heck of a hand out of him. He’s already talking about riding colts that I snub!

We are going to a branding tomorrow.

Windy today and there is rain coming this way. Hope it’s a bunch, but I will take any amount. Yeah, that’s the kind of guy I am…..

Me and the kid and GRAMMA!

Went out and worked on some fence this afternoon. I’d went out this morning with the tractor and loader and pushed some pipe in the ground for corners and filled dirt in around some water tanks.

Ground is so dry I had to get a load of dirt in the loader bucket and pound a long time to get this corner in this deep. I would have liked it a bit deeper, but it’s just for a short stretch of fence in a water lot, so I imagine it will hold. Maybe it will be wet another year and I can go back and push it in deeper!

Gabe taking the old wire off so I can move it up the hill where the snow won’t mash it down.

This evening we drove up west and looked at cattle, found a new baby or two (haven’t been paying much attention to these last ones to calve) and went and looked for old rusty things ti incorporate into the kitchen remodel. Got some sucker rod and came home and started forgin’ out a cupboard handle. This is the prototype.

Cindy cranked the forge and there was some blue flames we tried to capture on the camera, but they don’t show up too good. Not nearly as well as to the naked eye…

What looks like smoke is smoke and blue flame…

Wind howled and didn’t get much above 70 degree’s. Chance of rain this week.

Me and the kid…

Went out in Purple this morning and went around some fence. Found a corner post that needs replaced and several other little projects we are going to have to get done between branding’s and cattle work. We drove over to Punkin Center and got some salt and mineral and oil for the windmill we had to fix this morning. Cable broke, but the big tank was full so we turned it on and them yearlings had plenty of water. We went ahead and fixed the cable as I had some wrenches with me. Then this afternoon/evening we rode down south and moved the yearlings on further south. They wanted to follow Gabe and Beaver, so I sent him on ahead as the lead steer and it was pretty and a slick way to move yearlings. He done real good for a 7 year old! ‘Course, he was riding a real good horse! 🙂

We had a real good stiff breeze out of the south east so it helped. Got warmish this afternoon, but is cooling off now. Supposed to get into the 80’s tomorrow. Sure was muggy from the rain. Must have got about an inch out of this last one.

Had to laff at one point as Buck the wonder dog was just setting near the cattle and I looked over and there was a yearling heifer just a sniffing all over him. Had her nose right on his hair! Why he let her is beyond me, but I guess I hadn’t told him he could, so he didn’t!

We have a branding tomorrow. My saddle was still real wet and I wanted to give Mijo a day off so I rode the old man, Woody. Gassy, goofy ol’ poop, but all horse!

Peaches had a colt with her this morning. Sorrel with a big ol’. star and lots of white over the nose. Ain’t too sure she didn’t get bred while at Chances last spring…. At least it’s a colt and not a filly! I sorted them off and put them behind the house and let Woody and Squirt in with them so Woody can “protect” them! 🙂

Oh, man!

We trailed cattle today. Gabe done real good. Cool when we started and never got real warm, but the calves and cows got hot and tired and we rested them twice and had a hard push the last couple miles to the pasture. Had to travel along side a tarred hiway for about half the distance and there sure are some rude people who won’t slow down for cattle and riders! Wish I’d of packed my pistol, I might have used some tires for target practice! Most were good and slowed down and waited on us when we had to be on the hiway.

Just as we turned into the pasture, off the hiway, the heavens opened up and it rained! And the wind blew! Gabe got in a wreck with Beaver and handled it real well. I believe that boy might make a hand!

We paired cows and calves on a knob in the wind and rain and close by lightning and it was pretty western deal, but we endeavored to preserver and by golly we did! First time I ever paired out backwards, as our horses didn’t want to face into it and I couldn’t see for the stinging rain and the wet glasses anyway! I couldn’t have got wetter if you had thrown buckets of water on me from four sides, all at once! I didn’t take a slicker as Gabe didn’t have one and I didn’t think that was fair for me to have one and him not to. I won’t make that mistake again! 😉

Pictures….