"Ewe" Wouldn't Understand!

Beautiful spring weather in Montana means rounding up the family (mom, Jim, Pete, me and Matine) and getting outside ---- and for some, it means baby lambs! We made the drive to McLeod this morning to help the Titecas vaccinate their sheep and new baby lambs. For those who haven't ever seen (or heard) a baby lamb in person - they are ADORABLE! Yes, they are a bit dirty and have no idea that they poop all over themselves, but if you look past that and can focus on their wobbly, bouncy gait, their sweet little crying, and those pink ears and tongues - oh my!

Matine enjoyed the babies too and seemed very interested in watching dad and JimPa in the corral with all the moms and babies. She may have had a small "Silence of the Lambs" scary moment when she was put on one's back and then stood in the middle of the corral, but she managed to hold it together and daddy was never far away.

My they were cute, but the deafening sound of the constant crying lambs is a bit creepy - I see why Jody Foster had some many issues in that movie. Let's hope Matine sleeps through the night.

Ewwweeeee are so cute Peter!
Actually, Peter is wanting to have a "petting zoo" at Matine's First Birthday Party - we already have the "pony" picked out of our herd. Now he's debating if this little lamb would like to play with a dozen little kids in May.

Where does that white one go?

If they had sharp teeth and were carnivorous, I might be a bit scared at this sight.

Ah, Daddy, Grandpa, and a lamb of my own ... Life is GOOD!

Future Mutton Busting Queen of Montana, Ladies and Gentlemen!

"Well, Hi There!"

"Gotcha!"
Not sure whose face is the funniest in this picture - Pete, Matine or the Lamb.

Little Lady on a Fence

We Attacked the Sheep... Part 4

It's Sunday morning, 6:00am - the phone rings ... It's a typical Titeca phone call. "we need some help (insert profanity) ... the sheep have to be tagged so we can get them to market this week."
PEter: "Ok, I have family in town, but will be down this week sometime, when do you need to have it done?"

Titecas: "(more profanity) TOMORROW... We have to have 100 lambs tagged by today!"
Peter: rolling over to a sleeping Brooke, "do you think your family would want to go tag sheep this morning? It should only be a few hours."

Brooke: " Actually, they'd probably get a kick out of it...
(chuckling to herself b/c we KNOW it will be more than a few hours and she can't begin to imagine the scene of us all out there with sheep)

Somehow, we dressed Scott, Clark, Loni and Marni in our clothes, boots and work gloves and were out the door w/ coffee by 7:30am sharp...

On the road to McLeod, Peter pondering exactly what the usual "tagging sheep" will look like today with his unsuspecting fellow passengers...

Scott, rugged and handsome in his borrowed Carhartts, reminiscing about the good ol' days on his family "ranch." Always relating to his audience that guy... He has no idea what he will be doing in 1/2 an hour.

"Wow, I had no idea there would be so many. Why are they so dirty?" Clark asks...
"Don't they clean their butts? "

Brooke : "No Clark, they aren't like pets or dogs. Now get in that pen and start herding them over there."


The Cottongim's - getting into character... Feeling their natural calling as sheep ranchers.


"Holy S*@#! Are these idiots going to be doing this today? Baaahhhh."
"We'll show em exactly how hard it is to 'herd' sheep."
"Mildred, make sure and be really squirrelly and kick a lot. Maybe even crap yourself
while they are grabbing you."
"Gotcha."


Peter: "You think they are up for this honey?"
Brooke: "Sure, throw em' in there... they'll figure it out."
Brooke again: "boy you sure are handsome in that hat."


HOLD STILL .... Clark was asked to pick up each weather or ewe by the butt and neck and "throw" them literally through gate A or B. Peter and Shawn would sort and throw them at Clark who at times was rolling on the ground with them. This is AFTER Peter and Shawn "sexed " each one by examining their hind end anatomy (very closely).

**Insert Sheep Jokes here ....

Loni was in complete control of the cage... Well done and making that job look glamorous!

"Am I really here? Man, this is going to be a great story to tell to my builders when I get home. I love this Carhartt jacket... Must get me one of these. Was that a weather or a ewe... Need to pay attention again."

Ahh... the men... after a regular, hard day's work on the ranch. Those sheep had no idea what was coming to them. Now, where's my skoal and shot gun? Time to do some shootin.