Toad Friend

With all the rain we've had over the past two weeks, our toad friend has been on our porch most evenings, to feast on the bugs attracted to our house lights.  Thump, thump, thump, as he jumps and hits the glass, night after night.  He's our bug zapper!  

Road Work

The welcome rainfall brought the unwelcome chore of road work.  Our driveway, from Warbonnet Ranch to our home, is over 2.5 miles long.  Much of it is in very poor condition after the rains of the past week.  Papa spent much of today on Fergie, grading a small portion of the road.  2.4 miles to go!

Flowers and Mushrooms

All the rain of the past couple of weeks has brought nourishment to flowers, some blooming out of season, and to mushrooms.  We have mushrooms growing in the desert!

Ranch Guests

Ranch guests arrived on Friday of Branding Weekend.  Lorraine and her son, Alex, Ann and her daughter, Amanda, came from Tucson and pitched in Friday afternoon, chopping, counting, and prepping for the next day.  By late afternoon, Papa and I drove up the hill with them and hiked a bit around Hunter's Camp.  By the next afternoon, they were talking about the "new" cowboy language they had heard, new experiences they had, and all within two hours of home.  We enjoyed their visit!

Green, Green Grass

We've had 3" of rain in the past week, including an inch today.  Our grasslands, canyons, and mountains have turned a brilliant shade of emerald green.  Our days are cool, in the 70's, and nights are cooler still, in the 60's.  The creeks are running at the moment! 

Lulu at Branding

I got up with Papa at 4 on Branding Day.  I prepped for Branding lunch.  I made muffins for the cowboys arrival at 6.  I prepared breakfast for our five house guests.  I greeted other guests as the morning passed, got cold drinks ready, and by 8, I was by the fence with my camera.  I had tears in my eyes at the sight of those 400+ cows and calves, with 14 cowboys (and 1 cowgirl) I've come to know and love, moving down the mountain.  By 8:30, I went to the Rock House corral, to get ahead of the cowboys moving cows in their last push to the corral.  I was clicking away with my camera from the first cow over the hill until the last, trying to record the day in photos.  My role at our Brandings is taking photos.  This year I took over 2000 photos.  Many of them get posted to this blog.  Many are used in a gift that has become Colter's annual Christmas gift, his photo book of that year's Branding.

A neighbor cowboy, Dallin came for roundup and Branding this year.  Just after he arrived at 6, got his horse ready to ride and had a muffin in his hand, I came along with my camera.  He put his muffin down and smiled big.  I asked what he was doing and he said he had gotten the memo, "always smile for Louise because these photos go in The Book."  I loved it! 

Papa and I are so grateful for this life we live on Winchester Ranch.

Blood, Smoke, and Dirt

Branding is a messy job.  Its smelly with the aroma of burning flesh and hair.  Its dusty, dirty, and bloody.  All that grime doesn't make the day any less fun!  It calls for long hot showers!

The Branding Crew

We had 43 people for Branding this year!  The Branding Crew worked hard all morning and broke for lunch around noon.  When the Branding Crew went back to the corrals to finish branding, several guests who drove over 2 hours to get to the ranch, had to leave.  Our 2013 Branding Crew photo doesn't include everyone at Branding, but does include all 28 + 1 (sister in law, Mary, taking the photo) that arrived by 6 and stayed until the last calf was branded.  A terrific Branding Crew!

Moving Cattle Back to Pasture after Branding

The sky was heavy with clouds off and on throughout the day of Branding.  By early afternoon, sprinkles became more frequent.  Within minutes of completing the last calf brand, Colter had all the cowboys on horseback move the cattle from the corral, past our house, and into the next pasture.  Just as they got to the fence in front of our house, the sky opened and rain came quickly.  The cowboys moved the cows through the gate just a little faster, so they could get off the ranch before our road turned to mush.  What a day!

Faces of Branding 2013

 

Branding 2013 - The Branding

About 200 calves were born on the ranch this spring.  All were brought to the corral and separated, and then branding began.  Lots of cowboys were given the opportunity to rope the calves, including Colter Lee, age 5, and Madilyn, age 8.  Everyone at the corral could participate, throwing calves and holding them down, giving shots, cutting ears, castrating, and branding.  From ages 3 to 77, the branding crew did a great job!  Colter also did a great job throughout the week and the day of branding; organizing, keeping everyone on task, and getting all the work done.