Sure can feel the moisture in the air today! I am counting on it to continue coming in the form of scattered showers for at least the next six months. There it is, beauty itself, tall green grass, good cattle grazing with feisty calves by their sides and ponds full of clear water. It is better than a new pair of boots!
We rodeo-ed this last week and got the rest of the cattle worked. Even got the cows up and a second dose of dewormer in them. We are forever thankful we don't have to dehorn any more. Did that for years and it is a pure delight not to have to do it ever again -- sorta like junking the old square baler! The rain came in spurts and we continued on because we had the covered working pens.
If I find that magic lamp, I will rub it and wish for all cattlemen to have a set up like the one we have. I wish I could provide it for all the fellers I know. It is not fancy, but it's so nice that I figure I should have gone into debt years ago to build it. What is it they say, something about hindsight being 20-20?
My friend Clyde, the friend with the bronc that does not load, rode over to help us on Thursday. He was sure handy and we appreciated his extra help. We were branding calves and he was sure good at plugging holes and twisting tails. We got lots of laughs in before the end of the day and, by the time the last calf went back to its mammy, we were worn out.
I offered to load Clyde's horse and haul them home. He agreed and I should have kept my mouth closed. Tired and nasty, dried blood, mine, in several spots on my body and one almost brand on my left leg, was how I was when we began the ordeal of taking that good horse to the trailer. I mean, he is a good horse. I have seen him roped off of, cut steers out of a bunch and he has power. I would love to own him if he would load.
Only took us 45 minutes to load that fool because he was tired and both of the offspring were there to help. I am not the horse whisperer, but I wonder if a feller fed him in the trailer for a few weeks if that would sorta pare down the loading time. By the way, that horse rides good, unloads like a gentleman and never causes any commotion other than the initial load.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, there is nothing better than what I get to live out. We have fresh air, good water, friends, a good preacher, smart Grands and beef! We don't have extra cash, fancy house or hired help to lay out our clothes or put a cookie on the bed each night but, by golly, we are sure enough blessed! I am feeling so good today that I am spurting flowery speech, but I sure mean it and wish for all of you the best day of the year so far.
Bill is the pen name of the Gravette-area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 05/06/2015