OPINION? EVERYBODY HAS ONE

We can survive this slump

I saddled old Snip and took a ride through the place yesterday afternoon. The grass is working hard to green up again - what hasn’t died on the stump - and the air was fresh and cool. My excuse was fixing fence but I was really just enjoying myself. A feller gets to that once in awhile.

The cattle look pretty sad right now. And going into the winter with little water in the ponds is a nerve-wracking thing to us old cattlemen. I know we can hook up to the rural water, but we would rather not. Maybe the rain is just started and will come on along and fill things up.

My close relative thinks I am getting a little too round again. Shucks, I figure I am just beginning to look my part. But when the boss of the kitchen decides something, it is sure hard to change her mind. Therefore, I am eating lots of fresh garden stuff. Finally had a mess of fried okra, and it was good but blotted to a fare thee well. Not one speck of grease was found in the bottom of the bowl!

The whining for a pie is landing on deaf ears, and since the blackberries dried on the vines this year I can’t even get a package out of the freezer and lay it on the cabinet - that sometimes works as a good hint! I have been sneaking out to the coffee emporium a couple of times lately and imbibing in coconut cream sensations. That makes the coffee so much more enjoyable!

Snakes are plentiful this season - I guess it is in-season. They think they can slither aroundjust anywhere and they do! Found one in the feed room at the barn and nearly had to kill it! Would have if I’d stayed in there long enough! I just decided to feed later and hope old Sneaky Snake went on his way.

There were grass snakes all along the way as Snip and I made the rounds. Old Dog went with us and is careful to go far around the scent of reptiles. One of the worst things that can happen to me is for a dog to grab a snake and start slinging it! You can run, but which direction is the question!

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, if we can stay in business for a while longer, affording hay and feed, we might have a chance to pull out of this slump. We have lived through some hog waller times before and, if we live long enough, this won’t be the last. Keep the faith, cull your cows very carefully and, as I have said, pray.

Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 08/24/2011