• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

A note to my city Bro.

Maple Leaf Angus

Well-known member
I just sent an email to my older brother, who lives in the city, to remind him what a country spring is like. Thought I would post it here to see if anyone else can identify with any or all of it.

Hi Bro,



Well, the weather we love well has arrived! We have had temps of 20 – 25 for the past few days with clear blue skies and mild breezes. The dry conditions lent themselves kindly to spreading all of the manure piles and now the pens and yard have their spacious, “spring-cleaned” look. With the nice, big spreader that we rent, it only took a day and ½ to get the job done. The winter’s manure from the livestock covered almost 60 acres.



The sons we have spread the workload nicely and made the job go quickly. I run the loader and they keep the tractor and spreader on the move. I am usually dumping the first bucket into the spreader before they have finished parking it by the pile, and then they are already leaving as the last dump is falling onto the load. That part of the job is enjoyable. But after 9 hours of loading yesterday, my arms and shoulders were screaming for a break. They will get one for a long time now, I hope. The old body is saying "ENOUGH".



It sure is tough to know how to unload my farming habits and interests. Not so simple as cleaning out the winter’s accumulation of cowpoop. That may be because what I’m trying to unload has not just piled up over one winter. Ach, what to do?



The grass is green again, but it would really do wonders if it had a little shot of that proverbial warm spring rain. The farmers are bustling around, beginning their spring seeding and rushing about as if the fate of the world hangs on their efforts. In a sense, I guess it does. I don’t think the world realizes how much it depends on the success of these people and surely does not sufficiently appreciate it.



Had our first calf 2 days ago and lots of the cows look and sniff at the new baby almost looking as if they wish it were theirs – “Let’s get this over with . . . “! There should be a lot of them that have their own little black youngsters in the next 3 weeks. The crop of wee ones sure is a sight to behold as they find their legs and momma’s teats, all within an hour or so of being born.



Yup, spring is a great time. It sure is remarkable how the hardships of winter melt away with the last of the snow banks.



Well, enough about this place! Hope you are well,

li'l bro.
 
Top