I wanted to join the Calvary this last week, anything to get out of the hay truck and on a horse! How many times can you go and stop before you lose your blessed mind? Well, mine is badly dented and my neck and back are worn plumb smooth from turning to look. I never have liked hay season and yet I am sure proud to have it stacked in the barns.
We have been from daylight to past seven or eight at night getting it all in and stacked. I am thanking the Lord for all the good moisture to grow this year's wonderful crop, and I am a sorry kind of man to complain at all. The offspring thrive on the hay work, lick their plates clean in their mom's kitchen and grin about going back to work. They are a blessing to us, and especially me.
It has heated up and the dew isn't so heavy now. I can't say I love the heat, but I sure do like a summer like this one. We have a couple new ponds, they were just low places in the pastures. No fish in them and I suspect they will be gone by the end of the month, but it is a sight on this earth the rain we have been getting.
Our old cow herd is fat and slick. I can't find any by looking that need to take a trip to town. We will have a difficult time when we sort this fall, or at least I will. You fellers know that a cow that raised a big, good calf for the last 16 years may be a little aged to stay again, but gosh, she is sure looking good and I like her. Hard for me to sell one that has been faithful to make the banker happy year after year.
The steers are going at the end of this week. I always get up tight when it is time to ship. I can't sleep very well, even eating is difficult, and I grind my teeth down to nubs waiting for the average weight to be calculated. The steers crossing the scales are a beautiful sight, but I need to see that final average and then I can relax. Anything over nine weight makes me a happy feller. I then treat the offspring to a big lunch at the Golden Arches! I am a big spender!
My close relative rode to town with me this morning. We had to go to the feed store for minerals, so she decided she could go to the grocery store for just a couple of things. I am proud to go anywhere with her, but I can tell you now, it was more than a couple of things. It took me the better part of 30 minutes to find boxes to load the stuff in so it could ride in the bed of the pickup. I will be in trouble for growling, and she will tell me how nice it was to ride together and I am gonna look like a whipped pup. Life goes on.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, things that are on top of the list of importance may or may not be there tomorrow, but how you treat your friends and family will always be the most important thing each and every day. A hard heart and a stiff neck are fatal for a life of goodness and pleasure and mostly untreatable by anyone other than the patient themselves. The cure is kneel and pray, take an aspirin and call to ask for forgiveness in the morning.
Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette-area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 08/12/2015