Soapweed
Well-known member
Today didn't turn out so hot! I piled out at 6:00 and what to my wondering eyes should appear, but about a foot of snow and one heck of a high wind. In other words, it was a blizzard.
After breakfast, we took off in the four-wheeler [there were no "four-wheelers" per se in those days, but this was describing our 1963 Ford F250 four-wheel-drive pickup]. First we went over to the windbreak and shed north of the picnic grove to see if any of the big bunch had found the shelter--most of them had.
We blundered around in the horse pasture in search of about thirty cows with young calves. They were found along the south fence. The four-wheeler had the caker on but no stockrack, so when the calves were loaded, Lloyd and I had to keep them in. Dad started driving homeward but soon we got stuck. We dug for quite awhile, but to no avail. Finally, Dad ended up walking home to get the tractor while Lloyd and I worked in shifts trying to keep the calves in.
We pulled the pickup out and again resumed our journey home, leaving the tractor idling where it was. Thirteen calves were delivered to the barn on our first trip and then we went back for more. We got nine this time and put them in the new garage, as it was more convenient.
Everyone was fairly pooped out and rather chilled so Dad called a warm-up break. We went in, changed clothes, and had a snack.
The air was thick with snow and visibility was almost zero. We made one more rescue mission and got a few calves. However, we were still some short. These were also put in the garage.
Dada got in the horses and the three of us saddled up. I rode Sassy, Dad--Penny, and Lloyd--Hawk Eye. We loped over to the east tree lot and bucked the wind back driving the yearlings. Dad and I then rode out in the horse pasture where we located another iced over calf. Dad was riding Penny so he loaded the calf on and took off for home. I followed driving three cows against the wind.
We got in for dinner at 1:00 and went out at 2:30. Dad rode out to do some checking on the big bunch of cows and calves in the middle pasture. Lloyd and I pulled out the stuck four-wheeler with the tractor [IHC 450] in the heavy lot. The knot in the chain froze, so this job was rather time-consuming. The pickup wouldn't start, so we had to push it into the garage with the tractor scoop.
The cows were put into the corral and their calves delivered to them. They rather enjoyed their reunion. We got three new calves today.
We looked through all the corralled cattle and put a few more calves into the barn. We came in shortly after 5:00.
I read "Last of the Saddle Tramps" by Melannie Wilkins and Mina Titus Sawyer until supper time. After supper, we bundled up and went outside for a final check before going to bed. Sybil accompanied us to get a little fresh air.
Most of our cattle are fairly well off as far as protection goes, but we didn't get a bit of hay fed today.
As yet, both electricity and telephone service are "still with us." We are all hoping the storm will let up in the very near future.
After breakfast, we took off in the four-wheeler [there were no "four-wheelers" per se in those days, but this was describing our 1963 Ford F250 four-wheel-drive pickup]. First we went over to the windbreak and shed north of the picnic grove to see if any of the big bunch had found the shelter--most of them had.
We blundered around in the horse pasture in search of about thirty cows with young calves. They were found along the south fence. The four-wheeler had the caker on but no stockrack, so when the calves were loaded, Lloyd and I had to keep them in. Dad started driving homeward but soon we got stuck. We dug for quite awhile, but to no avail. Finally, Dad ended up walking home to get the tractor while Lloyd and I worked in shifts trying to keep the calves in.
We pulled the pickup out and again resumed our journey home, leaving the tractor idling where it was. Thirteen calves were delivered to the barn on our first trip and then we went back for more. We got nine this time and put them in the new garage, as it was more convenient.
Everyone was fairly pooped out and rather chilled so Dad called a warm-up break. We went in, changed clothes, and had a snack.
The air was thick with snow and visibility was almost zero. We made one more rescue mission and got a few calves. However, we were still some short. These were also put in the garage.
Dada got in the horses and the three of us saddled up. I rode Sassy, Dad--Penny, and Lloyd--Hawk Eye. We loped over to the east tree lot and bucked the wind back driving the yearlings. Dad and I then rode out in the horse pasture where we located another iced over calf. Dad was riding Penny so he loaded the calf on and took off for home. I followed driving three cows against the wind.
We got in for dinner at 1:00 and went out at 2:30. Dad rode out to do some checking on the big bunch of cows and calves in the middle pasture. Lloyd and I pulled out the stuck four-wheeler with the tractor [IHC 450] in the heavy lot. The knot in the chain froze, so this job was rather time-consuming. The pickup wouldn't start, so we had to push it into the garage with the tractor scoop.
The cows were put into the corral and their calves delivered to them. They rather enjoyed their reunion. We got three new calves today.
We looked through all the corralled cattle and put a few more calves into the barn. We came in shortly after 5:00.
I read "Last of the Saddle Tramps" by Melannie Wilkins and Mina Titus Sawyer until supper time. After supper, we bundled up and went outside for a final check before going to bed. Sybil accompanied us to get a little fresh air.
Most of our cattle are fairly well off as far as protection goes, but we didn't get a bit of hay fed today.
As yet, both electricity and telephone service are "still with us." We are all hoping the storm will let up in the very near future.
