Ranch Trip

Yesterday Linda and I took a road trip.

The day started EARLY.

The dogs thought it was strange we were all up and

eating breakfast at 7 in the morning!

(about 2 hours earlier than normal...)

It's good to be retired!

Got everybody fed and then just as I was letting

the horses out of the barn, a rain squall 

came through. They were TOTALLY 

unimpressed and not interested at all in

getting out of their stalls.

But I was on a time table.

So out they went.

And I headed to Linda's.

We got into her little car and headed out.

And, of course, as soon as we got on the highway,

the HUGE storm they had been predicting hit.

We averaged about 40 mph on the highway.

It took FOREVER to get to the highway that

takes us west to Orlando.

But finally the rain cleared up and we were

able to get up to speed.

Normally it's a little over an hour to the temple.

We took almost 2.

We had about 4 minutes to change and make it

to the 10:00 session.

It's amazing though, how quickly you calm and

relax and all the cares are gone.

We had a GREAT visit on the drive.

She has been out of town,

visiting her kids and sister.

We had a lot to catch up on.

We had a really nice temple session.

Then changed our clothes again and headed

up to the ranch. It's another 2.5 hours from there.

The weather was beautiful, the traffic was

medium/light, and the drive was really enjoyable.

Once we got to the ranch, we headed out to the

new cattle working facility Kyle is building.

The white house in the back is actually across the street.
Kyle has a neighbor!

My camera doesn't like to zoom.

But the facility is so big you can't really see it all

unless you go WAY out into the pasture.

 

He has done a LOT of work.

He has lots left, but it is coming along.

Then we headed out into the pasture to 

check out the cows.

Kyle told us there was a calf born that morning.

In the middle of the HUGE rain storm.

I'm only a couple of hours old.

Checking out one of my older cousins.

This little guys is adorable.

Little white legs, a white tip on his tail

and a white stripe on his belly.

His mom was pretty protective though.

They've had frost a couple of times already this "winter"

so the grass is pretty much dead.

They are enjoying their hay!

There are now a total of 23 calves.

Only 3 cows left to give birth.

And then we are bringing in a vet and rebreeding (AI)

all the cows, shooting for a late fall calving.

Linda was really pleased with how they are all looking.

And I think I found 2 little guys for Rod and I to buy.

Once Kyle gets the facility finished and the new

scales installed, we'll run everybody through the new

squeeze chute, check them all, weigh them,

and most of the older calves will head to market.

Fancy new squeeze chute designed to be safely operated by one person!
PERFECT!

Our two little boys will lose a body part and then

we'll trailer them to our house.

The ladies will all get bred, and then Kyle can relax.

For a couple of minutes.

Til the next project begins.

Even in the dead of winter, this is still my

favorite spot on the ranch.

Linda had her big fancy camera, so I drove the ATV

and she took a million pictures.

And then I took her for a ride around the ranch.

The wind mill was spinning, that was fun to see.

We checked out the "grand canyon" a deep crevice

over by the hay barn that Kyle has been using

to dump all the dead trees, etc he has been cleaning up.

The property is looking better and better all the time.

Then it was time to say goodbye,

head into town to "Julie's Diner" for a quick late lunch

(Linda had a big bowl of chili and a grilled cheese,

I had a bunless cheeseburger with stewed okra and tomato)

and then we headed south.

We made it home about 8:30.

A LONG but fun and productive day.