Getting The Load Ready

What a nice day to work cattle.  Mike had another job to do, so we managed to get Grant, the son of another vet at the clinic, to help us.  He has a driver's license now so that made it even better. 

I think he has grown at least 6 inches from the last time he helped us.  The weather has still been very nice and even some of the mud is drying up.  

Joe already had all 140 head of calves up.  We sorted out the smaller end and some replacement heifers.  The rest we worked to get ready for their trip to the feed lot in a couple of weeks. 

Grant worked the head gate, I gave 3 shots and Joe kept the calves coming up the chute.   It was a very smooth day.  It is nice when everything works like it should. 

Now if the weather will just hold until we get them shipped out.  
 

Happy New Year Hugo

Not wanting to be left out on riding in this nice weather, Joe caught Hugo today for a ride.  

Joe is sporting his new Dabrim helmet brim that he got for Christmas.  We had not ridden Hugo in a month so we didn’t really know what to expect.

We were pleasantly surprised that he was the same horse that we had ridden a month ago.  He was calm and easy to work with.  We are still having a disagreement about how to back, but at least he doesn’t get upset or crazy.  We are looking forward to a new year with this new horse.

365!

I did it!  I managed to make my 2022 goal of posting every day for an entire year.  Unbelievable.  My next closest year was 2014 with 267 posts.  2021 was pretty sorry with only 129.  I will try to not back slide that far, but don’t expect every day.

 And what better way to spend the last day of 2022 than a two hour ride around the farm on Otoelene.  Draper is short a shoe so we are waiting until Monday when the farrier can come out to be able to ride her again.  There was a 60 degree temperature change from last week, 80 degrees if you count the wind chill. 

The weaned calves were very curious.

And there was yet another down tree.  Of course it went across the fence.

The goats were out and about.  They all looked good.  Then when we went up the gravel road, the four Rhodesian ridgebacks came barreling down the hill barking their heads off.  I stood and waited for them to all get down the hill before riding past.  Otoelene didn’t seem to mind them at all.  I’m just glad they can’t seem to get through the fence.

After lunch I went back with Joe while he cut the tree off the fence.

And then spent awhile trying to patch it back.  

We have been working on some goals for next year.  Several of mine involve traveling and vacations.  Joe said if you write it down you are more likely to do it.  So I am writing down - travel to Ecuador to visit Emily this summer while she is there for 10 months.  There, now it should happen. Happy New Year!

Happy 2nd Birthday

Look who turned two today.

 Sadie!!!!!

I picked up Allie in the morning so Sadie got special attention from Mike and Virginia.  She went to Cracker Barrel for lunch.  Then came here for the afternoon.  Virginia made a cake which we enjoyed after dinner. 

I think Sadie had a good day.

The Cat Leash

This cat was brought into the clinic yesterday.  The owner said they couldn’t find their carrier or a leash.  

I can think of a hundred things I would grab before a charging cord.  There were lots of jokes in the back about supercharging your cat.
 

Guest Photographer

Emily went birding while visiting her Grandmother.  She had seen where a rare duck was spotted in the area.  It took two trips, but she finally saw it.   It is a Harlequin duck.  That made her 200th bird for the year. 

Although there are an estimated 200 000 to 300 000 Harlequin Ducks in the western population, the eastern North American population today consists of fewer than 1 000 individuals. Historically, the endangered east coast population had been estimated at 5 000 to 10 000 birds.

 

Family Photo

We had a crazy time trying to get a family photo this year.  Joe missed out on the picture last year, and Mike missed out this year.

 Virginia and Emily behaved.

But Sadie was too full of herself to hold still.

She would fight and squirm, get down and start laughing.

I could barely hang on to her.

Then I was laughing too hard to smile right.  Then I switched with Joe since Allie was being good.

Joe didn’t fare any better.  Allie isn’t sure what to think.

This one may be the keeper.