Here we are again, on the downhill side of the year. It was a pretty good one all in all, but ending up too fast! The hay season that I called over, wasn't! The calving season I thought was gonna be very short and productive has not been and, so, this reminds me we are still on earth and perfection is not mine!
The fall calving cows are almost all grinning at me when I pass by. The spurt of calving brought on by the eclipse, my thinking, was productive but stopped and has yet to hit high gear again. A few calves a week, but then we are a patient bunch, tongue in cheek!
I was so sure we had enough hay to take care of the world's beef producers, but the stuff just kept growing and the offspring couldn't stand to see it standing in the field. Therefore, and because of that, we cut hay and stacked it out in a corner of the pasture, put up a fence, and thanked God for the bounty!
I had to get Snip to the vet for a checkup. A refusal to eat on Monday evening and again on Tuesday morning was a sure sign of sickness. He didn't act colicky or feel hot to the touch, just backed off from the feed and went to the pasture. That is not the usual action of the hog horse in the family. I had him loaded and to town by 8 a.m., waiting for the doors to open. He was still acting like his usual self, no stress signs, but I was getting sweaty and sorta nauseous.
My vet is good, laughs at me a bunch and, because he could tell I was in a snit, he quickly got things going. Thank goodness for help, Snip was fine but full. The old horse's belly was full of fresh hay and he was not hungry, not sick and sure enough not sure why we were at the vet's clinic! Yes, the offspring had deposited a new bale in the corner of his trap, and the old fool stood there eating for about 14 hours! I was relieved and the trip was not wasted as I had a cup of coffee with the guys and enjoyed the visit!
The neighbors have gathered hay, gathered money to pay for the truck, gathered for a prayer meeting and sent a semi load of good hay north. We are trying to decide, and with some good information, if we could send a load to the south for the drowned area. Good folks are around everywhere!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, straw hats are still OK after Labor Day. I don't care if the style experts do condemn it! I have seen my felt hat hanging on the hook now for about a month and, by gummies, I will not wear it until the weather knows it is fall! I am in trouble and Sunday morning was an eye roller as I plopped on the straw for church. I suspect many of us are at odds with the close relatives but, heck, we can't help trying to keep a cool head! I saw with my own eyes a pair of white shoes under a pair of pants with factory made rips on the lady in the next to the last pew, so there.
Suffice it to say, as my close relative put it, comparing is not manly!
Bill is the pen name of the Gravette area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.
Editorial on 10/04/2017