I was already awake at 6:15 when Savannah pushed open my door. I hadn't realized that I'd gone back to sleep after waking up at 4:30...
I rolled out of bed, made my coffee and read my Bible (I think last time we worked cows I didn't get my Scripture read). Then I crawled into my clothes and meandered out to feed the animals and saddle Snip. I thought for a minute I was going to have to go get him, but I guess he heard me singing (I figured he'd hear me better if I was belting out Irish and Folk songs than if I tried to keep whistling at him) and realized that I had "FOOD!!", so he came running up.
I rode him into the yard, tied him to the tree, and went into to fix my own breakfast. Once I finished that, I trotted out to un-wire a couple gates in the pens. I forgot to do that Saturday. I also used that as an excuse to check how wet the ground was and try to choose the best route for Tommy's truck--the only 4x4 out of the three we usually use.
Tommy and Ricky arrived about the time I was quarter of the way back. I trotted into the yard and said my how-de-do's and minutes later was on the way back to the pasture. It took a few minutes to get the girls moving toward the pens, but once they did, they did okay--though all told today, they were a little more boogerish than any other time I've worked them with the W brothers.
I tied Snip in the loading chute--since that wasn't going to be used for a while and it was in the shade (Ricky's suggestion--it worked great!) Ricky put me on the hopper gate this time. Savannah was on the beef gate (I'm afraid she had to work almost too hard today!) Tommy was our worming man again (as usual), and Ricky had the job of all the footwork of moving cows. I did a little of that too, but not over much--though it seems like I climbed that fence an awful lot!
I got a badly jammed thumb trying to help back Moon-Bat up the chute to put her in one of the holding pens. (She got by the beef gate.) I'm not exactly sure what happened but I do know that that red stick whamed me a good one and that my thumb joint still hurts. I know I didn't break it because if I had, I would have cried instead of just thinking about it, and besides, I could (and still can) bend it without any extra pain. Also, it didn't really swell up.
Anyway, we worked the cows through, leaving all the calves (including the heifers I weaned earlier this year--they need branding and ear-marking) and the two cows we were going to sell. Then we worked through the calves. I cut out all but 5 or 6, I can't remember exactly.
After that, we parted out the heifers--I decided to sell the lighter red one because she is kind of spooky. That leaves me with four: "Big Red", "August", "Whitey", and "Blondie"...nothing overly crazy on the names there. Most of the cows don't have names, but it seems like with me, if I'm around critters (other than chickens), they end up with names because I constantly talk to them.
Parting done, we headed back to the house. Tommy and Ricky went to see if Mr. Al's folks were done with the trailer (we always borrow his trailer) and I went in and watched most of Ironside before they returned. I didn't get lunch in between either.
We loaded the animals and went to market. Seems like everybody and his kin was there today. I don't think I've ever seen that many trailers there! (Maybe because we usually go Wednesday?) We've never been so low on the selling list either! Lot number 77! Whee! I think the lowest I ever remember was 50-something.
We got back, dropped off Mr. Al's trailer and truck (nice truck, by the way), and Tommy and Ricky brought me home. As soon as I waved them off, I sat down here and ate my lunch. (Okay, so 'ate' is a little mild. I scarfed down my lunch like a ravenous hound! I'm glad nobody could see me as I chowed down and read the lastest Proverbs Perspective.)
Once I was done eating (speaking of which, I think I could stand to dig something else up to eat), I went back out and hopped on Snip and went and opened all the gates. Since it is so wet, and I'm not going to be here, I decided that I would go ahead and take the cows out of their summer rotation schedule. That also means Daddy won't have that one extra thing to do on his list...
Then I unsaddled Snip (who by the way behaved himself pretty decently today--he didn't offer to buck with me--which I greatly appreciate!) By the time I had all the tack (except for the saddle) gathered up, he was happily rolling about, scratching his back in the grass.
I came in, showered, washed the dishes, and made my coffee and then sat down here to write this. I'll have to shove off and pick up the check sometime in this upcoming hour, unless Daddy does it--which since he's out that way anyhow...well...I might just call him and see if he'll pick it up (if they've gotten through to #77 yet).
Now, if y'all will excuse me, this cowgirl with a bum thumb is going to go raid the refridgerator...
I rolled out of bed, made my coffee and read my Bible (I think last time we worked cows I didn't get my Scripture read). Then I crawled into my clothes and meandered out to feed the animals and saddle Snip. I thought for a minute I was going to have to go get him, but I guess he heard me singing (I figured he'd hear me better if I was belting out Irish and Folk songs than if I tried to keep whistling at him) and realized that I had "FOOD!!", so he came running up.
I rode him into the yard, tied him to the tree, and went into to fix my own breakfast. Once I finished that, I trotted out to un-wire a couple gates in the pens. I forgot to do that Saturday. I also used that as an excuse to check how wet the ground was and try to choose the best route for Tommy's truck--the only 4x4 out of the three we usually use.
Tommy and Ricky arrived about the time I was quarter of the way back. I trotted into the yard and said my how-de-do's and minutes later was on the way back to the pasture. It took a few minutes to get the girls moving toward the pens, but once they did, they did okay--though all told today, they were a little more boogerish than any other time I've worked them with the W brothers.
I tied Snip in the loading chute--since that wasn't going to be used for a while and it was in the shade (Ricky's suggestion--it worked great!) Ricky put me on the hopper gate this time. Savannah was on the beef gate (I'm afraid she had to work almost too hard today!) Tommy was our worming man again (as usual), and Ricky had the job of all the footwork of moving cows. I did a little of that too, but not over much--though it seems like I climbed that fence an awful lot!
I got a badly jammed thumb trying to help back Moon-Bat up the chute to put her in one of the holding pens. (She got by the beef gate.) I'm not exactly sure what happened but I do know that that red stick whamed me a good one and that my thumb joint still hurts. I know I didn't break it because if I had, I would have cried instead of just thinking about it, and besides, I could (and still can) bend it without any extra pain. Also, it didn't really swell up.
Anyway, we worked the cows through, leaving all the calves (including the heifers I weaned earlier this year--they need branding and ear-marking) and the two cows we were going to sell. Then we worked through the calves. I cut out all but 5 or 6, I can't remember exactly.
After that, we parted out the heifers--I decided to sell the lighter red one because she is kind of spooky. That leaves me with four: "Big Red", "August", "Whitey", and "Blondie"...nothing overly crazy on the names there. Most of the cows don't have names, but it seems like with me, if I'm around critters (other than chickens), they end up with names because I constantly talk to them.
Parting done, we headed back to the house. Tommy and Ricky went to see if Mr. Al's folks were done with the trailer (we always borrow his trailer) and I went in and watched most of Ironside before they returned. I didn't get lunch in between either.
We loaded the animals and went to market. Seems like everybody and his kin was there today. I don't think I've ever seen that many trailers there! (Maybe because we usually go Wednesday?) We've never been so low on the selling list either! Lot number 77! Whee! I think the lowest I ever remember was 50-something.
We got back, dropped off Mr. Al's trailer and truck (nice truck, by the way), and Tommy and Ricky brought me home. As soon as I waved them off, I sat down here and ate my lunch. (Okay, so 'ate' is a little mild. I scarfed down my lunch like a ravenous hound! I'm glad nobody could see me as I chowed down and read the lastest Proverbs Perspective.)
Once I was done eating (speaking of which, I think I could stand to dig something else up to eat), I went back out and hopped on Snip and went and opened all the gates. Since it is so wet, and I'm not going to be here, I decided that I would go ahead and take the cows out of their summer rotation schedule. That also means Daddy won't have that one extra thing to do on his list...
Then I unsaddled Snip (who by the way behaved himself pretty decently today--he didn't offer to buck with me--which I greatly appreciate!) By the time I had all the tack (except for the saddle) gathered up, he was happily rolling about, scratching his back in the grass.
I came in, showered, washed the dishes, and made my coffee and then sat down here to write this. I'll have to shove off and pick up the check sometime in this upcoming hour, unless Daddy does it--which since he's out that way anyhow...well...I might just call him and see if he'll pick it up (if they've gotten through to #77 yet).
Now, if y'all will excuse me, this cowgirl with a bum thumb is going to go raid the refridgerator...
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