All posts,  The Bush

Pineapples, mullets and the magnificent nine

As I may have already mentioned (about 17 times) it is branding time here at Granite Glen.  A time when we muster in all our breeding cows, and mark their calves – with electronic tags, visual tags and brands – and inoculate them against disease. And we then work out who belongs to who (calves to their mammas). It’s hot, dusty, time-consuming, wearying, wonderful work…

And we cannot do it without our crew. So I thought I’d begin this little Branding Series with a Meet the Cast post.  Comfy?  Then let’s begin…

First there is Bruiser, my father.
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He has been mustering these paddocks for 60 years now. Knows them all like the back of his work-weathered hands. He has seen many thousands of calves through this process. Like the rest of us, he loves casting his eye over all the little newcomers to the place.

Then we have Lila. Our Swiss neighbour.

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An ex-dressage type, Lila has grown used to our ‘Man from Snowy River’ antics over the past couple of years (her interpretation of anything OTHER than riding in a manicured, rectangular arena, I suspect). While she may never quite acclimatize to the heat and the dust and the flies, she still gets all romantic about the landscapes and gushes at length about the ‘pretty-headed babies’. We suspect there may be some Italian and French mixed into her Swiss-ness.

Then there are the kids – we had four of them. Well, we have two of our own and a couple of ‘ring-ins’ … most of you already know Salina (Jeanie‘s beautiful ‘big girl’).
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Salina is always a branding-time visitor…

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She is at that age where she is not really a kid. At age 12 she’s officially a tween. But considering the potential combustible brew of long hours, energetic and demanding younger cousins, and imminent adolescence, we had a really lovely time with her. Always do.

The other ‘borrowed’ jilleroo is Ay, who belongs to Lila-from-next-door (above).

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She rides our old horse Tradesman and loves being in the mustering gang.

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Mr Incredible refers to the kids collectively as ‘the wall’. A mooving wall (sorry, bad pun, had to be done) to keep bovines in check. (Of course, when he mentioned the term, my first thought went to a certain Seinfeld episode: Make a wall, A WALL!!).

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The cows didn’t see enough daylight between them to even consider breaking out…

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Of course there is the keenest little jilleroo of them all – Violet…

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She is hugely disappointed that the six days of weaning/mustering/excuses to ride are over.
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School/schmool, according to Violet!

Dash is keener for school to begin on Monday, but had a blast working the gates during branding…

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(He does own numerous belts, that all seem to hide when needed at 6am!)

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He is also a champion daydreamer – seen here between bouts of activity, no doubt contemplating Creation or why the clouds have flat bottoms today. Please note the Holiday Haircut – he has been nicknamed Pineapple Head by his loving father…

We also had the fabulous Lachlan back for the week…

…pictured at left here, shootin’ the breeze with Dash. After working here for most of 2011, Lachy slotted back into the scene like he had never abandoned us gone home.

He also brought his brother Cal.

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Cal (as you can see here) has a haircut known to most as a ‘mullet‘. It was the very first thing I noticed about him…

Apparently I am a hair snob. (Although my sister and I DID have a ‘lioness’ haircuts in the 70s that may have looked suspiciously similar… I am sure there was a subtle difference though. Jeanie help me here!)

I have to say, that after almost a week working beside Cal, I think I can forgive him his haircut of choice…

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At just 16 years of age, Cal (like his brother) is a credit to his parents. Conscientious, hardworking, easy to have around. Dash and Violet adored having two ‘big brothers’ around, and the calves worked well with these patient young men.

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For a bloke who wants to ride bulls professionally, Cal sure is gentle with the little ones…

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And (providing they don’t go imitating any hairstyles) I was more than happy for our two to have these pair as role models.

And of course there was the big ol’ role model of mine, Mr Incredible.

Showing those young ‘uns how to wheel a rambunctious cow (no, I am NOT talking about me) back into the mob.

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(I am not quite sure why the boys have no hats on here – perhaps they were doffing them in wonder at my husband’s incredible cow-wrangling skills? Or perhaps they didn’t have them jammed on their mullets hard enough while doing their own wrangling?). For the record, the cow thought her calf had gone with another mob.  Mr Incredible convinced her to rejoin her own mob, in the yards. Where her calf really was. Silly cow.)

And not content with being chief cow-wrangler, calf-catcher, brander and tag-re-applier… my husband also patiently helped me ‘mother up’ some of the newly numbered calves with their mammas at the end of the day.

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And in bush parlance, this illustrates the sensitive side of My Guy.  The one with the sensible haircut.

So that makes nine. Quite the gang really.  The Nefarious Nine.

They worked, they ate, they worked some more.

A big old heartfelt THANKS to them all.

🙂

BB

PS I guess you could count the chief cook and bottle-washer (and computer tag-reader and slide-gate operator*).  But that would make ten.  And that’s NOT what it says in the title here…

PPS You know I meant me there*, didn’t you? Just checking!

15 Comments

  • jeanie

    To back you up, lioness haircuts are WAAAAY different to mullets.

    For a start, they had that step thing before you got to the flowing locks at the back.

    Secondly, they live in the 1970s and will remain there.

    Thirdly, they were cool (in the 1970s) and we begged for them.

    Fourthly – excellent team.
    jeanie´s last blog post ..Footloose (or Shoe Post Three, I suppose)

  • Barb . B

    Loving your post on branding. Funny how we woman still have to work when we get home though from working the cattle. This branding i got to go home at 4pm while I wasn’t neede to take the cattle back. Son said, at least your finished for the day. I wish, who cooks tea and washes all the jeans etc etc. everynight. Was great to have son and his girlfriend help this year though. Certainly makes the day easier.

  • debby

    It was good to see Lachy back…even for temporary. How is his hand?

    I love the set of Violet’s back as she rides her horse, and, really, Dash would be considered quite cool with his jeans all riding down low like that. ‘Salina is a lovely tween, and Lord. I do so need to get a box in the mail…as soon as I take possession of a pair of socks…
    debby´s last blog post ..Cara’s Birthday

  • Colin (HB)

    Great blog BB.
    Memories keep flooding back.
    Just hope plenty of city kids just see this and can understand the different lifestyles. I know which one I prefer by the length of your longest paddock fence!
    Colin

  • Fiona

    We joke that with all the kids saddled up, we nearly outnumber the cows! Great for the kids, and with each passing year they become more and more invaluable. All the best for this school year. Back to watching the clock tomorrow.
    Fiona´s last blog post ..Today…

  • buttons

    Hey BB long time no comment sorry about that you as a farmer knows how fast time gets away from you.Lots to do never a dull moment.
    I love this post you have amazing helpers they are the most valuable part of the operation. I love how it is a family affair(just like here).Love you photos and the dialogue.
    Take care gate opener girl. I know that one.
    Your family is awesome.B

  • Leenie

    After looking at that full-on photo of Dash I was amazed at his length. He must be a challenge to keep in britches that cover his boots and his bum at the same time.

    It warms my heart to see how you and your crew care for the cattle and don’t just consider them warm bodies with dollar signs on their beef.

    Hooray for pineapple and mullet hair. One way to express individuality without doing any damage.

    If you ever run out of ideas for posts, please tell us a little more about the herding dogs.
    Leenie´s last blog post ..THE DIRT ON OUR WEATHER

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