Our Backyard....
Dear Ones-
Saturday we got blasted with a snow storm. It was the anniversary of Grandma Hazel Palm's death and of '97 loss of 50 of our ranch steers down below. I know folks are anxious for moisture especially when things have been so dry but for Dan a big storm at this time of year feels like the kiss of death. We have 2/3 of our cattle and some of them are now in rough pastures pretty far away from the homestead. We figure we got about a foot of snow and it was 2 above this morning. It is warming up considerably now at 38 but it is going to take some real melt to bare up the ground for our critters to be able to forage something to eat. In the meantime he has to get to them to get them something to eat.
The Tractor clears a path for the pick-up loaded with feed
Dan drives the tractor and me behind with feed...praying all the way.... Believe me it was some pretty trick and fancy driving on my part...
Our ranch works well most of the time with only one guy but storms like these are backbreaking. It means that simply getting to the haystack (Dan usually feeds only "cake"-rolled, compressed grain) is a major project when snow is piled everywhere. They need more than cake during this time when there isn't any bare grass. So Dan and I mounted an expedition on Sunday and got one third of the herd fed after some very backbreaking labor. At times he was walking in 3 feet high drifts.... and at one point dragged three bales and cake (I dragged that) to a fence that we couldn't get up to without getting stuck (Dan's worse nightmare). But we did it... under very adverse conditions!
One Frosty Customer.....
Some Other Eager Beavers
Dan Lured a Big Bunch from Behind a Hill Where They had Shelter- that's Dan with the two in the bottom of the picture
Here They Come to the Hay Wagon
On to Breaking Ice so They can Get a Drink...
Dan: A Master Feeder
And then the Count.... check out Chugwater in the background....
Sharing a Bite....
Today they beefed up the crew.... Brother Jon and friend Ed came to lend a hand and some brawn. We are so grateful!!! I did fine but lifting bales at 5'5" from out of the tall pick-up is not my gift!?!?! So this is how they looked as they started off for the Harry.... our largest and furthest pasture. I am home waiting with enchiladas for them when they get back.....
The New and Improved Crew....
All whining aside.... it was beautiful out there and Dan and I were together.... but still Spring is just around the corner, right?!?!
Happy Easter to all! Christ is risen....He has risen indeed!
Dear Ones-
4 comments:
You 5'5"??? I don't think so lynnie. Good post. your married to stud if he can still pull that off at this point in his life. good pictures.
Char
Well-5'4" and 3/4 but who is counting! Yeah- I think he's a stud... thanks for commenting! I love them!
Great pictures! It looks like it was a huge chore for you guys, but I'm sure the cattle were so grateful.
The photo "sharing a bite" looks like a scene from Lady and the Tramp. Did they almost kiss?
Happy Easter to all.
Yay for a blog post (helps us commenters comment). Gosh, I do hope spring is around the corner. It's been an incredibly wet winter/spring and the rivers actually have water instead of just trash in them. But people's mud roofs are starting to soak through, so we need a little sun. Thanks for your great email, my substitute computer has broken, too, so I may not give you a proper note for another week or so, but will try.
love,h
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