Bright and early the day after we arrived it was BRANDING DAY! Branding day at the ranch is a hustle and bustle kind of day. I haven't been "up on the hill" that often so I'm not sure of the exact routine. The boys did get to go up for some of the day. They had a great time.
Here is a whole pack of boys getting ready to head up to the barn. We were delivering donuts and drinks for a mid-morning break.
Blase's job was to mark the calves with chalk to show they were done. He did a good job so I was told. He is watching his Grandpa brand a calf in the picture above.
Here you can see the whole operation in full swing. There are ropers on horses to drag the calves out of the pen, two calf wrestlers on each calf, people to vaccinate, one cutting the bulls (or in other words, making them into steers), and a few running the branding irons. Some of the branding irons are electric and some are headed by fire.
Blase following his Aunt Courtney as she was vaccinating.
A few cutie pie calves already branded. They aren't too bothered other than they want their mommies back. The cows are kept in another pen while the little ones are being branded.
Another picture of the crew. Neighbors, friends and family all turn out to help. In exchange for helping at someone's branding - they return the favor by helping at yours. There were 20 some helpers at this branding.
I can't say I'd like to wrestle the calves. Cormac did get to help wrestle one calf at this branding, then the 4 big boys each helped Darren wrestle a calf at the neighbor's branding later in our vacation.
There are little boys watching with excitement and wrinkled noses. Branding does stink a bit to first timers...maybe to everyone, but season branders don't notice it as much.
During the donut break, Cormac and Rex had a ride on a horse. They were having a wonderful time. At first they were scared, but by the end of the ride they were hooked. Cormac had a ride by himself and kept trying to get the horse to go faster. Thankfully the horse didn't go faster than the person (Lori) walking in front of it.
Its just a matter of time before they start asking for a horse. Right now all the boys are asking for a Wii or a Playstation. The answer will be NO to all three....at least according to their dad.
Rex's solo ride went well too. When he was finished riding he just hopped down to the ground, landing on his butt. He was in heaven though. What a brave little runt!! It was mentioned by Linda (in the picture) that we could borrow their horses for the boys next time we come out to visit. I think that Linda and Lori were their two favorite people at the branding.
Stephen also had a ride. He was just as hooked at his brothers. He ended up riding the horse down to the horse from the top of the hill. He can't wait to do it again next time.
And where was Little Sister??? Holding down the house with her mommy! We know our place and it isn't out in the middle of all that excitement. We did try to help Grandma with the lunch, but she didn't need our help. She was so well organized and had most of the work already done! It will just be a matter of years before Little Sister will be getting dirty and wrestling calves with the best of them. She has 5 older brothers to keep up with. In the meantime, I will treasure these few years where she is attached to my hip.
Here is a whole pack of boys getting ready to head up to the barn. We were delivering donuts and drinks for a mid-morning break.
Blase's job was to mark the calves with chalk to show they were done. He did a good job so I was told. He is watching his Grandpa brand a calf in the picture above.
Here you can see the whole operation in full swing. There are ropers on horses to drag the calves out of the pen, two calf wrestlers on each calf, people to vaccinate, one cutting the bulls (or in other words, making them into steers), and a few running the branding irons. Some of the branding irons are electric and some are headed by fire.
Blase following his Aunt Courtney as she was vaccinating.
A few cutie pie calves already branded. They aren't too bothered other than they want their mommies back. The cows are kept in another pen while the little ones are being branded.
Another picture of the crew. Neighbors, friends and family all turn out to help. In exchange for helping at someone's branding - they return the favor by helping at yours. There were 20 some helpers at this branding.
I can't say I'd like to wrestle the calves. Cormac did get to help wrestle one calf at this branding, then the 4 big boys each helped Darren wrestle a calf at the neighbor's branding later in our vacation.
There are little boys watching with excitement and wrinkled noses. Branding does stink a bit to first timers...maybe to everyone, but season branders don't notice it as much.
During the donut break, Cormac and Rex had a ride on a horse. They were having a wonderful time. At first they were scared, but by the end of the ride they were hooked. Cormac had a ride by himself and kept trying to get the horse to go faster. Thankfully the horse didn't go faster than the person (Lori) walking in front of it.
Its just a matter of time before they start asking for a horse. Right now all the boys are asking for a Wii or a Playstation. The answer will be NO to all three....at least according to their dad.
Rex's solo ride went well too. When he was finished riding he just hopped down to the ground, landing on his butt. He was in heaven though. What a brave little runt!! It was mentioned by Linda (in the picture) that we could borrow their horses for the boys next time we come out to visit. I think that Linda and Lori were their two favorite people at the branding.
Stephen also had a ride. He was just as hooked at his brothers. He ended up riding the horse down to the horse from the top of the hill. He can't wait to do it again next time.
And where was Little Sister??? Holding down the house with her mommy! We know our place and it isn't out in the middle of all that excitement. We did try to help Grandma with the lunch, but she didn't need our help. She was so well organized and had most of the work already done! It will just be a matter of years before Little Sister will be getting dirty and wrestling calves with the best of them. She has 5 older brothers to keep up with. In the meantime, I will treasure these few years where she is attached to my hip. 
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