Sunshine and cold wind don't go together but we have that today! I was standing in the door to the feed room, watching the little things blow across the driveway, and suffering. I always suffer when the temperature is below the living limit, about 65 degrees! The horses were snorting big clouds of steam, making it worse.
We got the letter from college that the girl from our line was making real good grades and all was well in educational circles. The other mail was sort of celebrated -- not immediately. "Sent home at your expense" was read and it was handed over to my close relative for further discussion. I knew it was coming so was prepared.
I pondered things in my mind. Why don't the boys do better in school? Our two male offspring made excellent grades and talked education to the boys as much or more to them as to the females in the family. I was mulling it all over in my cold head when the cats began to challenge each other.
The hired help around here is lacking in years or they would not be riding the machine instead of good horses. But they came wheeling in about that time with something dire on their minds as I put out another pile of cat food in obedience -- the cats provide tons of fun for this old feller!
A cow down and we couldn't bump her up was reported and so our day was started on a question. What cow? Which pasture and was there any blood? They knew nothing except her number and where she deposited herself. The old main herd where our most special cows were kept was barely heard as it was said. We took off, me on the machine.
Of course, old Dog was right behind us and alerting all family members something was wrong.
She, my close relative, beat us to the gate in my pickup. I never thought of sending her to town to a job, needed her here. Today she is putting herself in my business. She knows these old girls as well or better than me. Some days I wish she had a job in town!
We got to the cow quickly, counting as we went. I couldn't guess who the number was and I dared not ask because she would know. The big black hump was a sickening sight because I knew, if she would bump up, she was in trouble.
Yes, a cow so sick but she still threatened us as much as she could, sorta shaking her head at us. She was hot so I figured we had better send for the vet. The phone I complain about was handy and a call to the vet was accomplished as my fears were proven and my close relative sat down on the cold ground. Did she know the cow? She knew her, saw her hit the ground and helped dry her off.
I remember well the two weeks we carried water to wash her face and feed and water the mother. We got her up, a rig with a belt off the baler, and a cow swinging is a sorry sight to behold. I have had cattle all my born days and it is the most ridiculous of any I have ever seen.
Dolly Mae was her name. She let the calf nurse as best she could and tried to live. The dear old cow was the last heifer out of the first heifer ever shown from our herd. She produced many steers but not heifers, so she was the end of a long line that we held dear!
In my opinion, and we all have one, animals were given to mankind for food and clothing. Mankind was given a real tender spot in his heart for some reason, so he started filling it with animals he was overly fond of. A bird, maybe, falling in order to learn to fly, a little human crying to keep the bird in a box and that tender spot was filled. Now we know some folks are ruled by their pets, cats, dogs, or animals in general. So, forgive the tears that flowed as the doc said it was all over for Sputnic, please.
Kindness to and for the benefit of animals comes so naturally to most and should affect all. We on the farms and ranches are the ones that suffer hard, and sometimes daily! But I am glad to be able to use that little tender spot!
My offspring insist that it will be warmer soon -- I know, March and April. Keep your arsenal prepared at all times 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.