|
2/22/07
Winter just keeps going on and on. Last week we had snow five of seven days. It as usual started late in the afternoon and the next morning the sun would get to it making mud on all the roads. But at least there is light at the end of the tunnel. The days are getting longer and the sun is getting stronger. The warmth of the day is beating the cold of the night. The shade and timber is still holding about two feet but where ever the sun can get we are down to 50% snow cover at the H.Q. and out on the range it is only about 25%. We just get a lot more snow here in the H.Q. valley ‘cause it sits at the base of the mountain and all the cold air settles down in here and also we done get the wind blowing and clearing it out as much. Two days in a row we got up to near 50. I was out riding and left early when it was cold. About 11am it was like ice cream melting out there. I swear you could hear the earth thaw and release it’s winter growth of frost. Water started running everywhere. Not just the draws and canyons but even on the flat ground water was moving and pooling. I was riding Gambler and he hated it, the regular step, slip, slid, splash, sink, stumble kinda day. Now as I write we have heavy snow and 30+ MPH winds at 12 degrees.
The elk have really moved in our winter country, I saw a couple herds of two hundred or more. They are there because of the supplement I put out for the cattle. Every year when the snow and sun have leached the nutrients out of the grass the elk come in and feed on the supplement. I rode up on over a hundred at the intersection feeders and they just drifted off and waited for me to leave then ambled back to lick up way more than my cattle ever do.
The wolves are around, one here at the house last week, several out around the cattle. I have been out there when ever the snow wasn’t coming down side ways.
Our Save The Ranch Sale is going well. A lot of you called in your reservation and gave deposits, which I really am thankful for. We have four trucks on E Bay and they are doing well. Former employee Tanya from Mn. soon Wyoming bought the 2001 F 250.
Maggies dad has been in the hospital so she is headed up to Michigan next week for a week leaving me here to eat cereal and wear dirty socks.
Nate took the last couple weeks off but will be back Monday to help me gather some steers I spotted and a couple cows who aren’t wintering well. Overall the cattle are doing great considering the winter, I’m glad I sold those older cows last fall when they were good and fat.
The horses are all better now after their Sale Sickness. I guess it didn’t matter about the quarantine any way. Every horse all over the place got it. Even the ones out in the North trap who never came within 1/2 a mile of the sick one and who we never had any contact with. But at least it came and went fast.
That’s the news. |
