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May 2009
Before We Get Back to Our Regular Programming
I have a question to ask.
May I do just one more post about Montana? May I? May I, please?
Okay! I thought you might say that! (For those of you who didn't say that, please check back tomorrow, when we will resume our regular programming.) After all, springtime on a ranch is all about the calves, and it would be a crime not to give these little guys (and girls) their fair press. I mean, just look a the fuzzy face of 692 up there, and tell me I can't write one post all about them, too!
So, springtime on a ranch is all about the calves, and keeping them fed... and well.
Speaking of which, its feeding time for the bottle-feeders in the calf barn. My guy (on the left) is getting the low-down on who needs what from his rancher cousin on the right. These two grew up on neighboring ranches, and boy, do they have stories to tell. In fact, Rancher Cousin looks like he might be telling a story right now...
Meanwhile, Ranch Girl was getting the bottles ready.
This is Ranch Girl. She is one of Ranch Cousin's daughters. She can make a mean bottle of milk replacer, just ask 692 and his buddies.
And, if the milk's a little too warm, the nearby snowbank will help out with that.
"All right, who's got the goods?"
Ranch Girl showed the nine-year-old boy how it's done while I took blurry pictures in a very dim barn.
He and the calf were both sticky before they were done, I wasn't!
This little guy got breakfast in bed. Standing and walking? Over-rated.
With the bottle-feeders all fed up, it was time to find the newborn who needed an ear tag.
It's been a while since my guy ranched for a living, but, like walking, once you've done it most of your life, you never forget how.
Getting closer to the mama with the new calf. Slowly. Slowly. She could be mean, or she could be nice, and you want to know which before you get too close to her calf.
She was nice!
Ranch Girl and my guy made quick work of it, while Mama Cow watched and worried a short distance away.
Hey! Nice piercing!
Another one for the book.
All were fed, but all weren't well. A calf with pneumonia was somewhere up here on the hillside.
And we were gonna find him!
There he is. This guy needed the one shot cure. He'll be breathing better by tomorrow.
He'll be like this guy; kickin' back, enjoyin' the view.
I think calves kick back and enjoy the view.
Except when it looks like this:
Uh, that's not a ranch dog, folks!
That's a coyote!
Don't you be thinkin' about hookin' up to the food chain here, Mister!
You just high-tail it on over that hill.
We want the calves to relax and enjoy the view!
He did.
Awe, Shucks!
Good thing we'd torn into Big R Ranch Supply, fifteen minutes before closing time, and had snatched up three pair of rubber boots.
We were NOT in flip-flop country, folks!
This was springtime in a barnyard.
This was muck boot country.
But, what happens if, in your squishin' and squashin', you get your mucks stuck?
Then, in a twist of bad luck, you've sat in the muck, and can't get yourself up?
Hey, there, boy! The day isn't ruined; don't fold up and head for the truck!
Just look at your britches all messy with muck, give your shoulders a shrug and say,
Awe, Shucks!
