That was a long day...

Branding day.

Mid July. A month later than our normal.

It‘s been hotter...drier...dustier...

We started gathering at 6 to try to beat the heat.

We sprayed the corral down with water to try to beat the dust.

We were close...both times.

Smokey skies gave the illusion of cooler temperatures.

No one fought to stand near the brand pot and the water jugs kept up a steady flow filling cup after cup.

It was a long, dry, hot day, and we are forever grateful for the help who came.

Even through the heat waves and dust clouds and under the haze of the smoke, smiles popped up on dusty faces.

Laughter rang out amid the occasional bawling of the cattle.

Ask anyone there that day what they’d rather be doing, and as a hat was removed to wipe sweat from a brow with the dusty sleeve of a shirt, a slow grin would spread as the hat was replaced and a twinkle would come to eyes red from the dust and smoke and the response would be “this.”

It was a long day, a dry day, a dusty day but, it was a good day...

Photo credit to Cherie Talbert and Ruby Uhart.

Edits credit to Ruby Uhart using Prisma.