Weaning Calves!

I'm back. Sorry I'm not keeping up with this very well, but the fall has been so beautiful that we rarely spend a day inside. However, that should not be an excuse as it is getting dark at 4:30 and as I'm typing this at 8:00 am, it is not quite daylight. This, I do not care for.

We spent the day weaning calves and preg testing yesterday. Now to some, this might be a low stress everyday job. When you add 75 mothers of bucking bulls into the mix, it turns into complete chaos. They are upside down, backwards, and inside out going down the alley. I had two near death experiences when posts came flying at me. Seeing that our pens have to be somewhat higher than the average cow/calf operator, these posts are about level to the neck when they get kicked out from behind a cow. Vets, along with wives, are not easily talked into showing up on this day either. We have a vet drive an hour to come. He is the only one brave enough within this distance. He showed up yesterday and strapped on a backpack, some kind of virtual glasses, and wielding a wand, he proceeded to preg check cows. Now, if that isn't the answer, I don't know what is. It sped up the process and he wasn't risking his life for near as long by doing it the old fashioned way.

Kelly was, of course, in his usual high stress, temper flaring mode. He threw one of his famous screaming cussing fits because he let a few cows through forgetting to Ivomec and let a couple more go the wrong way. I sit back on the alley walkway and laugh to myself, of course, at the vein popping out in his forehead. I truly believe that sometimes you get what your deserve and the universe will act on this in strange ways sometimes. As he is throwing one of his fits, the side bar on the squeeze comes undone and falls and hits him right square in the top of the head. I restrained myself from laughing out loud and even bit my tongue. This may surprise some of you, but that is hard for me to do. It would have been best if it had knocked him out and the vet and I could have finished in peace. No such luck. However, it did mellow him a little bit.

Last night when I came in the house covered in blood from dehorning a couple of cows, snot from being hooked at through the fence, and the excretions from the opposite end of the cow, I told Jessie to get dressed and brush her hair. When asked why, I told her because dad is taking us out to eat tonight. She broke the news to her dad the minute he stepped in the door. He dared not argue. After a quick shot of Crown with very patient vet, we headed into town.

Jessie is full swing into hockey. She is skating very well. Stopping is another thing, but that will come. She played in her first game on Saturday. They won, so she was ecstatic. Next weekend, they play in a tournament in Stettler. They are so much fun to watch. There are kids as young as four. The last game, one of the little girls got tired, so she crawled on her hands and knees back to the bench and the coaches had to lift her off the ice. Jessie played goal twice. She stands right inside the net. Even if she stops the puck, the other team is going to score.

Well, that is the excitement in our life as of today. I am headed out to catch horses for the horseshoer. I found out last week that Legend has navicular, Lucky has a sore suspensory, and last night the vet was looking at Chula and said she was trying to grow a club foot. Now would that not be just my luck. So, today I am having a horseshoer to the wagon burners come out. I think if he can fix all the problems on the chuck wagon racing circuit, he can surely deal with these problems.

Have a super day!

Trick or Treat!!

Halloween is over and the sugar high keeps going and going! I'm slowly throwing away candy so as not to be noticed. However, I do eat the homemade popcorn balls. I would hate for those to go to waste.

Hannah Montana cruised the streets of Big Valley with Raina while we followed along behind. This is the first year I can remember that the Halloween costume did not have to be pulled over a snow suit. There wasn't even snow on the ground. It was beautiful. Of course, there are a few houses that we hit where Jessie gets special treats. So, there is no shortage of junk food around here.





The weather has been amazing here when the wind hasn't been blowing. I got three horses ridden yesterday and never put on a coat. Now, that is weather I can live with. Kelly is hoping it stays like this because I'm a little easier to tolerate.

I better hit the road for now. It is supposed to be warm again today, so we have a big day planned of doctoring calves, dummying bulls, and getting some horses ridden.