I don’t relish cutting, raking and hauling in bales

I thought we were never gonna get warm and was I ever wrong! We are now in the humid, horrible and unforgiving hay season that I hate.

You have never seen a cattle-raising man hate the season of raising feed for his cattle this bad! I don’t mind labor and I don’t mind long hours but I sure don’t relish cutting, raking and hauling in bales. Then you gotta figure out where to store the bales, how many to stack, and I don’t want to talk about it anymore!

My job as a horseman is fizzling out. Snip already knows all and doesn’t mind being boss when he tires of me. Jack knew more than me when he unloaded here! I figure a grand is gonna need my example when he turns five but right now he is interested in eating! I have started looking at ads in the free paper for kid ponies.

The joy of having grands is not over and I think another one is on the way! My female offspring is spending lots of time with her youngest sister-in-law who we never see in the mornings lately — good signs of an expanding family. Some grown and some brand new are the perfect blend!

I get out early so I can count and eyeball the herds. We turned bulls in the first day of June for the hoped-for spring calf crop. Not a thing going on there as the bulls are so glad to get out on grass! I finally decided to put some in the bullpen and picked out seven to watch. They are fun for me and I enjoy watching them change conformation as they age. I have some, maybe five or six 18 months old, I could sell. They are ready to service and won’t go to bones and hide when done. We put them out on grass and a little grain and they look ready.

We went back down in the woods and finished the clearing for a pasture. The offspring were so nervous and funny but, because of the fear of wild beasts, they worked fast! I was sorta surprised at the amount of work they could do in one day! The possibility of another cat is very unlikely but I did not mention it while we were making fast progress. That pasture is perfect for weaning and bunk breaking away for the cows.

I think I can finish this field and go to town for weed killer after lunch. The dew is so thick it takes until almost noon to dry enough to cut. We do have a pretty good wind today and I am parking the hay truck and taking the trip in the new pickup! The thistles grow tall in the night while just starting the day before. My close relative is sure to go with me and it will be a trip!

I wish I could see myself clear to use horseback for the means of transportation but the miles take too much time and I have very little to spare. The gas prices are on an upward spiral and, besides that, we find the groceries are too! I am going to buy a sow and raise some bacon and pork chops. We have potatoes out of her garden and lots of other stuff for salads so we are better off than some. I take produce to neighbor widows weekly.

We are in the cleaning up after vacation Bible school and do it after supper as it is cooler and more can come help. Our crew is pretty good size and we will be through after this evening. The church is small so I can last one more time.

Gotta do the chores at the barn rather late because of the church work and they sure act insulted if supper is late. The barn cats consist of about halfgrown kittens and several of the mothers are resting and getting fat. They work better at night and eat little cat food!

I am certain that I learned something today, maybe the terrible price of spray or that Barnard is selling his store and retiring. People farming aren’t spending hard cash for spray like they had been for several years. No one is waiting to move in so he is closing the door and advertising. I am sorry!

Hope everyone is healthy and has a gun ready, loaded and extra ammo. Remember the Alamo!