We have been off on our annual NASCAR trip to Las Vegas and arrived home last night. The wind literally blew us in! Wow! We were pulling home a portable corral for a friend, and it was an adventure keeping it on the road at times. We sent him a text at one point and said we had tried out the corral and rounded up a small herd and could he send a truck. When we got to Malta we could smell smoke and the radio said it was coming from a fire between Havre and Chinook. I saw an article online this morning that said it burned 5000 acres. Scary with those winds--I heard there were gusts to 75 mph! Glad I got my walk in early this morning because the wind is up again.
J was on cow duty while we were gone. I made sure to tell him that my calves, numbers 111 and 125 like their heads petted. I got a "oh they do, do they?" He humored me, but I'm pretty sure he didn't pet them. He informed me that I had some pests because their heads are in the buckets before you can get through the gate. Before we left we put our heifers that are due to calve in the pen with the calves. The calves had such a routine and were so orderly and the heifers have messed that all up! The calves are going to get moved as soon as we do some windbreak repair. They weren't quite as friendly as usual this morning--getting used to me again, I suppose--although one that I don't normally pet walked up to me as she was headed to feed and let me pet her head.
Since we were flying out of Billings I made an appointment with my back doctor there. The steroid shot I had in my back only lasted for about a week and a half and now I am having more pain. We agreed that I'm going to have to have surgery again. Timing is the only problem. He's on his way to Spain until April 1, and after that is not good for me. M doesn't seem too worried about me being out of commission because I was so much better so fast last time, but I don't think he remembers how I couldn't bend over or lift anything for 6 weeks. I won't be much help for awhile. I guess I'll just have to decide how long I want to suffer. The long hours of sitting while traveling are not good for me, so I can feel it today.
We had a fun trip with lots of friends and family--R, our niece, M's siblings and their spouses, and friends from far and near--21 of us altogether, although the only time we were all together was on the buses to and from the racetrack. We had a lot of laughs, ate too much, drank too much (some more than others) and thoroughly enjoyed the warm weather. M was so excited that his favorite driver (Dale, Jr.) led the first 70 laps that he said his heart was racing, and I think he teared up a little. Sadly, though, he didn't win.
We were glad that the race fit into R's schedule so well--he has spring break this week. I'm sure most young men don't want to hang out with their moms while in Vegas, but he was a good sport about it, and I am always happy to have any time with him.
I always feel like the Vegas trip is our last hurrah before all hell breaks loose since we'll be calving soon and could be in the field soon and then we're spraying and then haying and then it's harvest. So, we'd better get rested up because we have lots of work to do!
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