December News 2007

 The weather started great for December. Then, look out; it hit us and most of Oklahoma late around the 8^th. We and about 300,000 that three hundred thousand lost electricity Sunday the 9^th.

The year started out rough, and is ending with the same icy stuff. It was just January 07 that we got hit with the last ice storm that knocked out electricity. We are one of the lucky ones that got it back one week later. Chad and Christie live in Tulsa and are still out the 20^th of December, not really sure when they will get it back.  

We used a welder for a generator so we didn’t lose the freezer. Put stuff from the fridge on the back porch, it was cold enough to keep the milk from spoiling. Also I cook on propane stove and two burners worked so made soups that lasted all week so we had something hot to eat. Found out later we were lucky we could get a burner lit, seems the stove has an electronic lighter and if the electric is off is supposed to shut off the propane also. Finally figured out the generator would power a small space heater, a portable TV and the freezer at the same time so got to watch the news and find out how really bad it was across the state. Ed even got his coffee in the morning, by unplugging something else in order to do his coffee. Later in the week finally found some kerosene for my grandma’s hurricane lamps, which gave off a lot more light than the candles.

 When I was in the truck and listening to the news, a disc jockey had people calling in to say how bad it was and to stay off the roads they were icy as well as the bridges. A caller called in to say, you guys need to stop scaring people, the roads aren’t bad or icy, just wet. First time I’ve heard a disc jockey at a loss for words.

And through it all we kept setting up cattle and breeding heifers. I will tell you though that it was great to get in the pickup for awhile on some days…. At least we could feel the heat all the way through to our bones. And it was fantastic to get power restored and be able to take a shower and feel clean. It must have been awful in the old days to survive with just a sponge bath all the time. There are so many things we tend to take for granted, like hot water you don’t have to boil and to bath anytime we want. Friend and I were laughing, she has a pot belly stove in their house and cooked on it and she said it made the room nice and toasty. But she was grateful for a shower when it came available too. I’ve offered our generator to a few folks that are still without power, so far no takers, say they have survived this long, all hoping not much longer.    

The bathroom is still an on going project. Maybe in the New Year. This is wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! See ya in 2008

October News 2007

October seemed to go by really fast. We are almost done calving, just as the weather is changing.  We got some really strange weather this month around our area. Some days it was in the 80’s then dropped 23 degrees in one day. Weather can sometimes play havoc with calves health, if it’s too rainy you have to watch for scours and pneumonia seems like there is always something, but that’s what helps keep us on our toes.

We had a lot of family in this month for a wedding in our barn, some were in Tulsa, at October Fest Wednesday night when the bad rain and wind storm came thru, luckily  the tent just blew over them, scared them some, but no big bruises or anything. Except my sister-in law from North Carolina says don’t invite her back for awhile.

Yes, we had a wedding in our barn and the guests had to use outside privies. We did however provide flashlights to find them as we don’t have an outside light beside the barn we held the wedding in. It went off without too much of a hitch and my daughter walked down a hay bale isle. And remember this is one of the ones that thinks I’m crazy for messing with cows all the time. Gads the things we do for our kids.

September News 2007

Whew, we got thru the month. Sometimes seemed like their was never enough time, in the day to get everything done. Just when I thought we were going to start drying up again we'd get blessed with a small rain. So grass kept growing. Guess sometimes I'm worried weather will come back like last year.

I'd like to thank everyone who attended our annual sale we had a great turn out. Weather cooperated and was gorgeous day. I think we had a record crowd. check out the news page for more info. We also had bidders from the internet this year, and thank everyone for their participation and bidding. And their wasn't any food left over. Ed cooked, so guess he will be the designated cook from now on.

We started calving some of the ET babies a couple of days before the sale , so we have calves again, gads I love calving season. Watching them run and play, helps remind us what we are doing.

Speaking of calves, Bill and Margaret from southern Arkansas reported back to me on a cow they got from us. Had a calf from the cow he bought last year from us that weaned at a weight of 678 at 198 days and ran him across the scales at 322 days and weighted 980 lbs. Weigh to go Bill! It's always great to hear back from a satisfied customer and friend.

We weaned calves, just after the sale. Then I left for St. Joe, went to the Angus Boot Camp. Of course I drove and got lost going round Kansas City, like always. We got to tour the offices and meet some of the people we are always talking to on the phone or through e-mail. Then sat down and learned more about the Angus industry and what the organization can do to help us in our individual states. Got to meet a lot of nice people from all over and it was interesting to learn how the Angus organizations work in their states.

Tulsa state fair started and Ed and I went to cheer some friends that show cattle. They did really well and every time I go to a cattle show I learn a little more. We started putting in wheat for late fall early winter grazing.  Until next month.....

JUNE News 2007   OK, So enough rain!! I think my feet are growing webs between them! Last month I was saying blessed rain. This month, it rained 25 days out of 30.  The native grass isn’t growing because no sunshine. Example…. Today is the 30^th of June and we had  sunshine for 3 hours, whew and we almost forgot what it looks like, we only got 1/2” rain today.

We flooded, only once in June, couldn’t get in or out past the usually low creek. The water was rolling up over the bridge, as for the low water bridges, you couldn’t even tell they existed. Ed had to let the horses out because they were up to there bellies. Thought for a while it was going to come into the barn, felt lucky it didn’t. Thank goodness, had moved all the cattle to higher ground the week before. If we hadn’t, we probably would have lost calves; the water was flowing so hard. Haven’t had as many feet problems as you might think we would with this much water, so am grateful for many things

It’s not as bad here as some neighbors to our north. They have shut down several highways and are evacuating people. Our prayers are with them.

The rain is growing the wildflowers, because we didn’t get the yard sprayed for weed this year, Kate is the one in the tutu.

Got a new grand girl this month, her name is Sophie Isabella, got to spend 8 days with her, so sweet and cuddly at that age. September seems like a long way off. Wished they lived closer.

So far we only got up a 200 bales of early hay, if the predictions of a wetter and cooler than normal July hold, doesn’t look to good for the native hay production either. Last month said we, was either praying for it to rain or to quit, guess I’m praying for it to quit for awhile. Hope you’re high and dry for awhile

May News 2007  May started with rain lots and lots of blessed rain! I say blessed because last year we were praying for rain. Some of the folks, I've talked to this year say enough for awhile. My grandpa, always said we were praying for it to rain or praying for it to quit, that pretty much describes the last couple of years. This year its come just about right and we are making HAY!! We are waiting for the rain to lay low for awhile so we can start haying some of that beautiful grass the rains have brought. We started spring breeding season, so has been pretty busy as usual.

Got asked to have the NE Oklahoma Angus annual picnic here this year, so am trying to get some things ready for it, in between breeding and normal spring stuff.  We take pictures for the fall sale the first week in June so trying to clip anything that hasn't finished shedding off yet. Boy, we don't clip many, it’s a small glimpse into what,  friends who, show cattle do and I don't consider it fun. It’s usually hot, clippers dull long before you’re done and seems like hair is everywhere by the time your done. Half what you took off the cow is on you itchy, itchy, itchy. My hats off to those of you that do this for fun!?!

Hey heard from some friends, Bill and Margaret, in Arkansas. They purchased a cow last year from our sale, they emailed to brag on their October calf, from Predestined that weaned off, without creep feed at 660 lbs. That’s just great and helps tell me, that what I'm trying to do is working! I really appreciate hearing from people and knowing that I’m maybe doing something in the right direction. Hope everyone has a dry Memorial Weekend and remember all our veterans present and past this weekend!

April  News 2007   Of course we had one more freeze to remind us mother nature is in charge. Knocked back the grass, oats ,trees, and flowers. Its starting to turn around slowly.   Hey, got to see the new grand daughter in the womb, isn't technology just too cool? She kind of looked like an alien, but was smiling in one picture. What we can do in the cattle industry with all the technology I always find fascinating, and Believe it or Not, it relates to what they can do in the human world. 

    Has anyone out there priced fertilizer and not fainted or at least not wanted to throw up. Prices just keep getting crazier. Makes it a little tighter and tougher every year.

    I was elected back on the Oklahoma Angus Association board, this month. I am the new vice president, so that should help keep me out of  trouble for a year  or two. Exciting News, The Junior Nationals are held in Tulsa this year and then in 2008 the National Angus Conference and Tour is going to be held in OK.

     We had a horse qualify for the Remington Park Derby with the fastest time, she came back and day lighted the field, was sure a blast to watch a natural athlete do her thing. She ran a 105 speed index and was just three hundredths off the track record. Her twin embryo sister won 2006 Champion Oklahoma 2-Year Old Filly, we went to a Awards Luncheon and received a really nice plaque for her. We raced her in 2006 and won the Futurity with her, that her sister won the Derby this  yea, pretty cool. Looks like Ed's horses are off to a good start this year. Picture is of the horse this month, since we are so proud of her.

March 2007 Spring has sprung.  Its come, so far bearing warm weather and moisture.  Daffodils are up, trees budding, grass is starting to grow and

best of all calves are frolicking in the fields. Got to do a bit of traveling this month, went to see some friends, Curt & Laurie Jaeger in Iowa and made it to Raleigh North Carolina for a family wedding, then to Florida to see our daughter.  Sure was nice seeing everyone, but was glad to get home. Never seems to be enough time. Of Course someone told me the older I get the faster time goes.  Don't know if I believe it's because I'm getting older. 

The oats we planted at the first of the month to help with pasture is finally coming up and is helping the first calf heifers a lot. We were lucky to get the moisture this month.  We'll see what nature brings, missed the last few rains this last week of March.