2007

Dec '07
12/21 Merry Christmas
I don't want to talk about cattle, the weather, markets, and the such. We just hope that each and every one of you is safe, warm, and loved. This is a special time of the year and we thank everyone for their support and friendship!

12/17
Once again the weather has been dominate in our life here. We have went from drought conditions to pure mud and then winter set in in with vengeance. We've spent a lot of time moving hay and cattle around. Cold, wind, ice, freezing rain and snow have really kept us hopping to keep the cattle fed and dry. We have been breeding and doing some flushes so trying to keep an eye on heats in this weather has been interesting to say the least. We've also moved several calves and hauling is a real challenge.

We were fortunate that we only lost power part of one night and lucky compared to many parts of the country.
My mom has had a bout with her back and legs and unfortunately she got some drug interaction and we really had our hands full with her for about a week. A few phone calls to 911 and sorting our what was going on my poor sister was just about at her wits end! Fortunately we were able to get her straightened out and got all the cattle in to brace against the snow blizzard we got over the weekend. We had a big pot of veggie soup, a cozy wood fire, some movies and football on TV and just relaxed between feedings.

12/3
Most of my time lately has been spent getting everybody fed, bred and planning ahead for next year. Too much bookwork and researching for my little brain to take in! And of course there is the 50 - 50 - 90 rule: Anytime you have a 50-50 chance of getting something right, there is a 90% chance you will get it wrong!
I think every cattleman, even when times are hard gets a real rush at calving time and planning for the next crop! This has been the most challenging year I've ever experienced and there have been days when I was about ready to throw in the towel but every time I see these calves it makes you pull up that belt and dig a little deeper.

Nov '07
11/27
The weather has certainly turned to winter with cold winds and a lot of rain! We've had almost 5" rain since the NAILE and mud abounds! I'll take cold and frozen any time over cold and rain. You know, there is a difference in summer mud and winter mud. Summer mud is around for a day or two then dries up- but winter mud stays with you until it freezes and turns back to mud 10 or 12 times until spring!!
Thanksgiving was rather quiet. We spent time with our mothers and brothers and sisters. Nina spent Friday & Saturday decorating for Christmas and the house is filled with memories and decorations. Although joyous it will also be a low key Christmas since the hay & feed took most of our money for the year. But I'll trade presents anytime for peace, love, & family.

11/15
We had a great time at the NAILE! It was 70 degrees with some rain and we had an excellent turnout for the annual meeting, banquet and show. The competition was tough but had some luck and brought home some ribbons. We got to meet many members in the association to the breed that we had not met yet, board members, and friends and thank everyone for their help and encouragement.

We were very proud that MIF Jade got Reserve Grand Champion Senior Heifer and along with her sister MIF Jaci got Champion Produce of Dam honors for their Dam Bud's Bess.
Our Ms DKB Krista received 1st place honors as a senior heifer and TLC Kami, MIF Gracie and MIF Jaci got 3rds. For us with limited recourses, help , and experience we felt very lucky.
Today has been "put-away day" and it's been rather cold with a NW wind. The heifers I'm sure feel their world is upside down being turned out with the cows and no special feed! Their showlife is only a small portion of their job here - being productive dams is #1 for us. It's time for them and us to except that winter is coming and get back to work.

11/4
Although it's been a relatively mild fall it's beginning to change to the season with increasing drops in the temps every day. We are still having quite a bit of wind and today it's really getting with it! I tried to bale corn stocks last week and one day it blew so hard I couldn't keep the windrows together. Three times we tried to bale only to have breakdowns but finally finished Saturday. I have been so busy with calving, baling and getting ready to go to the NAILE seems it's been dark every day when we get into the house.

After rinsing the heifers Nina made a big pot of chilli and we watched some football and took it easy today. Monday starts the crunch getting everything packed and ready to head south.

10/21
Has this weather been crazy or what? Here it is the late part of October and still very warm and even tornados! We have had a couple 3/4 inch rains but we are still very, very dry. The winds the last few days just rattle everything and keep your eyes full of dust. Nina managed to brave the wind yesterday and took some pictures of some of the cattle sunning themselves.

We had a big week of working cattle, got all the cows preg checked, everyone wormed and vitamin shots. We only had to cull a couple cows and sold some calves. This is a year for tough management decisions and the winter will test us to the bone.

10/14
Seems the older I get the busier I am, the slower I get and everything needs repaired! Nina's car has just given her fits. The darn thing would just quit running or wouldn't start. Turns out it was the fuel pump and naturally it was in the tank so had to take it to the dealer and have it fixed. You ever wonder who designs these things? He sure didn't have to work on one!
We've gotten a little rain and the grass just sucks it up and believe it or not I think it thinks it's spring and is trying to grow. We baled a little hay and it's the best we've put up all year. We still need to put up some corn stocks - everyone is and it's a crazy year for winter feed.

10/1-10/3
Wow ! Where does the time go? I know it's fall, football is back, but it sure doesn't feel like fall with temps in the 80s. We got a little rain last night - enough to settle some dust and I know that I'll be complaining before long about the mud & cold!
Busy this morning doing some bookwork and taking orders for some freezer beef.

Sept '07
9/4 - 9/28
No I didn't evaporate - we got a computer virus and had to quit uploading until I got it sorted out and besides I've really been busy!
We considered taking some cattle to the Missouri Braunvieh Sale and spent some time moving and sorting cattle around but between the hot weather and the associated costs we decided not to. Then we finally got some rain and cooler temps around the 11th & 12th. Our anniversary was the 15th so we took some time off and just laid low . After that we started bring cows home from outsourced farms, did some weaning, sorting, weighing, and giving shots. In between all my regular chores and the extra things that fall bring to get ready for winter, talking to folks and showing them the calves there just isn't enough of me to go around. Nina has been working a lot of hours lately too.
I spent about 4 days clearing some trees out of a lot and cutting firewood for the winter. Man I'm getting old!! My back still hurts! It's going to be a very challenging winter for many. Our cows look good but I don't like feeding what should be winter hay & silage now.
The show heifers for the NAILE are looking pretty good and the club calves are really nice and ready for new homes. They are so spoiled it's ridiculess! We sold 3 calves this week and I will miss not having them around but I'll be glad when the rest are gone and not having so many to feed.
Some of the "kids" & the "old man"!

What a change in the seasons! Fall is officially here and it's really changed to match the date this week. Although it's been really hot & muggy here for September the temps are dropping, the leaves are changing and harvest is in full swing. It has been one of the hottest Septembers for years and we are still about 8" short on rainfall. We had a record amount of 90 degree days for the summer and I'm not ready for such a change so fast!

9/3
For those of you who follow this page you all know that this has been a really tough year both personally and in business. Although the weather has turned to the beginning of a beautiful time of year with cool evenings and warm days, things greened back up from the drought, we've had another local tragedy with the untimely passing of a friend & neighbor Pat Paris. We just bought standing corn from him a little over a week ago for silage and although he has been having heart trouble it is still shocking when someone younger than you dies. Our sympathy goes out to his family.
I can hardy believe it's Labor Day already and summer is over. We love fall and all that it brings but hate the thought of winter coming! Everyone have a safe and happy holiday.

August '07
8/28
It's been another busy time and we have had some much needed rain but no large amounts that some areas have had. We needed the rain but certainly did not want the flooding that many areas got! It made putting up the silage off & on but finally finished last evening. Hopefully this will offset the lack of hay this year and we would like to thank some helpful neighbors Roger Selke, Jim Mcquern, & Stu Snodgrass with the use of their equipment and Pat & Lee Paris for the corn.
Thursday we took a load of heifers to get feet trimmed so their a little gimpy the past few days and Friday we had another fall calf - a Braunvieh x Angus bull calf.
Sweet Little Ike

8/20 (afternoon)
News Flash!! Since early this morning when I was typing I went to the field to cut silage. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. By the time I got the first round completed and the wagon full it cut loose in buckets and soaked me! There is a saying in our household that - "if he cuts hay it will, and I repeat, will rain! Well, it hasn't hardly rained a drop all summer and wouldn't you know it - it rained! We haven't put up much hay this summer and haven't had the opportunity to test the theory so guess I should put up silage the 1st of June.
8/20
It was a short night as thunderstorms came through all evening but we got little rain - just lots of lightning & thunder. It had been a very busy week and yesterday was no exception! I was busy getting equipment ready to put up silage and we had our first fall calf - a beautiful red angus heifer.
                    It's been so hot & dry and we really need the rain but I sure don't want it with storms. Around midnight I was still awake and heard a lot of bawling so I got up to check on the cattle thinking it could have been another cow calving but turned out to be the calves.
Pictures say it best so here's a little of our week.

I gave Nina the day off Sunday and she went with Ron & Allie Vice to a horse show and had a good time. She needed some R&R!

8/14
Seems I just don't have the energy or time to put anything down lately. Hot and dry has not been the word for our weather. We've had around 21 days of over the 90 degree mark with high humidity and only a drizzle of rain around the 4th & 5th with no sizable amount since the 26th of July! You don't even want to eat supper until about 9:00 and then just fall into bed and crash!
The creek running through our property is drying up and the pond is down about 16". All pastures are burnt up and stressed and we are still supplementing with hay - what we have and it's of little value. We spent almost a week cutting some burnt up grass and baling it up but there will not be any winter supply I fear. We are trying to get our hands on some standing corn for silage and hopefully that will work out. It seems so crazy that even with the high prices of corn that silage would be about half the cost of hay!
We have some of the nicest calves this year and they are really coming along with their breaking. They really enjoy the baths and fans. The truth is they are spoiled rotten! Just can't believe it's almost September, many of the fairs are over and everyone is out scouting for next year's pick.
All the flyers are coming in the mailbox seems every day - heck, I could almost feed our cattle for the winter in what some spend in advertising for one catalog! I know that we are really removed from what goes on in the "big" circles but I can't even imagine putting on a sale and feeding everyone a steak supper and have the Charlie Daniels band for the evening's entertainment!

July '07
7/24
It's back to dry again and little chances for any rain. We are getting some heavy dews of a morning and that's the only thing keeping any grass alive. It seems as though all we get done is play musical chair moving cattle to a little grass. The 1 3/4" of rain we got sure was a blessing but we need at least 2-3" to pull through the next month.
Property & local income tax issues have been the HOT topic around the state lately and tempers are flaring. It seems as though every corner you turn now days there is some burr in your shorts! If the high costs of just living aren't enough, add the increases of producing ag products and they are proposing tax heights on local areas as much as 65% and some areas have had 300% increases in property assessment!

While I'm on my "soapbox", a guy outside the neighborhood bought some "not so good farm ground" for a high figure, has taken out 50% of one tract and put a lake in and now we have been notified that he intends to build a bed & breakfast! Now when I first heard of it I laughed because there is nothing - and I repeat nothing to draw anyone here for that type of business but I'm sick and tired of so-called investors thinking that they have the right to supercede the rights of others, take agricultural property that has been farmed & ranched for over a 100 years and turn it into a golf coarse, housing addition, or bed & breakfast - say nothing of the rights of the adjacent property owners !! From politics, to big business, to the cattle business barons, foreign countries and their trespassers, lawyers, and insurance companies it's time to kick some butts!
And , I guess while I'm blowing off some steam - I've been connected with several associations, clubs, and organizations over the years and I don't think that I've ever seen such power struggles and cheating as what is going on with our cattle industry and showing events. I'm not going to start naming names but it must stop. People, there is plenty of room & opportunity for each of us and each should have the same rights to produce, market, and show our products as the next and on a level playing field.

7/18
We've finally got a break from the high temps and are getting some drought relief with significant rains. It has rained on & off the last three days. Things were getting to the point of no return when it came to pasture and the creeks were drying up. It's really amazing how well the corn crop looks. On the upside the humidity has really been low for this time of year keeping the stress off the animals. Not sure I can say the same for their owner!

7/9
It's sure hot and drying out again. Yesterday we heard the dreaded words no cattleman wants to hear - "the cattle have broken out!" Checking some of the cows and calves at one of our outsourced farms we discovered that the fence was down & destroyed in one area and one cow (thank goodness) was in the cornfield! Turns out that some dogs had chased them and she just went right through the fence. I got her in and had to go get the trailer, herd them up and trailer them home, and go back in the heat of the day and mend fence. We were very lucky for there is nothing like trying to find and remove cattle from about a 150 acre cornfield of 7' corn!!
We've been beginning halter training some of the calves - it's kinda funny watching them step on their leads for the first time and try to figure just what the heck is going on.

7/3
For many this will be a time of celebration, picnics, fireworks or travel. For some it will be a time of flood and devastation. Our hopes and prayers go out to you.
Well we have gotten back a lot of the moisture deficit and things have greened up and are growing. I think the corn grew a foot over night with some of the first rains. Although things are much improved most pastures are hurt beyond the point of coming back enough to sustain grazing, the first hay cuts are without much value and hording and greed in the hay segments are unbelievable! The cattle industry has suffered much in the past two years with the droughts, heavy rains, and input cost increases and we are no exception. Our hearts go out to those in the southeast and southwest who have just been hammered. When disasters like those hit it effects not just those folks but everyone with the ripple effects.
Thanks to Gary Olsen and his sons from Illinois for stopping buy and having a look see at our cattle. We are always happy to see interest in Braunvieh and what they have to offer.
We've gotten up a little more hay, have most of the breeding done and before we know it the county fairs will be starting and a lot youth will be at their best.

June '07
6/20
We finally got a little rain - 3/4" Sunday & 3/10ths Monday. I never thought I would be happy with a little mud on my shoes! We still have a long way to go to get out of this mess with around a 9" deficit with the lack of rain and all the wind but we will be grateful for any. We did manage to put up a few small bales of hay over the weekend but the "hay wars" are still going on. I have never seen anything close to this in my life as the way people are acting. Really makes you think twice about what would happen if there was a food or gas shortage! It's going to be a real struggle for us and many others across the country. I've been looking for a recipe for "snowball silage" as the feed will be in short supply this winter! Ha
We did not get to attend the Jr. Show at Kentucky but congrats to all the participants for all their hard work.

6/10
Some of our replacement heifers of various ages. Three fullblood and two are purebreds.

6/9
Once again all the rain fizzeled out before it got here or went around us. What they call the I-70 corridor to the south of us seems to be the line for any storms and rain. To add injury to insult Thurs we got the high winds from storms around the Chicago area - 35-45 mph for about 16 hours that just about ripped everything up and made us just that much dryer. If this is spring - summer should be a real treat!
We are going to pull some cows off pastures today and move them to a farm south of us about 20 miles. Much of our's is burnt and ate up. I talked to the fertilizer guy this week and fertilizer would cost about $430 a ton (the same fertilizer I paid $180 a ton a year ago)!!! It's in short supply, and it won't work if we don't get moisture anyway! He has hay and said one 9 acre plot he has made 2 1/2 round bales total !! We plan to cut about 30 acres this weekend and are hoping for better results. I'm hearing that horse people have been paying as much as $7 a small square bale for not so good stuff already! Wow!!
The heifers sure enjoy their daily rinses and fans. They are looking pretty good. I lead them out every evening to an outside lot to exercise and eat hay and they just jump and butt each other not realizing how hot it was outside all day! Sometimes I think when you lead them they are saying to one another - "Watch and I'll show you how to lead a human"!
Have a nice weekend.

6/4
Yippie-Skippy!! We got some much needed rain. It was only a 1/4" here but we're not complaining. It looks as though we may get a little more this morning and it's down right cold out! You can almost here the grass sucking it up and with temps cooling down it will take a lot of the stress off both the livestock and the crops.
Spent most of the afternoon yesterday doing a embryo transfer for the Pendletons and delivered a bull to Jim Morton. I would like to finish our breeding before and if we go to Bowling Green for the Braunvieh Jr. Nationals. If we can put up hay then that will take priority. Hope your pastures are green!

May '07
5/29
Whopee! Rain! Well almost. It started rumbling around here Thursday afternoon but that's about all it did here. From then until this morning we got a grand total of 3 tenths of an inch! Just enough to make the yard green up and need to mow it but at this stage we'll take what ever we can get. It's been much like August here with dry, hot conditions. We have cracks in the yard, it's muggy and apparently we've traded mosquitoes for horse flies! Yes horse flies in May!
Hope everyone had a good Memorial holiday weekend. We got our flush done and had good luck with it and some other cows bred. At least the weather cooperated with the breeding. The heifers sure do enjoy the fans and their rinses. Nina did some clipping yesterday on them.
Grace getting a little work on setting up

5/23
It's DRY! We haven't had but a tenth of rain since mid April and it's just crazy! We have had nothing but rain & mud for almost a year and now can't get a drop!! The freeze we had in April really put the hurts on all the pastures & hay and now the lack of moisture may just finish things off. We cut a little hay last weekend but need to get the rest of the 1st cutting in the barn.
We are doing a flush Friday and have about 2/3 of the breeding done. One customer brought in 3 for us to breed and have several bull buyers in or called this week.

5/14
The past few weeks have been a blur with all that's been going on with my Dad and trying to get things done around here as best we could. Last Tuesday Dad passed away putting away his suffering . He was a good man that loved and cared for his family and we all owe him a great deal. I would like to thank all those for their support and prayers through this ordeal.
The weather has been beautiful with lots of sunshine and warmer than normal temps. I thought I would never wish for some rain but it's very dry from all the wind that we've had and the pastures and hay look a little sad. Between the early frost , then heavy rain and now this dryness we could use a little normalcy to the weather patterns.
We got several cows bred last week and have been setting up a donor cow for a flush. Hopefully all goes well. I have a customer coming in next weekend with a cow and two heifers to breed and embryo transfer.
I hope that all you great gals had a good Mother's Day - we really appreciate all that you do for us!

5/4
It's been a nice week weather wise and busy as usual. We set up cows to be breed this weekend and will set up one of our donor cows for a flush next week. I think most of us get a real kick out of watching our calves being born - it's like opening Christmas presents, and can't wait to do it all over again when we start the process.
An old friend of mine, Tim McCormick, which I have not seen in a few years stopped by and visited for a few hours and it was really good to see him. We've had similar life dilemmas and he had to be a caregiver for his father as well and it was helpful to talk to someone that understood what I'm going through with Dad. Dad is not doing well and it's really sad to see him in his condition. An old cowboy I met years back told me if you have the honor of having a good horse, a good dog, a good wife, and a good friend then you have truly been blessed. I can say I have been blessed and doubly blessed when my father was both a good father and friend.
We had a visit from Jim Morton and his wife and showed him the cattle and they have decided to use one of our bulls. Jim has a good eye to know what makes a good set of calves and it made me feel good that he could see the quality in our bulls.
The farmers are running day and night putting in the corn and I've never seen such a stir in the media and coffee shops with the prices of crops and fuel. The prices of gas are going through the roof again! I just don't see how many are going to make it with the expenses we have to bear. It just amuses me how everyone complains about the price of fuel but there are cars going everywhere at all times of the day , normally only one person in every vehicle, no one is cutting back on trips, and think that corn is going to solves our problems. Oh well, eating was always overrated!

April '07
4/22
What a difference a little sun and heat can make on your attitude! It's just been really nice and we've been able to put cattle on pasture, work on lots, mow, weedeat - all those great things of summer. We even got to set up our camp site and have a cookout! We are down to our last calf to come and have some really nice calves this spring.
Our Angus bull was sold Thursday night at the IBEP sale and the sale was a good one. Prices held up fairly well for this part of the country and the high grain prices.

4/15
The weather is so ugly I just won't talk about it! We had 3 more calves this week and 2 to go. We have been busy but still not doing what we would like to be working on. The sun came out today and we got a few pictures but you will have to excuse the mud.

4/11
Time is still in shortage around here and April Fools came just a little late! The first 3 days of April were hot and sunny giving me plenty of reason to work on fencing and the like with temps almost 80 degrees! Then on the fourth the bottom dropped out with SNOW, wind and falling temps. Before the end of the week we were in below freezing temps. All the flowers, blooming trees, and the like really took a hit. To add a little more stress we had to put my Dad in the hospital and by Monday enter him into a nursing facility. We are now trying to move both Mom & Dad in the center which has opened up a whole new road to travel. It's sad when you reach this point but sooner or later we all have this problem.
We are still calving and as much as we enjoy it we will be glad when we are done. Hopefully the weather will turn soon and we can get everyone on pasture. The fencing is almost done and have been making mineral feeders this morning. We got Sid back home from the IBEP bull test and he is one fine looking young man! Dale, our Angus bull in the test will sell one week from today.

4/1
I know I haven't been on here much but we've really been busy with all the spring chores and calving and that's just more important! Sometimes I think I need to clone myself to get everything done. (The world & Nina couldn't handle two of me!! ) I've also been wanting to get some nice pictures of the spring calves and update the For Sale & Club Calves pages . The calves have been really nice with low birth weights and hair.
Two of our fall calves, MIF Dragon Dancer and MIF Grace Lynn (Fullblood Braunvieh) are going through halter breaking and may have promise for the show ring and become part of the herd.

We have been getting some of the test data back on our bulls in the IBEP bull test. Most times in tests, ect. shortcomings of how things are done are normal. The testing is bias to Angus but all in all a good test and we are pleased with the data from our bulls. Don't get me wrong, we raise registered Angus as well as Braunvieh, but they still show too much fat and fall short in ribeye. I would also like to know the feed efficiency of the various breeds and individuals. Our Braunvieh influenced cattle will still outgrade and be more efficient against them most every time. There are some plans that the Braunvieh Association will sponsor a National spring and winter bull test and sale in the near future, one in the west and hopefully one in the east to get more test data on the breed and a better way for "breed" producers to examine their results and the smaller producers like us to sell their animals on a more level playing field.

3/28 3/31
The first flowers of spring are popping their array of colors and the trees are budded out. On and off rain keeps things from drying out but fence work and spring cleaning goes on. We actually got the mower out, serviced it and Nina did a little mowing! I often wonder how all those people find the time or the need to leave for spring break?? I sure am glad we're making all that "corn moonshine" so they can go everywhere and our fuel, fertilizer, and feed costs are through the roof while the value of our cattle is down!!

3/18 - 3/27
The 1st day of spring is just around the corner and spring is always a bag of mixed emotions for me. Guess I'm like a kid at Christmas waiting for all those calf presents to come! And the weather can turn you inside out with glorious days of sun & warmth then turn to cold with wind driven snow or rain and turn your smiles to frowns. We've had some exceptionally warm days but also had a large amount of rainfall. The grass is beginning to really green up where the water isn't standing driving the cows and me crazy!
We've had some great looking calves and can't wait to get them on the pastures to watch them frolic and run. There is a real sense of pleasure in seeing the results of your long labors, planning and expenses turn out the way you hoped. This will be another year of hard management decisions to see profits in the cattle industry and we're sure glad to have efficient Braunvieh influenced cattle.

3/11 - 3/17
Wow! It's sunny and temps in the 60's! Still working on brush clearing, sewing some seed and repairing fencing. Daylight savings time has came in and for now it sucks! We get up at 5:00am and it doesn't get daylight until about 8:30 - seems like morning will never break and it's still light long after my body says it's time to quit!
We made a trip to western Illinois over the weekend to exchange a Red Angus heifer we bought from Will Andras that turned out to be sterile and saw a really good group of cattle. Nice people and cattle!

On the way home we stopped in and visited with our good friend Dutch Kennedy.
We got a thunderstorm Weds afternoon and I got my butt soaked before I could get back from the woods to the barn! Guess it will make the hay and grass grow but we didn't need this much rain. Thank God the little calves can stay in the barn to get away from the rain and mud! We have some dandy calves that should do well in the showring and I'll be glad when they are all on the ground. It's been to muddy to take some good pictures but promise to have some soon.

3/1 - 3/10
March has come in with wind but some sun. We worked the cattle giving them their spring shots, wormer and replacing tags. Of course Nina gave face haircuts and made them look a little more respectable. We still have a lot of snow on the ground, especially where it was piled up. Along with my patience for the winter weather, hay is in short supply and had to buy a semi load and I'll be glad when the grass comes.

The sun has been showing itself more and it has warmed up some and have been able to work in the woods clearing out junk trees and brush to give the grass a place to grow. I've got aches and pains I didn't know existed!!

2/26
This will be a February to remember for a while. We got hit with an ice storm and high winds over the weekend. It just doesn't end!
A BIG thanks to Mike & Eric - they came over and helped make repairs to the barn roof before the ice came in. Eric & I shoveled about 3 tons of snow off the roof & haymow floor Friday and gutted the damaged areas. Saturday in cold temps & 25-30 mph winds we managed to get things put back enough to shed water. We can't thank them enough.
Nina was a nervous wreck all night with the ice and wind. When we got up yesterday morning the wind had quit but was it a mess! The driveway had about an inch of ice on it and was it a trick getting to the barns to feed the livestock!! By about 10:00 the temps came up, it started raining and the water is flowing everywhere! We will have some massive flooding in this area before this is over.
Happy birthday to sister Darlene, mother Marilyn, and Joan Thorne.

2/22
The bad weather has been still giving us fits this week. We had tremendous amounts of snow on the roofs from the storm and suddenly this week it decided to get in the mid 40's and the sun came out. If your a little ahead of me you know what's next - Yup, part of the barn roof caved in from all the weight and we've had a real mess! I've spent most of the week trying to salvage and shore up what I can and dealing with the insurance people. It doesn't look like we will have the settlement until the weekend and they are forecasting rain Sat, Sun, and Mon!
On the brighter side we had our 1st calf this morning - a "bouncin" BR Midland Angus heifer. Guess we will be busy for the next 30 days!

2/15
Hope you had a Happy Valentines Day. We spent most of the day yesterday digging out. We got 14" of snow and the winds drifted everything closed. It's pretty cold but the snow & wind have stopped. All schools and most businesses were closed for a couple days but they are beginning to get the roads open.

2/13
February Fury!! We've been slammed with a real blast of winter! It's been snowing at the rate of an inch per hour since early morning with high winds of 30-35 mph causing blizzard conditions. They say we will end up with about 12-15" and the drifts are already 3 ft in the driveway. Most road travel is closed and the temps are dropping like a rock. We've battened down the barns as much as we can but it is still blowing in but the cattle are out of the worst of it. It's a good day for some hot soup and a fire in the stove!
South of us they are getting sleet and ice and we are sure glad not to be getting any of that. I sure hope those new calves don't come just yet and spring comes soon.

2/11
Wow it's cold! The weatherman says this may turn about to be the coldest Feb since the late 1800's. They are calling for another blast of snow, ice, and cold this week. We were hoping for some moderation since we are do to start calving within a week. We are hearing stories of calves freezing before they get dried off and several with frozen ears. We do have birthing stalls and heated areas but I can for see a lot of sleepless nights.

2/5
The last couple of weeks have been just a little upside down. Winter finally came with full force! I know that we were hoping for some cold to get away from all the mud but this is not exactly what we had in mind! Since I last wrote the temps have really dropped and had several days of wind and snow. All this last week and projected for the next 7-10 days have and will be in the single digits or below zero with bad wind chills. They are calling for another 3-6" of snow tomorrow. Sure hope it makes a turn around soon as we start calving in about 3 weeks. A friend of ours had two come early and they both froze.
Yesterday was an exciting day for us and the area as the Colts won the super bowl and I got to eat a mound of Nina's snacks, which was a special treat for me as I had dental surgery last week and could eat solid food again!

I won't say it was a quiet weekend here. We were all pumped up with the Colts game to say the least! Don't know if you watched it but it was unbelievable! Can't really believe we are going to the super bowl. Nina was jumping up & down, throwing things and neither of us went to bed until after midnight.

Between games went out to get some meat out of the freezer and discovered that the freezer was going out so took countermeasures and had to get a new freezer yesterday.

We got some snow here and Sun night it turned to freezing rain and the roads were a mess yesterday morning. Cold and windy today. I sure hope this weather pattern we have been in changes for the good. It's going to be a muddy, messy spring but I'll be glad when it gets here.

Busy week with tax appointment, breeding cows and the like.

1/17
Today in an article in Farm World, The writer Gary Truit really hit the "nail on the head" by showing the real truth about PETA. The story describes the devastating circumstances for ranchers trying to feed and care for their cattle in the wake of the winter storms they are enduring. As many as 340,000 cattle have been stranded in Colorado alone. Fences are burried or blown down, snow drifts are huge, and finding , feeding and caring for the cattle has been devastating.
So who came out to help when the call came?? Not PETA!! PETA spokesperson Reannon Peterson told Denver radio station KRFX in an interview the organization was not interested in helping out in the rescue and care of such livestock, blamed the ranchers, and after being repeatedly asked how an organization that was supposed to care about animals could let thousands starve replied, "Why are we so worried about keeping them just so we can kill them in six months?"

1/15
The winter blitz is on! Wow what a way to start the year! We been somewhat fortunate that we have only gotten rain here unlike the areas that have been hit with ice, snow, cold, and loss of electricity. I checked the calendar and for the first fifteen days of the year we have had rain 10 days & 1 with snow. Everything is flooded and saturated in the area and tonight the below freezing temps come in for the next 7-10 days. I hate the cold but maybe we won't have to deal with mud for a few days. We mostly stayed in this weekend and watch the football games to keep our minds off the weather. Go Colts!!

1/7
We hate to hear of the passing of one of the Braunvieh Association's outstanding members in Gene Thompson. He will greatly be missed and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family.
On the brighter side, congratulations to Joan & Abbie Thorne being honored as Pioneer Breeder of the year for 2006. We would love to be in Ft. Worth to be part of the show & annual meeting but time does not allow us to attend. Good luck to everyone!
Nina & I have been busy moving the chute, scales and supplies to the old shop to give us a heated and more user friendly area to work the cattle and a wash rack inside. No more standing out in the rain or dark trying to breed cows!

1/2
New Years' came and went here without much excitement. I guess at our age it's just a time of rest and maybe a good movie or football game on the tube! It didn't bring much changes as far as the weather as it has been the central theme here and much of the country all year. I don't believe I have ever seen a winter without snow and so much rain and mud! No matter what region of the country you talk about they have been dumped on all year by the same type weather -drought, excessive rain & wind, snow, or heat with no happy medium! The big lows that brought all the snow to the western areas came right through us and really screwed up our breeding and flushing. Our vet doesn't hold much belief that low pressures affect breeding but we have seen the results all too often. Oh well, strike one and go to bat again.