Ho-hum. Today was the day to rotate the cows. So, I went out and after a good long fight, in which I had to go get Savannah for assistance, finally got the bit in Snip's mouth. Saddling took just moments after the bit was inserted.

The wind was (still is) blowing like crazy, so that didn't help matters any. For some reason wind makes Snip frisky and less complient. It also didn't help that almost as soon as I mounted the sky start hurling some big and somewhat painful raindrops at the ground. Snip put his rump towards the south and wouldn't move. My back got soaked. Finally he got moving. I rode over to the west gate and opened that. We goofed off for a few minutes in the north pasture trying to encourage the cows to start moving. They were a bit skeerdy since they didn't know what a horse/person combination is. They sort of know me, so I think that helped keep them from really going nuts.

Well, I left them to themselves after a bit and zipped off and opened the gate into the woods--on the south. Then I tried to get Snip to go ankle deep in the flooded creek area. He was like, "Uh-uh...I ain't  goin' to do that!!" Finally he did get a bit wetter than he wanted.

After that I returned to the north side and went back and opened the gap gate. From there I came up behind the cows and gently started pushing them toward the open gate. Snip behaved himself wonderfully. The only animal I felt I really needed to keep an eye on was 'Gorillia Cow'. She's been a bit more obsinate lately. Eventaully, she decided to move. I followed her, but gave her plenty of room--don't crowd a hairy cow :) When she stopped, I did. Then I'd move Snip in one or two steps and stop again. It worked.

Once I got them all moved I shut the gate (I did a lot of on and off today!) Then I did some serious galloping (oh yes, that was after I rode him down the drive way and checked the mail! More gate work...) I didn't work much on circles, but just simple weaving. That row of old orange tree stumps is great for that--including the close proximity to the electric wire. It keeps him from going too far 'thataway'...but also it helps with his trust in me that I won't run him into anything. (I wish I could say the same. Some times I abort an action simply because I have this sixth sense that he's going to drag my leg on something. It happened not to long ago. I'm just glad we weren't going super fast when it happened or tht would have really hurt.)

The whole ride there was wind and on and off sprinkle. Perfect training weather! :) :)
(Inside joke ;} )

Yesterday, I started out working on the horse lot. I got three posts in the ground--two for the H-frame and the dead-man. I was ready to put the cross-bar on when I realized I had no nails. I looked in the barn, truck, garage, and house. None. (At least the size I needed.) So, I plowed off to Do It Best. I found the nails I needed and picked up a couple of pakages of zip-ties--for use as stays :)

I came home just in time--the two W. brothers, Ricky and Tommy, who helped us work cows today, were just fixing to head of into the pasture and to the pens, with the others. Anyway, we got everything figured out. Then was lunch.

As Ricky had said that we would need more worm-medicine (which turns out we didn't--Daddy was right, there was plenty), I headed to Smith's. While Skyping with Daddy after lunch, I must have mentioned that there were some work in the pens that needed to be done. So, I also got some boards at Smiths. That was--to say the least--interesting. First off, I drove back to where I figured the wood would have been. Well, nobody came out and I wasn't sure, so I started to drive up to the front of the building--I was going to talk to the 'old man' (disrespectful I know, but somehow I doubt he would really mind), since he knows who I am and I know who he is--sort of. Anyway, a tall, skinny, long-haired, drummer-player looking dude is standing there. I slowed down and then backed up a bit. A big "hint-hint". He took it and asked if I was the person for the boards. "Yes." About this time, I saw in the rearview mirror, the Redneck fellow I mentioned in a pervious post coming out of the back of the building with a "what does she think she's doing" look on his face. (Hey, this was my first time getting boards!) Anyway, with the directions straightened out, I drove on back and got loaded.

That was fun :) Redneck (I have to give them nicknames--it helps in the story-telling) put the first 16 foot pine board in the back (16' is the only length for pine). He made some mention about tying them down and I crawled into the back of the truck, "I have a chain here." I started pulling it out from under the fence posts, while stradling the board. All of a sudden, I realized that Redneck had reached out and grabbed the board. I'm glad he did, or I would have gotten a rude shock! Anyway, I looked over my shoulder at him and we both grinned and laughed. I said something to the effect of "Thanks--that would have been uncomfortable!"

As he headed off to get the second board, I sat on the edge of the truck and put my foot on the one already in there. The old man came up and within minutes, he and Redneck had my five boards loaded. I wrapped the chain around them (the boards, of course!) and the Ol'man said something about getting some rope to tie them in better. Very well, I was to drive to the front of the barn for that process. Redneck sat in the back of the truck and held the boards down and helped with directions as I backed up two or three times to maneurver in a tight spot. Up at the front of the barn, Redneck and Ol'man proficently got me ready to head out. Drummer-dude showed up and got some pine sap on his hand--and made a semi-big deal out of it. Both of the other men baiscally said, "It's just pine sap--no biggie." I wonder if Drummer-dude felt the "what a whimp" coming off me.

Anyway, I got home without knocking into anything or anybody with the (at least) six feet of board sticking out of the bed--at an angle. I'll have to let the old man know I had no problems next time I go to Smith's :)

I promptly put some of those boards to work, fixing a section of the chute in the pens. Last time we worked cows, Daddy just about got hit in the head with that broken board. 

            **************************************************************

This morning, ten minutes before my alarm was set to go off (6:oo), Savannah opened my door and told me it was time to get up--Granddaddy was trying to rouse us :) (Maybe that was why I was mostly awake anyway.) Anyhow, after dressing and having breakfast and coffee, we started out to push the cows into the pens. (By the way, the cows put themselves in the trap last night! There was no need for the bag of pellets...) Just then Ricky and Tommy showed up. Ricky has a real nice diesel Dodge Ram pickup :) So three pick-up trucks holding a total of five people, headed to the pasture. The cows worked real nice today.

Once we had the cows in the pens, I strolled around doing a few last minute things while the fellas (and one gal) drove around the way we always do. Here's the work order: Granddaddy was on the squeeze-chute tailgate (through which we let the cows out), Tommy was medicating the cows, Ricky was working the hopper gate (from up on the fence--he does it different--but it is actually safer), Savannah ran the beef gate, and I did any extra leg work (i.e. pushing cows from one holding pen to the next, encouraging them up the chute, climbing up the fence on the other end of the hopper to encourage the cows to exit). We started by parting the calves from the cows. As we pushed the cows up the chute, Tommy sprayed them with the worm poison. Once all the cows were finished (we forgot to count them!), Granddaddy came up to the hopper and basically ran that gate and made the call on which calves went to market. Ricky and I did the parting. At one point, I was standing there and one of the white calves was standing on my spur! I couldn't move and he wouldn't :) I guess it is good 'hopper experience' to work with the calves like that--a good starting place. They won't hurt you as bad as a grown cow will.

After that Savannah and I went with Ricky to Al C.'s place to pick up his trailer (I guess Ricky always uses Al's trailer). I was in the front so I got gate-duty. Fine with me :) Then we came back and loaded the calves and took them to market! I rode with Ricky and Tommy, while Savannah drove Granddaddy. Granddaddy was seller 19. The auction starts at noon and it was about 9:30 or 10:00 when we got there. Somebody said something about not many people would be bringing calves in today because of some beef convention going on. So, hopefully the prices will be real good. Oh, by the way, the load was 16 calves. There was another one that for some reason Granddaddy said to keep--it was a bull and big enough to send. But like Ricky said, it was good for Granddaddy to be out there and making those decisions. I certainly agree--even though I disregarded the order to leave a particular gate open...I had previous orders from Daddy. I'm going to rotate cows this summer and now is as good a time as ever to get started!

Savannah and I played some music...Granddaddy slept through (at least most of it). He is tired; it was big day for him.

I love working cows!

I have seen our elusive calf!! It is a heifer...a little tiny, white heifer with faint carmel colored spots. As she gets older she will get a little more buff in color.

I went over to our place to open up the honey house and empty the trash-can we put under the leak (that can was almost half full!). Savannah had told me to air the house too, but I though it was still dryer inside the house, so I didn't do that. I did gather some stuff for my 4th of July costume (we are having a party!!). After I opened the honey house I went and sat on the back of the truck and read a lovely epistle that I got in the mail. I giggled over some things, grinned over others, and got that stinker look in my eye at other points. When I was done reading it I closed the honey house back up and left.

At some point this afternoon I went out under the trees and practiced the Declaration of Independence. I went through it twice--the second time through I got all kinds of ant bites on my feet. Boy, was I itchy! Another couple of days, and I think I can pass the book off to Savannah. I will certainly still need prompting, but I'm already using it as a crutch in some places. I have done enough public speaking to know when to pitch the script and have someone prompt--you actually get stuff memorized better that way I think. (I will be quite honest, I have to work on the pronunciation of some of those words--like 'magnanimity'. *grin*)

I made the fish-cakes for supper (they were pretty good, if I do say so myself)...but that just sounds like bragging :)

Right...so the title really goes with the last portion of this post. I'll get there when I get there :)

Our dear friends from church, Carol and Herb, kindly gave us their pop-up camper! Totally unexpected, but very thoughtful. Anyway, they came to Granddaddy's and from there we led them over to our place. The plan was to back the camper into the bay where the Kuboda sits. I COULD NOT get that tractor started. I cranked and cranked, and tried the trick Daddy showed me, but I still couldn't get the thing started. Next time I need to mow, I think I'll do a diagnostic call with Daddy. Anyway, Herb parked in parallel to the fence instead.

Almost immediately upon arrival I noticed that Snowflake was no longer the shape of a barrel on legs. One problem--no calf. Savannah and I came home and I called Daddy to ask if I ought to go look for the calf. (I was inclined to.) He said yes, "put on your rancher pants"...I did :) I spent two hours walking around and saw neither hide nor hair of the calf. I kept my eyes, ears, and nose on the ready. I saw only one buzzard, but he was just on a recon mission. So, is the calf dead? Very likely. Did Snowflake just hide it very cleverly? Maybe. 

I went to ride my horse after I was done meandering. I decided that because it was so late in the day, I would just tie the lead-rope to Snip's halter and ride him around bareback for a bit. Everything was going okay until I decided to attempt a trot. Even that would have been fine if he had payed attention to me! He slipped through the west gate (I'm pulling on the rope and 'whoa'-ing him--to no avail) and did a neat turn to the right--straight toward those oaks with all the low branches. I leaned off to one side and ended up cracking my head into the dirt. I still have  something of a headache. I imagine that my neck is going to be stiff as a board in the morning; it already is stiff. Thank-God for sanding landings and a hard-head!

The Setting: Supper Time

Granddaddy had left the table for a minute, so he missed all the fun...

I looked up and said, "That's Alfalfa." (The resident fence breaker heifer.) I continued watching her as she slowly, nonchalantly headed toward the fence. I said something to Savannah akin to "She's going to come through the fence. Just watch." She looked both ways as she meandered, paused and made a show of nibbling some grass, looked up and came closer. Then she took a swipe at the grass once more and poked her nose on the fence. By this time I'm giggling like a nut and Savannah too was laughing. Just as Alfalfa was fixing to step through the wire, Savannah hopped up and went out the back door where she gently scolded the ornery critter. Alfalfa wandered off. At the end dinner Savannah said, "There she is!" Sure enough...that stinker had wandered to a place where we couldn't see her and come through the fence! Savannah ran her in (I was washing the dishes.) It was really more funny than this sounds :) Honest.

We spent the day spraying soda apples again today.

Got two go...

Hmmm...Weebly's done a few changes here again...I'll have to get used to it. I don't seem to be able to erase anything in the title line...forgive that final 'r'. I was attempting to write something that sort of gave you the idea of how a mower sounds...

I went over to our place this morning and mowed. Before I actually started mowing though, I picked up a few sticks and threw them over the fence. I also got a stick and lifted Jake-no-shoulders out of the pool. He kept attacking the stick...I also noticed he was beating his tail on the floor; like a rattlesnake.

At first I wondered why the Kubota didn't seem to be cutting as well as I thought it should. I remembered all of a sudden that I should speed up the engine's rmps...that REALLY helped. The only disaster was when I ran into the gate...I bent it out of shape some more, broke my watch, and bruised my wrist. Also, I wasn't sure I was going to get unstuck from around the RV tent, but I made it after a lot of backward/forwards stuff. I raked up the really nice grass from over the septic finger and pitched to the cows. Strawberry didn't seem to interested in it somehow.

Speaking of cows, Snowflake is springing! Her bag is starting to expand and her volva (did I spell that right, Daddy?) is swelling. I think I'd better be poking in on her fairly often at this point--it's her first calf and she's kind of small. Prancy is filling out and Socks looks a lot better. The Captain and Strawberry also look good. The grass is green :)

I got back here about 12:30 to be informed that Granddaddy's mower was ready at the shop and so after I ate lunch and had my coffee, we went to get it. He is now mowing. He took a break when it poured down rain for 10-20 minutes. I was just fixing to walk out the door to go ride Snip when it started to rain. I still think I'll go over...it's not 3:30 yet and that lazy rascal needs to be ridden. Pray that he'll take the bit without too much of  a fight...

Racheal

Mm-hmm.

Well, I went to the feed stores this morning. (Yes, you read that right--feed stores.) There are two in this town. I like the one for horse food better, but the other has better cow feed :) I went for horse food (sweet feed and hay) and mineral for the cows. I headed for Bryan's first (the horse place), because of the location. As I turned off the main road, I heard this scraping noise. Looking in my side mirror I saw the nippers go flying off the roof of the cab! (I had NO IDEA they were up there!! I'm suprised they stayed on that long, becuase I'd been around a bit at speeds up to 60 mph.) Anyway, I pulled over and managed to rescue them from the road. There was a lady sitting there waiting to turn and we kind of grinned at each other. That was embarresment #1. 

I walked into Bryan's and trying to act like I do this all the time, asked for 2 bag of Stock and Stable 12 and 2 bales of horse hay. Wouldn't you know it, they were out of both! So I grinned my way out of there...I am not used to this yet. Anyway, I think I've learned that if I want to get my horse feed to go Tuesday or Wednesday. (They get their shipment in on Tuesday.) Mom and I went there on a Friday or Saturday and they were out...Then I slipped over to Smith's.

At Smith's I walked in with a wad of keys in my hand. (I had a few more than normal--having the keys for our place since I was going over there.) I gave my order to the young guy who works in there (I believe he's the owner's son). He was nice about my blundering newbie ways. I ordered 5 bags of mineral and a bag of horse feed (it's not as good quality as the other, that's why I only got one) and a bale of hay (same deal here). I told him to put in on Granddaddy's account (that's how Daddy told me to do it.) Then I strolled out and drove around to the back where my purchase was loaded. The man loading asked me how Granddaddy was doing (I still don't know how he knew...but anyway, he made the connection somehow and then asked me, 'Is that your dad that comes?' Of course :) Anyway, he was nice too.)

Then I took off for our place. Once there I made the horrid discovery that I had forgotten to release the parking/emergency brake!! I was like "Oh, no! Daddy's going to kill me!) I thought about not telling, but when he called me later I just went ahead and spilled the beans (see, I can't keep a secret!) I'm glad he didn't get irritated at me. I felt bad enough about it as it was. Anyway, I did get informed a little better on what drum brakes do. Embarresment #3.

What happened to Embarresment #2? Oh...that. You may laugh, honestly...I was going to get gas. So, I went to the gas station, turned the engine off, and went to take the gas cap off. Hmm, it has a key in it. Let's see--read the directions, attempt to follow them--Nihil. Phooey. Try again. Still nothing. I must have spend 10-15 minutes trying to get that stinky gas cap off. Anyway, I ended up not getting gas. I left. Embarresment #2. (While on the phone with Daddy, he gave me a few pointers and I got that cap off!)

From our place I went to where my horse is kept to unload the hay and feed. My first attempt to pitch the hay over the fence was unsuccessful. It fell down between the truck and the fence. (Embarresment #5--nobody saw that though. *grin*) So I pulled it out stradling the gap--one foot on the fence (made out of stock wire) and one foot in the bed of the truck. That hurt some (the rib, you know). Once I got it up I rolled it over the fence, then I climbed over the top and arranaged it where I wanted, climbed back over the fence and dumped the feed off at the shed. I was grateful that the cows decided not to bother me.

Then I came back here and put the remaining four bags of mineral out. The cows have been alternately munching on it since. After I ate (lunch, not mineral) and had coffee, I went out to dig more thistles and soda apples. I didn't get a whole lot more done...I worked for about an hour and the thunder clouds started talking. So far the rumbling has been no more than that. But, you know, they say if you can hear it, the lightening can strike you. I wouldn't be good for much work at all if I got hit by lightening!

I think I need a snack now...soup and salad for lunch 4+ hours ago is lacking in holding power...

That's how the folk's round here pronounce "Brahman". It is also the de facto name of our new heifer...at least until we find a better name for her. 

Someone we know likes to pay Daddy for things he does for her (that is NOT the reason he does them) and since he's been putting hay out for her all winter, she thought that an addition to our small herd would be good payment. Thus, a big white heifer that is over half Brahman has found herself moved down the road three or so miles to a tiny herd. I can now say that we have a herd of 5 head :)

Once she finishes calming down, I think she will be fine. She's a tad spooky, but not really really bad. We will have to take care of the branding and ear-marking another day :)

...are sometimes extremely sudden, unexpected, and unhappy.

Monday Grandpa went to the doctor. Tuesday morning the telephone rang. Doctor's orders: take him to the ER; his hemoglobin (red-blood cell) levels are way down. [That explains why he'd been dizzy.] So Mama, Daddy, and Grandma took him to the hospital--that was the start of a very unusual week.

Before I chronicle the week, I will tell you what is wrong with Grandpa. He has cancer. In his liver and colon. They were supposed to do a CAT scan on his lungs to make sure he didn't have any cancer there. We haven't heard the result of that yet. Today they are doing a colon biopsy. We still don't know whether he comes home or not...that really hasn't been discussed. Those who have spent the last 3 days at the hospital have had a lot of emotional stress, as have those of us at home, but I imagine that it's worse actually sitting around in the waiting room and ICU than it is at home--where we have been busy with life.

Tuesday, Savannah was sick so I cooked lunch and dinner--nothing exciting about either meal. Ran food over to Granddaddy, took myself to my therapy appointment, and read. I was going to go ride Snip, but I didn't feel like it after getting the news about Grandpa. I was also going to feed Granddaddy's cows...but Daddy had the keys for the pick-up in his pocket so I couldn't. Katherine and I visited with Aunt Laurie and Uncle Dave for a while (they were down here on vacation) and got home in time for me to wash the dishes at lightening speed (heh...I don't think I can actually move that fast). After everyone had bathed we piled ourselves in front of the TV for NCIS and NCIS: Los Angeles. The first one was quite interesting and kind of strange. I am rather fond of Gibbs :)

Wedensday: What came first? I think I read some more. (Mom got me a book called Rebel Storehouse about Florida during the War. It is a good book--even though I haven't got to the Cow Cavalry yet.) Savannah made lunch (she was better) and we both took it over to Granddaddy for lunch. After that we came home and we ate lunch and headed off for therapy. On the way home we stopped at the store for a few groceries. I turned around and immediately headed off to ride Snip. He behaved better than had on Monday. [Monday he acted really, really wierd. He was behaving normally until we got to the back pasture. I know it wasn't the cows because they have never bothered him before. He stopped and would not move. I'd kick and kick and kick and more likely than not, he either stepped sideways or half bucked. Once he would finally move, if I kicked him again (to get him out of a walk), he stopped. This went on for quite a while before I decided to take him into a different pasture. This other pasture also borders the same ditch, so if there was something in the ditch that was bothering him, it would explain why he acted the same way in this other pasture. Finally I got him into a lope and took him out of that pasture into the front pasture. Once there he behaved himself fairly well (if you subtract the "Hey, it's quittin' time! I want my food!"). Anyway, it was really weird. He had never behaved like that before.] Anyway, Wedensday he gave me one more serious buck and once I got resettled in my seat I backed him up and backed him up and backed up. He behaved much better after that. (Backing is not his favorite thing in the world.)
From there I went to Granddaddy's and fed the cows (Daddy left me the keys :) ). Savannah brought over his supper and I left after a bit.

Thursday (yesterday) I spent the morning reading. Savannah had gone down to see Grandpa that morning and Grandma had been left at home, still being asleep at 10 'clock. She needed to sleep so Mom decided that they'd come home at lunch time and then take Grandma down after lunch. I wasn't feeling to perky so Katherine made Granddaddy's omelette. Being the only one home with a drivers licence, I took it over and watched him eat and then washed the dishes. He was watching 'Cannon' (a old TV show) and so I did too. Cannon was using a Snubbie ;)
From there I went home, ate lunch and then headed off for my final physical therapy appointment. I had a chuckle at a teenage redneck's expense while there. Maybe the poor fella didn't know I was laughing at his predicament... John (the head therapist) said I looked like Wendy (of the fast food chain) because I had my hair in pigtail braids. I don't even like Wendy's! He's funny though. I wore my spurs in since I was headed for the place I keep my horse afterwards (I did go home first to pick up the truck), and we got to talking about how the left spur slips down if it isn't cinched up almost too tight. (My left foot is just that much smaller.) And he actually got down and messed with them while I was riding the arm bike. I think he's done some riding over the course of his life. He also told me to continue wearing the brace while I ride. I'll take it off eventually...I was hoping that I could quit using it when I rode.

After riding Snip I went to Granddad's. Those goofy cows started running before they even saw the truck. They heard it coming and took off to meet it  up by the barn. Granddaddy was sitting outside waiting on me to show up. As I loaded the feed, he began his slow transit across the yard. I had one black cow that was eating straight out of the bag as I dumped the feed out. I couldn't get rid of her! Anyway, that was kind of funny. Leaving the pasture, 'Bad Child' (so named for her ornery fence breaking last year) came running up behind the truck. I hollered, "Git out of here, Bad Child. I don't have anymore!" She bucked up and went back to the crush. Goofy cow.

I told Granddaddy, "Somebody will be over in a minute with some supper." (I honestly believed this.) I got home and found out everyone thought I was going to feed him! He did have left over omelette, but I figured they fix him something else. So Mom cut up half a tomato and gave me his chocolate stuff (a sneaky means of getting coconut oil into him) and sent me back over. I warmed up his omelette, some rice and chicken that was there and fed him that along with the tomato. He ate everything but the omelette. Then I gave him some chocolate (he loves chocolate) and came home. Whew. Yesterday afternoon certainly was something of a whirlwind. At least for me.

I wanted to go down and see Grandpa this morning, but I also wanted to be home this afternoon (horse and cows), and on top of that I needed to wash my hair. So obviously, I didn't go. Maybe tomorrow...