Where did the last week go??

I am a negligent blogger, I admit it.  Frankly, the last 6 or so days have been peaceful, quiet, and productive - in other words, not very adventuresome for blogging purposes!  I have been inside for a few days doing some preparation work on other potential projects.  We've had a few days of drizzly rain, which is great for my motivation to stay inside, and great for the surrounds.  This time of year, the ground is soaking up as much moisture as possible.  The streams that run through town - Medicine Lodge and Paintrock Creek - are running a little higher these days, since the fields that they irrigate in the warmer months are effectively 'closed' for the winter.  This week, much of Wyoming has received their first dusting of snow.  Not Hyattville - yet...

While we are drying out after a few rainy days, the guys down at the ranch will be moving a few old heifers off to auction today, and everyone is hoping that this colder weather will still allow the remaining late season hay to dry enough for pick-up and storage.  It would be such a shame in a tight hay market year to lose even the little bit that remains to be put up for winter.  

Well, back to work for me - but please enjoy these photos from last week's round up prior to the Vet Check.  It's interesting to note that the guys are nicely outfitted in traditional-looking gear - both for themselves and their horses.  Hyattville is one of America's last original ranching communities - still doing what it was homesteaded for originally.  So, it's no wonder that folks around here - many of whom hail from families associated with the early homesteading of the town - are very proud of their traditions.  As part of keeping these traditions alive - easier here than in other ranching communities - many cattlepersons support the 'western way'.  One thing that I've noticed is that the younger generations seem more eager to display this traditional western flair and finery than the self-proclaimed "old-timers".   Perhaps that's just one of the ways that you can distinguish the "cowboys" from the "cowmen"!  

 Jared, Ty, and James are heading out to gather the cattle.  I wish I had a good frontal shot so that you could see the finery on the horses, the detail of their chaps, etc - but these guys were hard at work, and I didn't want to slow them down!

After most of the herd was gathered, vet-checked, inoculated, etc - the guys - Jared, Ty, and James - were heading out to pick up the few stragglers that didn't make the round up.