2008 - April

April 2008

Spring time in our family means a trip to my dad's farm just outside of Duncan, AZ for Branding! Each year, sometimes twice a year, we gather to help my dad brand his cattle. The branding process only lasts about 3 hours, but my dad puts a lot of time in preparing for this day each year. We sweep in and help him get it done and then we pretty much goof around for the rest of the time. The kids ride the quads, the adults just hang around, most everyone goes to the wash to go shooting. Most of all it's a nice getaway from the valley for the weekend and we get to help my dad. Onto the pictures...

This is the lane that leads to my dad's ranch. All those trees on the right side of the lane my grandma planted, there are apple trees, peach and plum trees too.

This is another view of the lane. My dad built this fence and painted some of it. Last year we were supposed to paint it, but somehow we were too occupied with goofing off to help him with that project. Tom and I spent Labor Day weekend in Duncan, and helped paint some of it. We only made it through one pail of paint before we called it quits. It was pretty boring. No wonder my dad doesn't want to do it on his own! Isn't Bub (aka Dustin) such a handsome kid? His job this year was to shoo the calves the right way when they were done getting branded. He did a great job!

Look... it's Tom the cowboy... that baseball cap is the closest I think I'll ever get him to wearing a cowboy hat. He's still hot though!
Hey! Who gave Krista an important job, and what the heck was she doing with that syringe and needle? Holy Cow she's vaccinating the cows! My dad decided this year he needed to vaccinate because last year he lost 8 or 9 calves to a disease called blackleg.

There's my cowboy again who's actually getting in on the action this year. This calf got out of the pen and we figured he was small enough to just brand him on the ground instead of on the calf table. When they are on the ground, you have to hold them a certain way so they don't kick and wriggle when it's time to brand them, notch their ear, and cut them if necessary. Tom did a great job!

Still holding... the whole process takes about 3-5 minutes, and all the stuff they use is by the calf table, so it takes a little longer when the calves are on the ground.

This video is basically the process of branding. And yes, if you are close enough, you may get calf nuts thrown at you! I seem to be my dad's favorite target!

Dad's happy and grateful that another branding session went smoothly and without injury!
Dustin has a little bitty 4 wheeler that hasn't been running very well. Tom being the amazing mechanic that he is, ASE certified and all, was able to collaborate with my dad and fix it for the most part and allow the kids some fun time. Speaking of kids, Jon had to make sure it was running correctly before turning the younger kids loose on it!
Another project we had was to burn some mesquite bushes that my dad had ripped out. Think of huge bonfires, every pyromaniacs dream, but it was hot and got boring after a little while. So my dad decided to take my mom on a tour of his newly leveled fields and then come down to check on the Mesquite Inferno.
When they showed up Bruno thought they were his only hope to go back to the Hanger and cool off, he was bored. Save me Grandma, Save me!!
After enough burning, the kids went back to racing around on the quads. Dustin's little quad quit on him a couple times, and here he is working on it, trying to get it up and running again.
The little one quit a ways away so they rigged up the other quad to tow it home.
Tom and I stayed a day later than everyone else to help my dad, and to enjoy some time in the country with our dogs. Here's Bruno keeping watch for bunnies and jack rabbits.
Ezio wasn't too sure about all of the riding around in different vehicles, but he did enjoy exploring the farm.


At one point my dad raced Bruno on a quad, Bruno matched him head to head!

Later in the month, to celebrate the last day of classes, the Nursing school girlies decided to go to a Diamondbacks game. Luckily there was a game the last day of class. Everyone was able to go, and we had so much fun.

Here are my classmates, we were on a break between lectures. Sarah had just woken up from a nap, Anna was actually in class, and Jacki must be hiding her crossword puzzle book.

Jacki and I were running a little behind the rest of the girls because we had to stop by the bank. To catch up, we hired a guy to bike us up to the ticket counter rikshaw style! Sarah was working her magic at the ticket counter and we scored some pretty decent seats in left center field about 5 rows up from the field.Loading up on snacks!Angel, Sara, Jacki, and GinaAll the Girlies!