I Sure Hope Tomorrow is Better...

Man, we've had some bad luck the last couple days.  It started yesterday while we were working cattle.  We took Mud, a young bull, to tip his horns.  You may remember him from a few posts back.  He was helping Mojo  in the fight with Tadpole.  Anyhow, we ran him in the squeeze chute to tip his horns.  He got down in the chute.  Nothing major but something happened to his back end and he couldn't stand up.  He scrambled a little to get out but never could get his back feet under him.  We let him sit while we finished everything else.  Still nothing.  Left him in the pen overnight and checked on him today.  Still nothing.  He's on his way to the packers.

We had nominated him for a competition in 2011.  Been paying his entry over this year.  Now we have one less bill to pay.

Then the husband went out to feed this morning.  One of our heifers had a calf.  It was dead.  The husband said it was early but the calf was fully developed.  A good looking bull calf.  Don't know what happened with it.  The momma knew something was wrong cause she didn't mind the husband messin' with the baby.  I told the husband nature has a way of taking care of things, something must have been wrong with it.  But it's still hard to swallow when you just had to put another one down.

I hate when we have a run of bad luck.  I hold my breath wondering what's gonna happen next.  You know they say it comes in threes.  The husband called me on his way to work, said a truck passed him and a rock flew up and cracked his windshield.  I'm hoping that's the third.

Then I looked over at my daily scripture calendar and it read,

"Consider it pure joy...whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  James 1:2, 3."

Big Doin's at the Ranch

Can I just say I'm tired.  Really I shouldn't be cause all I did was stand around mostly.  I guess just standing there, pushing the button on my camera is hard work!

Rent-a-husband and Cowboy Buddy came down to help work calves today.  We can always use an extra hand or two.

Cowboy Buddy brought his horse along.  The husband and I penned the cattle up yesterday getting ready for today.  Cowboy Buddy rode his horse out thru them in an attempt to push them out of the arena into a smaller pen.



Our cattle didn't know what to think of the horse.  Most have only been worked by us on foot.  Yep, the husband and I work all our cattle a foot.  We started out small (well, we still are a pretty small operation) and have just always handled the cattle a foot.  But you can see how muddy it is.  Working them horseback was way better today.  Yesterday I fell to my knees when my mud boots got stuck.  Not good when you're trying to sort cattle!



But I soon felt sorry for Cowboy Buddy.  Our guys and girls were not working very well for him.  He managed to get about half in the smaller pen but the other half was giving him fits.  They didn't care nothing about him or his horse.



I finally went out by the barn with a feed bucket.  Shook it a few times and called.  They came into the pen with the rest.  Momma knows how to get her babies to come in the pen.




Once we got them in this pen, then we needed to put them in a even smaller pen.  Had to sort some of the heifers off from the rest of the bunch.  They had it figured out by this time.  Went in the pen very nicely.  There's Tadpole bringing up the rear!



Managed to get everything sorted and loaded.  Then one more issue.  Rent-a-husband's truck was stuck in the load alley.



We managed to pull him out with my truck.  But this wasn't the last time we got stuck today.  Had to do more pullin' out at the lease place but that's a whole 'nother story!

Adventures Out of the Yard

Yesterday I let Lucky Dog out of the yard.  He's been staying in the yard due to a crappy neighbor and another neighbor setting traps to kill coyotes.  Lucky has a tendency to run off and roam.  We wanted him to be safe, thus he was sequestered to the yard.

Anyhow, he has gotten used to staying.  So when I opened the gate and all the other kiddos ran out, he just sat there looking at me.  I explained to him I was lettin' him out too and he was sooooo excited.  He jumped around all giddy.  Did circles and danced.  So happy.  I wished I had my video.  He stayed right with me and I didn't have any issues.

This morning I told the husband about it.  He was surprised I let him out.  I told him LD did great but you have to keep an eye on him.

This evening I went by the husband's work and he mentioned his morning didn't start off very well.  Uh oh!  He decided to let LD out when he fed.  Said he LD did well, went to the barn and hung out.  No issues.  Then as they walked back to the house, he took off.  The husband said he yelled at him to stop.  LD stopped, looked at him, then took off again! The husband ended up chasing him across the pasture.  He finally caught him and started back to the house.  Then LD took off the opposite direction.  Finally stopped at the drive.  Husband thought great, he'll go to the house.  Nope, off to the other side of our place.  By this time, the husband was out of breath, mad and late for work.  He went back to the house to get ready to leave.  He said when he came back out of the house, LD was at the yard gate waiting to be let in.

The husband said he was never letting LD out again!  And he didn't even do a dance or anything when he let him out.  I think it hurt the husband's feelings.

So I got home and went out to get the dog food.  Let everyone out again.  LD did the happy dance for me, stayed right with me and went right back in the yard when asked.  Hehehe

Just Call Me Miss April

Texas Farm Bureau asked if they could use one of my pictures in their calendar this year. I was so excited. Couldn't turn them down.

The husband called today and said we'd received our copy. Of course, he said my picture was the best one in the calendar. But I think he's a little biased!

And he was also upset that they didn't put my name anywhere crediting me for the picture. I told him it was okay. I didn't expect them to.

But one thing did catch my eye. I had entered this picture in their yearly photo contest. I received honorable mention. The winner of the contest didn't even make the calendar. They may have won $100 but I got a whole month!

Family Photo Shoot

While my parents were visiting at Thanksgiving, my mom asked if I would take their picture. She wanted one for the Christmas card. I'm so NOT a portrait photographer. Posing people is not my thing. But I couldn't say no.

I asked what they were wanting and where they wanted to take it. They didn't really have a preference so I suggested the old bridge down from my house. I just love that old bridge. I will be so upset when they take it out.



My way of settin' up a shot...."Y'all go stand over there." Told you I wasn't a portrait taker. Then I get the question, "where do you want us?" My response, "you seriously asking me? Over there somewhere."

My dad took charge and placed everyone in the picture. A cowboy of many talents.

Then I moved on to taking just my niece's picture. Isn't she so pretty. Yep, she takes after her auntie! LOL

I let her do whatever she wanted. Just stayed focused on her ready to capture the pic. She's a goof ball, that's more like what she got from her auntie!

Then she decided she wanted pictures with the cattle. They were a little skittish with strangers. But we managed to ease around the pasture and get them in the background.

I can't believe she's gonna be 17 in January. I'll have to post the picture of the husband holding her on her 2nd birthday. She was blowing out her candles. Makes me feel so old!

All in all, I think they got some good shots. This is more my photography style. And of course, it is one of my favs.

I made them the Christmas cards and some prints before they left. Sent them electronically to Wal-Mart in their hometown so they would be ready for pickup when they got home. Unfortunately, the picture police work at the Hereford Wal-Mart. They wouldn't give my mom the pictures without a release from me. After a couple phone calls, a fax and two trips to Wal-Mart, my mom finally got her pictures. Who knew they would think a professional took them?! ROTFL!

Pasture Domination

You know, it's said that women can never get along. Well, in the cattle world, it's always the men.

Mojo and Tadpole were fighting about something.

Mud, the black bull, thought Mojo needed some help against Tadpole. He kept pokin' him.

I'm thinkin' Mojo tried to eat the hay Tadpole wanted. Tadpole loves his food and that's the only thing I could imagine that would cause such a ruckous.

The tussle went on and on. Mud had Mojo's back the entire time. I was on Team Tadpole. He was the runt and always one of my favorites.

Mojo finally had enough and ran off. Go Tadpole, show 'em who's boss!

Finally Got the Tree Up!

The Naughty List

I think several Crazy M cattle are gonna be on Santa's naughty list this year. It started earlier this week when the husband walked out and noticed the weanlings were out. They took out a stretch of fence. Don't they look so innocent.

He managed to get them back in with the help of Diesel! Can you believe that? Diesel a cow dog. Well, maybe not but he did do more good than harm on this occasion.

On Saturday morning, I went out to go to my hair appointment. Found this girl in the drive.



It wouldn't have been so bad except she's a crazy heifer! I couldn't get her in by myself so I had to get the husband outside to help. I finally walked out thru the pasture to sneak around behind her. Then tried pushing her up to the gate. She actually turned and acted like she was going to run me down at one point. But she made the right decision and headed back into the pasture. But made me late to get my hair cut! The nerve.

We looked out the window this morning and saw the crazy heifer out again. This time we watched her crawl on her knees into the barn (we had the overhead door closed pretty low due to the cold weather). Husband put her back in a little easier this time since she ran thru the fence!

Little bit later, I looked out and about six head were out. Thanks to the crazy heifer's hole in the fence. Why do they decide to act out when it's cold and wet outside? Never on a nice sunny day. Our temporary fix to the "hole".

The husband had to work on the wire.

While he was busy doing that, I was documenting their naughty behavior. Santa will want proof.

I'm thinking a load of coal is headed this way.

My First Arts/Crafts Show

And most likely my last. I didn't do so well. And of all the places I thought I would, the Cowboy Capitol of the World! People just weren't buying (well, my stuff). I made enough to cover the cost of my booth fee and gas so at least I broke even.

Here's a pic of my booth. My sweet coworker came with me to help.

I had framed prints, mousepads, magnets....

notecards, mini frames and unframed prints...

And guess what, I still have pretty much all the same! I really don't think I will do another craft show. I can't handle the rejection over and over and over. Better to sit it in a store and get a check at the first of the month.

You Know You're In Texas....

when Ronald McDonald is cuttin' cattle out front.