Ohhhh Nuts!!!

Just another day on the farm....

We had to work my BIL LR's calves last weekend.  Of course when work needs to be done on the farm like this it turns into a social event with our closest friends {and anyone willing to help....so come on out next time}.  Mike and Jordan saddled up their horses {LR straddled his mechanical hoss}.  Our good friends Troy and Sher'rie picked the medicine up in town for us and came out to help.  They went out and rounded up the cattle.  Then they got all the mama cows and their calves into the wheel corral where they sorted the calves off.  This is about the time I showed because I had other engagements in town so I was late.

  

Meet Buck....HE is tuff enough to wear PINK!!!!  He wasn't camera shy at all and really "worked" it!!!

Jordan, Hayden, Alivia, and Brenna are supervising Mike to make sure he does it right!!!!  You can never have enough "bosses"!!!!

No LR is not going #2, he was sitting on the wheel corral and he did not realize the only thing holding him up was 2 cornstalks....and those sorting sticks.  Everyone needs a good laugh....and that we did!!!!  Then we headed to Troy's farm because he has a much nicer facility to work calves at.  It has a hydraulic  chute and shelter from the wind.  

Hayden.....well....he is just so darn ornery cute I had to include this picture.  Do you like his hat?  Jordan bought it for him a couple years ago!!  I can't believe we have kept track of it for that long.  It will probably be an heirloom someday....if we can continue to keep track of it.

This is Jordan {well the back of her}, she's 12, and she worked her rear end off that day!!

Mike and LR are getting the calves into the alley way.

Of course Mike and LR couldn't get that done on their own.....SOOOOOO Sher'rie and Jordan had to help!  It takes woman to do soooo many things!!!!!!!

LR is loaded with Ivomec.

The little calves are in the alley way.  This is one time you really don't want to be first in line...or second....or third....or fourth....or...ok I will stop.

Sher'rie is running the hydraulic chute.  Sher'rie ROCKS!!!

You can see Hayden here.  He is behind Brenna {pink coat}.  His head is stuck in the gate!!  It is almost like a human chute.  I was a HERO when I got his head out {at least in Hayden's eyes, I am sure the girls were not bothered by him being stuck}.

Mike is trying to convince another calf to go into the chute.  It's a boy and I am sure he doesn't want to go.  

But he did!!!!!!!!!

Our other good friend Mikey came to help out too.  He is putting an implant in the calf's ear.

Jordan is getting a calf turned around in the alley way.  For some reason they didn't want to go the right way...hhhmmm!!

Sher'rie helps too.  She is a multi-tasker like that.

Then she heads back to the chute to help out.  She is holding the calf's tail so Mike can cut this bull calf.  The next few photos involve blood....you've been warned.  Oh, and poop!

Mike is cutting the bull calf to make him a steer.

He is cut and his boys are hanging out!!!!

Then Mike pulls them out and throws them on the ground....sometimes.

I guess I could use the term "hanging by the nuts" here.

Then we had a calf go down in the alley way so LR got in there and go it up, but this happened.

POOP!!!  Tee Hee!!!!!

Then Mike need to take a break for a dip of Skoal.  Hayden was quite concerned with his hands being in the state they are, but it doesn't bother Mike.

We are about done.  The kids were getting cold and hungry.  Kids are always hungry except when it comes to meal time....then they are not.

And Becca was tired.  Isn't she a doll!!!

Troy was spinning out on...well a nut.

The calves were worked and it was time to take them back to their mamas.

The mama cows were happy to have their babies back.

Then we had to load up the horses and head home.  It was a great day!!!

We will do this again in a month or so, but we won't use the chute.  We call it a Brandin' so stay tuned.  I always take 200 gazillion bazillion pictures at the Brandin'.  I cook tons of food to feed the crew so I am sure I will take pictures of it {I am a picture freakoid} and post the recipes for you all to enjoy!

{{{HUGS}}}

The Farmer's Wife