We are getting everything caught up around here slowly but surely. They had quite a rain snow storm west of us over the weekends with amounts of moisture well over an inch. We got less than a quarter of an inch so it never really slowed us down at all. It is the most moisture we have received since about June so I should be happy but only getting a quarter of an inch while areas received well over an inch is depressing.
The cows are out in the hills and worked, and the replacement heifer calves are out grazing and well weaned now. They did have a stampede about Friday night for some reason or another and took out as few fences and got scattered for some reason. First time in quite a few years this has happened. We managed to gather most of them up yesterday and put them where they belong and fixed the fence. They seem really calm and gentle, so I don't know why they spooked.
I had to laugh the day we moved replacements to their new pasture. They were only weaned about 6 days at this point and the hired hand went out and got around them to move them over. We got behind them and eased them around and they just walked ahead of us and calmly did everything we wanted. The hired hand was just stunned. He never in his life worked with fresh weaned calves at a walk. Usually it is a whip and spur adventure done at high speeds. I told him cattle disposition and knowing what you are doing makes all the difference. So why they went on a high lope and took out some fences is beyond me.
We gathered the bulls yesterday, partly to get some calves out of the pasture, and poured them this year. Sometimes I am a little lax about getting this done but this year I really pressed to get it done. We also had a couple of neighbor bulls in with them that needed returned home so I loaded them up and returned them to where they belonged.
Except for the lack of moisture everything around here is looking good. The calves still need bangs vaccinated and worked but other wise most of the fall work is done. Just staying up on normal odds and ends. What a relif to get most everything out of the way. A person can breath a sigh of relief.
Play so that you may be serious. Anacharsis
Tuesday, October 9. 2007
Caught Up
Monday, April 30. 2007
Farming
I know posting has been lacking here of late but I have been fairly busy and not had much time to post. I finally got all the cattle where I wanted them this week and got some farming done.
I finished the renovating Saturday, covered almost 800 acres in 4 days, and am now working on the field I want to plant. Should finish getting seed in the ground, 120 acres, by Wednesday at the latest. I have hated putting some of the cow work on the back burner to finish this farming but long term, the farming is just as important and needs done. Hell, if the cattle want something other than a snowball to eat next winter it's vital to get done.
I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but I have hired a new guy to work here and he should be coming in later in the week to start. It's so hard telling if a guy is worth it but what am I to do? I need a hand so I hired him. He has a large number of kids and the bunkhouse is a little small for the family but he says that it is just fine with him. Normally in a situation like this with a wife and kids, its the wife that doesn't like it out here and they leave because of that in the long run. We will see.
As soon as I get the farming done I have to get ready to brand all the calves I turned out. Not a lot of work to do but I will stay very busy. I won't say I am behind this spring but I am just on the edge of slipping behind on my work. Going like mad I am able stay on top but the extra hands will sure help start pulling it ahead around here.
One last thought, why is it that when some people are behind on their work, all they can do is stand around and complain how they are behind instead of trying to fix the problem? If they would just get busy and do something maybe they would catch up. I know its not easy to do, but a little initiative goes a long way to getting things done instead of whining about the problems all the time. I just can't figure people sometimes.
Never complain and never explain. Benjamin Disraeli
I finished the renovating Saturday, covered almost 800 acres in 4 days, and am now working on the field I want to plant. Should finish getting seed in the ground, 120 acres, by Wednesday at the latest. I have hated putting some of the cow work on the back burner to finish this farming but long term, the farming is just as important and needs done. Hell, if the cattle want something other than a snowball to eat next winter it's vital to get done.
I'm not sure if I mentioned it, but I have hired a new guy to work here and he should be coming in later in the week to start. It's so hard telling if a guy is worth it but what am I to do? I need a hand so I hired him. He has a large number of kids and the bunkhouse is a little small for the family but he says that it is just fine with him. Normally in a situation like this with a wife and kids, its the wife that doesn't like it out here and they leave because of that in the long run. We will see.
As soon as I get the farming done I have to get ready to brand all the calves I turned out. Not a lot of work to do but I will stay very busy. I won't say I am behind this spring but I am just on the edge of slipping behind on my work. Going like mad I am able stay on top but the extra hands will sure help start pulling it ahead around here.
One last thought, why is it that when some people are behind on their work, all they can do is stand around and complain how they are behind instead of trying to fix the problem? If they would just get busy and do something maybe they would catch up. I know its not easy to do, but a little initiative goes a long way to getting things done instead of whining about the problems all the time. I just can't figure people sometimes.
Never complain and never explain. Benjamin Disraeli
Monday, December 4. 2006
Different Doctors or Different Attitudes
Montanans work hard, play hard; area leads nation for back surgeries
I know exactly how this feels. Numb leg, excruciating pain, that's familiar. Add for me leg weakness, extreme pain when sitting, standing, walking, coughing, urinating, just about anything including sleeping. I went to the doctor in Billings for it and while the subject of surgery was brought up, it never happened.
So where do I stand? I still have a herniated disc that causes problems for me on occasion, my left foot is permanently numb on one side and I am on a schedule of back strengthen exercises to keep the problem from getting bad again. I will proudly say though, I have had no back surgery.
So what made the difference? Different doctors or different attitudes? I do know that when I first went and seen the back specialist after being referred to him, the first words out of my mouth were, "I want to explore all avenues of treatment other than surgery, do you understand me." The doctor was a little taken back by this attitude but complied with my wishes and went about a course of treatment.
Later in my course of treatment the doctor told me that most people just want the surgery as a quick and easy answer to their problems. He had never seen anybody with the determination I showed to push through the pain and get better without surgery. I told him I didn't have the time for surgery. It would put me out of commission too long and I needed to be home taking care of the place.
In the long run I am glad of the decision I made. It flares up occasionally but by now I know exactly what to do for it and I am able to get it under control without going to see a doctor. The best thing that happened though is the sessions with the physical therapist that taught me how to properly lift things. I can lift over 150 lbs from the ground and not hurt my back if I slow down and pay attention to the proper lifting techniques. That has been invaluable and saved me much pain and grief.
Attitudes make a lot of difference in how things are done. An attitude of a quick solution leads to a lot of expense. An attitude of work and prevention stops the quick solution and leads to an attitude of living with the situation and dealing appropriately with it at a much lower price. I've tried to live by this credo in all things I do and it seems top work pretty good. The quick solution always isn't the right one. Think about it.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill
Bill Renney blames most of his back trouble on a rock.
Renney's wife spied the lichen-covered stone last summer while the couple was hiking near Cooke City.
"She found a real nice rock," Renney said. "She encouraged me in ways wives can to get said rock."
So he did. The next day, his right leg went numb and pain began arcing out of his lower back.
"I couldn't sit," said Renney, a claims director for BNSF Railway in Billings. "I raised up my computer and stood for three weeks of agony.
I know exactly how this feels. Numb leg, excruciating pain, that's familiar. Add for me leg weakness, extreme pain when sitting, standing, walking, coughing, urinating, just about anything including sleeping. I went to the doctor in Billings for it and while the subject of surgery was brought up, it never happened.
So where do I stand? I still have a herniated disc that causes problems for me on occasion, my left foot is permanently numb on one side and I am on a schedule of back strengthen exercises to keep the problem from getting bad again. I will proudly say though, I have had no back surgery.
So what made the difference? Different doctors or different attitudes? I do know that when I first went and seen the back specialist after being referred to him, the first words out of my mouth were, "I want to explore all avenues of treatment other than surgery, do you understand me." The doctor was a little taken back by this attitude but complied with my wishes and went about a course of treatment.
Later in my course of treatment the doctor told me that most people just want the surgery as a quick and easy answer to their problems. He had never seen anybody with the determination I showed to push through the pain and get better without surgery. I told him I didn't have the time for surgery. It would put me out of commission too long and I needed to be home taking care of the place.
In the long run I am glad of the decision I made. It flares up occasionally but by now I know exactly what to do for it and I am able to get it under control without going to see a doctor. The best thing that happened though is the sessions with the physical therapist that taught me how to properly lift things. I can lift over 150 lbs from the ground and not hurt my back if I slow down and pay attention to the proper lifting techniques. That has been invaluable and saved me much pain and grief.
Attitudes make a lot of difference in how things are done. An attitude of a quick solution leads to a lot of expense. An attitude of work and prevention stops the quick solution and leads to an attitude of living with the situation and dealing appropriately with it at a much lower price. I've tried to live by this credo in all things I do and it seems top work pretty good. The quick solution always isn't the right one. Think about it.
Attitude is a little thing that makes a big difference. Winston Churchill
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