Spring around the Tubbs place means baby calves, which means eventual branding. We did our first group of calves on 4-20-11. The first bunch we did was nice out and we got through them pretty fast. Maestin has grown up so much. This year he pushed all those calves in by himself. Addler and Ruxton helped get them turned around. And when there was a small one they made sure they had it. Austin and I ran the chute alone for a wile and then Dale showed up later to finished off the day. After the first group we gathered another group and moved them over to our place and branded them, it started to rain and we got a little wet. They all ride and are so much help. The boys didn't complain once. Yhey are hard workers. We probably branded a little over a hundred that day, they stayed right there and worked the whole time.
Maestin and Ruxton soaked and tired from a long day.
Ruxton wet after branding
Ruxton and his little dog Tuf
Ruxton, Ashton Parker, Addler
Ruxton and Ashton Parker
There has been plenty of good stories to tell with four boys-calves always make a good story. Addler probably has the best, the first one-he decided to push a calve in it weighed more than him, he had it pushed up ready to go in he said, "All the sudden I fell something really warm, he looked down and he was covered in calf crap. The calve was tall enough that is was clear up on his shirt. He thought it was great and tells everyone.
He got kicked real hard in Strevell the calve got him with both legs and planted Addler right down on the ground. I didn't hear a word about it until it was all over. And Ruxton said he got revenge on it for getting Addler!
Maestin was kicked plenty too, and Who knows what happened to Ruxton...he was in the middle of everything the entire time. I just find his legs and body bruised and know he took a beating as well. My favorite is watching him on his horse. All the sudden you look and Ruxton is taking off on his own somewhere after some cow or calf. At first both Maestin and I would be worried, but we just decided to tell ourselves, "It's just Ruxton!"
We branded another big group of calves two days later on the 22nd. We also ran all the cows through and worked them as well. Addler and his neighbor friend Ashton Parker had been making plans for weeks to brand calves. So Ashton came over to help, and had a good time. I have to brag some more about my boys... shocker I know! When Ashton's dad came over to drop him off, he was so impressed with our boys, he said they just were doing what they were supposed to be doing and we didn't have to tell them what to do. They were running cows up the chute then, and Austin and I were on the opposite side from them and can't see them, yet they just keep the cows coming! My boys are so great and willing.
The day before Easter we had to go out to Strevell and gather and brand our biggest group. Grandma Price had a picnic Easter egg hunt planned. We were going to try and make it, but we didn't . It took us all day to gather sort and brand out there. Those boys did not complain the entire day we branded over 200 calves that day. We brought two older boys with us to help, and they were tired by the end of the day. I was dog tired too. They kept the calves coming for those boys. They rode for three hours gathering and then helped sort them all. We didn't get home until 11:30 that night. They are hard workers, and I don't have to worry about them. Holdan has been in the middle of all of it too. We would not be able to do what we have done so far this year on the Ranch without them to help. I have loved having my family all together as we work. Numerous times this year we have all been out on a horse working for hours, and they are happy to to it. (If there is plenty of food and work!) Thank you boys for your sacrifice and willingness to work for us and our lifestyle, you are noticed and appreciated not only by me but your father as well!
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