Sunday, October 30, 2011
Another picnic
We went up Log Canyon, the road that goes up behind the cabin on the four wheelers. Still wearing our orange.
An unusual place
We decided to picnic on top of the hay bales! So, we all climbed up a ladder because they were piled two high and camped out for a little family picnic.
Calling Coyotes
Scott got pretty good at calling coyotes. We all thought the calls sounds great. I guess the coyotes were not fooled because we did not see one. Although I know the other Scott shot at one the day before just outside the cattle fence.
A mini Bryce Canyon
This is called Devil's Kitchen. Nebo Loop was finally open. We hoped all summer we would get the chance to go up, but there was still too much snow to pass through even in the end of July. It was finally open and we went up for a picnic.
Helping in the kitchen
Popcorn is tradition out in Utah. Nothing better than some popcorn for a bedtime snack. This is Ben twirling the Whirly Pop - we highly suggest getting one!
And they just kept coming
I sent Scott a text that said we were stuck in the sheep. He responded by saying we should just barrel through them. So, we slowly pulled out, and began to turn around. The sheep kept moving down the road and then we were just a part of the sheep herding. They were to our right and to our left! It was unbelievable! And down the mountain we all came!
And the sheep came down the mountain!
One day we were waiting for Scott to meet us at the ranch, so we decided to take a little drive. We started heading up the dirt road behind the ranch. In the distance we could not quite make out what was ahead. It was white. It was long. It was moving. SHEEP!!
2000 of them!
We pulled over in the car and just sat there watching them all coming toward us and before we knew it, they were all passing! There were no people that we could see, only about 10 sheep dogs herding them along. There would be sheep, or a hundred of them, that would steer off the path and start in the wrong direction and the dogs would calmly steer them back into the group. It was quite an amazing sight! But where were the people?
A hike for the girls
After a long day at the ranch, Katie and I decided to take a little hike ourselves and share some time together. We got all the way up to the top and used the self timer for this photo....also spotted a little heifer that escaped with her mom who had to get rounded up later.
Mom gives it a try
I tell ya what, that Katie is a great teacher! I roped the post twice! Katie and I decided that when we got home we were going to practice every day.
Katie's lasso lessons
After all that was done, Katie took hold of her lasso and just let it fly! She was a great teacher, demonstrating and sharing all that she knew with the boys and me. She's a natural!
The ranch
Katie and I went for a hike so we could see things from higher up. This is a great shot of the ranch. Most of the moms are still standing along the fence mooing for their babies!
Walking the dog...oh wait, that's a steer!
This was AWESOME and such a laugh to see! After all was said and done with this little guy, he needed to be released back out into the pasture to be with his mom for a while longer. The trouble was that all the heifers were in the area where he would have been released and then the round up would have started all over again. Luckily, Katie brought along her lasso and Scott put it to good use! Once he got it around its neck, he had to walk it over to the opened gate. Nothing like walking a 200 pound wild thing! The kids and I were wide eyed and just laughing!
The brand
This is a great photo of what the brand looks like. That is Farmer Scott who works the farm every day for a lot of looooong hours.
The Branding
This part they did feel, but it needs to get done. The kids and I have certainly learned to toughen up a bit about farm life. And MAN, does that smoke stink!
Never gonna be a Bull
This is what happens to all the little steer...a tight rubber band around their you-know-whats.
Ear tagging
The next thing that happens is an ear tag. The cattle have thin cartilage in the center of their ear, this is where the tag goes in. They hardly flinch. It must feel about like getting your ears pierced. Each tag has a number with our brand on it.
The squeeze shoot
Then the steer is pushed into the squeeze shoot and tipped. This keeps him still for what awaits.
This Little Guy
This little guy was born later than we expected. This is a photo while he is in the "waiting room". Just wait and see - there were some WIDE eyes watching.
The first step
After all the calves are separated from their mothers, they need to be separated again. All the steers are singled out and put into a separate corral. The mothers literally stand all along the fence and bellow for their babies....not the kind of weaning I am used to and it was sad to see all those moms calling out for their little ones. I asked Farmer Scott how long they did that for and he said it can go on for about 3-4 days!
Lots of time at the ranch
There was a lot to do at the ranch and each day the kids would ask how much longer we could stay, as though every moment was an exciting one. Farmer Scott and our Scott had brought all the cattle down into the corral to separate out the calves from this year. We keep the heifers and sell the steers. It was quite a show to watch!!
A frosty and icy morning
We went to the shelter to rescue three cats and have them come out to the shop and be "shop-cats". Across the street, the farmer was watering the field despite the weather. Quite beautiful.
Traveling out
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