One hundred years ago was the infamous Blizzard of 1913

[Soapweed]

But a hundred years later, March 13th, 2013 was a beautiful sunny day, with a high temperature in the mid 60 degree range, and just a light breeze.

Here are a few photos from the past few days.

Heavy cows waiting to get turned out to hay

Lazy cats as seen through a dirty plexiglass barn window

Say it's not so; I'm not lazy, my work is done at night. :roll:

Livestock in the north corral

Hard-working member of the calving crew

Polaris partners

Peach preparing to pull a backwards calf

Annual bull buying pilgrimage

I came home happy, richer in bulls, and poorer in the pocketbook.

Enjoying a few minutes with my granddaughter

 

[Big Muddy rancher]

Did the dog help you pick bulls? :wink: :lol: :lol:

Has Peach ever tried a pair of latex gloves over top of the plastic sleeves?

I tried it last year and it sure makes wearing the sleeves nicer.

 

[Soapweed]

Did the dog help you pick bulls? :wink: :lol: :lol:

Has Peach ever tried a pair of latex gloves over top of the plastic sleeves?

I tried it last year and it sure makes wearing the sleeves nicer.

The dog helped very well by not being too badly in the way. :wink: These bulls impressed me with their docile dispositions. They seem to be in pleasantly plump condition, not too fat and not too lean. When they are run through to get fertility checked, they will get our Spearhead brand. They will be kept by the seller until May 20th, when we will haul them directly to the pastures where they will go with our cows.

I will pass the latex glove tip on to Peach.

 

[Bar M]

Boy o boy That Peach is quite the lady!!!!

 

[jodywy]

wasn't you a young Pup during the Blizzard of 49?
Mom tells about going to State Basket Ball in Laramie, and people in Rock Springs and rawlins had to come out the 2nd story of thier homes. Dad helped bale hay at loose hay stacks with a stationary baler and haul it out on the Desert to cattle and sheep down by Rock Springs.

 

[jodywy]

Like how Peaches has the OB gloves.... they usually come off about the 2nd try in with the chains when I wear them....

 

[Soapweed]

wasn't you a young Pup during the Blizzard of 49?
Mom tells about going to State Basket Ball in Laramie, and people in Rock Springs and rawlins had to come out the 2nd story of thier homes. Dad helped bale hay at loose hay stacks with a stationary baler and haul it out on the Desert to cattle and sheep down by Rock Springs.

I lucked out and missed the '49 Blizzard, having been born in November of 1951. The blizzards I do recall vividly though, are March 3 and 4, 1966; April 30, 1967; the whole month of March in 1975; March of 1977; March 11 and 12, 1988; and April 7, 1997. We lost 13 nice yearling heifers in that one, just ready to go to grass.

 

[rancherfred]

That blizzard in April of 97 got 10% of our calves. We had been having great luck and were at better than 100% thanks to some twins. When that thing came through the cattle started drifting in front of it and we ended up with calves scattered out over about 10 miles downwind. When it was over there wasn't a whole lot we could do but start gathering up dead calves. That was what made us quit calving in February and March and move to May and June. Now when the blizzards roll in I put on a pot of coffee and set down with my computer or a book. That is much easier on your nerves.

 

[ranch77rocket]

wasn't you a young Pup during the Blizzard of 49?
Mom tells about going to State Basket Ball in Laramie, and people in Rock Springs and rawlins had to come out the 2nd story of thier homes. Dad helped bale hay at loose hay stacks with a stationary baler and haul it out on the Desert to cattle and sheep down by Rock Springs.

I lucked out and missed the '49 Blizzard, having been born in November of 1951. The blizzards I do recall vividly though, are March 3 and 4, 1966; April 30, 1967; the whole month of March in 1975; March of 1977; March 11 and 12, 1988; and April 7, 1997. We lost 13 nice yearling heifers in that one, just ready to go to grass.

Seems like I remember the March of '77 storm. It was along about that time during calving that we had pairs in every available shed and barn out of the weather. I was away at college during the March '88 storm, so Dad dealt with that one. April 7, 1997 doesn't stand out in my mind, so it must not have been as bad farther east. Spring '95 was pretty rough going. We had about 3' of snow after equinox. March 20 -22, 2006 was as rough a deal as I've every been in during calving. There weren't blizzard conditions, but it snowed for about 60 hours straight with the wind primarily out of the east. Ended up with at least 2' of snow on the level and all of our facilities were so drifted full of snow that we could hardly use them.

 

[BRG]

That blizzard in April of 97 got 10% of our calves. We had been having great luck and were at better than 100% thanks to some twins. When that thing came through the cattle started drifting in front of it and we ended up with calves scattered out over about 10 miles downwind. When it was over there wasn't a whole lot we could do but start gathering up dead calves. That was what made us quit calving in February and March and move to May and June. Now when the blizzards roll in I put on a pot of coffee and set down with my computer or a book. That is much easier on your nerves.

That 97 blizzard was tough up here too. It was around 60 degrees here on April 5, April 6 it started to rain, and then that night the blizzard moved in. luckily the fall before we put a fence around our tree windbreak and we had all the pairs locked in. We did get a few calves to go through the fence and drift out on the dam down below. I don't remember loosing any on the dam as it was slushed over and they weren't heavy enough to fall through. I went out to get them and I went in to my armpits and then the slush gloved in around me and I had to be pulled out. My boots stayed. It was a long cold walk to the house with out any shoes and wet to my chest. That was a tough storm. Lost power for a few days due to the icy rain and the wind. That entire winter was tough!