The week ahead looked pretty bleak Sunday afternoon, after repairing the fence behind the bulls who put themselves out, leaving them to fight and have their way with the nearest cows, the air alive in a testosterone frenzy as I came home in the dark. Our plan to gather and brand in Greasy had to be moved back until we got the bulls in, sorted and hauled, a few days early, to the right pastures.
Monday went superbly well in beautiful weather. We were delighted to see a nice buck and a sizeable herd of deer on our last trip down the hill, invigorated with the job done and knowing the cow gods were with us once again.
Tuesday’s gather above the fog in Sulphur was quick and easy. Wednesday’s gather in Section 17 was foggy, wet and cold, but we managed to call all but one cow, who was off by herself having a calf, out of the fog. Despite miserable weather, the cow gods were with us.
Thursday’s branding was an efficient dance of friends and neighbors as high clouds and fog rolled in and out above us, a choreographed team of interchangeable parts and a wonderful feeling of belonging and usefulness as we move into branding season. Furthermore, to have Earl McKee back on his ranch, among us taking pictures and telling stories, talking cows, we were indeed blessed to share a wonderful day.
It’s been a bad week for local weather forecasters: wrong everyday! But looking back, we wouldn’t have wanted to brand on Wednesday with near-freezing temperatures and a tenth of an inch of accumulated moisture in slick corrals. This time of year we have to work around the weather, acknowledging the cow gods every day.
drycrikjournal 