Preparations I described in my last post were complete. The corral pens were reconfigured and strengthened. All vaccines and other medications ordered and received, including two new hypodermic syringes. Bill repurposed and remodeled a cheap thrift store cooler to hold and protect syringes during the working process. Our farm clothes were clean, although that wouldn’t last long! And we had my tasty homemade granola for quick breakfasts.
 
Time for the Main Event: working and hauling most of our cow/calf pairs to the ranch where they would spend the winter. The job would be grueling and stressful for both humans and bovines. We would minimize stress to the animals as much as possible. But it had to be done.

We would also deal with an unexpected near-catastrophe near the end of an already long day—a story for a future blog post.
 
Here’s the definition of “working” cattle from my book:
 
Working Cattle 101 - Working cattle is a catch-all term in Farmerese that includes one or more of the following hands-on procedures performed on cattle: vaccinating or administering other medications; castrating bulls, either surgically or by placing rubber bands around their testicles; dehorning; preg-checking; ear tagging; spraying with fly repellent; branding; and applying Pour-On, a de-worming and de-licing solution poured on the animal, hence its name.
​
We did all of the above except dehorning, preg-checking and spraying with fly repellent as none of these procedures was necessary, and we used the rubber band procedure to castrate the bull calves. My duties as ranch hand included:

• Open and shut gates to pastures; 
• Hold the trailer rear gate open when we loaded cattle; 
• Prod cows along the alleyway to queue up behind the working chute;
• Insert a piece of steel pipe across the alleyway behind the cow “on deck” to keep her from backing away from the chute; 
• Hand hypodermic needles, banders, and ear-taggers to Bill. Most of the cows and calves were already tagged, but Bill tweaked his numbering system this year which required changing a few; 
• “Gofer” to the barn or house for anything we needed but didn’t have; 
• Heat up a quick lunch for Bill to eat on the road as he hauled a trailer-load to the ranch

Notice “photographer” isn’t on that list. Since I’ve become more actively involved as a Cattle-Working Apprentice, I don’t have time to take a lot of pictures. But I did manage to snap a few. For a more pictorial and humorous account of working cattle, please refer to my blog post of November 29, 2013 at http://www.fromhighheelstogumboots.com/gumboot-tracks-blog/archives/11-2013.
 
When working cattle, we try to minimize the stress for both humans and bovines as much as possible. We encourage the cows and calves through the process with herding sticks applied gently, then escalate to firmly and, finally, a slap or foot-plant in the rump roast only when necessary. Likewise, we speak in normal tones and slightly increase the decibels only when the animal gets stubborn. We avoid running or making quick movements, any action with the potential to startle the already-nervous animals. Even though our cows are fairly tame—those that aren't don't last long here—the working process is unsettling for them, creating the potential for injuring themselves or us.
 
Bill prefers not to use outside help. The cows know him and respond better if strangers aren’t involved. Many cattlemen prefer to hire a veterinarian for the medical tasks and recruit extra help to complete this project as quickly as possible. Bill can administer injections and band bulls so doesn’t need to hire a vet. The main disadvantage to his method is with only two of us to work over 60 cow/calf pairs, the process takes several days—long, exhausting days!
 
Now that you know what’s involved, here’s how the week went.
 
In addition to our own pastures, we rent five others within a two-mile radius of our property. Every morning for a week or so prior to our working day, Bill fed a small square bale of hay and a bucket of grain to the cows in the catch pen area in each pasture so they became accustomed to entering the pen. On the morning they were to be worked, he shut the gate behind them. He came home, traded the mini-truck for the farm truck and stock trailer, I jumped in the cab and we went back to the pasture. I opened and closed gates and directed his back-up maneuvers to the catch pen gate. The rear gate on the trailer is a swing gate and I held it open while Bill herded cows and calves into the trailer. Some degree of persuasion was necessary to convince them to board the bus. Maybe they don’t like to travel so soon after breakfast! When enough animals entered to fill the front compartment, Bill shut the interior gate, usually pushing against cows trying to back up. Then he filled the rear compartment, using the swing gate to butt-shove indecisive stragglers.
 
Once boarding was complete, we went home to unload so we could return and reload. How many times we return depends on how many cows and calves we can convince to take a ride on each trip. At this point, we just randomly load; it’s not necessary to match family pairs since we’re taking them home to be worked. But later, for the trip to the ranch, family pairs will be hauled together.
 
Once we finished hauling home the day’s quota, usually fourteen pairs, Bill divided the cows and calves into separate pens which created separation anxiety between mamas and children!

We gathered up all the supplies, filled syringes and assembled everything on the working table, a repurposed leaky stock tank turned upside down.

The cows were worked first. Bill cut four from the holding pen and put them in a small staging pen. He opened the gate into an alleyway so they could proceed in single file to queue up behind the squeeze chute.

Of course, this didn’t always happen in an orderly fashion. Somebody in the group may have remembered what happened the last time she queued up behind the chute. Apprehension ensued, resulting in backward movement in the alleyway. Sometimes, gentle means of persuasion was ramped up to firm and ultimately extra firm!
 
Once the lead cow advanced to the squeeze chute, it was my job to ram a steel pipe through the alleyway behind her to keep her from shifting into reverse. I had to be quick and accurate with the steel pipe barricade. If the cow suddenly backed up and hit the end of the pipe before I secured it in place, the end I was holding could be wrenched out of my hand and smack me.
 
When the cow entered the chute, Bill closed the head gate around her neck—gently—and shut the rear chute panels. She received two injections, Pour-On was applied, long tail hair trimmed and, if necessary, her tag replaced to correspond to the new numbering system. As Chief Medical Assistant, I handed Bill each syringe or instrument. When treatment was complete, the cow was released into a post-treatment holding pen.
 
Then we advanced the next patient into the chute. Once we got these initial four cows worked, Bill herded four more into the staging pen and the process repeated until all the cows were worked.
 
Then we stared on the calves.
 
By opening a gate, the staging pen can be enlarged to hold all 14 or so calves. Bill herded two calves along the alleyway and into the squeeze chute. Instead of using both the head and rear gates, we only closed the head gate to keep the calves from going through. Bill stood behind the calves just inside the open rear gate to work them. This is when poop happens!

The bulls were castrated by placing thick rubber bands around their testicles with an instrument called, appropriately, a bander. It takes a fair amount of skill to get the band in place around both testicles. The procedure isn’t invasive like surgical removal and much less painful. Blood flow to the testicles is gradually stopped and they eventually just fall off.

The calves all received three injections and Pour-On. If renumbering was necessary, the old tag was removed and a new one inserted. Once treatment was complete, I opened the head gate and the two calves exited into a post-treatment pen. Bill herded two more calves into the chute and the process repeated.
 
Once all the cows and calves were worked, Bill was ready to re-sort, load and haul. Rather than random loading, this time family pairs were matched together. If for some reason Bill couldn’t make the second trip to the ranch the same day as the first one, at least family pairs would be together.
 
The stock trailer holds seven pairs. Bill separated seven cows into one holding pen and their calves into another one. Likewise, the other seven cows and calves were sorted into two pens. Calves were loaded first. Bill herded them along an alleyway and into the front compartment of the trailer. Transporting cows and calves in separate compartments prevents calves from getting stepped on and hurt by cows if the load shifts.
 
While Bill herded the calves to the trailer, he let the cows watch their babies disappear from the closed gate into the alleyway. Once the calves were secured in the front compartment and he turned the cows loose, they couldn’t get in that trailer fast enough! No indecision or hesitation!
 
The trip to the ranch takes about 45 minutes. Unloading was much simpler: Bill drove into a pasture, opened the trailer gate and everyone rushed out. Then he returned home for the second load. He didn't finish this trip until after dark. While he was gone, Cricket and I took our evening walk and checked the cows and calves in our own pastures to see if there were any concerns. On one walk during that week, we discovered the near-catastrophe I mentioned earlier. Details later.
 
When Bill returned home—after dark—we fed the bottle calves. Bill did a quick hose-down of the stock trailer and staggered into the house around 8:00. His day started around 6:30 that morning.

That was just the first day. We got up to repeat this whole process the next day. However, due to strong winds gusting up to about 60 miles per hour, we just worked cattle; Bill didn’t haul them until the next morning. By then, we both needed a break so we didn’t work any cattle that day. Bill made adjustments to a catch pen in a rented pasture we would haul from the next day. I went to town for provisions.
 
Friday morning, we started in again on the cow/calf pairs from the last rented pasture. On Saturday, the last day, we worked cows and calves from our own pastures—no hauling from other pastures, a big time-savings. After five long days, this year’s cattle working project was almost complete. Three projects remaining would be done the next week: Eleven replacement heifers spending the winter here were worked. Our two bulls, loaned out to a couple of neighbors to breed their cows, were brought home for a few days, then hauled to the ranch. Finally, one more load of cows that calved late were worked and hauled.
 
On Sunday, my schedule returned to normal, and by “normal” I mean doing laundry—six extra-large loads. Three of these were dirty, manure-y farm clothes, some of which required a pre-wash hose-off outside! You may not be able to see all the jeans in the pictures, but there were ten pair!

​I have more stories to tell from our cattle-working week: our normally tame but bad boy bulls’ shenanigans as they became reacquainted after several months apart; the near-catastrophe I mentioned; a potentially disastrous repeat of the adventure featured in my book chapter, “From Piece of Cake to Piece of Cow Pie,” that had a very different outcome; and more. Stay tuned…

It’s November and at the Hilbert farm that means it's time to work and haul cows and calves to the ranch where they will spend the winter and receive catered meals of silage and hay. The calves also receive a supplemental grain mixture from the "children's menu." But first, there are some preliminary tasks to complete.
 
The major project this year has been remodeling the corral system to provide more efficient sorting, separating and movement from the pens into the working chute and back out. Another focus of the project was to strengthen the panel system. It’s pretty annoying to have to interrupt our work flow because one or more cows crash the gate into the holding pen for the calves. Re-sorting everyone back to where they belong is time consuming and stressful for humans and bovines!
 
Bill used his tractor with bale fork attachment to position the panels.

He connected the panels together using sleeves made of short lengths of pipe slightly larger than the rails at each join area. Then he welded both ends of each sleeve to the panel rail. Notice his welding helmet—it’s the Darth Vader farmer’s model!

​Bill found an easy and economical solution to protecting the hypodermic syringes while working cattle. He bought a small cooler for two bucks at a thrift store and cut four holes 1 ½ inches in diameter in one side. He cut four eight-inch lengths of 1 ½ inch diameter PVC pipe, inserted them in the four holes so the outside edges were flush with the outside of the cooler, then secured the lengths in place with the clear silicone exterior sealant I use to assemble my glass garden totems. Here is the finished product from the outside...

and from the inside.

If we are working cattle on a warm day (which did happen), he can put small freeze packs underneath the plastic pipe lengths. There is also enough space at one end to store extra bottles of the vaccines and medications. Great idea for protecting syringes, especially as one has a glass barrel!
 
I spent last Sunday finalizing my preparations: doing laundry to make sure we have clean farm clothes...

and making granola, a breakfast staple around here. Mixed with a small container of yogurt and followed up with a piece of fruit, it’s a quick breakfast on a busy morning.

​Yes, the recipe makes a lot—one aluminum foil turkey roaster plus one 9”x13” pan. The granola keeps very well in the frig.
 
Preparations are complete and we’re ready to work cattle! Details later. 

My latest book talk trip included some quality sister time. My youngest sister, Lila, was visiting from Alaska. I invited her and our middle sister, Kay, along on my trip to Waterville, KS, on October 22nd.
 
Quality sister time usually involves a late night, catching up with each other, reminiscing and a bottle of wine! We did all of that in Manhattan the night before my talk.
 
We rolled into Waterville with plenty of time to drive around and look at some beautiful restored Queen Anne Victorian homes and gorgeous fall color. I had been to Waterville once previously to visit friends, Lyle and Ann Walter, and toured one of the homes as well as theirs.
 
I called Ann and asked if she had time to give us a quick tour of her antique and vintage clothing shop, “Anntie M’s Attic.” She graciously took time out of her schedule to do so. Ann has collected and studied period clothing for years and has an extensive collection of mostly women’s fashions from the 1870’s through the 1980’s, including a rare corset from the 1790’s! She gave us a delightful tour that had us “oohing” and “aahing” over her treasures! She gives programs and tours to groups, usually followed by a Victorian tea or a yummy treat from her 1950’s malt shop. Her website is http://anntiemsattic.vpweb.com/ and has contact and reservation information. I highly recommend a day trip for any women’s group!

​Or, if you want to stay overnight, try the Weaver Hotel bed and breakfast, http://www.weaverhotel.com/wp/. The century-old hotel has been restored and updated. The rooms are furnished with authentic Victorian antiques and gorgeous quilts! Yes, most of the rooms have private baths—you don’t have to use a chamber pot! My sisters and I toured a few of the rooms and wished we'd spent our quality sister night there!

​​One building we didn’t get to tour was the Waterville Opera House. Over 100 years old, it’s on the National Register of Historic Places and the community has undertaken a massive renovation project, made possible by a 2012 Heritage Trust Fund Grant. For more information, you can go to https://www.facebook.com/WatervilleOperaHouseRenovationCommittee/. Here is a picture of the Opera House from that Facebook  page. 

My talk was at the Waterville Public Library. Notice the antique double doors in the picture below.

The group I spoke to was the General Federation of Women’s Club, aka Shakespeare Club. I’d never heard of this organization so I asked Jeannette Bergquist, who arranged for me to speak, about their focus and history. Below is her response. It’s incredibly interesting and well worth reading.
 
“Our Shakespeare Club has a long and interesting history.  In the beginning, 1895, the ladies organized themselves as The American Literature Club, then in 1903 The Shakespeare Club, when they actually studied and performed many Shakespearian plays.  In 1917, they became a part of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs, an international women’s organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service.  GFWC is the largest organization of volunteer women in the world.  Kansas has a membership of 600 women.  LIVING THE VOLUNTEER SPIRIT is the epitome of our club work. Historically, GFWC established 75% of the country’s public libraries.  In 1906, our clubwomen decided Waterville needed a library and reading room so in 1907, they sent for a traveling library from Topeka.  Each member paid 10 cents to defray the cost of shipping books back and forth.  The library was housed in a store, then later in the basement of City Hall, and since 1942 in the present building.  Our main project continues to be The Public Library.  Our club, in partnership with the City and the North Central Kansas Libraries, maintains and runs the Library.  The Shakespeare Club, adhering to its original motto, “With all thy getting, get understanding,” has programs emphasizing intellectual culture and civic improvements.  Some of our programs are in the areas of Home Life, Public Issues, Education, International Affairs, The Arts, Veterans, Conservation, Safety, Women’s Health Issues, Domestic Violence, and Literacy.”
 
This group’s community commitment is vital to keeping the spirit of Waterville alive and active.
 
The ladies were an enthusiastic and engaged audience, and willing to share some of their own experiences which is always fun for me! In response to my “Snake Slayer” story, one of the women told about finding a copperhead in her house. Seriously! 

Kay, Lila and I enjoyed chatting with the ladies over delicious refreshments of cheesecake, cookies and punch. Unfortunately, we didn’t get a “sisters” picture, but here is one taken a few days later with our mom. Kay is on the left, Lila is between us and Mom is seated.

​Thanks to the ladies of the Shakespeare Club for their warm welcome; to Jeannette Bergquist for arranging for me to talk; to Ann Walter for the delightful fashion tour and history; and to the gal at the Weaver Hotel (sorry, I don’t remember her name) for taking time to give us a tour and history of a few rooms.
 
I’m definitely planning a return trip to Waterville to spend more time touring the town. I might even indulge in a treat at “Anntie M’s Attic” soda fountain! 

We’ve been snapping photos of various forms of wildlife around our place since spring. Here is a sample of some of our sightings.
 
Spring, 2015 saw the 17-year invasion of cicadas, returning to disrupt our country peace and quiet, and assault our eardrums! Good riddance until 2032!

From time to time, we see one or two coyotes in the pastures. So far, they seem to prefer snacking on baby calf manure, not the calves! One day I happened to look out a living room window and saw a coyote sniffing its way through the yard near the house. From previous experience, I knew I lacked the stealth skills to get a photo from outside the house. So I had to make do with shooting through the window screen. The resolution isn’t good but you can still see the coyote.

We see wild turkeys frequently but all I have to show for it is this picture of a feather, which Cricket found pretty interesting!

Speaking of Cricket, here she is with one of the many moles she eradicated from our yard this year. It's frantically digging through the gravel to escape the jaws of death!

Bill took some great photos of butterflies on our butterfly milkweed.

Early one evening, I saw this tree frog on a window screen. I took this shot from inside the house. 

Bill took this one from outside. Didn’t he get a fantastic reflection of the sky in the window?

As I headed into the house one evening, I saw this toad lazing on a skull in June’s Junque Garden. I raced into the house, grabbed the camera, raced back out and snapped a couple of photos.

But something about this toad just looked off. It was lying out flat instead of squatting. And, its eyes looked kind of, well, vacant. I bent over for a closer look then grabbed a stick and gently poked at it, expecting it to leap off the skull! It didn’t leap; it didn’t change position; it didn’t even blink. I cautiously poked at it with my finger. Holy crap! The toad was dead! Not just dead, but dead-dead, as in petrified! 

OK, I knew who was responsible for this little joke--Bill! Too bad he wasn’t around to see the show!
 
On our evening walks this fall, we’ve encountered a skunk scavenging for food in a pasture uncomfortably close to the house. So far, Cricket hasn’t done an up-close-and-personal with it. I maintain surveillance on both sides of the path and we keep her close if we spot the mobile mace-sprayer! I also haven’t been carrying the camera on these encounters. Even if I did, I don’t have any attachable lenses, and the built-in zoom doesn’t have the distance to keep me out of range of a hazardous gas blast!