What’s Happening Here
October 24th, 2006 by Northern FarmerDay time consists of cattle work, moving more cows home, mounting gates and getting ready to catch some steers for sale and butchering. Four out of five cowherds are home now, one more to go and next comes weaning time. Music to my ears and to all the neighborhood for as far as that goes. That’s a boomer usually, three days of pure noise from cows and calves. On a calm night it can be heard for miles around. Even makes the house shake a bit, or should I say vibrates, no kidding, it really does. But through the years we’ve figured out how to sleep through it all. Take a box fan, put it in the bedroom on high to drown out the cattle noise. Crude, but works wonders. In putting together the cattle herds the bulls get acquainted with each other again and the bull fights can last for hours. But as of this moment the pecking order has been firmly established and things have calmed down without any tore down fences. The last bull to come home in the next few days is a Horned Hereford and that will take the steam out of the Angus bulls’ willingness to fight. Them horns are some good weapons and he will win even if he’s a few hundred pounds less than the top dog Angus bull. Such entertainment around here, eh. Who needs TV!
Just before dark we’ve been digging potatoes the last couple of days and I figure we got about four more evenings of digging. A super crop despite the terrible year. There should be enough to last a long time around here even in two households. But the fall gardening and planting never did happen this year, just two bogged down with all the work and sicknesses with other family members. But I figure I know all the right people to buy what I need so things do work out. Plus next year that gives me a reason to go visiting. There a bright spot in everything!
All in all things are on the move here, just not on their usual schedule. Can’t have everything but then again when things aren’t going exactly like your used to other things pop up that shows you how good folks really are. I can’t even begin to write how good folks are there’s just so much to tell. From getting help, to offers of help, to people understanding why I can’t get their cattle they ordered ready right on time, to people coming up to me with hay for sale that’ll really get us through the winter without the worries of running out in March or so. No fingernail biting and sleepless nights wondering if the cows will have enough. And one thing that’s guaranteed is that when you’re short of feed it’ll be a very late spring, feeding till the end of May. Been there, done that and don’t want to do it no more.
So that’s the status around here as of now and I thank the Lord for shorter days because it’s good to come into the house with the family and just quit for the day. A person’s tired but feeling good at the same time. This winter, well beginning the last couple of weeks, I’ve started taking Bible College courses that are equivalent to the whole first year of actual Bible College. Something I always wanted to do even when I was a downright heathen, it was always there and now here we go. I’m about one third done with the first course and just totally enjoy it. Allot of bookwork, hours of DVDs and more hours of CDs. And that’s just for one small part of it. No reading novels or anything besides the Bible this winter season. But I figure Bible College and farming can go hand in hand pretty darn well.
Something must have snapped in me because I can think of a dozen things I could write about tonight, but I’ll save it for the next few days. I just wanted to let folks know what I’m up to before I get things going around here full steam again. And the way it looks, it’ll be going full steam! The reason being, I don’t care anymore what folks think, or will think of what is written here, I’m letting loose from now on. The way it should be.
October 24th, 2006 at 10:49 pm
Hi Tom!
I sure can relate to your stories about separating cattle from their calves! Yup, I can remember how loud and mournful they can be. My parents used to have range cattle as part of a diversified farm before they got rid of it all to milk cows all the tme. That sure took the fun out of growing up on a farm.
Well, we had two weeks of cold, gray and snow flurries. Had me thinking we were facing a six month winter. Got me thinking I needed an extra large wood supply—not a bad thing even if the winter turns out to be mild. But the forecast may just give us a touch of Indian Summer this weekend and beyond.
Take care in all that you do!
May the Lord continue to guide your steps!
October 25th, 2006 at 5:24 am
Steven,
I sure do wish this weather would ease up a bit, it seem most of October has been November weather. It’s amazing a person can get anything done. All I can say is I Praise the Lord for a heated skid steer loader, what a difference from the older model! Plus I finally got the heater fixed in the old truck so things aren’t quite as miserable as they have been. Looking forward to chores now! Take Care my friend! God Bless!
October 25th, 2006 at 5:51 am
Bible college courses??? You changing the name of this thing to Preachin’ Farmer, or Northern Pastor??
. I’d do awful at something like that because when its cold outside, and the fires going, and I crack a book. Something happens to my eyelids until 4:30 the next morning. Hard to get through bible college one sentence at a time…
Have a GREAT day,
Brad
October 25th, 2006 at 6:47 am
Brad,
And just like regular readers, they’re from different denominations but with an eye on Jesus! My kind of folks. So for now this’ll be just the old fashion Northern Farmer blog. Well, time to get out there and start the feeding for the day, toodle doo!
Well, I highly doubt if I’d have what it takes to be a preacher, just want to learn and learn. But I am blessed here with what I can call resident preachers for this blog. First we got PJ to keep me out of trouble and I do know that there’s a couple more that stop by every day, some real men of God, (one with a wife that makes some darn good pickles), and I count on them folks to keep me on the straight and narrow around here. Otherwise who knows where I’d end up when I get a full head of steam
God Bless!
October 25th, 2006 at 8:46 am
Keep learning and serving our Wonderful Lord and Savior!
October 25th, 2006 at 12:30 pm
Lori,
Thanks for stopping by and I’ll give it all I got!
God Bless!
October 25th, 2006 at 10:44 pm
Hi Tom,
So glad you are encouraged again….hope God gives you words till He ushers in the Kingdom!!
October 26th, 2006 at 3:48 am
Tom,
The potato digging stirred another memory for me. I used to love time to dig potatoes up. My Dad would walk in front of me digging them out, and my job was to pick them all up. Ever once in awhile I would find one that was rotten. There’s no smell that can top that. Still, good times, huh? We didn’t quite have as many as you must-4 more days of digging??? Wow!
So, what got you so stirred up about not holding back on the words??? Not my business, but go for it!
October 26th, 2006 at 5:44 am
Mornin’ mornin……
Hope yesterday went well. Rain is starting to happen here. My rye is starting to take hold, so it looks like the hay might last through the winter.
I was thinking how much this dreaded shift from daylight savings time hurts me this time of year. I end up having to do everything by truck lights. Not bad except those dang’d goats catch on pretty quick and hide in the shadows so they can make their escape or get to the feed. Then its an evening of fun trying to put ‘em back where they belong.
Anyway, have a GREAT one,
Brad
October 26th, 2006 at 5:49 am
Cheri,
Thanks and I’m glad to see your back on your blog. Always an empty space when someone isn’t able to post. God Bless!
John,
I was out working yesterday and while pumping some water I opened my pocket Bible and this came out at me:
Oh yeh! Lots of spuds. I’m kicking myself in the butt for selling my tater digger years ago. There, another swift kick
2That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:
3Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
4And saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation.
10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up.
11Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat?
13Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.
14Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of him in peace, without spot, and blameless.
I guess I aim to be ready and not worry about man’s theories. That about sums it up. Thanks and God Bless!
October 26th, 2006 at 5:53 am
Brad, Things are moving along here with some pretty decent weather for once. Just getting ready for the final cattle moves home. Sore back, tired, but happy. In otherwords, near normal.
Them goats must be something else and I’m glad you got it in you to handle them. I think I’d just end up with allot of goat sausage and some memories of them if I was raising a bunch
Have a good one and God Bless!