BRANDING TIME IN MONTANA

These photos are from June 2019 in Garfield County, Montana. It's almost time for another branding (it happens once a year), but I probably won't be there this year. The country was beautiful, lots of green grass, lots of top notch help with clear skies and sunshine.

 The calves were getting pretty big by this time.

The branding crew is truly amazing because everyone knows what to do, when to do it, and how to do it. Three ropers are pulling calves in all at the same time and the wrestlers take over and the branding, cutting, tagging and vaccinating all begins.

Maggie has the vaccine gun, Wayland is coming with another gun, Barry is on the head and holding William. Bill Dutton is branding , Colin Murnion has a branding iron. The other irons are in the pot in the background.

Dallas Currey is going to tag the ear, Barry Dutton has the head, Rusty Phalen is on the hind legs.

John Wollenburg pulling one in. DeWayne Murnion is roping.

Joe Gibson cutting; Eric Carlson is on the head. In the background, Ben Posey and Ty Gibson are holding a calf.

Bill Dutton branding, Barry has the head and Wayland Pluhar vaccinating.

Layne Murnion pulling one in. Abe Murnion and Tyrone Hageman are on the side.

Left to Right: Dallas Curry, Maggie Pluhar, Wayland Pluhar, Tucker Harmon Bill Dutton (branding), Colin Murnion, Abe Murnion (hind legs), Tyrone Hageman on the front and Jerome Chvilicek.

Jerome, D.J. Murnion, Eric Carlson, John Wollenburg building a loop, and Angus Pluhar with ear tagger.

 Donald Weeding is cleaning the nuts and this fall there will be a big nut fry at the Jersey Lilly at Ingomar, Montana. I haven't made any of them but it is on my bucket list.

Bill Dutton and Layne Murnion.

Ben Posey and Dewayne Murnion

DeWayne Murnion, Bill Dutton and Layne Murnion

DeWayne Murnion, Bill Dutton and Layne Murnion

Colin Murnion

This may be Tucker Harmon

Scotty Arnold

Joe Gibson and Donald Weeding taking a little break.

Scotty Arnold got one.

Rusty Phalen

Ben Posey and Chantal Penner

Bret Dailey, Ben Posey and Chantal Penner. 

Ivy's first (but not her last) branding. Chantal Penner and baby Ivy.

There were many more photos but this is all I am posting because I think I have nearly everyone covered.  After the branding was done and the cows and calves were all mothered up everyone rode in to the home place and ate a delicious home cooked meal (all prepared by Karen Dutton). This is ranch life in real time and it is the best life anyone can ever have. I am so thankful that I grew up here.

DUTTON FAMILY REUNION 2020 (It's a Dutton thing)

2020 seemed like the year to have a family reunion. The three aunts are in their 90s and not getting any younger, so last summer we decided to have a get-together in Lewistown, Montana at the Eagles Club. Lewistown is in the center of the state and easier for the Missoula bunch to get to. We had a thread going on Messenger with the cousins making all kinds of plans and then the virus hit. We continued with the plans and decided to go through with it when Montana went into stage 2 hoping that things would ease up and the aunts could get out of the nursing home/assisted living space. No such luck. We did it any way and had a fair turn out. 

In the early 1900s Bruce Dutton came from Fulton, New York to Melstone, Montana and later moved to Garfield County to ranch. He and his wife, Margaret Herron Dutton had seven children--Mary, Margaret, Bruce, Bill, Joe, Orson and Hazel. These kids grew up on the ranch, and their children scattered to all parts of the U.S. and beyond. We had someone from each of these families here.

 Jennifer and Liv Pitcher

Connie Spangler and Clifford Saylor

Cher Spangler and Robert Dutton 

 Bill Dutton and Dave Dutton

 Cari and Michael, Ellie and Madilyn Novotny.

 Connie S., Margaret Peterson and Mike Spangler

 Nancy Dutton, Jennifer and Liv

 Cher, Dave, Connie and Jo Zimmerman

 Cher with George Wheatcroft

 It's 5:00 and things are getting rowdy with Bill, Connie and Dave.

 Celestine Wheatcroft and Robert D.

 Jo and Doug Zimmerman

 Celestine, George, Jo and Doug

Mandy and Tony Fassio

 Rosie O., Celestine, Bill, Connie and Dave.

 Christie, Cassidy, Chris, and Robert D.

 Lessie, Connie, and Celestine

 Robert and Wayne Hostilo

 Lessie, Rosie O., Connie and Celestine

This is some of the William Dutton family: Michael, Ellie, Cari and Madilyn, Bill, Karen, Rosie, Jennifer and Liv.

The youngest of the clan--Madilyn and Ellie

 Tom and Helen Hogan from the Ruth Dutton (sister to Bruce Dutton) branch of the family. Ruth married Art Kincheloe and lived at Melstone, Montana and Helen is Ruth's granddaughter. Bill D.

 The Mary Dutton family.  Tony and Mandy Fassio, Doug and Jo Zimmerman, Eli and Lauren Bourgard with children Asher, Harrison and Rueben; Margaret Peterson with Carleen and Scott Peterson.

Wayne and Lessie from the Hazel Dutton family. Aunt Hazel could not come because of the travel and C-19. The rest of the family stayed in Florida.

Connie and George wearing one of the aprons that I made especially for the reunion.

Derrek Dutton and kids. Amelia, Blake Liam and Ethan. And that does it for 2020. We have a wonderful family that loves to get together and talk, hug and give each other big smooches, even during the pandemic! See y'all next time, soon I hope.