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It's very interesting seeing these experiences from our own eyes, but we also get to see it from these young University of Idaho Students' eyes.  These are young vet students who are here learning first hand how to birth and hopefully save at risk young calves.  A lot of these kids had never seen -- let alone touched -- a large animal, such as a cow or horse.  They weren't timid though, and this young girl (in particular) was as dedicated as I've seen.  She stayed up all night and walked some of the fields and kept a vigilant eye on her little charges.  This is the type of vet I would have faith in taking my animals to.  She didn't just do what "had to be done" but wanted and did go "beyond what was necessary"  There is a lot of science in what we do...believe it or not.  On top of that, sometimes it's not all "Rocket Science" and you have to use your gut instincts and a bit of a "mothering hand".  Some things just call for care.  She has both.  When ever we had something that had to be taken care of, we took it to the students/vets in the barn.   This is the little kitchen where we get our supplies. Young student helping Wayne give colostrum. Another calf needing sustenance. This calf was 3 weeks premature.  I put my hand on him so that you could see how tiny he is.  He did not live.   This little calf is on his way out to meet a Mommy!  When they are handled by humans like this, they are not afraid. We keep a chart on what tag #, what pen they go in, what date they are born, grafted, etc...   This is Norman.  He hangs out with us in the barn.  He has not yet been accepted by a cow. This calf is a twin.  They don't happen very often or have as much chance of survival, so we leave the 'healthiest one' with Mom, and bring in the weaker twin to graft onto a cow.   He gets a ride in the pick up!   This is the calf I mentioned before that we saw seconds after he was born.  Then we saw (from a distance) his legs thrashing wildly (not really normal) and raced across the distance to see what was wrong.  The sac had been covering his face/nose/mouth and he was suffocating.  Actually I thought we'd been too late.  Wayne pulled off the sack quickly and held him upside down (picture a Doc doing this to a newborn baby and spanking his bottom) we tickled his nostrils with weeds, and he began to sputter a bit.  With a moment or two of this type of work, he began to breath on his own.  We left him with his Mom.  He did live.   If we had not been there, this is what we would have seen later.  This calf had the same issues, but was born in the night/dark.  It happens. I just thought I'd share a couple pics of Sam lovin' life.  This cow found the perfect spot to NOT have a calf.  She is in a dip, and stuck.  We rolled her over.  What I couldn't get pictures of is when Wayne handed me a rope from her hind feet and had me use my horse to pull her over.  I'm just not able to be that multi tasking.   This is a confused cow.  Why doesn't my baby get up?   This is the same cow that had been stuck in a hole.  But we've given her time to have the baby, and it's just not working.  Now we intervene. Now is the time to hit "Back" if you don't want to see graphic images! This calf is not alive, so don't worry about him being hurt. Wayne tried pulling, and I tried with my horse, but this calf was stuck, so we had to get 'pullers' These are the images I hesitated to show.  It seems a bit much like the 'hard cold world' but it's a fact of life.  Without our intervention, this cow would also have died. Wayne and Rolly Lisle setting up the puller. The Calf is taken back to the barn to be examined.  Blood tests and other tests will be run.  And ya know, it's possible that the tests run on him, (and others) might save a human life sometime. Mom is exhausted but we make sure she is going to get up, or we would have taken her in too.  Right now, she just needs to recover. Sometimes we change boots and jobs many times during the day. And sometimes I can't tell you how happy I am at the end of the day.  It's good that God always provides a beautiful landscape for the last thing to view.    I am grateful for my family and the life I have. Please let me know what you think!   Jessie         . ...

Here are beautiful shots of my weekend.  Saturday was nice, cold but nice.  In the evening it started snowing, and of course Sunday morning the ground was snow covered.  By Sunday evening, it was nearly warm.  This was a hard weekend, and I have a question for you. I have some pretty graphic pictures of calves being born, and some not so happy endings.  Should I post them?  Jessie Saturday morning on our way out. 1. ...

It's almost spring and I'm looking forward to it!  I love this time of year when soon we will be outside alot and working for hours on end.  It's cold sometimes, and miserably hot other times.  Incredibly hard work that leaves  us exhausted and we wouldn't have it any other way.  When you combine good work, great people, along with amazingly fun times....throw in some good food, what more could you want? I can't imagine that one thing will ever change completely and that's "cowboying"  It just has to be done and there's really not that many ways to do it. Early in the morning we trail the cattle to a spot where the next job is done.  Mornings out here are without exception beautiful.  Sometimes bitter cold, foggy, misty, etc....but always beautiful.  This country never disappoints me.    Then when we get to the job site it's time to get set up.   Then the branding begins!   This is for men and women alike.  We all do it. Does this not make you think of Annie Oakley? We have some fun and games from time to time.... ...

  I actually had a few reservations about doing this particular blog.  Just in case some of you don't wanna see it.  But then I decided, some of you might enjoy and appreciate the wonder and natural life of it all.... ...

Besides beautiful of course.      And do you know what it was used for? This is "Devil's Corral"  They ran the horses into this, for capture.   Jessie. ...

  As I've mentioned, I have been bringing Sam to work a couple or three days a week.  I like the idea of having a "Guard Dog" but I'm not sure how much of that he is. He is learning what to chew and what "Not to Chew"...Life is hard, but he's getting it.          He has decided to do some 'studying' so, he obviously plans on bettering himself! Like all students, I like to make sure he gets a "recess" Today he is learning basketball! . ...

  Have you seen this?  Where/What is it? ...

Same is one of the puppies that our Border Collie had in May.  Originally, Lee (his sister) was to be mine.  But she has gone on to greener pastures, and I have taken Sam from Wayne.  Rufus used to come to work with me from time to time, and he enjoyed the peaceful days.  Where I work, it doesn't hurt for me to have the appearance of a "Guard Dog".  I was not about to let Rufus see me taking another dog .... ...