Branding Day

We could hear the rain on our metal roof this morning—uh,oh—today was branding day at Lonn and LoraLee’s and rain isn’t a good thing.  Thank goodness by 9am the rain had rolled out and branding proceeded as planned.

I have mixed feelings about branding and all that goes with it—I totally understand why we have to brand but it doesn’t make me like it.  When the cows belonged to Michael and me, I felt branding was just a necessary evil.  Now that we own no cows, I don’t do brandings.  I stay long enough to get a few photographs and then head for the house.  LoraLee needed a little help today—not much—even when the woman doesn’t feel good she is a whirlwind! 

I love the way friends and neighbors turn out to help—brandings are social occasions and as Lonn still ropes calves, everyone is eager to help, roping is fun!  Many of our rancher neighbors use chutes and branding tables requiring less people but the process isn’t nearly as much fun for the helpers!

LoraLee had prepared a spread—ribs, baked potatoes, macaroni salad, watermelon and bread sticks.  She had three different kinds of dessert so no one went away hungry!

Here are some photos from today:

That’s our granddaughter Katie with her back to the camera.

Someone wasn’t happy at being left in the VW—too many Emmi stomping horses around!

Our friend Jim with one of his Friesian cross horses—I was teasing Jim saying his horse needed a haircut, he couldn’t see.  Jim’s daughter Heather is in the background. 

Lonn and Michael