I was up before it got hot this morning. Yep, hot weather slipped in and we missed spring's warmth. It all disappeared in the cold mist we lived in for six weeks. I am a happy man this time of the year, grass is still growing, hay is being baled, calves are getting big and fat and there is no chill in the air. Excuse me while I wipe the sweat out of my eyes!
We have finished AI on the spring herd and are hoping they have all settled. Just wait and watch for a month then rebreed the open ones. The bulls have been turned in with the rest of the cows and we are in business. The heat is difficult on the offspring doing the AI work so we sync the cows to breed at night. Worked well for a couple of years and seems to be the answer to the problem. Flies are not as bad, either, after dark.
Thistles are terrible and stubborn. I know you have to get the crown of the dang thing or it does not die, but I think some live anyway! The best way to really kill them seems to be spraying herbicide on the entire area. It's pretty costly but no thistles in the hay.
Some sore feet in the heifer pasture. The grass stays wet and we have mowed it, but how can a feller fault the fast growth of good grass? Mixing iodine as prescribed by a vet into the mineral seems to help a bunch so we are working on that. I have run the entire bunch through the chute and checked for infections, finding none. Not any limping, just acting tender.
We will load the steers out to the feedlot this week. They averaged 907 pounds on Saturday and that is our ideal weight for trying to make a buck by finishing fast. My close relative took pictures all afternoon as they were turned back into the pasture. I suspect we are proud, and thankful, seeing our years of producing beef look so good.
We enjoyed homemade ice cream and peach cobbler Sunday afternoon. The grands were all here and we made a party of the time we have before the bell rings for the coming phase of their lives. So many summer jobs, summer semester classes and, of course, the love life of teenagers! My close relative's offspring are now sporting gray in their sideburns and are acting like adults on a daily basis. That must mean something! Family gatherings are important!
My in-laws from down south have called and said they will be here for the Fourth of July! We will be ready with all the expected loot they need. I praise the good Lord for the ability to give in this time of doubt in our country. We are certainly blessed to know He is in control regardless of the chaos.
It is my opinion, and everyone has one, it is good business to keep your opinion to yourself unless asked! The best thing is to wait until asked the second time before speaking. I figure my answer to any problem is probably right, but the feller asking might take offense to it and me! His needs are not always gonna be fitting my response even if I think they should! Let some things just float by, let sleeping dogs lie, and mind your own business! It's human nature to solve other people's problems, but also dangerous!
Gather your kin and enjoy a long summer evening visiting! It might help and even be good advice to hide all the artillery before they arrive and 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.