Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

Here is a shot of the snow that won't leave. Yesterday we got a couple of more inches and I see there is more on the ground this morning with another inch of snow in the forecast for today. I am feeding in this area because it is very sandy and on a south facing slope. Out on the level there is at least 6 inches to a foot of snow that has water entrained in it that won't go away. Out away from this sandy area it is a muddy mess for all concerned. Taken 4/4/2007.

Mittens wanted to go outside this morning and took one look out the door at the fresh snowfall and decided not to. I told him that there is no door into summer and I don't think there ever will be again.

I know, defeatist, but that's what it feels like. The snow all ready here won't melt because it's to cold and we keep getting a little more snow almost every day. The damn weather is the weirdest thing in the world. In March you could have convinced me that global warming was rolling right along with our above normal temperatures but now with the cold and snow that just won't go away, it feels like we are in a new ice age, not Global Warming.

Truthfully, the cattle aren't doing to bad. For all my grousing about scours, I haven't had an outbreak yet. I am seeing something I have never seen before though, a respiratory infection of some kind in the calves. I noticed it yesterday and doctored quite a few of them. I'm sure there will be more today. I am in totally unfamiliar ground here. After I doctored the first couple of them I radioed home to My Darling Wife and had her call the vet to find out how to doctor young calves for a respiratory infection. Hell, I don't even get such things when i wean, shipping fever, so I am totally out of my league here.

The vet gave me a course of action and I am trying it out. So far none have died from it but if not nipped in the bud I am sure I could lose a few. One things for sure, it's always different around here and you have to cope and adapt. I'm tired of it though. What would really help all of the problems with the cows and calves is some sunshine and warm temperatures. I'm sure My Darling Wife would say the same thing would make me easier to deal with too.

(Aside to My Darling Wife)
Hon, I know I have been a bear to deal with lately and I apologize. I have been very preoccupied with the weather and its affect on our lives and fortunes. I know it makes me cranky and hard to live with but until some warm weather and sunshine show up I don't think I will be able to break out of the rut. Please bear with me and I again apologize.
(End aside)

The National Weather service claims this batch of snow will last most of the day and then starting tomorrow it will turn nice and be in the 60's by the weekend. At this point I don't know if I believe them. I don't think it will ever get warm again but I will withhold judgment until this weekend. All I know is that even if the weather comes that they are predicting, I don't think it will get to 60 degreed. There is just to much snow cover here for it to get that warm. Maybe in Billings it will where there is no snow, but not out here. When I was younger I had the nickname "Little Siberia" for the ranch due to its isolation and weather. I'm thinking of resurrecting the name, it sure seems to apply with this weather.

Each thing is of like form from everlasting and comes round again in its cycle. Marcus Aurelius

It's been snowing all day yet again. I am really getting tired of this. The sun shone yesterday and reduced the amount of snow but I found that instead of it soaking into the ground the water is being held up in the snow. This just shows that the ground doesn't need any of this moisture for those of you who keep wanting to say, "we needed the moisture." All it's doing is costing me money, heartache, and ulcers.

I've been doctoring a few baby calves for the scours but not too many so that's good I guess. Have only lost two calves that I know of so far but I have two more so sick that I don't think they are going to make it. I am trying everything I know to try but they don't seem to be turning and getting better. I'm tired of looking at cold, wet, sick calves. I wish it would quit snowing and get nice again.

I know, this isn't what you would call a positive post but I'm not in a very positive mood right now. About the only positive I can see is that I am positive that it's never going to quit snowing and all the calves are going to die. How's that for positive?

I have a negative side toward the world because the world is self destruct. Sun Ra

We got about 16 inches of snow with 3-4 foot drifts so far out of the storm. I've been busy all day getting to the cattle and getting them fed. What little I looked around everything appeared to be all right. The cows and calves are all bunched up in a brushy draw to get away from the snow and wind. I hate this since once a stressed calf gets the scours the chances are it will run through all the calves as bunched up as they are. Nothing I can do about it though. They need the shelter and that's where it is.

It quit snowing for a little bit this afternoon but it has started again now. More to deal with tomorrow. I wonder if this is Mother Nature's early April Fools joke. Don't tell me we needed the moisture. I didn't need this kind of moisture.

If coming events are said to cast their shadows before, past events cannot fall to leave their impress behind them. H. P. Blavatsky

A cold, snowy, Montana morning. You will note the cattle bunched up in a tight huddle for warmth on the left side of the picture. Taken 2/10/2007.

The cows chasing after better hay on a cold morning. Taken 1/11/2007.

I must have had a premonition this morning when I wrote this. How did it go?

Tractor wouldn't run. We worked on it for a couple of hours and give up on it and went and fed without it. The hired hand didn't think much of loading and feeding the 7 tons of hay without the tractor but you do what you have to to get the job done. The generator for the cows wasn't working. Went to get a spare generator and found a cow that had just sluffed a calf. Gate stick was broke on a gate and cattle were in the wrong pasture. The spare generator was broken and wasn't working. Things looked a little better here, I was able to fix this problem. Finally got the water working for the cows and got all the situation around the cows under control. Went home and worked on the tractor for a couple more hours and finally got it working, I think. We will see what tomorrow brings but it has to be better than today. It can't help but be.

I had a bad day in February and a bad day in September but a brilliant summer. Bjork

A little touch of winter hit again. The cows are sure enjoying the feed. I fed down in the brush with the wind blowing the way it was for some protection for the critters. Taken 1/11/2006.

The calves coming into feed on a cold, snowy morning. Taken 12/30/2006.

The cows waiting for feed on a cold morning. Taken 12/30/2006.