I think I escaped! If the hammer doesn’t drop on my head in delayed time, I made the Valentine thing without any big problems!
I neither did the suggested nor bought the advertised goodies to show the depth and width of my undying and everlasting adoration. I sorta ambled in with a sack of candy for my close relative and she said thanks. I got another sack of the candy for the female offspring and another for the Grands! They all shared with me, yes sir, a group of well-mannered folks!
I do believe the drought killed a lot of the grass in most of the pastures, and we will be reseeding and might take a chance on doing some bermuda sprigging. Wouldn’t want to spend the money and come up with another dry year. Aren’t we thankful to be in this cattle business?
The ponds are full around here since the rain last week and there are beginning to be several little black babies in the cow pasture. I like seeing the results of time and money spent, plus the good Lord’s provisions for us. You fellers know how I dread February calves, but I do get excited when they start popping. No snow storm or blizzard yet, so all is well. You can even see some green shoots of grass. I guess it is like the times we plant potatoes and await the first green poking through the crust. We don’t douse our spirit with thoughts of bugs and no rain!
Had to haul one old cow to town. I told her she had better shape up or she would be taking that long trip with no two-way ticket! She must have been 14, the best I can figure, and had many good calves, even a couple sets of twins; but this time she prolapsed and my friend, the vet, the one I have kept in highstyle, said she couldn’t get better. I could hardly believe the price she brought. Feed, fuel and taxes eat up the profit fast, but at least I got to hold the check for a couple of hours.
My close relative is making noise about the need for a butcher steer. I guess she hasn’t heard the cattle market lately. We do eat a large amount of beef and we eat good beef. It is one of the real blessings of raising cattle. We eat good and we are a jolly sort, like round folks usually are! Don’t tell her I said that!
My days are stretching out, and daylight is a beautiful sight. I like the still of the evening and even a dab of wind doesn’t deter me from sitting outdoors. I had my morning coffee on the porch this morning and, if anyone asks you, it is still too dang cold for that!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, a good year ahead is looking us right in the eye, and I am prepared to enjoy it. We can plant, plan and enjoy all the finer things of life if we just make up our mind to do it and then pray!
Bill is a pen name used by the Gravette author of this weekly column.
Opinion, Pages 4 on 02/20/2013