Getting Ready.....

Yes, we're getting ready....for calving and for field work.  Yesterday was a busy day getting animals moved.  We took my (our) heifer calves down to Richland to get them out of the way while we're calving.  That took two trips with animals and one trip with feeders and buckets of feed.  With the weather so nice the cows have begun roaming so we ran around to make sure all the appropriate gates were closed.  While doing that we found some fence that needed to be fixed so worked on that some.  Then we got sidetracked picking up net wrap from the bales where we had fed during the winter.  From there we went to check the fence around the bull pasture and made a few minor repairs.  Then we had to move the bulls but had to pour them with insecticide for lice and flies first.  I was not happy that we had to work with the bulls, but I was told "there will be no whining".  As we were getting ready to do that, M remembered that we needed to brand one of the bulls so we got that done. 

We had a minor mishap when the last bull managed to open a sliding gate and walk out of the barn.  So we had to get him back in the corral and back around into the barn again to run him through the chute.  That went a lot more smoothly than I thought it would.  They were all very calm and cooperative while in the barn and through the chute, but once we were done with them a couple of them decided to fight.  We had a heck of a time getting them run out of the corral, and when they finally headed out it was in the wrong direction.  Two headed through and around the hay yard and we had quite the rodeo getting them headed in the right direction.  Good thing they got tired fast!

Today was another busy day tearing out a fence.  Last fall we had the neighbor's fencer build a mile of fence so we could tear out about three miles.  M took out a stretch last fall and we got started on another stretch today.  My job was to take all the fence clips off and M rolled up the wire.   M had the tougher job, but we're both exhausted.  Tonight he informed me that we could have a lot more days like this.  That fence has probably been there since the 1950's so it will be strange to have it gone.  We'll be able to farm across that fence line now so that will be nice.

J has been busy getting his drill ready and working on a truck so he can get it out of the shop.  He needs to get his tractor in to install monitors, etc.  He's getting a bit antsy which is typical for this time of year.  We're never quite as prepared for spring's work as we wish we were.

M is moving slowly tonight and tomorrow is race day so maybe I'll get a little time to rest and catch up at home.