There is a chill in the air, and the darkness of predawn is dotted with the lights from pickups coming in the long dirt road. The pickups are each pulling a horse-trailer, loaded with a couple of saddled horses. They pull up to the barn, which is lit up inside, as the cowboys saddle their horses for the day. They newcomers stand in a bunch outside their pickups and chat while they wait for the sun to rise and the horses to be saddled. 
After a consultation with the cowboss, they mount up and ride out. The morning sun shines golden through the yellowing leaves of the cottonwood trees, and the breeze is picking up a bit. They gather the cows and calves, bring them to the corrals, and start loading the waiting semi's.
Shipping: When we sort off all the calves that were born in the spring, and sell them.
The cows are already bred to have another calf next spring, and we start the process all over.
Meanwhile, I am in the house, cooking, cooking, cooking! 🙂 These men are hungry by the time noon rolls around, and I like to have plenty of good food ready.
We sure appreciate the help from the neighbors during shipping, and we return the favor when they ship their calves. The ranching community is very neighborly and wonderful. I consider myself blessed. 🙂
What's happening in your part of the country these days?
To say I'm jealous is an understaement.
Love the pics. Looks beautiful!!
Back here in the east the calves are already weaned but out on pasture as long as possible. When the pasture is done for the season the cows & heifers we are keeping will be brought to their respective areas for the winter. We keep our calves and feed them out for our customers. A new batch of feeder pigs will be arriving soon. Some are for customers and some for the processing place.
Wherever we are geographically it's a blessing to work with His creatures. God is so good and we are blessed!!
I love your site and reading about all the work it takes it run a ranch. Great cowboy pics!
I was wondering what you might cook up for the cowboys on an average day??
Donna
Well beef is the main dish, of course! 🙂 And potatoes, vegetable, salad, (often two salads) bread, and dessert. I am working on a cooking post, so that should be up soon.
sounds like a fun time of year! I love the fellowship of everyone working together and then sharing a meal. Do you vaccinate and wean the calves first, or do they just go from mama to the truck? Our calves are still out on pasture with their mama's but the time is coming fast to wean and bring them home!