Or mostly...sitting here, with my feet up on the little table under my desk (the printer sits on it), I'm just relaxing. I've been busy all day ever since I set foot out the door this morning.

I headed off to the feed store after the morning "feed"...Redneck 1 and Redneck 3 started loading the 1,500 pounds into the back of my truck. Redneck 3 ended up by himself because Redneck 1 had to take care of someone else. (Just those two were out there this morning.) Of all the young guys who work out there, Redneck 3 is probably the most consistantly cheerful. He got done tossing the last bag on there and I kind of shook my head and said, "This is going to fun to unload!" He laughed and we both grinned, "Have a good day!"

I got home (after dumping 6 sacks of pellets off at our place) and unloaded the rest of the stuff and fed the chickens. We also doctored up the roosters who had been pecking one another (I let them run out of feed--I was all out)...anyhow, it's always kind of fun to chase chickens around. What I want to know is, how do they know you are after them? I had a couple of them in particular that I would set my sights on--and they knew it! They would go hide in the middle of another group, or streak past me as fast as their short legs could go. It made me laugh. (And you know something? The roosters are for the most part more skiddish than the hens...they must know that I'm going to butcher them...)

After lunch, I headed out to fix fences. I actually spent more time trying to follow the fence back on the 40 acres than I did anything else. I kept trying to find a place where I could just hop the creek, since I didn't want to wade in my leather boots--particularly since they are new. I should have gone back to the house and got my mud-boots, but I didn't, so I just ended up wandering. There weren't any breaks as far as I could see--but of course, I didn't manage to tour the whole fence line. That was kind of fun--I didn't see any gator's or snakes (yay!), but I was still glad I had my pistol--there is definitely something comforting in knowing you have firepower with you.

I finally found my way out (someplace along in there, I turned the corner and was unware of it) and headed back to the only place that I knew really needed fixing. I saw the neighbor's bull walking the fence line--obviously wanting to go home. I chased him up and down the fence both on foot and in the truck at least two or three times trying to get him to go through the invisible gap gate (I don't think that is exactly what Daddy called it--I was on the phone with him about three times--but essentially, it's wire that has a staple above and below the wire with another staple [or nail] through the staples, so all you have to do is pull out the vertical staple and lower the wire--pretty ingenious, if you ask me!) I ended up having to pull the dead tree off the fence (hey, it needed to be done anyway!) before ol' Mr. 295 would go through.

After he got through, I put the wires back up and then tightened the fence along there. It really needed to be done, it was sagging. I found a post I need to replace, but it'll hold for now.

Sometime this afternoon, I smelled 'the stench' and found another dead cow. She was in the bayhead--sitting in muck and water. How long she'd been there I couldn't say, but I don't recall getting a whiff of the corpse before. There was no hide left and the buzzards had her picked pretty clean (buzzard wings are pretty ominous sounding). Of course, being in the water like that, the decomposition would have taken place faster than if she'd gone out on dry land. I have no idea which animal it was. I really do need those heifers I'm going to be weaning starting Wednesday....

I made supper tonight, nothing spectacular, just hamburgers (which came out the freezer--Mama made them when she was down here), carrots, and canned beets. Savannah had fixed some broccoli before she left to go to the chiropractor, which I heated up to.

I must say that this is one of my most favorite of Andrew's songs...of course, I think they are all good, but I really like this one. :)

Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_9F1dgGPdU

One word of caution...some of the video suggestions that pop up at the end are rather...ahem...dirty. Andrew has absolutely nothing to do with them and I'm sure deplores it, but it just comes with the YouTube territory. (I find that you can totally miss this stuff if you pause or exit the screen before they come up--I do do this occasionally...)

You know, I sure wouldn't like to be a cow in heat with half a dozen bull calves and at least one full grown bull following me around....but I'm getting ahead of myself.

Of course, everything is in God's providential timing, but sometimes we notice things more than others. The thing I have in mind today started like this: I noticed that the cows at the water trough were sticking their heads awfully far down into the trough to drink. Being concerned, as we've had problems recently with that trough, I went out to investigate. The float valve was working, though filling very slowly; I guess the cows have just been particularly thristy today. I don't know...anyway, I'll check it later when I feed the animals.

I decided that I had better slip on out to the trap to see if the trough out there was working--just in case something was wrong. As I headed off to check (that trough was just fine, by the way), I looked up and made eye contact with a black bull. I took a second look since he didn't look right. It was then I noticed the yellow 'earring' hanging out of his ear. Um...that is NOT our bull.

When I got back from checking the trap trough, I dashed in, grabbed my socks and my cellphone, hit my speed dial for Daddy, and started washing off my gritty feet. While talking to Daddy, I put my socks and boots on and grabbed some earplugs. Then I poked my head into Savannah's room, told her what was up, and headed for the tractor.

Daddy told me to take the tractor rather than the truck because the cows wouldn't get all excited with the tractor whereas they would have with the truck (because that means FOOD!! and I haven't any.) I hopped on the tractor and headed out to the east to check the fences. The only fence damage I saw had already been there for a while, so I went on around and through the pens. I closed the west gate (I was actually planning on doing that when I rode Snip tomorrow). Bouncing along towards the south pasture, I began to wonder if my knees where going to get sunburnt...I like this jumper a lot for slouching around the house, but it is a tad short for tractor work.

Anyway, like Daddy told me, I tried to herd said strange bull along to the pens. The long and the short of it is, it didn't work. The cow in heat kept circling back and naturally, he kept following her. I got off the tractor after the last failed attempt to get him (them) to go east and called Daddy. He agreed that I might as well quit [wasting desiel--my thought]...so I put the tractor away. Daddy was going to call around to the neighbors and see whom Mr. 295 (the number on the ear tag) belonged to and tell them that if they wanted their bull back before Wednesday (working cows Wednesday anyway), that they would have to come help me pen him. So far, I haven't heard back from him.

I believe this is the kind of situation we could call, "getting one's ox out the ditch"...I don't usually do this kind of work on Sunday, but sometimes it is called for.

And all that from a cows ears poking out the water trough... 

I took my aunt to the rodeo today--my great-grandfather supplied the stock for the first one way back in '29, then later my uncle supplied the rough stock and was an announcer. I learned today that he and my aunt actually ran the rodeo for 8 years!

I think we had a lot of fun--I know I did. Before the rodeo actually started, they had the 'mutton busting'--where people stick their little kids on sheep and see how long they can stay on. The little guy who won that was 7 years old and terribly cute in his cowboy shirt, boots, belt and hat.

In the grand entry I saw M. with his granddaughter seated in front of him and N., a girl who works at Smith's. I haven't seen her in quite a while. I didn't know anybody else.

The first event was the bareback bronc riding. I am very impressed with how those guys can stay on with no stirrups! I certainly couldn't...I don't think.

The second event was the bull-dogging. I think the first guys out the gate did the best. I found myself tensing and grunting a little in an effort to help the fella's flip the steers--it's funny, but it happened unconsciously!

The third event--my most favorite--was the saddle bronc riding. I think I figured out that when the horse bucks they are supposed to get their legs at full extention along the neck and when they come back down stab the horse with their spurs. It is amazing how long 8 seconds is when watching somebody bounce around on the back of an animal (equine or bovine).

Fourth was team roping--where one guy catches the animal's head and the other one catches the hind feet (I learned today that it is supposed to be both back feet--I had thought one was alright. It is, but it knocks you back 5 seconds.) I was actually surprised at the lack of catching done...I believe only 2 of the 8 or so teams actually caught their calf.

The next event was the calf-tying. Some of those guys roped the calf and as they hopped off their horses, the horses backed up with such speed as to completelely flip the calf! With calf-tying the man must throw the calf himself, so if it's down, he has to get it up and then throw it again...which of course, takes up some of your time and gives you a lower score.

I think here was the "Gatorboys"--stunts with an alligator. I'm not kidding...some of it was crazy! I'm sorry...you couldn't PAY me to stick my head into a gator's mouth! The thing about a gator though is that if you don't touch the inside of his mouth, he won't shut it...that's kind of interesting. 

They had a break while the big John Deere tractor drug the arena in prep for the second half which started with the barrel racers. The way those women and girls charge around those barrels at breakneck speed is pretty amazing...I can't get Snip to turn that tight yet! Not that I'm saying I want to be a barrel-racer. I don't. I'm just getting re-comfortable with going at a fast lope/slow gallop and doing a wide turn with that, so I was just admiring the speed.

Then they had a local group dance on horses--I think they call it a quadrille--but it's a lot like the grandmarch and english country dancing just on horseback! It's pretty cool to watch. Oh, and your horse had to be well-trained. :)

They finished up the rodeo with the bulls. One of the bull-rider's was riding with a fairly bad busted rib (or so I heard)...why??? Oh well, it's his rib, not mine! The guys who placed (there were only two who did) were both from Lousiana--so the announcer said, "It's a Cajun Saturday!"

Throughout the entire thing there was music (some more obnoxious than the rest), the announcer talking about this, that, and the other, teasing his fellow announcers and some of the cowboys, cracking jokes, and really working the crowd (which he said was a record number). You know you are in small town USA when the cracks are of a politically conservative nature and the crowd LOVES it. During the first half of the show, during breaks, he was asking, "Who's from (Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, etc.)?" Well, when he got to Illinois, he said, "Do us a favor in about three years, okay?" and the stands erupted! It was hilarious! Then he's up there laughing, "I didn't even have to say what I mean..." Huh...it was pretty down-right obvious! ;)

I really did have fun even though I got kinda sore from sitting on that hard wooden bleacher for nigh on four hours. I think my aunt did too...

I met the County Commissioner and a retired cowboy--both of whom are old friends of my aunt...In fact, the County Commissioner faried us to and from our seats. :) Getting back to the truck, I found the doors locked--we don't lock the door because I haven't a key to unlock them--but my aunt didn't know this so she locked her door (which locks both). It didn't even occur to me to tell her not to lock the door. So, I started to call Savannah, but about the third ring, Auntie looks across the bed at me and says, "Can you get that window open?" referring to what my cousins call the 'beer window'--even though, like they say, they only toss soda cans through it. I hung up and promptly jumped into the back of the truck, slid the window open (it doesn't lock shut and is always at least a 16th of an inch apart--it doesn't close completely), grabbed my Moon-bat whacker (a piece of PVC pipe), leaned in, and hit the button. The doors now unlocked, I vaulted out of the truck bed and in minutes we were headed home.

I got new boots today!! You have to admit--I really needed some new ones...

Anyway, I have a few things I have to take care of in the next hour...I'm taking an aunt to the rodeo today...

After a rocky start, my day really got going and I got the following things completed...

First, I got the triangular chicken coop moved out into the pasture. Draging it with the lawn mower works like a dream! (I had to air a tire up before I could use it.)

The black spot in the corner is where the banana box burned up when I had the single rooster in there for 'medical' reasons.

I went to town later with the idea to get new boots, another 5 gallon water can, a feeder, and a roll of hay. Well, I got everything but the boots. I went into Tractor Supply and poked around among the boots. I knew exactly what I wanted--a pair of Ariat 'Fatbaby' boots (pretty close to idential to what I currently have). I did try on some Justin's which are practically the same cut, but the footbed wasn't near as comfortable--no matter what the lady I was talking to said. :) She says she finds Justin's more comfortable...I prefer Ariat's apparently--even though they are 10-20 dollars more expensive. I didn't want pink shafted boots (pink boots are about like pink guns to me), nor did I really want hot-pink piping...nor blue piped camo or finger holes in the shaft. I wanted that pair of good looking brown boots, but the smallest size they had left was a 7. I don't wear anything over a 6.5...and with the way shoes sizes keep going, I'm going to be wearing 5's again pretty soon. I talked to one of the employee's and she said they were just fixing to unload the truck, so if I came back tomorrow, I might get them. I may go back because Snip needs hay too.

From there I headed over to Bryan's and got the hay, the water can, and the feeder. When I went to put the hay out, I had the foresight to shut the front gate before going into the pasture. The cows were up and I didn't want to risk them getting out. I opened the pasture gate and both Abe and Prancy started to come through, so I in essence charged them with the truck--Abe was almost wedged between the truck and the gate so he ended up backing up at a fairly quick pace. Then he whipped around and took after the truck. I grabbed my hotshot from behind the seat and hopped out (to go close the gates) and shook that at him and he behaved until the truck started rolling again. Abe is a good bull--I was hollering at him and shaking my hotshot and he minded fairly well. I had to play tug-of-war with him with the hay net again today. I have marks on my right thumb from where the net cut into me--but I wasn't going to let him have it. Silly bull...he gets such joy out of tearing a new roll of hay up with those pretty horns of his. :)

When I got home I chased calves out the yard and then got kind of worried about one cow. I think now that she is okay, except that her right front toes cross a little. I need to look that up and what to do about it (if anything). It does cause her to limp a tad.

Savannah and I got the roosters separated out from the hens--I'm still hacking because of the dust I inhaled crawling around on my knees, lunging at roosters. It was actually kind of fun. We only ended up with one dead bird...I had too many in the dog kennel we were transporting them in and I guess he sufficated or something. I pulled a couple more out who looked not so good, but I stuffed their beaks in the water and before I was out of the coop they were scurrying around again. I learned my lesson...

Then we fed the cows and yet again I heard the clank of a chain as the cows trotted along beside the truck. I told Savannah, "There's that chain again!" On our way back we stopped and I found it!! I finally found that chain I lost of the tractor last summer! I carried it triumphantly to the barn and tossed it back onto the tractor floorboard where it's supposed to go.

While Savannah fed the cats, I fed Snip and burned the trash. It really needed to be done. Last time I went to burn the trash it was so windy I could not keep match lit long enough to get a piece of paper lighted--and then when I did get a paper lighted eventaully, it blew out before it had time to take of...

Fast forward several hours...a now clean young woman is sitting at her computer when her cellphone starts ringing. Glancing over, she sees on the lit-up face, "Ricky". Yes, I finally put Mr. Ricky into my phone--that way I don't have to look him up in the phonebook when I need to call him. The long and the short of that conversation was that we will, Lord willing, be working cattle next Wednesday morning! I look forward to getting those calves to market. We'll also worm the cows.

I think that's about it--oh, except for one very special packet that came in the mail today!! :) Thank-you, Missy! I enjoyed reading your letter and staring at faces grown older since last year. :) Some of those young 'uns I would be hard-pressed to recognize if I met them in the street....

On my way out to feed Snip this morning, I noticed that my single rooster out in the 'hospital' no longer had a cardboard box. Baffled, I went closer to find out what was wrong. Apparently, the box caught fire burning up the box, the heat lamp fixture, part of the cord, and part of the tarp! The shade was mostly melted (cheap alumiunm!). The part thta looked the best was the clamp. The plastic coating on the chicken wire is burned off and I think I'd better take some spray paint to that area to keep it from rusting. Ol' Singletary was just fine, he came over to peep at me while I stood there with hay and sweet feed in my arms.

After I came home from feeding the cows (and having to put Frances back in for the second time since Mama left), I ate breakfast and gathered my gear. I had to walk nearly the entire length of the heifer patch to fetch Snip. The stinker knew I was coming but just didn't pay me no nevermind until I was real close. I stood there about six feet away until he came to me. Then I shook the bridle out, draped the reins around my neck (so neither one of us steps on them), pulled out the chinstrap like normal and got that hooked over his ears. I usually let that sit like that for a few seconds while petting him as an encouragement to behave. Then I got the bit in my left hand and snugged it up against his teeth. When I felt him start nibbling, I got ahold of the top of the bridle and pulled gently. He backed a little, but within seconds the bit was in his mouth and then he got petted and praised while I buckled the leather curb strap and chin strap.

Snaping the lead rope into the ring on the bottom of his halter, I headed back up the pasture with him. He spent a good part of the stroll tickling me from the waist up with his lips. I figured I might as well let him do that so long as he didn't actually nip me--perhaps if I ignore it, he'll stop. Of course, it's pretty hard to ignore something that tickles that bad! :D

I saddled up and bounced into the saddle, strapped my .22 onto the horn and started the ride. I counted 41 cows and 7 calves--the remainder were probably just up in the bay head and along the creek on the 40 acres so I didn't see them. Back on the 40 acres I noticed tire marks with a brown line in the grass between them. I got off at one point to check if that was blood or oil. It was oil--or rather the result of oil. What I think happened was this person's tractor (I know it was a tractor because of a tire mark through a cow patty) was leaking oil, the oil was hot and therefore burned the grass. I followed it all the way to the gate that leaves into the orange grove and there was a puddle of oil in the leaves there. I'm guessing that who ever owns that land came on to do something. I know they mowed it at somepoint last fall.

I even did a little trotting with my feet out of the stirrups (but staged to slam back into them if need be!) Then I headed to the big open part of the north pasture by the pens to do some more serious trotting/loping work. I think we actually got up to a gallop today  (Snip's initive there...) Anyway, Snip behave himself very well--he could still use a little work on responding to 'whoa' [slow down, not stop, in my vocabulary], but he really didn't get out of hand today. I got comfortable enough at the lope that I let go of the saddle horn--I think my confidence is coming back--even though I haven't really ridden much over the last couple months. I was partly expecting Snip to buck today as he's been kind of crazy the last week goofing off in the pasture, so I was pleased that he didn't buck with me, nor did he do a lot of that head-shaking stuff that he seems to have picked up since I've been off since August. On the way back in, I rode completely with my feet out of the stirrups--this helps me to develop my leg muscles faster, but I think it also helps with feeling the horses' movements and how I ought to ride more correctly.

Oh, and I really think these hole ridden pants are ready for the trash--the top of my boot was sticking through the pant leg by the time I got done riding. I guess I'll wash them again and maybe we can use them for rags or something. [There's nothing wrong with them from the hips up--maybe I could cut the legs off and make a skirt? What'd ya think, seamstresses? :)]

After lunch and dishes (and watching Hawaii Five-O--I hadn't seen that episode before and it's good show), I secluded myself in my bedroom and recorded a stand-in narration for my documentary. Perhaps tomorrow I can put it into Premiere Pro (may do Soundbooth first) and get started with some real editing!

Sometime about four, I reminded Savannah that we needed to move the chicken coop today, so we headed out to do that. I grabbed my rooster out of the 'hospital' and headed for the other coop. I pitched him in and crawled in after him to take out the feeder (which was quite empty) and the water can--which was also pretty empty. We discovered today that it actually easier to move the coop with one person (me!) inside--it also makes it more convient for shifting the cardboard box around...

We got the coop moved and wieghted down, refilled the feeder and the water can, and I fed the chickens some scraps. These birds really aren't that afraid of me (I've purposely done a lot of handling them in order to keep them from being super skiddish); it feels rather funny when 6 week old chickens tromp across the toe of your rubber boot...

Savannah fed the cats and was just fixing to back the truck up to the barn so I could load some cow feed when I see a big white truck pulling a trailer with a tank on the back coming up the drive. It was Mr. S with my molassas! I jumped the electric wire and opened the big gap gate for him (there used to be a real gate there, but Snip yanked it out the first time he heard gunfire). Then Savannah and I loaded the feed--after I got the tailgate down. That thing sticks pretty bad on the right side sometimes.

We fed the cows and got done just about the same time Mr. S got done putting out the molassas--first he flipped the tank onto it's side to get the remaining water out it (I didn't get it all out when I siphoned it the other day) and then he rolled it off to the north some to get it out of the hole it has sat in for as long as I can remember.

I then fed Snip who seemed to be getting a little anxious about the whereabouts of his supper...

Then we had supper--it was a good one too...chicken, greenbeans, carrots, and watercress salad. Not sure I've ever had watercress before, but it was good, except for the fact that I was having difficulty getting into onto my fork and then staying there! I ended up eating the last of it with my fingers...but since I was by myself at the table by that point (I'm always last because I eat the most!), I guess it didn't really matter too much.

Ah...it was a good day!

For the third time...So, please, join me in continuing to live life the way I do...with many a laugh and a love of telling a tale in an interesting fashion. You will find much of this site to resemble the old one, but naturally, it will be structured a tad differently in places. I was thrilled to find that I could add a third free site to my Weebly account...I love this theme. :)

With that said, I have spent probably too much time on the computer today getting this ready. Of course, eating out after my chiropracter appointment this morning didn't make me feel very good for several hours. However, I managed to drive home (Savannah didn't really want to drive) without having a wreck even though I know I came real close to zoning out several times.

I timed my feeding routine last evening and found out that it takes me someplace between 15-30 minutes to feed Snip, Tommy-Cat and Shadow, and the chickens. Now add cows into that mix and it goes up to more like 45 minutes. I really didn't know it took that much time. Of course, if I have to take care of watering any of the animals that stretches the time out too.

I called Mr. Ricky this morning in regard to working cows in the [near] future, but neither he nor his wife were home, so I just left a message. I really need to get some of these big calves to market--and out of the yard! I don't know what we should do with 'Bad Child'--she's only 6 years old and throws a good calf, but she is a terrible fence breaker. Chasing her, hollering at her, electric wire, and BB's do not slow her down. Thing is, she knows she ought not be in the yard. I got to give her a good open-handed swat on the nose a couple of times this evening as she poked that large snoot of hers into the feed sack while I was dolling out pellets. The black bull butted the back of the truck once (rather uncharacteristic for him), but I didn't get jarred too bad, so I didn't really worry about it. I try to keep an eye out for Napolean Jr. (the white bull), because he's a bad 'un--he likes nothing better than to ram ol' Angus (who's bigger than he is) and then start that ridiculous noise of his. (I have no idea how to spell the sound bulls make when they are gloating or challenging one another--suffice to say, it's pretty funny sounding, but it can also get irritating or be disconcerning in the dark!) There is a good sized hollow in the left side of the pick-up from where he flung his behind into it while shoving the angus around--nearly pitching me out of the truck bed!

How's that for a beginning--more cow tales! :P