Moo Cow Monday ~ When Things Go Wrong

We had just a little bit of cattle working to do over the weekend.

Those three fancy heifers, we have in the pasture, that pair with our Black Friday Deals.

Well....

It was time to wean them from their mommas.

We arrived at the pasture.

But not before Flower Boy hit his head on the stock trailer.

We had to set up panels.

We have the large cattle panels at home on the unfinished portion of the loading alley.

This is what happens when you forget the post driver.

 Honestly, rocks don't make good drivers.

Thankfully, the land owner was home and had a post driver in his shop.

The cattle were called into the catch pen.

A single heifer was pulled off and loaded into the stock trailer.

Off to the next pasture.

Cows and calves were called in and sorted.

Fall born calves and mommas were left in the catch pen, as well as the other two heifers we were holding back.

Along about this time, Flower Boy realizes we don't have the ear tags to tag the fall babies.

I am sent home to retrieve them, while Flower Boy and Drewman work the three older heifers.

 

 I arrive back with the ear tags, as the guys were running the mommas through the alley and chute, into the catch pen.

When working with smaller calves, you don't want to separate them from their mommas.

This is why the mommas were just outside in the catch pen, as we were working them.

After all the fall babies are worked, they run to their mommas.

Once they pair back up, the pairs are turned back to pasture with the other cattle.

Mommas head over the hill to take their babies as far away from us as possible.

They are only protecting their babies and taking them to a safe place.

Everyone comes to the feed truck for feed the next day.

The three fancy heifers are loaded into the trailer and transported home to meet their new herd.

These three, like the other seven purchased, are summer born calves.

We believe we have combined a really nice group of "off season" heifers, that will grow into amazing baby producers.

Even when things go wrong, in the breeding season or any other time in life, all is not lost.

Others have the same problems.

Take the time to seek them out and make the best of what you have.

We did!

XOXO,

Rancher Girl

Wordless Wednesday ~ It All Starts With Inspiration!

SO MUCH FUN!!!

XOXO,

Rancher Girl

Moo Cow Monday ~ New Jewelry!

Remember those Fancy Heifers we got such a good deal on during Black Friday?

They got new jewelry!

These girls came from a ranch that breeds show stock.

This is a good thing, because we haven't completed phase 2 of our pens at home,

AND

We really didn't want to load them up and transport them to the other working pens.

SO

We just ran them down the loading alley, at the house.

As you can see, the loading alley isn't complete yet either.

I keep telling you, there is never a lack of jobs, chores and tasks to be completed on a ranch.

Flower Boy cut out the girls' old jewelry.

And replaced it with Rockin' B jewelry.

Now, what girl doesn't want new jewelry?

Doesn't 33 look good with that Rockin' B bling?

Flower Boy does such a good job of making sure his girls have fancy jewelry and lots of bling.

Thanks Babe!

We love it!

Oh, by the way....

New Jewelry and Bling is on my Christmas list too.

;-)

XOXO,

Rancher Girl

WCW = Woman Crush Wednesday

I am throwing a kink in Wordless Wednesday!

All for good reason.

Not that I don't have plenty of photos to post.

I have a WCW!

In the social media world, WCW = Woman Crush Wednesday!

It is a day that you highlight a special woman in your life and honor them by posting a photo or telling a story about them.

These women are my WCW!

They are my cousins, aunts and Granny B.

Granny B is 92!

She is as spry as she is young.

We talk on the phone several times per week.

She always has a story to tell and advice to offer.

Aunt Lois and Aunt Marilyn were the first ones there, for me, when we had the house fire and when I lost My Daddy.

They came in, picked up and moved me forward, even when I didn't think I could move.

These two support my boys as if they are their grand children and accept Flower Boy as their own.

Tonya and Alisha, the cousins, are more like sisters.

I talk and text them often.

Tonya's boys and Alisha's daughter are The Big Boy's age, while Alisha's son and Drewman are close in age.

I don't know where I would be without these women in my life.

None of them have judged me for my past or faulted me for my decisions.

All have been supportive and protective of me and my boys.

They are my "go to women".

I can ask them questions without fear of being laughed at, interrogated or challenged.

Their answers will be point blank, honest and thoughtful.

As we were having the luncheon, in the photo, we talked about length of marriage.

Combined marriage, among these women and their husbands, is well over 150 years.

Who, now days, can say they have been married 25 years, or even 50?

NOT MANY!

ALL of my WCW's can!

Each of these women are in excellent health, mind and spirit.

Tonya and Alisha spend their time in the gym and are involved in many activities and organizations.

Aunt Lois and Aunt Marilyn are active in our community, clubs and do their fair share of volunteering.

All are a vital part of the church and place God first in their lives.

Granny B did her part when she was younger.

She would tell you "There comes a time when you have to step back and let the others have it."

Granny makes the most delicious cranberry salad.

Some might be shocked to hear, but she made this salad for Thanksgiving.

Grinding all the ingredients by hand with Great Grandpa B's hand grinder!

No one will tell her, she can't do something.

These women support their husbands, children, grand children and great grand children in every endeavor.

They never place themselves above their families.

Each are goal oriented and strive for success daily.

 

I admire and aspire to be like each one of these women.

They make me want to be a better wife, mother and woman.

Granny B, Aunt Lois, Aunt Marilyn, Tonya and Alisha,

Thank You for all you have done for me and continue to do for my family.

 XOXO,

Rancher Girl

Moo Cow Monday ~ Fancy Black Friday Deals

Friday, after Thanksgiving, started out as any normal day on the ranch.

Everyone gets up at their normal time and starts their routine.

The big kids came in for the long weekend and Drewman was home.

Flower Boy had been looking to purchase some cattle.

I made one request...

"If you are going to buy, I want fancy heifers."

I can't seem to stop kicking myself for allowing that fancy #14 heifer to sell a few weeks back.

I might have a few regrets, but we have 3 just like her held in the pasture.

They were the summer born babies.

I settled with the thought of keeping those, when we sold #14.

We went to bed, Thanksgiving night, with Flower Boy pondering.

Long about 9am, Friday morning, a call and decision were made.

It was a spur of the moment, hook the trailer, hop in the truck and hit the road type deal.

 Video Credit = Drewman

Thanks to the Big Kids, again, for holding down the ranch while Flower Boy, Drewman and I headed out on a road trip.

Our road trip took us about an hour and a half south, to K Bar W Ranch.

We aren't big Black Friday shoppers.

When it comes to these type Fancy Black Friday Deals,

WE WERE ALL IN!

7 fancy heifers were in a holding pen, waiting on us.

After a tour of the ranch, those heifers were loaded on our trailer

and headed back to our pens.

Open the trailer and let them out!

Saturday, was a beautiful day!

Flower Boy and I spent some time with the girls.

I had my big girl camera.

I absolutely love these girls!

They are deep bodied, with straight backs and hips, and track like a dream.

These babies will pair nicely with the 3 heifers we have in the pasture.

They have some growing to do, before they can be placed with the bull, as they are just weaning age.

We can't wait to watch these fancy baby makers grow and produce more fancy babies!

 

Have a great Monday!

XOXO,

Rancher Girl