The Changing of the Flag

 Out with the old...

 In with the new.

 Because the season has definitely changed:

Branding and Banding Completed

 We are about a month later than usual for our cow's spring spa treatment.  There was cow talk about an occupy movement in our yard.  We can't have that.  My roses could never handle a mob of angry cows.  Even if most of them are passivists.  We aren't too sure about this guy.  His name is Jacob.

 We got all of the necessary tools gathered.  Coffee of course,  and something a tad cooler for when the day warms up.  New earrings for the young uns.  Girls get red, it looks great with their black hair.  The boys got basic white.  Goes good with everything and never stands out too much in a crowd.  I tried to talk them into to neon green earrings, but they weren't having it.  They also got some vitamins and minerals to grow up strong and healthy. 

 This tool here the boys don't seem to like too much.  It is a big bander.  You use it to place a circle of surgical tubing around the bull's family jewels and then you crank it all the way, so it is nice and tight.  Soon the boys voices will be raised slightly and the aforementioned item will dry up and fall off.  We've been using this on our big boys for about 4 years and have been very happy with the results.  Except for walking funny for a couple days, the boys don't seem to slow down much in growing at all.  And by allowing them to remain bulls until now, they seem get more overall growth. 

The day warms up and what can I say,  my muck boots got hot and  I like to get a little mud mask on my feetsies.  We are a full service spa and the workers get benefits too, ya know.

One of the worker's jobs is injections. All on ice. The cows get two vaccines and the calves get two as well.  All the boys get a third shot of tetanus since they are getting some 'lumps' removed as well.

 Another job is to give special tattoos on all the youngsters.  Here Johanna is doing a nice job.  We try to do this quick and smooth with a hot iron.  I never really like this part much.  I think that we should just skip this part.  It isn't like we have a lot of cattle rustlers around.  Do we?

 Bar M on the right hip.  It has been in Mark's family a long time and we aren't sure what it stands for.  His great grandma was named Mamie.  So we think she might have started it.   It works well for Mark too, though doesn't it. 





 07 is his new number and his mama is Lanai Mo.  He had a problem.  First time we experienced this problem actually.   He only had one, um,  testicle.  We could feel a littler one up in his belly, but the guys could not get it to go down into his jewelry bags.  So we just banded the one testicle.  It will be too hot in his belly to make viable sperm, so it should be ok.  We could have done a little surgery and tried to cut the other testicle out,  but that would have been very hard on this guy. 

 This foot belonged to a friend who showed up late afternoon with some Jimmy Buffet music playing and a fun and playful spirit.  It made the day end in a lot of fun.  She didn't even know we were doing a spa day and she jumped in with both feet.  She's training to be a nurse, so she took over on all the injections.  She said cows were easier than people.   






Here's the Mr.  at the end of the day.  A bit muddy, but still smiling.

A Donkey Welcome

the falls in spring

Until Next Time

We ended up being down south much longer than planned as my mom had to have a new pacemaker installed and needed our assistance.  By the time we rolled into the ranch we were more than ready to get back and looking forward to accomplishing something during the nine days we had.  But the days flew by and not a lot was accomplished.  Hopefully, our trip south will be short and our next time home longer. 

  When we first arrived we were hoping for taller grass.  It is green and growing, but still short.

 Too darn many horses, we think.  The horses tend to hang out in the front and you could tell that they have kept things eaten down more than other areas and their hooves cause more damage than the cattle as well.  Horse love must be an addiction, as I have the hardest time selling them.  But I am thinking of selling Belle again. She is the paint. I am the least attached to her and she is so darn cute it should make her easier to re-home. Any takers?

 Even though the grass is short all the cows and calves are fat.  The calves are getting big and we haven't been able to brand and band them yet.  We will definitely gather next week when we return home and get the job done.

I got the chance to take my favorite horse out for a ride.  Buddy may be homely with his winter coat, but my mustang is always a sweet ride for me. 

 Mark and I also spent time walking one side of our fence line.   We took photos of the bad spots, so we can remember where they are and go back with supplies. 

 We hiked about 4 miles that day and discovered that we had lost our hill legs.  We walk at least 4 miles a day down in the valley but these hills  whooped us.

 But we did get lovely views and saw many deer herds and pretty wildflowers.  I unfortunately only had my iphone and the up close photos turned out blurry.  More than my legs are out of shape.  My camera sense is too. I used to never leave home without it.

 I usually only photograph the lovely.  This back yard is not so lovely now and we did not get a chance to do a thing with it as my activities were cut short as I got an acute abscess of a tooth over the Easter weekend.  My dentist was out of town too.  Monday, his receptionist took pity on my sobbing and found me a dentist to remove the necrotic tissue  and I was much better. This week was shot though because I was  exhausted from the lack of sleep I got over the weekend. Worst pain I think I have ever experienced. 

This little guy has apparently had a rough time too.  He's missing part of his head and his hat.  But he's got his guns and his boots are still on.  All's not lost. 

We too, are adjusting to this crazy life of going back and forth between two loves.  The ranch and my parents.  Sometimes in life you just have to go with what comes and make the best of it.

 

Until Next Time!