Thoughts from the Middle of Nowhere

Blue sky, warm temperatures, baby calves running around, it don't get much better than this. I hope it doesn't mean it is going to turn nasty come March. I don't need that. Taken 2/19/2008.

The newborn calves not liking the wind and snow bothering them. We sure have been getting a lot of wind lately. Taken 2/18/2008.

I wish I could say something exciting was going on around here but that is not the case. Same old stuff. We are about a third done calving the heifers all ready. Quite a difference from last year where we didn't have very many calves the first cycle. This year they are coming fast and furious.

The new hired hand is still on schedule to be here. The old one hasn't left yet so I am not hammered too bad. My present guy is really moving stuff out though so the home should be ready when the new guy gets here.

I did have one live and one dead calf on the cows all ready. I know the one with the live calf got in early with the boyz so she was an early calver. The dead one though was definitely premature. I don't know why I get it but every year i get a few premature, dead calves just before the cows start calving. The vet seems to not be too worried about it but it just bothers me a little. Why do they do it? What is the cause? I don't think I will ever know.

All I know is the grind is getting me down right now. The lack of sleep from checking heifers is really getting to me and I am always tired. I can't get enough sleep and it doesn't feel like I ever will. It will get better eventually, I know, but it doesn't feel like it at this point. My brain feels like mush. The question becomes, does my brain feel like mush because of the lack of sleep, or does it feel like mush because of all the bullshit the politicians, Clinton and Obama and McCain and others, feed us this campaign season? I personally think a little bit of both.

A dying man needs to die, as a sleepy man needs to sleep, and there comes a time when it is wrong, as well as useless, to resist. Stewart Alsop

The cows wandering up to the feed truck looking for hay on a very beautiful day. Taken 1/23/2008.

Two year old heifers enjoying their hay on a wintry day. Taken 1/20/2008.

Cows waiting for some feed during our recent snow. I won't go so far as too say they are tired of winter yet, they love feed being delivered to them, but I think they could do without the wind and cold. Taken 1/20/2008.

The cows eating their hay as the sun comes up in the morning. Taken 1/8/2008.

The cows eating on their hay. They could have probably gotten by a little longer without it but i have more than enough to get through the winter so I started feeding. Taken 12/26/2007.

Cows waiting for feed. Sorry, I can't work up any more creativity than that. Taken 12/25/2007.

The cows drifting in for their cake on a beautiful Christmas morning. Taken 12/25/2007.

The cows waiting for there ration of cake on a snowy day. Behind them is one of the haystacks of winter feed for them. You can't see it all but there is about 500 tons of hay in this stackyard. i truly don't believe I will have to feed a bit of the hay in this yard this winter. Taken 12/21/2007.

Good looking cows. What else can I say? Taken 11/27/2007.

The cows had a good scatter grazing until they saw the pickup. They thought they were going to get fed so were following the pickup around. Spoiled Cows, a little snow on the ground and they think they need a bale of hay. Taken 11/30/2007.

It was one of those bright, clear, cold mornings yesterday. The temperature was 10 below and the sun was shining. It makes for a crystal clear look to the air. The cows were sure enjoying the sunshine. Taken 12/2/2007.