February
February 1-28, 2002: No Guests
Friday, February 1, 2002
Ahhh back in the sun again. Cool thoough only about 45 after
an over night low of 13. Up top Frank had a low of -12. Maggie
and I sorted a load of heifers and we hauled them down to the
farm. They sure liked getting their teeth into that good grass
and alfalfa. We fed the Mineral creek pasture horses and came
back for another load of heifers. I hauled them to the farm
and started working on cleaning up old fence and wire before
we put horses there. We hauled 30 heifers and left four bulls
and a couple real small heifers here that we will feed a bit
longer. There is some great scenery as I work around the farm.
Looking up at the snow covered mountains they are so close
and so high you have to tilt your head back to see the tops.
Walked all the fences and checked all the ditches. A lot of
work to be done in a short time. I have over 6 miles of irrigation
ditch I have to clean before we start water flowing in a month.
My ass and the backhoe seat will get to know each other pretty
well.
Sunday, February 3, 2002
Weather is getting better. There was just a skim of ice on the
water tanks this morning. Today it was mostly sunny hi of about
50. Yesterday was spent at the farm picking up more wire. Not
too exciting but was fun watching the different birds come
and go around there. The river runs along side the hay fields
and there are a couple ponds around. So the water birds really
come in. I saw Canadian Geese, five different kinds of ducks,
Blue Herons, Sandhill cranes, a couple long beaked birds I
didn't know. Also the usual big winter birds, Golden Eagles,
Bald eagles, Red Tailed Hawks, A Black Hawk, which is pretty
rare. And several Kestrels and Coopers hawks. Lots and lots
of smaller birds and some really strong lunged song birds all
making plenty of music. The heifers seem to be plenty happy.
Today I went to the Upper ranch. First time in over a month
I think. I have meetings with the Forest Service this week
so I needed to get a bunch of files and reports. About 4 miles
above Reserve I started to run into snow. In just a couple
more miles I was stopped and chaining up all four wheels. Man
I hate that. Having to get down and get all wet and snowy,
and usually a glob of snowy mud has to fall out from under
the truck and get ya some time. I was under dressed. I just
wasn't thinking when I left home. No long johns..haven't worn
any for weeks. No snow boots, just shoes and a light jacket.
By the time I topped out there was a solid two feet of snow.
The roads weren't too bad, there were well packed tracks but
all the way you could see signs of where others had slid off
the road. I got to the H.Q. to be greeted by Frank who at noon
was in his insulated coveralls and knee high snow boots. He
chuckled as I got out in my shoes and sank in the mud and snow
that makes up the driveway this time of year. I spent a few
hours getting stuff pulled together before I went visiting
the horses. All that are here are the mares and young stuff,
like weanlings, yearlings, and two year olds. They all looked
good. The three poisoned yearlings seem fine now. Mares are
starting to show their pregnancy a bit now too. I couldn't
get out of there fast enough I tell ya. It was a lot slicker
as I headed off the mountain after the sun had melted some
and it was now refreezing at 3 pm. Man it's a whole different
world up there. When I got home it was balmy and could have
been a May day. I really don't miss the winter at all.
Thursday, February 07, 2002
Weather keeps getting better. Highs have been about 60. Lows
just at freezing. Up top its been in the 40's and lows in the
single digits. Spent the last two days gathering up all our
horses we had scattered around the area and getting them all
settled in the hay fields at the Farm. We have 34 there now
and let me tell ya they are some kind of happy! I have been
worried about the irrigation ditches around the fields, worried
a horse wouldn't see them due to the weeds and run into one.
But I guess my horses are smarter than I give them credit for,
so far so good. They are all much better off out there. Good
feed lots of room to move around, and no rocks. I pulled a
bunch of shoes off and wormed everyone before turning them
out.
Monday, February 11, 2002
Quiet weekend. Went to Silver City on Saturday. Got food for
humans and horses and some more tires. The days have been warm
but the nights have been getting pretty cold. Down in the mid
teens. Sunday Maggie and I rode around the Cedar Breaks just
for fun. It's a great place to ride. She was on Zeno and I
rode Dakota. While up a tight little draw we came across three
head of Alan's cattle. They were pretty wild, breaking brush
as they high tailed it out of there. We were out for a fun
ride so we didn't give chase. Today we headed up to Roberts
Park, Maggie was on Ben and I was on Doc. The mission was to
find steer calves that were big enough to sell. I'm two months
behind on my mortgage so we need to find a bunch. Maggie packed
a lunch and we had plans of making it an all day deal. Plans
didn't work out as usual, but for once the change was in our
favor. We pulled into the Park corrals and there were about
65 head around the tank. We unloaded and swung on. Eased around
the bunch taking a look at what was there. It was a mix of
mine and Rockin' Arrow cattle. Theirs are having a tough winter.
Most of them are out of southern Arizona and just not doing
well. Mine on the other hand look really, really good. We saw
we had 8 big pairs mixed in so we started working those towards
the corral. It just went too well. They headed right in, cows
we didn't want seemed to know it and peeled off. The ones we
wanted went right through one gate, around a corner and through
another into the small working pen. We closed 'em in, cut the
calves from the mommas in about two minuets. Dismounted, tied
our horses, backed the truck to the chute and loaded 'em right
up. We had ridden about eight minuets and the whole deal took
about ten.
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
Another great day after a cold night. I went up to Roberts Park
again today. Maggie had to stay home and do her own work so
it was just me and Doc. Most of the morning was spent getting
in a few head that had gotten over onto the Cross Y ranch next
door. I first found two heifers, some I had hauled up there
a week or so ago. They were easy and gentle going along about
a half mile to a gate. No problem, good start to the day. Then
I saw a cow way off a mile or so on a hill side. The Cross
Y folks have no cattle in the pasture that adjoins ours so
I figured it was mine. Doc and I headed over there and let
me tell ya it was classic lower ranch rough. Cobble stoned
with potato and melon size rocks, there is no place a horse's
hoof could land without being on a couple rocks. Finally we
got to her and she moved along real well for awhile. Got her
to the fence and started down it towards a gate a mile away.
About half way she spotted some cattle in the proper pasture
and wanted to get to them and started getting stupid running
around in circles and up and down the fence. We just kinda
stood back and kept her somewhat contained till she settled
down. We had lost a little ground. Got her going along the
fence but reluctantly, she kept trying to turn back but Doc
was tuned in and kept her lined out. But Doc is too focused
on cows sometimes. When he's working a cow, even just trailing
along behind one, that's all he sees. He trips and stumbles
constantly, relying on his supreme balance and athletic ability
to recover. It keeps you always on edge. Almost to the gate
which I was going to push her past before opening it, Doc stumbled
and didn't recover till he was nose and knees on the ground.
It whip lashed my waist. A searing POP between my legs shook
my whole body. The pain was the kind that caused instant sweat
and nausea. I reeled in the saddle for I don't know how long.
Doc knew something was wrong, he stopped walking and stood
still as I gripped the saddle horn. Finally I got it back together
and was able to open the wire gate from horseback. Of course
as soon as I got it open the cow makes a break but not back
up the fence, oh no, she heads due west deeper into the wrong
pasture. It was too rocky and I was in too much pain to do
anything over a trot. Doc stayed even with her but we just
couldn't get ahead to turn her back. Finally she got tired
after about a half mile and stopped. We turned her around and
she headed back nice as you could please and when we got within
sight of the gate she went right in. Doc and I headed back
to the truck. Fortunately I have Doc trained to take a mount
or dismount any where. I side passed him along side the truck
and slid from his back into the bed of the truck and stretched
out letting him graze. I stayed there an hour or so and was
feeling better. I loaded Doc and drove over to the Park corral
tank. Just like yesterday there was a bunch there. I got Doc
out and slowly climbed into the saddle. He stood rock solid.
Good thing he's really short too. From then on it went like
magic. I found three good sized pairs as well as an old cow
of mine who was looking poor with a big heifer calf by her
side. I figured I'd haul them home and take the heifer to the
farm and the old cow to the sale. I got 'em all penned with
Doc working the best he ever has, sorted and loaded in about
15 minutes. Not bad for a cripple fella and a great horse.
I am getting to where I really hate weaning a calf. I was going
to eat my lunch there at the corrals before driving off the
mesa but the bawling mommas got to me. Long mournful wails,
worry and confusion in their eyes. The calves don't bother
me so much. That may seem strange but I think it's because
I know all these cows pretty well. The calves I just know in
passing. At home I got to looking at the old cow, her old green
ear tag was faded but I was able to make out the number 1.
I remember putting that tag on years ago and remember the excitement
I had felt with the first cattle of my own. Kinda put a knot
in my belly. I crawled into a hot bath for about an hour. My
awesome wife doing chores for me again. I think I set myself
back a month in my healing. I had just begun to move almost
pain free.
Thursday, February 14, 2002
Weather is holding warm and dry with cold nights. Yesterday Sid and Stuart
Allgood from Alabama stopped by. They were on a road trip and came to see their
horse. They bought Chilli last summer and haven't had a chance to get him back
home yet. They were around for a couple hours. I spent most of the day at the
farm working on equipment. Got a few things done and found more that needed
being done. I'm not as sore as I thought I'd be. The day working around here
was good for me. Today I trailered taking Doc with me and met John near Ellis
tank. He had called last night and said he'd seen some big steers there. When
we got to the tank we found a couple big pairs but also a cow of mine that
was crippled. Something wrong in her shoulder. We pushed the pairs up to the
Ghost ranch, about a mile. There we penned 'em and cut the big calves off.
Then took my truck back to the tank. This time of year I always have portable
panels on the side of my trailer. Our plan was to get the truck to the tank
and set up panels there. Easier said than done. The tank was only 1/2 mile
off the road but rough and full of trees and stumps. My poor dang truck took
a beating but we got it there. The cow was not cooperative and got grumpy pretty
fast. We tried doing it the nice way, hay and encouragement. That didn't work.
So John threw a loop around her horns and tried dragging her. We got within
20 feet of the trailer then she locked up tight. Johns big black horse Sug
couldn't budge her. I was right along her on Doc beating on her with a stick,
twisting her tail, hollering. Doc was biting her and she just stood solid.
Just about the time we were looking for new ideas she broke and ran, almost
on top of Sug and went right in the trailer. I moved fast as I could swinging
off Doc and running to get the inside gate on the trailer closed. She got to
the far end and saw it was no way out just as I got to the gate. I swung it
but it didn't catch. Just then she hit it. That heavy steel gate came flying
by less than an inch from my face in a blur, slamming into the other side of
the trailer with a terrific bang. John had gotten the rear gates closed so
I was locked in with her. It was pretty cozy. She came at me, I swung a foot
back and let loose like a place kicker catching her right in the nose as she
lowered her head to hook me. It had the desired effect, complete surprise.
She backed up giving me enough room to take a second swing with the gate. This
time it latched. It sure got my heart going and the adrenaline pumping. We
then went back to the Ghost Ranch, loaded the steers and headed home. Right
before chores I took Gambler's stitches out. It looks really good. He was a
perfect patient, till I went to worm him. He cracks me up. He locks his lips
so tight it makes his whole face scrunch up. Finally after a lot of sweet talking
I was able to get the syringe in and dose him. I did the others around here
but when Dakota and Ben saw what was going on they hightailed it down to the
far end of the pasture. I'll get 'em in the morning.
Friday, February 15, 2002
Well some sour news came along last night after dinner. Frank
called and said he had a little problem with the Dodge. He
went on to tell a tale of going to Reserve for Feed and Food.
On the way back with a ton of grain he came around the corner
and met the fella who runs the Rainy Mesa Ranch. His name is
Donnie, we call call him Flash. Young guy, seems pretty nice,
been over there a couple years. Now when I say Frank met him
I mean head on at 20 some mph. He described what happened and
said the truck got pretty banged up. It's not drivable as the
radiator had a hole punched in it. He figures 3k to 4k in damage.
The only two guys in all the mountains and they have to run
into each other. What can ya do? Lyndsey got back from her
vacation last night so I told him that the two of them need
to tow the truck home and I would try to get up over the weekend.
I spent the day on the road. Going to Reserve, getting mail,
feed and food. The afternoon was spent working on the tractor
trying to still track down an air leak in the fuel system.
No Luck. The weather has been a nice as ever. Highs in the
low 60's. nights are a bit warmer, about 30.
Friday, February 22, 2002
Not really sure where the last week has gone. The Olympics have
drawn me away from my nightly writing. Of course the big story
is Sarah Hughes. I have been a big fan of hers for many months.
Not that I follow figure skating but I had read a couple articles
and seen a few interviews. Here I thought is a real good kid.
She didn't seem to be a prima donna with her own tutors, private
meditation rooms and the like. The way she skated, throwing
caution to the wind, living for the moment and the sheer pleasure
of it was inspiring. I had a lump in my throat when she won.
Some of the other countries say we are being too patriotic,
screw them!! have been pretty wound up lately. A few days ago
I had a message left by the District Ranger saying the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service was considering putting a wolf holding
pen on our range. This would be for wolves that were being
moved from Arizona for killing livestock. That was left Friday
afternoon. Of course by the time I got the message...2pm ....
he had left for the day. Well I had the whole weekend to chew
on this, and boy did I. At 8:01 Monday morning I called his
office and was surprised he was already in. Well he told me
what was up and I in my usual sensitive and tactful way told
him what I thought of the idea. I was kinda loud and verbal
and probably I did myself no favors. This is a new guy, he's
been here less than a year. He has not dealt with the wolf
issue. It was hot a issue a couple years ago. They shoved the
wolf recovery program down our gullets. Placating us with the
promise they would only release them In the Wilderness area.
Well that hasn't worked out so well and I think they are tired
of having to pack into the Wilderness to care for their dogs.
So now they need pens that are in a better, easier to get to
place. Oh, I was hot! I finally settled, the ranger stated
he was not in favor of the program..ummm not sure I believe
that one. He said he would set a meeting with the wolf people.
The meeting was today at the courthouse. A good crowed showed
up for short notice. There were the county commissioners, U.S.F.S.
and U.S.F&W, and a dozen or so ranchers and others. It
was just a meeting to "update" us. It stayed pretty polite,
I was probably the most obnoxious letting a few comments slip
out. It was decided we would have an open meeting next week.
We'll see what comes of it. The weather keeps getting nicer
if you don't want rain. Hi today of 73!!! low 39.
Had a new hand arrive today. Young, 19 yo kid from Tx, nice
kid but ya can hardly understand what he's sayin'. First time
away from home..we'll see.
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