Working the cattle

On Tuesday, we (Mr. Nielson and I, along with the Little Nies),

rounded up the cattle on the range and moved them to headquarters.

They spent the night in the feedlot, so we could work with them on Wednesday.

This is tough work.

We separated the mamas from their babies, 

then sent the mamas through the squeeze chute, where we gave them
a live virus immunization and vitamin shot.

Next, we rounded up the calves and pushed them through the chute 

where they also got two immunizations.

The babies needed to be branded.
(Did you know cattle have to be branded by law?).

It's a really stinky process and sad.

Then we slipped a plastic nose ring into the calf's noses so 

they can't nurse Mama anymore.

Time to ween.

This is tough work; have I mentioned that?

Mr. Nielson is amazing. I am a pretty good assistant, but he is amazing.

Also, I should note: it took me about two weeks to not feel totally

 stupid yelling at the cattle:

("Get on up der mama." 

And "Heyooo, hoo  hoo haeyooo mama."
Stuff like that).

Today went on forever, and the sun felt so close to us that we could

 have reached up and touched it.

We were exhausted and thirsty after the last calf ran out of the chute.

Tomorrow we are headed back to Fox Hill to check up on things

and do some other errands, like Cafe Rio & Swig, to name a few.

Going home to Provo for a few days and seeing family and friends will be fun.

Lucy is blessing her new baby Sally, and we are picking 

up our much-anticipated DOG!! We ordered him a few months ago.

He has just been weened too.

When we return to the ranch, we will have to do this all over again.

The cows need their second dose of immunizations, 

and hopefully, the calves will be successfully weened from Mama,

and we can take their nose rings out.

One last time: this is tough work.

(But I really like it).

Oh, and it will be Halloween in precisely two months.

Just thought you should know.