I have, let me rephrase that, my close relative has two sugar maple trees in the yard. We like the shade and the best of the fall leaves are on those two trees. They turn red, not brownish red, but real red. I just sit and enjoy looking at them every fall. And then the leaves fall to the ground and I don't exactly like that!
We are on the edge of slipping into the cooler weather and the time for frosts. I am never ready for the cold and dry and less ready for the cold and wet. I always need rain, never have turned it down, but I sure hate to work in the snow and sleet that is promised with the coming of winter.
Snip is growing his winter coat, fuzzing up along his hindquarters. I am surprised it has happened so quickly. But you know that even if the temp stays warm, nature is programed to do what it should. That programmer does not make mistakes. The fall calves are growing and they will do their growth even better in the 50-degree weather. They, the ones who always know stuff, tell us that is why the cattle in the Montana and Dakotas grow so big.
Speaking of the fall calves, I lost one calf and one cow -- not a pair -- so I had a couple of calves to take to town. I hated to do that but I have not had the best luck starting a new calf on the bottle. My percentage is down this year, but I still like the September calves. My close relative's offspring don't give me any slack and they are sure making their plan work. Their percentage came up this year.
I spent some time at the coffee emporium this morning. It was full of hot air, as usual, and a lot of that was not politically correct. George and Clyde are on separate sides of the fence and I would not be surprised to hear they came to fisticuffs after I left. George is walking with a cane and Clyde uses a walker, but either appliance would make a dandy weapon. I had a slab of blackberry pie and a cup of coffee and left the round table to find a more serene landscape.
The fall fairs are almost all over, even the state ones,and folks are gathering up and cleaning equipment for the next year's calves. I know some young folks that show cattle and do a dang good job of it, and it is a costly and time-consuming project. You learn to put the good things away so they are still good next year.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, I can't push Old Man Winter back or kick him forward so I will just have to take whatever comes. I will promise to try to keep a good attitude and smile a lot, but it will not be easy. I look forward, as I am sure you do, to the holidays that will sneak up on us real soon. The turkey and dressing, pies and candy, will help soothe my pain of the cold!
Keep your thermals ready, you might need them real soon!
Bill is the pen name of the Gravette area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 10/15/2014