Smith Land and Cattle Co.
Claremore, Oklahoma
CR Journal
Welcome to the CR Ranch Journal. Look here if you are interested in our month to month activities at Smith Land and Cattle Co. Thanks for stopping by - Carol
Copyright © 2007-2009 Smith Land and Cattle Co. All rights reserved.
July was pretty normal month around here. We did get some moisture and it seemed to help the hay we managed to get put up. Have only one field left and will try to get it next week as they are calling for rain again, even if most of it is missing us.
Two grandgirls saw birthdays this month. Kate turned five and Ella three...ghezz they are already growing so fast. So now everyone is past the terrible twos. Ha HA ! Chad got his girls a electric musical piano and guitars and got Sophie one last month for her birthday. I asked him the other day if he regretted the choice yet as they were banging on it the day we were over and he said not yet! But I guess it hasn't been a month yet. Only a month or so now until we get to say hi to the new grandgirl, Yasmin she's due to grace us with her arrival around the first of September. Of course momma is to the point that isn't soon enough. I keep telling her to be patient, she will come in her own time.
The Fourth of July came and went, we got rain that morning so wasn't so worried about the fireworks everyone shoots off now. We even went and got some sparklers for Sophie as Mark & Brandi came out and we barbequed. Got me to thinking of growing up in a small town in Nebraska and how we used to celebrate there. It was something the whole town looked forward to. We had a big town picnic, there was hotdogs for everyone in Gottee Park, the fire department would set up the fire truck and even the adults would get in the water fights. Then there was the watermelon seed spitting contest, seem to recall I was pretty good at that one. And don't want to forget the parade, rode a horse several times in it . Never could figure out why the horses and all went before the veterans, then I finally understood one time as we went back so we could salute them and thank them for their service to us and country. Then as nighttime fell we got in my dad's truck and drove to Pinesbluff, NE. and parked along the highway with everyone in the back of the pickup to watch the fireworks. Was a great finish to the day for honoring our service men and women.
Lost a really great guy this month, went to the memorial yesterday for him, all the things people said were very true and I hope his family took solace in all the nice things everyone said about him. He was a cattleman and editor of the Oklahoma Cowman magazine. He made you feel like you were a friend, he was one of those guys that made an impact on everyone he met as I don't think he ever met a stranger. He and I talked cattle and family a lot. Won't quite be the same going to cattle sales and not seeing AJ at ringside. He will be missed.
We went to a theater showing of Wicked last week and there was a song in the last act of the play, that put a feeling into what I sometimes consider God's larger plan that he keeps trying to let us know. Here are a few lyrics of the the song, see if any of them ring true for anyone you know in your life.
I've heard it said, that people come into our lives for a reason, bringing something we must learn and we are led to those who help us most to grow, if we let them and help them in return Well, I don't know if I believe that's true. But I know I'm who I am today because of you.
May you remember to say, I love you to those you think know these things, until next time.
July News 2009
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August News 2009
We got all our hay put up and hauled this month. Sometimes seem like a never ending chore but it all got completed. We broke down and bought a new baler to finish the season this year as when we started of we thought we could get one more year outta the baler. Need I tell you how that went? Anyway the baler makes a smaller bale than we have gotten used to. a 4 x 5 instead of a 5 x 6. It does work beautifully without breaking down all the time. Production was down this year, just like all the neighbors we talked to around here about a third. So found some uncut fields pretty close and made a deal. Did have to haul a little over 200 bales but feel a little better going into winter.
I do have to get everything tested so will know what kind of protein I need to feed this winter, but got a call in to the extension guy and he said he can come in the next week or so. Had a couple of guys out from the NSCS to look at the creek to see if we could do anything about the flooding, anything we hadn't thought of that is. And no offense to them but they didn't have any suggestions that amounted to much. We did have a good morning riding the creek though.
Had the grand girls for a spell this month. All got to ride old Sugar and we went to the woods to find some fairies. Seems they were hiding, but we came upon some clams in the creek saw a snake and some fish and finished by making necklaces of the mussels. Having Sophie for a while the last part of the month, mom is getting ready for the new one and trying to arrange everything before the big day. Says September 1 can't get here fast enough. I spent on afternoon at the hospital with her with false labor, she seems to have quite alot of that. She did get mad when I told her to just breathe. The new fangled machines are pretty cool for the person not going through all that, as it tells ya when one is coming and mounting. Of course my daughter bless her heart didn't want to hear how I could tell by the machine a contraction was coming, somehow she already knew that bit of information. Oh well we are still waiting.
We did get most of the preg checking done for spring this month, results were good. I am always happy when that is done. Gave all the calves their first round of vaccinations so we can wean in mid September and will give second shot then. Finally got all the mares home and their babies, so we are a little horse poor around here. But sure is fun watching them all in the fields.
Had our first ET calf this last week so calving has started, regular girls should start the middle of September. Received an email from a friend in Arkansas, that had used Envoy 7012 to do some embryo work and has her first calves on the ground. She says they are looking good and one born in Texas, so will be interested how they work out for other people as we like the calves here.
