There was a varmint in the area last night that did not like our barn cats. I do not have any idea as to what it was, but it is a sorry feller today. There was cat fur and "something" fur strewn around the barn floor, on the feed sacks and blood and fur on the door! All hundred cats were there and none of them looked any the worse for wear. Go figure, must have been a gang fight and Dog did not make one bark loud enough to wake me. I imagine the barn was alive with yowling and hissing!
The horses were up for feed. Snip is still the boss and demands his personal place at the trough. I have never fed them together, but Jack would like to be in the first stall so he must have always had his way but now stops and goes into the number two. Animals are so smart and we don't give them the credit for knowing much. Most of them are treated sorta like husbands!
I followed the truck to the feedlot and, sure enough, they made it without a hitch. Sure is a relief to see our steers unload in good shape after the long haul. My close relative was ready with her tablet to write down all the information and take a video of the cattle. Ten years from now we won't even know what cattle or why the video was made. I have some from ten years ago that should be trashed because we don't know why we are blessed with 20 minutes of steers!
Hay season is in full swing and I am hauling as fast as I can. I hate this season, the tractor noise, the heat, the exhaust in the air and the weariness when I finally get to stop and go to the house. The offspring are more than any man deserves when it comes to working. I am a proud old man and give them the credit for making this place so much more productive. All that food and worry is sure worth it now that I look back.
We are seeing the fall cows looking like they are building calves. They don't show much until this time of the cycle and I sure like to watch them get heavier. Won't be long before we will start seeing little black calves dotting the pasture, about two and a half months is all.
The bulls are being looked at already. I guess they are going to be sold early but I would rather wait. Had three different calls yesterday and have not advertised at all. Makes me happy that anyone would want one we have raised. A bull from here is the result of years of select breeding and prayer!
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, buying a watermelon is like buying a pig in a poke! You can watch us old men stand and look in the big box, roll some around, thump a couple, roll them some more and finally pick one that is probably bruised and half green. My good sense is not good when trying to decide, so I have started just getting a green one. Sorta like life on some days, just take what you get and act like you like it!
Count your blessings and ammo! Remember the Alamo!
Bill is the pen name used by the Gravette area author of this weekly column. Opinions expressed are those of the author.