Like most Saturday's it was busy...but I still found time to watch Gunsmoke with Granddaddy. What a hilarious episode...silly, really.

Anyway, I started the day by going to the feedstores. When I got to Bryan's Jose was on the forklift getting hay for someone else, but Dave knew what I wanted. :) He signaled Jose that I wanted a roll of cow hay by first getting his attention than putting his fingers up to the top of his head like horns! It kind of amused me.

At Smith's they were really busy! I have never been in there before when they were that kind of busy. Even though they were busy, three of the guys still loaded my truck--Drummer Dude, Redneck 1 and Redneck 3 (who's name I actually found out last week--but I'm going to keep calling him Redneck 3...it was funny, I came home and said to Savannah, "Redneck 3 has a name!")

After lunch and watching The Rebel, I vaccumed the floor. It needed it, particularly since I missed last week--because we weren't home. Of course, I also washed the dishes... :D

I spent a chunk of the afternoon working on the same AfterEffects project I had been working on a couple of days ago--I had to redo it first because of the footage and then again because of the size--I didn't realize my composition settings were different than my Premiere Pro project settings.

I also got a heel turned on my next pair of socks. I like turning heels you know.

Sorry this is so short, but I kind of need to scram. Savannah is ready for prayers.

See ya later!!

Greetings, O most esteemed Readers! I hope your day was as full of enjoyment as was mine! It's rather funny how many great memories one can make while working...

I rolled out of bed at five til 7--it was still dark outside. A short time later, I was cooking Granddaddy's breakfast. My one hour to get ready and feed the animals disappeared way too quickly. As I was rushing out the door to dash across the creek to feed my cows, I asked Savannah to cook my eggs for me and toss them in the oven (to stay warm, of course). As I passed Mr. Ricky's house, I saw both his and Mr. Tommy's trucks sitting in front of the garage. On my way back, I saw they were gone--so I knew they were already at Granddaddy's. I roared up the driveway (okay, so the Saturn doesn't exactly 'roar'), jumped out, said in essence, 'Howdy! How'ya doin', I haven't eaten my breakfast yet...I hope Savannah got it done...." *pant, pant*

Well, they laughed and told me to slow down and eat my breakfast. So, I dashed in (no, I didn't really slow down) and Savannah was just finishing my eggs. I cut myself a hunk of cheese and went back outside. I invited the men in, but they said, "Naw..." so I stood out there and ate my eggs...and got razzed about ruining a perfectly good breakfast with cheese! Neither one of them like it. Savannah came out and soon was getting the story on how we got our nicknames: "Little House" and "Rooster". I had forgotten exactly why they call me Rooster, but I got the story again...apparently, I remind them of the 'little lady out of Rooster Cogburn (or is it True Grit--I did a little looking and I suspect that's what it is). I've seen Rooster Cogburn and the Lady, which is the sequel to Rooster Cogburn, but not Rooster Cogburn (or True Grit), so I don't know who they are talking about. Anyhow, I find it funny that I got the Duke's name! :) No problems on my end--I'm a huge John Wayne fan!

Anyhow, as soon as I was done scarfing down my eggs (and cheese), we 'hit the trail'-Ha! The W. brother's in their respective trucks, Savannah driving ours, and me in the back--the ol' gate man you know. I hopped in with Tommy once everybody was through the gate. It took a couple of minutes to push the cows into the pens...there were three old slow ones in the back that we had to push up. Reaching the pens, I jumped out and ran and closed the gate. Mr. Ricky got to teasing me a bit later about wearing him out just watching me...I'm pretty fond of these guys--they constantly crack me up!

We started by cutting all the calves out. I pushed them from one pen into the outer hopper, then into the small hopper. Mr. Ricky worked the hopper gate, Savannah the beef gate, and Tommy wormed them and then let the cows out through the squeeze chute. Savannah was going to count them, but she said she lost count at 16. Mr. Tommy said, "All you have to do is count all the legs then divide by four!" Did I mention that these guys are hilarious?

It didn't take too long to get the cows out. After that we started parting calves: 'beef' (bull calves), 'cow' (heifer calves), and 'let 'em out!' I worked the hopper gate for the first time ever. Mr. Ricky told me to get up there since I knew which ones I wanted--so I did. We ended up with 10 bull calves, 5 heifer calves (weaners!), and 2 'let 'em out!'s--both heifers, just in case you are interested...

Leaving the calves standing, the brothers went to fetch Mr. C's trailer. Savannah and I took care of opening up the gates. It seems like I did something else while they were gone--but I can't remember what it was.

Mr. Ricky got the trailer backed up perfect the first try this time...it's a tad difficult since the trailer is so long and the area there is to work in is rather small there. We loaded the bull calves and then wormed the heifer calves. I worked the hopper for that too. Mr. Tommy stood 'hiding' behind a post and when they would come around the corner, he'd shoot them with the wormer. The smallest heifer, a red one, got kinda wild like and got her head stuck through the gate and pulled out the post it was attached to. When she got her head free, Mr. Ricky held onto her tail til Tommy got her wormed. I would have helped there, but I thought I might actually be more of a hinderance than I help so I just stayed back--maybe rightly, maybe wrongly--I'm not sure.

Then--'To Market, to market, to sell a fat calf...(or ten)". We were seller #41. I 'helped' unload them. I wasn't much help I'm afraid, but at least I tried. When I went back to pick up the check at almost 5 (the office closes at 5), the auction was still going on. I cannot understand auctioneers...

On the way home, we went down a road I'd never been down (that's not exactly true--I had just never been on that part of the road!) and stopped at a little tiny convience like store. Tommy and I went in. He got himself and his brother a coke, and a can of 'baccy. I bought Savannah and I some water.

Ricky dropped us and Tommy off at his place so Tommy could take us on home in his truck while Ricky set up to work their cows. I offered to help and after exchaning cellphone numbers, it was agreed. We went home for a quick lunch. When the phone rang announcing that they were ready, we loaded into the truck and headed off around the corner.

That's nice little set up they have--definitely in better shape than what we have. :) Tommy worked the 'beef' and 'cow' gates with his feet mainly, sitting on a cross beam over the chute. I got to work the hopper gate and really only made one mistake--I didn't move fast enough (Tommy got it all sorted out at the other end). Part of the reason being I'm a bit short. Once I crawled up higher on the fence, things went smoother. They ended up with 8 steers for market.

Savannah and I then headed into town for a roll of hay for the heifers. Jose probably knew what I wanted when I pulled in because he was pointed in the right direction when he asked me what he could do to help. :D

After unloading the hay, we moved the hen coop. That was rather time consuming, though not very hard, because of the distance we had to take it. I did get a good leg work out, walking bent double with my knees bent a little. At one point, I looked out and said, "Savannah, we have a chicken out!" I've been handling them enough that they aren't crazy spooky, so Savannah didn't have much problem catching her and slipping her back inside to me.

Before I moved the rooster coop, I went ahead and aired up the tires on the pick-up so I didn't have to move it again later. They were all down about half. I called Daddy to find out how much pressure they needed, and he told me and also how to read the tire. I had looked already, but missed it. Guess I didn't look hard enough...

I then moved the rooster coop...before I did that though, while taking the 'stuff' out of the coop, I noticed one of the bird's right leg is turned practically backwards from the knee! I picked him up and felt the leg, I even tried turning it (gently, of course!) It didn't really seem like it was bothering him, other than the fact that he was gimping pretty seriously. I called Mom, but Daddy answered, and anyway, the general consensus was, "Well, just leave him be...he'll butcher just as well with the crooked leg--so long as he makes it." Quite honestly, he seemed totally normal except for that creepy leg. I'm really not too worried about him. The funny part was, while I was on the phone, I had one of the roosters fly up and get his claws into my braid...he ended up sitting on the back of my neck. Mom was like, "Get that dirty bird off of you!" I was just laughing because it kind of tickled. It really tickled when he walked down my backbone when I leaned over...

From there I went out to feed the heifers and double check their water trough. It was empty again, so I got my hands into it and scraped the mud and leaves and other plant matter out and sure enough--the drain hole (there are bathtubs all over this place) didn't have a plug of any sort. So, I headed back towards the house and I found something in one of the scrap piles that I thought might work. I took it into the house and tested it in our bathtub and it worked! I dashed out and under the electric wire around the runway, over the pen fencing, and put the thing into the tub (which I had been filling with water this whole time). I think it is going to hold.

From there I rushed back to the house, grabbed my wallet, and out to the Saturn...I had to go get the check before the office closed. I was afraid I was going to be late, so I drove like a (safe) mad-woman and got there less than 10 minutes to closing time (there really wasn't much traffic on the road). I drove a little more slowly on the way home. :)

When I got home, I asked Savannah to back the Caddy out to the barn and I'd air up the tires--well, she came out and started to get into the truck. From the barn, I hollered, "Caddy!" Then seeing she was confused (poor darlin' is so tired!), I yelled, "It's okay, we'll go ahead and feed the cows. Come on!" I was planning on feeding the cows anyway, so it worked out fine. It really just amused me--"Why is she getting in the truck? I wanted the Cadillac!"

Anyway, when we finished feeding the cows, she brought the Cadillac out and while I aired up the tires, she checked the fluids. I mananged to sneak the thing back into the garage, before feeding Snip and the cats. I didn't need to feed or water the chickens since I'd already done that.

I came in to find supper ready...and a good one too. After supper, I washed three meals worth of dishes (which included drying three rack fulls!) Good thing I don't mind washing dishes... ;P

What a grand ol' day! Very busy, very humourous in some spots (I cannot help howling at Ricky and Tommy--and they like it that way), and very satifying.

Did you know I like to work cows?

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.

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.

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