Sneezes, rain clouds, dump truck, tires, fence lines and cowboy habits

I got the cold that has been passed around the family. I am the last one on the list and it has been a long list! My close relative had the cough, sneezes and headaches for a week, and mine started at daylight yesterday morning. Sneezing into your coffee should be avoided at all costs!

Teasing rain clouds were here a week ago on Sunday. The mist could be felt on your skin if you were driving with your window down but nothing on the windshield. Just a tease and we need a good one. The tank on the rented place is sure enough low and I am tired of worrying about it! If that sounds like a threat, I am sorry. I know I can't make all things happen when needed, but I can try!

The calves are doing pretty good and so are the cows, but we have to admit that keeping a cow that has a habitual hoof problem is a problem. She was limping this morning, so we got her and the calf up and rigged up the trimming chute. It was about a three-hour job and took all three of us to get it done. We were taught by an expert trimmer several years ago and yet we aren't experts. I worry about getting into the quick and making matters worse. We seemed to make it good this time, turned them out and she walked away like a cow!

I made a trip south over the weekend to look at a dump truck. I am a thoughtful person and, as I drove along, I was thinking about what I saw. There were some areas along the road with maintained homes and landscapes, not big fancy places but homes and yards. Then a mile or two down the road and there would be three or four miles of houses and piles of junk. Do birds of a feather really flock together? Do work-related habits and neatness of others affect neighbors? It is just a thought! No, I did not buy the dump truck because it was a junker -- actually the only one I could afford since I started looking!

I did stop at a tire shop and found a couple of used tires for the trailer. They had lots of tread left on them and I bought rims and had them mounted right there. Took awhile but there were fellers around visiting, so I enjoyed the stay. I didn't know any of them well, but had a nodding acquaintance with one of the fellers. They were talking about the deer in the area and the wasting disease that has hit. As Monday morning quarterback hunters, they were pretty good. I was impressed with their ideas and willingness to try to cure the problems.

I have changed some of the fence lines in the house trap. The grands are riding hard and fast nowadays, and barrels are placed in just the right spot. Poles are set up, and I expect some roping to start any day now. I have warned over and over about the fines for messing with company stock, but I remember my own youth and the keen desire to rope or cut cattle out of the herd. I also remember getting caught!

It is my opinion, and everyone has one, I could buy a few calves for roping and it wouldn't make or break us. I sure enjoy seeing the grands love to ride and take care of their animals. Good horses and tack are money well spent and teach the things we want to do for our youth. Spring has really brought out the cowboy habits, and they are all -- down to the last kid -- involved in horses or show calves or both. Some prayers are answered again and again with yes from our Lord.

Keep the tires aired up on the trailer, boys! Play days are happening!

Bill is the pen name of the Gravette-area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.

Editorial on 03/15/2017