Night Calving

I am finally adjusting to the night shift. I have been working 8pm to 8am, and sleeping during the day. We are getting busier with more calves coming every day. Sometimes the nights are boring and the hours drag on, but when it's busy it goes pretty fast. We have had to pull quite a few calves, but everything is going pretty well.

We have lost a couple calves, which stinks, but sometimes bad things happen and you have to get over it.

I really enjoy helping bring life into the world.

First Calf of the year.

Calving season has begun at the -47. Today we awoke to the first calf laying in the day lot. I didn't sleep that well last night because I kept dreaming that I should be down in the heifer barn. I guess now I know why. I hope Hannah and Hudson are practicing with their rope... Branding is not too far off.

New Year

Happy New Year to everyone. I don't think the world will end in 2012, but we'll see.

I did not make any resolutions but I promise I will thoroughly enjoy the last year of my twenties.

I will spend more time fishing and hunting with my wife and friends, than with strangers.

I will take more pictures with my camera, starting this morning.

It is beautiful outside. 41 above zero and clear skies. The winter has been mild but the wind has been constant.

Time to feed the cows.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

To my friends and family. I wish you all the best.

Flat Land

Bryan, Dad, Parker and I all spent Halloween weekend in a little farming community in N. Dakota this year chasing pheasants. It was Parker's first big hunting trip, and I decided I wouldn't miss it if I could help it.
(Not pictured: the best looking one in the group.)
I remember how excited I was at his age to get to go hunting with my dad and the rest of the "F troop". I would be so excited that I'd usually wake up before my Dad, which was no small feat.
I think back to all my favorite memories of hunting as a kid, and mostly they are about the people and the good times we shared. That is the reason that I mostly hunt today.

I almost didn't go on the trip because of work, but when I heard that my nephew, (the book worm), was excited about going; I knew I couldn't miss it. I am very glad I didn't.

This year I did very little hunting for myself. Actually those pheasants were the only thing that I harvested. Thanks to Lena, we have deer and elk to eat...
However, I had a great hunting season despite the tough archery season and the never ending rifle season. I did a lot of guiding this year, even though I took a little time off. I got to guide with my big brother for almost two weeks, and hunted for two days with Dad, Bry, and P.K. That is the most hunting I have got to do with all of them for quite a while.

The pheasant hunting turned out to be quite good. We got lots of birds and had lots of shooting. The dogs did pretty well for the most part. I have to say that I saw my dad loose his temper like I haven't seen for a very long time. Bad Casper. Betsy is not a bird dog, but seemed to enjoy the heck out of eating them. Her and Casper are big pals.

One of my favorite parts of the trip was hanging out at night with my family. We had a few beers, played rummy, and sat in the hot tub. Parker loved the water slide at the hotel. I will look back on this trip for a long time. It was fun to see my dad and Bry swell like toads over Parker when he got his first bird.

Long live traditions.

I've been busy.

Ok, I am going to start trying to blog again. I have tried a few times this summer and fall, only to be hindered by my computer. I don't know why but it wouldn't let me publish my last few posts. I have been very busy lately, but due to the winter things will be slowing down somewhat. I will do my best.

out of Africa

We have been very busy lately, so no blogging. I survived guiding archery season. Not a lot of success but some good times and new friends came about.

My brother Joshua came out to help for a couple weeks, and I really appreciated the help. It was the most time we got to spend together in at least a decade.

Our pup, Betsy, has been growing like a weed and is turning out to be a real good little dog. She is smarter than most children and learns very quickly. Last week she started chasing cows and I am very proud of her. I am spoiling her rotten.

Lena's trip to Tanzania went really well, and I am glad to have her back home in Montana. She said she is very thankful to live where she does, and even the Masai have cell phones.

Lena is taking a new job starting in November and we are very excited about it. She will be working with the doctors in the E.R. and the urgent care. I am really excited about her schedule! She will have three 12hr shifts a week.

My best bud Randy and his lovely wife Carey came to visit us last weekend. We had a good time with them and I wish I could see them more often.

I am taking time for myself this rifle season, and not working every single day. I am going to hunt with my Dad and brother Bryan and Parker in North Dakota at the end of the month. I am pretty excited about it.

I am also going to a wedding in Athens Ga. the 16th of November. It should be a good reunion for my old teammates from college.