Incarnation

The Incarnation is the fruit of Mary's Annunciation. 

           https://youtu.be/QNS6Z1i-IOw         

Window of Mercy

God's mercy is right around the corner. 

           https://youtu.be/viU3JDN49XA         

Ranch Ready

It's been a few years in the making, but our cattle facility is now ranch ready. I'm all about working smarter, not harder. However, sometimes getting to that place of smarter takes a lot of work. We've got a few man hours into this rusty work of art. But it's all been a labor of love. Let's take a looksee. 

This 30' x 80' processing pen has been a work in progress. After all that trial and error, I think she's now ready for business. 

It sits in a nice little niche by the water tank. So it shouldn't be too hard of a push to get the cows to nestle up there. 

The main gate acts as a wing, and if need be, we can open the second pen and then move them over to the crowding alley side. 

Here's where the fun begins. If you set your gates right before hand, it should be a nice walk up this 14' wide alley. 

With a panel closing off the shed, and the tub gate cocked, the cows will have no choice but to turn left. 

Then grab the tub gate and swing it around. 

And, depending on how many you are cycling through, just keep bumping it up. 

The beauty of a working tub is that you make it their decision to run up the alleyway by putting encouraging pressure on them. 

Down the alleyway they go. You can adjust the width of this guy to fit the size of critter you are working with. Looks like a clean get-away to a cow. 

Until you get to the head catch. This is a self latching head catch. Their head fits through, but not their shoulders. When they press in, thinking they can get out, it gently latches on them. 

This is a big addition to the ranch that we picked up over the summer. Pearson Original. 

If you have a reluctant cow, you can open the head catch wider and then help swing the gate closed with your arm and the lever. 

Once she's in, lower the rear gate with a rope. 

The squeeze part will be new to me. Most chutes pivot at the bottom, like a V, and put pressure on a cow, holding her tight. With a pull of another rope, this chute presses in equally on top and bottom, and from both sides at the same time. 

One thing about it, you don't have to adjust it before hand based on the size of animal you are working. It'll go as big or small as you need it, with one pull of the rope. 

If need be, a guy can use the palpation cage to work on the back of a cow for whatever reason. Just open the walk in gate and latch it on the opposite side. Which, also closes the alleyway off to the next critter in line. 

Then raise the chute gate and palpate in peace. 

Once done with your doctoring, you can direct a cow out to the left or right with the swift action of the Trinity Gate. 

Bring it. 

I hope working cattle down here is as fun as getting ready to work them. We'll find out. When it comes to processing cattle, I find it best to avoid the near occasion of sin, for me and them. A good way of doing so, is to be set up properly. No system is perfect. And no two systems are alike. Each cattle processing plant has to be set up according to the ranch's layout and need. Ours is unique. It is a small space for a small herd. But if my premonition is correct, the rewards of fun will pay out with big dividends. Time will tell. But in the meantime, I thank the Lord for helping us design a cattle facility out of Grandpa's old sheep corrals. Time to ranch. 

Fire in the Hole

Power is handy in general. But an outlet next to the squeeze chute is a game changer. We had this in mind a couple years back when we went under ground with the electrical lines in the corral. Today, we brought it to life. 

There are several uses for electricity around the chute. But the main reason we put it nearby is to run an electric branding iron. 

When we buried the cable around we just found a spot close and buried the extra line. Knowing it was 10' 5" from the fifth post down, we started digging. 

First clue was the buried yellow tape that lets you know something is close. 

Under a rock, there she be. 

Then we dug a trench over to the back side of the the chute, just in front of the palpation cage. 

After a little thinking and some consolation with the old man, we decided to put the outlet up high, which required extending the wire. Burying the junction in the ground, with and under ground set up, seemed to be the cleanest bet. Around the rest of the corrals we ran buriable wire. But to the chute, we just put down some old 12/2 we had laying around the shed. It'll work.

We also blew a hole in the top and bottom of the alley's upright pipe to serve as a conduit for the above ground wire, and welded a junction box up high too. 

Heat shrink insulation is good stuff. A cutting torch works, but a heat gun is better. 

Looks good to me. 

Then Dad wired in the outlet. 

After which, we sealed it up. Should guard it from moisture, but most of all from nesting bees. 

Giddy up. 

This cattle working facility is not far from operational. Having power at the chute gate is not essential, but it sure is convenient. With this being the first day of spring, I can already smell branding smoke in the air. Let's ranch.

Compassion

See ourself in our neighbor. 

           https://youtu.be/-6p-zCifdkM         

Relation

 St. Joseph, the Spouse of Mary, pray for us!

           https://youtu.be/A4Snmn9Ygnc         

Twisted Gate

The gate saga continues. This time, one with character. 

There's no better place to spend a couple of free hours on a cold snowy spring day, than in the shop. 

But if you're going to be productive in the shop when the weather outside is wild, you have to think ahead.  At the first sense of a norther blowing in, you better load the shop up with material. 

Then, when it hits, you can get to work. This is a simple 15' gate on the end of our riding arena. One thing different is that we only put one brace in the center instead of two. For a filler, we chose some of Grandpa's finest bowed 1" water line. 

Then weaving them together, we built a bent gate. 

From the front, it doesn't look too bad. 

From the top, she's twisted. 

I like it. Gives it character. And if there's one thing this world could use more of, it's character! Plugging away in the office is good, especially when it's blizzard like. But there comes a point of diminishing returns. Thanks be to God for the shop! Here's where creativity is turned into rejuvenation. Taking time to recreate can seem like an inefficient use of energy. However, when done right, it rejuvenates a guy to work even more efficiently. Stay tuned for more tips on how to live life with peace and purpose. 

Humility

Follow our Lord's example. 

           https://youtu.be/Rc2mdPIrwak         

Gun Rack

Part of properly outfitting the rectory is getting my cowboy corner sent up. I've made a few strides, but I had yet to find the right place for my rifle. Until now. 

 I got this idea from my uncle's gun rack, which used to hang in our basement. Repurposing at its finest. 

Old horse shoes have a place. Done right, they can look cool. Done wrong, they can look tacky. Let's see where we land. 

First step is to knock the backs of the nails off with a grinder. 

Then take a punch and drive the rest of them out. 

This is a good time to take a wire brush and clean as much rust and dirt off as you can. A wire wheel on a grinder works good too. 

I just picked the top of the first nail hole as a good height, and welded the second shoe on. 

Once cleaned up and primered, I shot them with black. Flat black works the best. Keeps the rustic look, but also doesn't highlight the pitted old shoes like gloss would. 

Next, I wrapped them with some old leather. 

Pretty simple, I just tucked the ends down in the last wrap. Leather is pretty forgiving, it likes to stay put. 

Once I found the right hight on the wall, I just used horse shoe nails and set them in place. 

Giddy up. 

This is a happy home for my .454 Casull. Looks good above the mantel of the ole electric fireplace. The cowboy corner is coming along. You can take the boy out of the country, but you can't take the country out of the boy!

Communal

When someone else sins, we sin. 

           https://youtu.be/zzE3uLHctSc         

Exodus

Jesus' exodus is also our exodus. 

           https://youtu.be/KPcHa_q9a2k         

Spring Fun

As providence would have it, my brother called early Saturday morning to let me know that our cow had calved! Ole whitey came through once again. So I grabbed Uncle Phil, and a few of his grandkids, and we headed down to see what God had given us. 

I like Charolais cows. Mom is a cross with a red Angus and baby likely has a black dad. This calf will probably be grey for a while and turn more white by fall. 

We were pretty excited to see what sex it was. I was hoping for a heifer. And praise God, it was!

Once we had little buddy caught, we put a tag in her ear. Left ear, for heifer calves. Shouldn't be hard to spot, though. Luke pretty much runs all black. 

Let the good times roll!

I love calving. It challenges a cowboy's skills. Sometimes the moms what to eat you for touching their baby. Other times, they want nothing to do with their kid. Sometimes cows calve with natural ease. Other times, a man has to straighten out a breech delivery. It's all fun. We'll have to see what the Lord has in story for this little grey girl. So far, she's brought joy to at least one cowboy's life. Ranch on!