Today was branding day! It was an absolute beautiful, albeit windy-as-heck day. It was actually not even planned for today since we had been so crazy busy since this morning. Josh and I both woke up at 5 a.m. to start our day early and we still didn't (almost) have enough hours in the day to do everything.
I had a few of my lovely lady friends over today at 10 a.m. for them to hear about my new business venture in the coffee business - check out my coffee page here! The women were so gracious to hear a presentation from my wonderful friend Dayna and drink some gourmet healthy coffee. We finished off with some yummy chocolate almond ganache cake and French vanilla cupcakes with orange buttercream.
After the ladies left, Josh and I went and picked one of our trailers up from a fencing job he just finished in order to bring our Bobcat skid steer home. Since it was only 3 p.m. we decided to brand today instead of waiting until tomorrow, Sunday. Here's some pictures from our "big" branding!
I had a few of my lovely lady friends over today at 10 a.m. for them to hear about my new business venture in the coffee business - check out my coffee page here! The women were so gracious to hear a presentation from my wonderful friend Dayna and drink some gourmet healthy coffee. We finished off with some yummy chocolate almond ganache cake and French vanilla cupcakes with orange buttercream.
After the ladies left, Josh and I went and picked one of our trailers up from a fencing job he just finished in order to bring our Bobcat skid steer home. Since it was only 3 p.m. we decided to brand today instead of waiting until tomorrow, Sunday. Here's some pictures from our "big" branding!
My sweet baby Harper in the corrals in her play pen! She was loving being outside. Her squeals and giggles kept me smiling!
My beautiful daughters!
Josh hauling a panel to build a chute.
Baylee
What a view!
Rounding up the cattle.
It was incredibly windy today - 35 mph winds. We always joke that most people think that 20 mph winds are bad and to us, it's like a light breeze! See the pivot spigot blowing away in the wind and all the dust in the background. Let's just say the bathwater was looking pretty murky tonight. With all these cows' manure laying around you can't stop and think too long about what's all blowing through the air into your hair, ears, mouth and clothes- if you know what I mean!
My sweet friend Maria brought her five kids over to experience branding. See how cute they are rounding up the calves!
Minnie, Joanna & Suki.
Benny and Easton. Two blondes only two months apart. Many people confuse them for being brothers!
Maria and her son Michael wanted to participate so I snapped pictures while they held the calves. What troopers!
Branding is so bittersweet. It's so fulfilling to be able to put your brand on your cows and know that you are raising something that not only can bring you an income, but provides so much livelihood and blessings in your life. The calves are so cute and I would love to see them grow over the next year, but the reality is that once branding is done, they are turned out onto the desert until October and when they come back, they will be so much bigger. It is also exciting to see them out in the wide open range without the confinements of corrals. However, even though they are only animals and they will one day become our hamburger or steak, I will miss them and miss seeing them everyday. There is no better way to raise cattle than to have them living organically in the desert and mountains. They are in clean and a natural environment here and thrive. In October, they always come back looking so healthy and vibrant. Here's a few pictures of turning them out near the reservoir allotment joining the other cows already up there.
They will eventually migrate their way into the mountains in the background and live there all summer long and then migrate back down to the desert in October. Not a bad place to live for the summer, in my opinion! Cows are pretty smart!
The calves weren't exactly sure what to do in this wide open space!
Off all my babies go! Just to give you a glimpse of where their summer home will be, look at the following beautiful pictures. Try not to get too jealous. I know I am.
See you in October!!