Sunday Stills ~ A Day in the Life

The challenge for this week's Sunday Stills photo shoot was "A Day in the Life"...pick a day and pack your camera with you.

Only four photos can be submitted.

Last week was a pretty boring week around the ranch...working on taxes, Horsefly articles and ads, and watching the wind blow tumbleweeds and snow...not a lot for interesting photography.

But yesterday the clouds parted just in time for branding at a neighboring ranch. We did it the "modern" way (using a table) vs "traditional" (roping and dragging calves to the fire). It may not be nearly as fun or interesting as the traditional way, but we got a lot of calves done...80 bull calves and 72 heifers...it was a long day...but fun was had by all!

Branding irons heating up in the propane fire.

Smoke fills the air as the hair is scorched...a smell

that clings to everything and is hard to get out

of your nose at the end of the day.

The lil' red whiteface calf (who already went

through the process) came up to give the lil' black

calf some moral support as he's banded for castration.

The girls on the fence had the best time...nothing

like being raised on a ranch!

Kids and animals...they always make the perfect photo.

See what everyone else at Sunday Stills has been up to by clicking here and checking the comments.

Spring Calving Time!

This week hasn't been one of my best weeks. I still keep asking myself how I could be so emotional about a horse that I didn't even have...so to speak. (of course I'm talking about Slider)

I had to make myself quit watching the video that I did in tribute to him. I won't ever forget him, but other horses need our attention, so we must go forward. We need to be strong and face the world again.

This afternoon I got the kick in the pants that I needed...life does go on...death in inevitable, but life still goes on~

I went out for the evening feeding...and Annabelle

didn't come in...hmmmmm...

I think there could be a reason!

Yep, that's a pretty proud momma cow!

The lil' guy was still wet too!

But he's showing tell tale signs of his first meal...

what a good lil' boy!

Lil' foals, puppies, kittens, calves...whatever...they're all good for one's soul~

In Memory of Slider

Life is so unfair at times.

If you hadn't read the post about Dreamsicle and his band (including Slider) from the Big Summit HMA being captured, you can read it here. And this post "Little Giant" was very special as we watch Dreamsicle spar with his new acquaintances at the holding Corrals and his lil' buddy Slider stands by for moral support.

As that story ended with Dreamsicle and his mares going back to their home in the Big Summit, Slider was not so lucky. He was to be available for adoption as soon as he was processed by the BLM staff.

My Man and I decided that since we had watched him grow up over the years, we would adopt him and give him a home...we felt like part of his family.

But, that wasn't meant to be...God has other plans for him.

Slider was euthanized this past weekend because of a fracture that he sustained in the shoulder.

So, this is for you dear Slider...I know that you are running free once again in beautiful green pastures with your other Ochoco friends that have gone before you~