Monday, the first work/school day of fall back, again, I hate fall back. Also, the first day after the last big cattle show. So added to the fall back, we were running on empty from keeping it all together in Moses Lake with the 305 entries and our kids and cattle. Toni worked on the foals herself, it was too muddy for the halter breaking donkey crew to help. Yo Chic was the best one, even though Hammer had been in the week before. All three were pretty good. It was Yo Chic and Mage, so both King foals and Hammer. Hammer is super smart just scared so needed some extra effort. Kaine still had football practice since they made it to the first round at state. Jaxsen had started basketball practice.
Tuesday was rainy again. Toni ran Kade up to Moses Lake to try to get his ag permit but the tabs were expired on her car, so it was a wasted trip except that she got to spend time with Kade. Kade drove up to Moses Lake, around town, and home, so good driving time for him. We had people out to look at the foals in the afternoon. They are buying Hetty, who we have been on the fence about selling. We do not need to keep her, but we really like her. Will, who we grew up with showing steers, also called about coming out to look at Gen next week. Toni is not excited about selling Gen, but we do not need to keep any geldings, but she has been enjoying riding him. Anna went to Quincy Apple judging, which she did not remember to tell any of us about until the last minute. But she had a good time, she was 2nd overall and Connell FFA was 2nd overall, good job everyone.
On Wednesday Toni and Kade tied Mage and Yo Chic to the donkeys. They did pretty good. Hammer had ripped his halter Tuesday and again on Wednesday so we are running low on decent weanling halters. Interestingly enough there isn’t a “standard” weanling foal size halter. Different brands produce different sizes. So we can buy a batch, they fit good, can’t find them again, buy another brand and you wonder if they are selling mini weanling or sometimes giant weanling halters. Really hit or miss and kind of annoying. Toni and Kade went and got Hetty in and weaned her. She also threw Kade up on the two year old she claims, Glo. We are still working on the 2 year olds in a very slow manner. The weather was actually nice on Wednesday so they took advantage of it. I had lunch with grandma on Wednesday.
On Thursday Kade had a dr appointment so Toni and Kade stopped to see grandma. Kade does not need surgery on his shoulder at this time, but does need PT. Hopefully at some point he heals. Kade got to drive around the tri-cities, more experience driving, and got lunch before going to school. Kaine had an FFA metal arts competition. They had a going to State football parade, but Kaine was not in it since he was gone. However, they won their metal arts competition. Kade worked on the foals when he got home. Toni and Leslie went to Wenatchee for the annual Washington Cattlemen’s Convention when they got home from the tri-cities.
Friday morning the football team left early to go to the first round of state. Toni spoke at the Cattlemen’s convention, and then came home in the afternoon. Anna and Marlo went and got Anna’s new vehicle, new to her not new, it is a Chevy Colorado that is a little newer they her half ton for her to take to college. I think Kade and Anna did most of the chores on Friday. I know Kade had to put halters on Yo Chic and Hammer because both were broke. He was on his own so they must have done well. Ben and I went to Blaine to watch the football game. We passed a mastiff transport pickup, and yes, there was a mastiff on board. It was a great game, the boys all played great. We all stayed at the Holiday Inn Express that time and the boys swam, ate pizza and played X Box.
We came home early Saturday so we could get the cows worked and out on corn stalks. Camas is one of the Youth in the Youth development Program and she came and got DJ. They are gong to make a great pair. We are very excited for them. Anna and Marlo had gotten the cows in on Saturday. Toni, Kade and Jaxsen went down and they started working them with Anna. We got there and started helping. Ben went out and started building fence. When Toni got back from loading DJ Kaine went out to help on the fence. We got the main group worked and then went to do chores. Toni, Kade, Anna, and Jaxsen all agreed that Ben’s long horn heifers are bat crap crazy and they don’t like them. We did not get those 2 heifers worked as they like to try to jump out, run over you, and show you their horns. Ben normally says it is our fault, that we get them excited. Interesting.
Sunday morning Ben, Anna, Kaine, Kade and Kicker went to finish the fence. Toni and I loaded up Hammer to his new owner Lorenzo. Then we finished working the cows and moved them out to the corn field. We got some heavy heifers into the heavy pen. We worked the last three little calves and got them hauled out with the rest. Then we hauled a few more mares to circle 5. When it was dark we got Sting and Hetty in to begin their halter breaking journey. It was pretty dark by then but we had goals for the day and needed to get it all done. I think we did.
One of the fun life lessons is not to sit down until the work is done. Once you sit you start to realize that maybe your energy level is low and your body hurts from getting knocked into the panels, jumping on the panels to escape long horns, running to escape long horns, chasing cows because a gate got left open in the corral and they were escaping, normal ranch stuff that all adds up, but is worse with 2 crazy long horn heifers. They may need to go.
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