Almost made it...

I almost made it into 2009 without working cattle. The last time this mom was chasing cattle was back when I was about 3.5 months pregnant. I admit that I've missed the action, but really, did my first time back have to involve drifts of snow up to my knees? In the dark?

I took pity on Wes and told him I would come help him sort heifers off for the vet to check tomorrow. The girls had just finished a bottle and were due for a nap. They insisted they were up for working cattle! Lucky them, they got to stay in the nice warm Trailblazer. As I mentioned before, I was trudging through knee-deep snow drifts. I am sure Wes will not agree with the knee-deep drifts. He will insist that some exaggeration is going on, but remember that his knees come up to my hips!

We had a lot of fun. That is until a heifer decided she could fit through a man-gate. For those not familiar with our set-up just take the term "man-gate" to read "heifers CANNOT fit and WILL get stuck with the posts between her ribs and hips." NIGHTMARE. She eventually got out with a lot of persuasion. I'll leave it at that.

So, I got to work the cattle through the sorting alley in the back and into the double alley. There is only one thing I can say, "I've missed it." It really is in my blood. The girls were snug in their carseats and I kept thinking about this summer when we can set-up a playpen for them in the barn while we work cattle.

Working this ranch with our girls by our side. That is the dream and we are there. 2009 will be a wonderful year!

During my hiatis from working with the cattle I forgot a few rules:
Rule number 536: During the winter, leave your work boots in the basement (not in the freezing cold garage!)
Rule number 678: When your husband says it will only take one hour he means 2.5
Rule number 391: During the winter, manure will freeze on the sole of your boot. You won't know this until you try walking on concrete. Then you find 4 inches of frozen manure stuck to only one heel. The frozen manure will act like a chunk of ice. Take precaution so you don't fall and crack your head open.
Rule number 1: Working beside your husband will bring a smile to your face (even if you are running through snow drifts chasing cattle)!