Cold and Dry

It's been cold and dry here since the snow last week.  One of our stock ponds froze over.  Mark chipped out a piece, and it was over 3 inches thick, so we've been playing around on the ice.  "Iceskating" in our shoes or sliding on an old boogey board down the bank onto the frozen water.    There is still patches of snow too.   

While we've been having fun, we've also been a bit worried.  We have basically no grass for the cattle.  First time in our 10 years here where we actually need to feed.  It's a big responsibility and a big cost.  We knew it was going to be a long winter, so we bought more hay this year.  With the increase in the hay cost and buying more hay, we have actually spent double the amount we usually spend. We are beginning to think we are going to need more.

In September we had a good rain and it brought up grass and we were hopeful for a miracle fall.  It's happened before.  Early rains bring up grass and more rain and temperate weather brings on a good stand for the cattle.  This year though it rained and then the spigot turned off and the grass died.  First time we've seen that.   We were talking to an old timer the other day and he said he has never remembered it being this dry in December.  It kind of sends shivers down my spine.

We've sold off a couple old cows who lost their calves, but we might need to sell more.  I feel bad for them, but it's the reality.  Hay is expensive.  One nice plus of feeding the cows every day though has been how much gentler are already gentle cattle are.  Petting a lot more than just my pet cow Perse and our pet bull Mr. Johnson.  Gotta look on the sunny-side.  That's what I always try to do anyway and in the big scheme of things our life is good and we are alright.