All’s Quiet on the Farm Front aka Misc.

And why is it so quiet?  Well  the obvious answer is…it’s winter.  Snow is still on the ground although much of it has melted making for sloppy conditions at a feedlot. Chances of more precip on Thursday with lower temps, so we could add more white stuff on top of the existing white stuff!!?

About all that the cowboys manage in these quiet time is keeping everyone healthy, fed and watered.  Did you know that the water part of the cattle’s care is maybe the most important aspect of the daily routine?  It is.  And like other animals, you can’t assume that they can get all the water they need by eating snow.  Not going to happen.  That is bad, bad, BAD! 

A major part of each day is spent cleaning sloppy pens, putting out new hay for the cattle to rest on, keeping roads cleared and riding pens, always on the lookout for a sick calf.

And when Big Boss isn’t doing all or some of the above he is occupied with…yep, that four letter word…TAXES.  Wait. That’s five.  Just as hated though!!  My phone rings with “Could you find the receipt for….?” or he hits the back door (I know what’s up by the way he enters.  It’s an art.) with a handful of papers and a frantic look in his eyes that tells me I’d best drop what I was doing and join him in the office for our latest paper search. And then the accountant calls…and well, I’m tempted to pack my bags and head south.  Or north.  Or anywhere!!!

As for me, I’m a No Mercy mode…which means, watch out closets and store rooms.  I will have “No Mercy” when it comes to throwing out/giving away junk I don’t need/use anymore.  Best time to do that is when you’re aggravated. Woohoo, the  junk can literally fly out of your hands.  Of course, you might have No Mercy Remorse, but not often.  And if you do, just go dig it out the trash.  Or ask for it back. Or go buy another one.  Just kidding. 

One of my resolutions/lies to myself is that I’ll get rid of an equal amount of junk to the new stuff I bring in.  At this moment, I am losing the battle.  But I intend to mount a new offensive and correct that inequality soon.  Tomorrow.  Or maybe the next day.  Yes, I am procrastinating. But there are so many interesting things that can possibly distract me..

the book I downloaded a year ago to Kindle,

the sketch pad that still waits for a drawing of #1 grandchild, not to mention #2-#11…

organizing my music library (but then I get lost in listening to this, then that….)

the melting snow that needs to be watched

 studying the tracks in my orchard.  Or maybe I’ll just rewatch Downton Abbey

the latest online review on the latest movie 

an ad for yet another January sale

going through piles of old photos…see what I found last night? Really old. It’s a pic of silage harvest 1985, when we still hauled all the food out to the field (I described that a while back HERE)

Found this in my mother-in-law’s album so I’m guessing she took it. The 6’6″ guy in the straw rancher hat is my Daddy, doing what he loved. Eating. Big Boss is next to him, with brother-in-law (6’4″)at the table, then #2 son with #1 son seated on the right next to his buddy and his mom who drove for us. Now, the question is, where is #3 son? Probably playing inside the cab?

or a new recipe for…see where I’m going with this?  Doesn’t take much to distract me. Sometimes I work really hard at meeting distractions. With open arms.  

I think I just need a baby to smooch on.  🙂 Now THAT is quiet plus huge amounts of quality!!

2006 with Morgan