Soapweed
Well-known member
My journal entry for Sunday, January 14, 1968
Today turned out to be about the nicest day since the first of December. It got up to 35 degrees and melted a little.
Dad and I rolled out at 6:00 since it was Sunday. We grained the bulls (22 two-year-olds, and 26 yearlings), along with two of the more "special" herd bulls, and came in to breakfast.
Dad drove up north and caked the cows while I grained the calves (about 190 calves and some "hospital" cows needing extra feed). The big bunch of cows was out of both hay and water [evidently there hadn't been adequate wind to run a windmill], so Dad opened a gate so they could graze and drink in the middle pasture. We then fed a little hay around the place and came in to get ready for church.
We arrived at church a little early, so Dad and I sat in the car and read the mail. About a full congregation made it today, but it seemed like everyone was just a tad late. Ken and I occupied the back seat and compared notes on the week-end. The JO Ranch was having about half of the faculty of the Merriman School out for dinner.
When we were ready to leave, the car wouldn't start. Uncle Stan had battery cables with him, so we tried to get it started with that method. All efforts failed, so we had to resort to pulling it. The car started right away then, so we soon bid our farewells and headed for home.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, we had a good dinner of shrimp and then we all sacked out for the usual Sunday siesta. I slept awhile and then read a little of PISTOL PETE by Frank Eaton. It is a pretty good autobiography of Oklahoma gunslinger.
Dad and I went out and did the chores a little bit after 5:00. It was nice out and about 25 degrees. The days are already getting a little longer, and when it did get dark, the moon made it almost as light as day.
Dad called my sister Nancy Jean's namesake, his cousin Nancy Jean McCallister from Woodlake, California. All of the relatives out there are getting along fine and might come to Nebraska next summer. The weather in California has also been cooler than usual, but I expect it would seem like summer to us "froze up" Sandhillers.
We sat around and watched the Smothers Brothers on TV a while, and then partook of a poached egg supper.
Also, for lack of anything else to do, we have really been shoving furniture around. The Midwest Furniture outfit from Chadron is bringing new carpet, a davenport, mirror, and some other things tomorrow, so we have to get ready for them.
A new coach and History teacher will come to Merriman tomorrow, so I've been kind of wondering what kind of guy he will pan out to be. He and his wife were some of the guests at Uncle Stan's place today.
It's getting to be about bedtime now.
Today turned out to be about the nicest day since the first of December. It got up to 35 degrees and melted a little.
Dad and I rolled out at 6:00 since it was Sunday. We grained the bulls (22 two-year-olds, and 26 yearlings), along with two of the more "special" herd bulls, and came in to breakfast.
Dad drove up north and caked the cows while I grained the calves (about 190 calves and some "hospital" cows needing extra feed). The big bunch of cows was out of both hay and water [evidently there hadn't been adequate wind to run a windmill], so Dad opened a gate so they could graze and drink in the middle pasture. We then fed a little hay around the place and came in to get ready for church.
We arrived at church a little early, so Dad and I sat in the car and read the mail. About a full congregation made it today, but it seemed like everyone was just a tad late. Ken and I occupied the back seat and compared notes on the week-end. The JO Ranch was having about half of the faculty of the Merriman School out for dinner.
When we were ready to leave, the car wouldn't start. Uncle Stan had battery cables with him, so we tried to get it started with that method. All efforts failed, so we had to resort to pulling it. The car started right away then, so we soon bid our farewells and headed for home.
Meanwhile back at the ranch, we had a good dinner of shrimp and then we all sacked out for the usual Sunday siesta. I slept awhile and then read a little of PISTOL PETE by Frank Eaton. It is a pretty good autobiography of Oklahoma gunslinger.
Dad and I went out and did the chores a little bit after 5:00. It was nice out and about 25 degrees. The days are already getting a little longer, and when it did get dark, the moon made it almost as light as day.
Dad called my sister Nancy Jean's namesake, his cousin Nancy Jean McCallister from Woodlake, California. All of the relatives out there are getting along fine and might come to Nebraska next summer. The weather in California has also been cooler than usual, but I expect it would seem like summer to us "froze up" Sandhillers.
We sat around and watched the Smothers Brothers on TV a while, and then partook of a poached egg supper.
Also, for lack of anything else to do, we have really been shoving furniture around. The Midwest Furniture outfit from Chadron is bringing new carpet, a davenport, mirror, and some other things tomorrow, so we have to get ready for them.
A new coach and History teacher will come to Merriman tomorrow, so I've been kind of wondering what kind of guy he will pan out to be. He and his wife were some of the guests at Uncle Stan's place today.
It's getting to be about bedtime now.