Thursday, June 30, 2011
Sum-sum-summer Time
It finally feels like summer here with temps to 90 degrees and a summer thunderstorm. My sister arrived yesterday from Arizona for the all-school reunion and centennial celebration for the town of Opheim. We had come back to my house from our Mom's and saw some storm clouds building. We made supper and didn't think much about it until the wind came up and it started to rain. I told my sister that I should probably check the weather service website for the radar. I did and found out that we were in a tornado warning area. So, off to the basement we went, margaritas in hand. We laughed, tho, when we realized we were like our mother and had to clean up the kitchen first. God forbid the kitchen be messy if it was going to be hit by a tornado! Thank goodness it blew by quickly with a minimum of rain and no damage. Some of our property in Richland didn't fare so well, however. J saw one of our cattle trailers being nearly tipped over by the wind and a combine header was flipped over and the pole went through the side of C's grain trailer. We heard there was baseball size hail to the southwest of here. We don't need that! During the storm M was in Scobey with his crop insurance agent buying hail insurance. With the weird weather we've had all year it's probably a good bet that we'll get some freak storm. Keeping our fingers crossed that that doesn't happen. Welcome to summer :)
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Not Really My Day
Today was rodeo day which is a big deal since it's really the only big event that happens in Opheim. I wasn't sure M and J would take the day off to go, but they did. I was determined to finish (start?) the mowing at my Mom's since R hasn't had time and I needed to get my mower back home. I started mowing my yard with my old push mower that M finally got running but it died again. My yard looks kind of funny right now.
So, anyway, I decided that I had to mow today so the plan was to get up early and mow before going to the rodeo. First, we didn't get up as early as we should have and M didn't get my breakfast ready fast enough (Sunday is pancake day). Then I had to find a gas jug in Richland and fill it up before I headed to Mom's. When I got there I discovered that the gas jug had fallen over and leaked gas all over the box of my pickup--yuck! Then I had to get the mower off the trailer. I had watched R load and unload it and knew it wasn't easy because the ramps are barely wide enough for the mower. I started it up and made an attempt to back it off but panicked and decided I would just put it in neutral and push it off. Easier said that done since then I had no steering. I did manage to get it off, but it wasn't pretty.
Then I had to fill it with gas. I wish someone would show me that it IS possible to pour gas out of those jugs without spilling it everywhere. I can't manage to do it.
Finally, ready to mow--after I go wash some gas off my hands. The grass was too tall and too thick so I had to go slow and plugged up the mower a couple of times, but the first yard was fairly uneventful. Then I got outside of the yard where there was a barbed wire gate propped up against the fence. I knew it was there but thought I was past it so moved in to cut closer to the fence and caught the gate. A person can't shut down fast enough when that happens! I went to the house to look for pliers so I could start cutting wire. My mom had heard the noise and figured I had trouble. I started trying to cut wire but the pliers weren't very effective. I called M to tell him that I might need his help and all he said was "I guess we'll miss the parade." Uh, big deal. My brother happened to call Mom to see if she needed a ride to town, and she told him I had trouble. He told her that I could call him if I needed help. Didn't take long for me to dial that number and tell him I needed wire cutters. He was there in a flash with wire cutters in hand. We lifted up the mower and propped it up and proceeded to get the wire out without too much trouble. He was my hero for the day. I called M and told him not to worry about me, he could go to his damn parade! He will, however, have to rebuild that gate although it's not used much so maybe not.
So, I mowed and mowed and mowed and almost caught another gate. The way my day was going I was surprised that I saw it in time. I finally finished about 2:00, an hour late for the rodeo. M said he would come out and help me load the mower and pull the trailer home. I knew how that would go if he was in the beer garden all afternoon so I decided to try to load it myself. I got it loaded with no problem, hooked up the trailer and off I went to the rodeo.
M got tied up in the beer garden visiting with one of our neighbors who just always talks a line of crap. I always ask M why he listens to his BS. I've heard it said that you know he's lying when his lips are moving. It started to cloud up and there were a few spits of rain so I decided I'd better get out of there in case it rained enough that I couldn't get home with the mower and trailer. Good excuse for me to get out of there anyway. My sister is coming to stay on Wednesday so I want to get my house and yard work done before then.
Now it's time for a shower and a margarita!
 | ||||
| And there I was when the mower died.... |
Then I had to fill it with gas. I wish someone would show me that it IS possible to pour gas out of those jugs without spilling it everywhere. I can't manage to do it.
Finally, ready to mow--after I go wash some gas off my hands. The grass was too tall and too thick so I had to go slow and plugged up the mower a couple of times, but the first yard was fairly uneventful. Then I got outside of the yard where there was a barbed wire gate propped up against the fence. I knew it was there but thought I was past it so moved in to cut closer to the fence and caught the gate. A person can't shut down fast enough when that happens! I went to the house to look for pliers so I could start cutting wire. My mom had heard the noise and figured I had trouble. I started trying to cut wire but the pliers weren't very effective. I called M to tell him that I might need his help and all he said was "I guess we'll miss the parade." Uh, big deal. My brother happened to call Mom to see if she needed a ride to town, and she told him I had trouble. He told her that I could call him if I needed help. Didn't take long for me to dial that number and tell him I needed wire cutters. He was there in a flash with wire cutters in hand. We lifted up the mower and propped it up and proceeded to get the wire out without too much trouble. He was my hero for the day. I called M and told him not to worry about me, he could go to his damn parade! He will, however, have to rebuild that gate although it's not used much so maybe not.
So, I mowed and mowed and mowed and almost caught another gate. The way my day was going I was surprised that I saw it in time. I finally finished about 2:00, an hour late for the rodeo. M said he would come out and help me load the mower and pull the trailer home. I knew how that would go if he was in the beer garden all afternoon so I decided to try to load it myself. I got it loaded with no problem, hooked up the trailer and off I went to the rodeo.
M got tied up in the beer garden visiting with one of our neighbors who just always talks a line of crap. I always ask M why he listens to his BS. I've heard it said that you know he's lying when his lips are moving. It started to cloud up and there were a few spits of rain so I decided I'd better get out of there in case it rained enough that I couldn't get home with the mower and trailer. Good excuse for me to get out of there anyway. My sister is coming to stay on Wednesday so I want to get my house and yard work done before then.
Now it's time for a shower and a margarita!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Is it a Bad Sign When There are Ducks in the Wheat Field?
That's the question I had to ask this evening as we were taking the tractor to pull out the stuck sprayer and there was water running down the edge of the field. I missed out on all the fun today as I had a day off the farm with my mom to go to the doctor and my chiropractor. It was such a beautiful day that I would have loved to have been outside all day. I did get a walk in this morning. I went to check some cows but they were hiding behind the hills, and I didn't have time to chase them down. At least they weren't out of the pasture on the road or anything.
This evening R called to see if I would come get his dad so I headed to Richland. When I got there, M said, "this might take a little longer than I thought." He had just pulled out R who got stuck with the roller. He saw water and felt the tractor start to sink and hit the brakes but when he did that the front of the tractor fell into the ground. They had to unhook the roller and pull it back and then hook onto the tractor and pull it backwards. About the time I got to town, J called because he had the sprayer stuck. C is probably happy that it was J who first got it stuck with the new tires. M said I might as well ride along. I didn't think that was a very good idea because I get sick to my stomach watching the process of getting it unstuck and the tracks left in the field. They broke a clevis and then a chain but eventually got it out and left a crevasse behind it. Some of that will just not get sprayed. The wheat crop there is incredible. Hopefully, it will dry up and we'll get to harvest it. M commented that the lentils nearby are taller now than they were at harvest time back in 2006. Tall lentils are a very good thing since they aren't much fun to cut when they are four inches high.
There is rain in the forecast again for tomorrow night so they are hoping to have another good day tomorrow and get all they can sprayed and rolled. I was happy today that I actually left home and got back on a dry road. I wish the county road crew would get out here because the road might not get any drier and it really needs work!
This evening R called to see if I would come get his dad so I headed to Richland. When I got there, M said, "this might take a little longer than I thought." He had just pulled out R who got stuck with the roller. He saw water and felt the tractor start to sink and hit the brakes but when he did that the front of the tractor fell into the ground. They had to unhook the roller and pull it back and then hook onto the tractor and pull it backwards. About the time I got to town, J called because he had the sprayer stuck. C is probably happy that it was J who first got it stuck with the new tires. M said I might as well ride along. I didn't think that was a very good idea because I get sick to my stomach watching the process of getting it unstuck and the tracks left in the field. They broke a clevis and then a chain but eventually got it out and left a crevasse behind it. Some of that will just not get sprayed. The wheat crop there is incredible. Hopefully, it will dry up and we'll get to harvest it. M commented that the lentils nearby are taller now than they were at harvest time back in 2006. Tall lentils are a very good thing since they aren't much fun to cut when they are four inches high.
There is rain in the forecast again for tomorrow night so they are hoping to have another good day tomorrow and get all they can sprayed and rolled. I was happy today that I actually left home and got back on a dry road. I wish the county road crew would get out here because the road might not get any drier and it really needs work!
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Happy Father's Day
In honor of Father's Day we tested bulls today. The vet had scheduled for Friday but we had a monsoon so he cancelled and rescheduled. J and K came out intending to pull out a stuck tractor and got enlisted to help us with the bulls since R was MIA or maybe AWOL. They brought our new grandbaby, a Morkie named Piper. She is very cute and very sweet.
I had never seen the bull testing done before, and it was interesting but didn't look like much fun for anyone, bull or vet. Of course, we had to have another rain shower so we are dealing with more mud. At least when the storm passes by we end up with a beautiful day, and this afternoon was one of those.
Now we are on our way to have supper out with M's parents, J and K.
I had never seen the bull testing done before, and it was interesting but didn't look like much fun for anyone, bull or vet. Of course, we had to have another rain shower so we are dealing with more mud. At least when the storm passes by we end up with a beautiful day, and this afternoon was one of those.
Now we are on our way to have supper out with M's parents, J and K.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Happy Anniversary
It was a beautiful summer day 28 years ago that I married my best friend. We've been through a lot together, most of it good. I love spending time with him, and he makes me laugh every single day. I'm so lucky that he's pretty much always in good humor, and if he's not I can easily get him out of his funk. I complain sometimes that he works too hard, but I know I could never live with a deadbeat!
And, today to celebrate our anniversary he planned something special. We moved cows! We had another crappy, rainy day yesterday but today the sun was out and the wind was howling so things dried up a bit. As we left the house I noticed rain clouds in the west. I thought maybe we could get the job done before we got rained on, but no, we got rained on. Not much, thank goodness, and when the storm passed over the wind went down and it was just a beautiful day to be outdoors. We rounded up and got them out the gate and M was going to go close one gate and open another. I told him to wait until we were sure they were headed in the right direction. Good thing! They headed up one coulee, around a hill and right back to where they had come from. It didn't take too much effort to get them turned around again and from there they went off across the hills. They knew where they were going. We only have one bunch left to move now.
Yesterday the vet was supposed to come to test bulls but that didn't happen because of the heavy rain. I was at work and M came to town in the afternoon and got some groceries. There has been some interest in oil leasing so he had planned to talk to one of the leasing agents but then decided he might learn just as much if he went down to the bar and talked with friends and neighbors. He said he learned A LOT during the afternoon and evening. I went down there after work because I didn't want to head home and face our road by myself. I left my pickup in Richland and we rode home together. I have to say the road isn't getting any better. I really hope the county gets to work on it soon before it is completely impassable.
Now my wonderful hubby is grilling burgers and corn on the cob. Yes, he cooks, too. Gotta love him!
And, today to celebrate our anniversary he planned something special. We moved cows! We had another crappy, rainy day yesterday but today the sun was out and the wind was howling so things dried up a bit. As we left the house I noticed rain clouds in the west. I thought maybe we could get the job done before we got rained on, but no, we got rained on. Not much, thank goodness, and when the storm passed over the wind went down and it was just a beautiful day to be outdoors. We rounded up and got them out the gate and M was going to go close one gate and open another. I told him to wait until we were sure they were headed in the right direction. Good thing! They headed up one coulee, around a hill and right back to where they had come from. It didn't take too much effort to get them turned around again and from there they went off across the hills. They knew where they were going. We only have one bunch left to move now.
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| Pete and a steer having a stare down |
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| My heifer, Lacey |
Now my wonderful hubby is grilling burgers and corn on the cob. Yes, he cooks, too. Gotta love him!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Prairie Scents
My sister, who is now a "city girl", once said that she missed the smell of the great outdoors at home, the pastures we used to roam. I think of that and now pay more attention. First thing this morning we went to check fence in a pasture in the middle of nowhere, and I breathed it all in, the mint and the sage, the grass and the wildflowers. I love it up there where the only signs of civilization to be seen are some fences. In some spots you can look in all directions and see nothing but hills of grass and maybe an occasional cow. It's a banner year for wild sweet peas and hillsides are covered with them. The bluebells aren't really blue this year, they are more of a deep purple. The grass is thick and lush. The cows are going to love it when they get up there.
M told me yesterday that he wanted me to go up there today and check the fence. He's been trying to roll peas, but we had a little shower this morning so it was too wet to do that. By the time I got up this morning he was ready to go so I grabbed a banana, a go-cup of tea and off we went on the 4-wheelers. When we got to the pasture he went one way and I went the other and we met in the middle. Well, not exactly. He had a lot more repair work to do than I did so he was a little slower. Plus, he had the stretcher and splicer so I couldn't fix the spots I found.
When we got back to the farm John was coming in with another load of bulls so we visited with him a bit. Then I went to check the pumps at the in-law's house while M was getting fuel for his tractor. The pump in the sewer wasn't working so we took it out and cleaned it up and determined that it was fried. We moved one of the pumps from the house out there until we could find another pump. M went to his tractor to roll and I went home to make his lunch. On my way back from delivering lunch I checked the well at the house and it was full almost to the top so I called M to let him know. He sent me to Richland to get another pump so I brought it back and hooked it up. By that time he was moving through the yard and checked out the situation. The pump doesn't have a float so I let it pump while I walked a mile or so to get M's pickup.
I went home and finished my mowing and about three hours later went back to pump again. The in-laws are staying in Scobey this week so no one is there to keep an eye on things.
Yesterday we got two more loads of cows and calves to Opheim. John had brought bulls up and had an empty trailer going back so we loaded up some cows and he took some to pasture and some to the sale barn for us on his way home. That was a big help! As soon as we were done with that R went rolling west of Opheim and M came home and relieved C on the roller here.
It was a beautiful day today and everyone was busy. R was rolling, C was changing the wheels on the sprayer in the hope that he would be stuck less often, and J was trying to do some more seeding. He finally got his tractor and drill stuck so we may have to call it a year. He was calling a friend who was close by to pull him out, but neither M nor I want to call and find out how that went!
Now I just need to make supper, fold laundry, vacuum and pay some bills before I go to bed. I finally go to work tomorrow after several weeks off, and it may be a relief. The plan is to test and brand bulls tomorrow. I always seem to miss that fun activity.
Right now I need to go check for ticks......
M told me yesterday that he wanted me to go up there today and check the fence. He's been trying to roll peas, but we had a little shower this morning so it was too wet to do that. By the time I got up this morning he was ready to go so I grabbed a banana, a go-cup of tea and off we went on the 4-wheelers. When we got to the pasture he went one way and I went the other and we met in the middle. Well, not exactly. He had a lot more repair work to do than I did so he was a little slower. Plus, he had the stretcher and splicer so I couldn't fix the spots I found.
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| Prairie Smoke |
I went home and finished my mowing and about three hours later went back to pump again. The in-laws are staying in Scobey this week so no one is there to keep an eye on things.
Yesterday we got two more loads of cows and calves to Opheim. John had brought bulls up and had an empty trailer going back so we loaded up some cows and he took some to pasture and some to the sale barn for us on his way home. That was a big help! As soon as we were done with that R went rolling west of Opheim and M came home and relieved C on the roller here.
It was a beautiful day today and everyone was busy. R was rolling, C was changing the wheels on the sprayer in the hope that he would be stuck less often, and J was trying to do some more seeding. He finally got his tractor and drill stuck so we may have to call it a year. He was calling a friend who was close by to pull him out, but neither M nor I want to call and find out how that went!
Now I just need to make supper, fold laundry, vacuum and pay some bills before I go to bed. I finally go to work tomorrow after several weeks off, and it may be a relief. The plan is to test and brand bulls tomorrow. I always seem to miss that fun activity.
Right now I need to go check for ticks......
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Whatever Can Go Wrong....
I was just getting sheets out of the washer to hang on the line when M came to get me to work cows. He decided we needed to take advantage of the semi-nice day and get one group of cows sorted and moved. Our winter is coming back to haunt us by continuing to cause us extra work. Normally, we can sort as the cows calve but this year we had nowhere to go with them so ended up with just a big mess. That meant we had to get a bunch in, sort pairs and haul them to various pastures.
We had rain overnight so the road was still a muddy mess when M picked me up and hooked onto the stock trailer. We had two miles to go from our house to the barn, and it wasn't a lot of fun. It was about 11 when we started sorting. The corral is sloppy so we tried to not have to run everything in there. We tried to just run pairs into the corral out of the holding area. It wasn't the most efficient system and M got one 4-wheeler stuck in a ditch. It isn't an irrigation ditch but looks like one this year! We did manage to get a trailer load together that way and took them up to a pasture north of our house. R went first with the calves and M had the cows but got stuck trying to turn around in the yard so we had to get a tractor out to pull the pickup and trailer through.
M decided we had no choice but to run all the rest of the bunch into the corral and sort into the barn. After much yelling and cursing we had another load ready, this one to go to Opheim. It wasn't raining here when we left but the clouds looked ominous to the west. Just before we got to Opheim we ran into rain and by the time we got to the pasture to unload it was pouring! Our plan was to let the cows and calves pair up in the corral while we went for another load. R told M he had better get out of there while he could and he would come back later and push them out of the corral and into the pasture.
M was determined to get another load over because he didn't know what he was going to do with all the cows still in the corral. He didn't want to let them out and then have to try to get them in again tomorrow. I told him he was crazy, there was no way we'd make it back in there the way it was raining. I also didn't think my brother and his wife would appreciate us tearing up their road with a trailer load of cows through the mud.
It rained most of the way home but was still dry at the barn although we had a little rain after we were back to sorting. C had been finishing up some seeding so M talked him into helping us sort some more. We put together two more loads to go to Opheim tomorrow in separate pens and took two small loads to two other pastures. We sorted out a cow of our neighbors and put her by herself. While we were looking over some calves I heard a bang and then the sound of splintering wood. That cow put her head under the gate and pushed it up and out and tore out a section of wall and broke a post. The next time we ran her through it was with her calf and straight out the door toward the pasture she needs to be in. M said he didn't really care where she went. After a little repair work we were back in business. Now we just have to decide which of the cows that lost calves we are going to keep and which ones we'll sell.
Since we were only a mile or so from R's house when the sky fell in he just went home so he was off duty at 4:30, while M and I got home about 9:30. Then I had to retrieve my sheets from the line and dry them in the dryer since they had gotten rained on, heat up some leftovers for supper, put the sheets back on our bed and take a shower to wash all the ticks off (I found two crawling on me today--gross!) I need a maid!
We had rain overnight so the road was still a muddy mess when M picked me up and hooked onto the stock trailer. We had two miles to go from our house to the barn, and it wasn't a lot of fun. It was about 11 when we started sorting. The corral is sloppy so we tried to not have to run everything in there. We tried to just run pairs into the corral out of the holding area. It wasn't the most efficient system and M got one 4-wheeler stuck in a ditch. It isn't an irrigation ditch but looks like one this year! We did manage to get a trailer load together that way and took them up to a pasture north of our house. R went first with the calves and M had the cows but got stuck trying to turn around in the yard so we had to get a tractor out to pull the pickup and trailer through.
M decided we had no choice but to run all the rest of the bunch into the corral and sort into the barn. After much yelling and cursing we had another load ready, this one to go to Opheim. It wasn't raining here when we left but the clouds looked ominous to the west. Just before we got to Opheim we ran into rain and by the time we got to the pasture to unload it was pouring! Our plan was to let the cows and calves pair up in the corral while we went for another load. R told M he had better get out of there while he could and he would come back later and push them out of the corral and into the pasture.
M was determined to get another load over because he didn't know what he was going to do with all the cows still in the corral. He didn't want to let them out and then have to try to get them in again tomorrow. I told him he was crazy, there was no way we'd make it back in there the way it was raining. I also didn't think my brother and his wife would appreciate us tearing up their road with a trailer load of cows through the mud.
It rained most of the way home but was still dry at the barn although we had a little rain after we were back to sorting. C had been finishing up some seeding so M talked him into helping us sort some more. We put together two more loads to go to Opheim tomorrow in separate pens and took two small loads to two other pastures. We sorted out a cow of our neighbors and put her by herself. While we were looking over some calves I heard a bang and then the sound of splintering wood. That cow put her head under the gate and pushed it up and out and tore out a section of wall and broke a post. The next time we ran her through it was with her calf and straight out the door toward the pasture she needs to be in. M said he didn't really care where she went. After a little repair work we were back in business. Now we just have to decide which of the cows that lost calves we are going to keep and which ones we'll sell.
Since we were only a mile or so from R's house when the sky fell in he just went home so he was off duty at 4:30, while M and I got home about 9:30. Then I had to retrieve my sheets from the line and dry them in the dryer since they had gotten rained on, heat up some leftovers for supper, put the sheets back on our bed and take a shower to wash all the ticks off (I found two crawling on me today--gross!) I need a maid!
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