1st shipping 2014

We shipped old cows in late August.  The kids and I were heading into town and stopped to watch the action.  Clyde and Alice tried out their photography skills.

Summer 2014 Roundup

Well, we're going to start school up in about 10 days so it's fun to look back at the summer.  We spent a lot of time in the water, some of it floating the ditch.

Our Rydalch cousins came for Father's Day and for 4th of July.

Clyde and Alice attended Mumsy Camp separately, but Alice joined Clyde and Elliott on the hike to Blue Lake with Mumsy.  Blue Lake is the source for Fawn Creek that irrigates Uncle Jock's, the old Cabarton and Mumsy's new North pasture.

Mumsy taught Clyde and Elliott about different types of trees.  Here's Clyde checking out a pinyon pine.

There was a lot of time spent at the mudhole, digging deeper and deeper and making all kinds of pipe systems and other interesting contraptions.

This is the last snow we saw in late June atop No Business.  We all went up the mountain with Aunt Catherine.

Clyde and Alice had a fun August day at Kay's beach.

And of course there was a whole lot of work.  We had a grasshopper infestation that we coordinated abatement for.  We had to turn the water off and on so many times it was like starting the season 4 times.  Everyone was worried early, but it's August and as I look out I see lots of lush grass still.

Sometimes Alice is a little overdressed! We spent a fun afternoon on the Wises' boat.  Clyde and Alice both rode the tube and jumped off cliffs.  It was a good day.

Spring with our Wise Cousins

There are 12 magical days where the children are in age order, and this year we missed them.  So, when the Wises came for an Easter Egg hunt we took some photos.  You'd think it would start getting easier to get them all in a photo, but they sure bounce around!  

We brought a new calf to the house that day and dubbed her "Carrot Cake" - she have those kids her all.  The 6 of them could barely bring her in, but they got her (with some help from Ben).

Branding 2014

How awesome is this?!!  What, you don't know?  This is the most awesome development - Mommy no longer has to get out of the car because Clyde can get the gate!  Well, the green gates at least.  It'll be another couple of years before he can get the wire gates.

And look at him here -helping Daddy wrestle those calves.  Wow!  What a difference a year makes.  It caught up to us today though when he wasn't scared by a crazy aggresive cow.  He did get out of the way before she charged, but she was so close!

I made 2 lunches this week, plus I did a lot of the actual branding.  It was amazing to not feel like I had to be watching the kids.  They are really getting independent.  I made calzones one day and enchiladas the next.

 Alice mostly hung out on the truck the first day but by the third day she was helping Daddy too.

We've got one more Idaho bunch and then it's off to Oregon.  

Chocolate

Our baby Chocolate is really growing.  Yesterday he was joined by "Carrot Cake" - a little malnourished red calf that we found at the branding.  Clearly her mom wasn't doing a good job so she got to come home with us.  All our friends, including this little boy who came down the hill to play, love the calves.  Clyde told me today that he must be doing a good job because Chocolate is really growing.

Work Day - So Happy to See the Sun

We've been meaning to head out to help Daddy, but it's been so rainy.  But last Saturday, it was a perfect day.  

Mommy drove the tractor for the first part while Daddy and the kids fed.  Jigsaw and Petey came along for the ride.  Poor Petey just got fixed, but it did wonders for his aggressiveness.

Clyde's getting to be a pretty good helper.

Alice walked out and checked on a brand new calf (just behind her head in the photo).  It's ear was moving she said so it must be OK.

Alice and Daddy drove the tractor while Mommy fed the last of the hay with Clyde.  See that - she can still do it.  

All done feeding... now for the hard part...  Daddy sure can throw those bales!