February 5, 2008

Winter is sure a long time going! There is a common joke among ranchers that says something about winter being the slow time of year. I can’t understand what that means with all of the feeding of animals, construction, and calving season. Us cowboys sure don’t like being afoot. We want to get on a horse to do something, but it’s mostly tractor work, pitch forking feed, and pulling a calf that wants to stay inside its warm mother. The boys are earning their share of sleep by attending cows at night during this time of year. We have to have someone looking at the cows at all hours of the day. Tractors are also being cleaned up and maintenance done in anticipation of farming needs in March. This ol’ cowpoke can sure remember some colder winters, but they sure seemed shorter in my younger years. My ol’ friend Beck, used to live in Alaska. He said a man could die if he took a breath too fast up there. I guess there is always someplace worse than where you’re at. At least it’s not that bad and it looks like God will bless us with some warmer weather soon. My Christmas cactus has one more flower on it, must be a sure sign of spring.