I am the early bird around the place today. I fixed the coffee and made a tour of the yard at just daylight. That is a pretty awesome time of the day and I miss it during the cold months, and on purpose usually! I sure have enjoyed the reprieve we have had with the days of warmer weather and strong sunshine.
A trip to the coffee emporium seemed like a good idea this morning since I had started the day so early and finished the chores without a hitch. I parked the hay truck over by the feed store so I would appear to be doing some cattle business and walked to the café. We call them cafes in this part of the country, and a good many of us refer to this one as the emporium. I must admit the stroll over to the door felt real good to my old legs and made me think about the pleasures of summer.
The fellers howdy-ed me and, since they were all deep into the subjects of Russia and the Super Bowl, I just sat back, watched and listened. There were times I could not distinguish between the two topics, and both of them were hot! I suspect that George and Mac could whip the Russians with one arm tied and not even break a sweat, then take care of the spring planting! I don't understand everything I know about their plans but they do sound formidable.
The Super Bowl committee was certainly radical and, had blood been spilled, I don't think they would ever regret it! I cannot imagine the furor they bring upon some of their subjects!
I drank the second cup of brew and headed out to try and accomplish the rest of the feeding before I was found loafing. I am still the boss around the place, but I need to set some kind of an example for the offspring to follow. They think I don't know they are taking off to practice roping and watch bull riding on TV. I let them get by with just enough and then I will crack the whip! Like, sure I will.
The last hay went to the steer pasture today and I wish I had gone there first. The fence was torn to smithereens between where they were supposed to be and the creek pasture. The steers heard the truck and started back over the hill hoping for some cubes. I counted and they all came in, except that left me and a shot fence to take care of and no cubes to pour out! I got the offspring on the cell phone and issued the SOS. Then all I had to do was keep the full and happy, spring-legged bovine in the right place until help arrived. Sure, I had old Dog with me and, sure, he was watching the steers and, of course, he lay down and went to sleep in this warm and delicious sunshine!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, a day of only one torn-down fence, no sick old hides, sunshine and very little breeze is a true gift from heaven. I hope all the strife and bloodshed at the coffee emporium settled down and those pent-up fellers got out and enjoyed their lives today. What a dandy thing it is to do what we do and still be able to afford to do what we do! Speak to your neighbors this week and keep your powder dry. I don't know exactly what that means now since we don't have any powder, but do it anyway!
Bill is the Gravette area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 01/28/2015