One week ago I woke up to minus twenty degrees and frozen pipes in the utility room.....today the thermometer topped out at eighty-one and I ran the a/c in the car. You gotta love winter in the country's heartland. No long johns or insulated boots needed today, and in fact, this long sleeve shirt is just a bit too warm. No complaints from me!
This time of the year I'm just thankful for any day that stays above freezing, especially as my cows are getting close to calving. There's nothing worse than waking up to a freezing rain, going out to check the livestock, and finding a half frozen calf clinging to life. Fortunately for me those times have been few and far between, and I'd like to keep it that way.
It was so nice today that I took Molly and Maddie, our two Labs, for a walk across the pasture to check on the progress of a couple of cows that are nearing their "time". We made this same trek yesterday, taking a side trip to the pond to check the ice that was still covering the surface. I was happy to see it rapidly melting away, but it was still a danger for the cattle who might venture out on it. Just last night a news story reported the loss of 52 steers that had fallen through the ice and died. A truly sad event, and a huge financial loss for the rancher.
While we were standing at the side of the pond both dogs decided to scamper out to the middle, and I could just imagine myself having to wade through the freezing water, breaking ice along the way, to rescue the two of them.
"Man succumbs to freezing water trying to save dogs"
This is not the headline I had envisioned to announce my untimely passing. Fortunately, both dogs made it back to shore without crashing through the ice and my "headline" remains unwritten.
Today, after a couple of days of high temperatures and sunshine, the ice is completely gone. Maddie and Molly again made a mad dash for the pond, and with only a second hesitation, splashed mightily into the water.....this time they're on their own....no rescue needed....I don't swim as well as either one of them.
I certainly hope this weather continues, and we usher in an early Spring. Our first calf of the season arrived this week and was greeted with near perfect conditions.....only 15 more calves to go....Surely they'll all be just as lucky, but what do I know.
Friday, February 18, 2011
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Is it too late for a "do-over"....
It's snowing.....again. The second major snow event in as many weeks, but this time I don't have anywhere I absolutely need to go, so I won't venture out beyond the ranch boundaries for a day or two. After all, there's plenty of work to do right here.
It's bitterly cold, with wind chills below zero which reminds me of a football game we played in Fairbury, Nebraska. The weather was much the same except for the snow. There was a little snow on the ground, but what I remember most is the field. It had evidently been wet when another game had been played, and the field looked as though a herd of cattle had tromped over it. It was treacherous footing at best, and now that the field was frozen solid, it was downright dangerous. What a miserable venue....but we played the game....and it hurt.....a lot.
In junior college I played running back, and was also the team's punter. There were times when, like the Fairbury game, I would get really beat up as a running back, then have to punt the ball into a driving, gale force wind. To me, punting was a sideline.....I made my living as a running back.
Sometimes my punts weren't very pretty.
We were playing a home game, and it was a beautiful fall night. There were coaches visiting from the University of Miami to scout a few of us and we were pumped. Miami had a long history of recruiting players from our little community college, so it was not unusual for them to make a visit or two. The year before, Kurt Schottenheimer and a couple of our receivers had signed with the team and they were doing well.
That night I had a good night running the ball, and two of my punts were boomers. After the game, a couple of us were greeted by the Miami coaches and asked to stick around to watch some Miami film and talk about the opportunity for a scholarship. It was an exciting time.
"Jack, we were really impressed with your punts tonight and think you're the guy we'd like to have punting for us next year. We believe that if we get you to a warmer climate, and concentrate on just punting, you'll probably add 5-7 yards to your average."
"What do you mean, concentrate on just punting? I'm a running back."
"We have a stable full of good running backs, what we need is a good punter."
"Not interested. I want to go to a school where I can run the ball."
Days like today get me to thinking about that conversation.....Do you know that the University of Miami used to have a picture of its Olympic sized swimming pool on the cover of its brochure? What was I thinking?
You think it's too late for a "do-over"?
Evidently, this whole "What do I know" goes way back.....
It's bitterly cold, with wind chills below zero which reminds me of a football game we played in Fairbury, Nebraska. The weather was much the same except for the snow. There was a little snow on the ground, but what I remember most is the field. It had evidently been wet when another game had been played, and the field looked as though a herd of cattle had tromped over it. It was treacherous footing at best, and now that the field was frozen solid, it was downright dangerous. What a miserable venue....but we played the game....and it hurt.....a lot.
In junior college I played running back, and was also the team's punter. There were times when, like the Fairbury game, I would get really beat up as a running back, then have to punt the ball into a driving, gale force wind. To me, punting was a sideline.....I made my living as a running back.
Sometimes my punts weren't very pretty.
We were playing a home game, and it was a beautiful fall night. There were coaches visiting from the University of Miami to scout a few of us and we were pumped. Miami had a long history of recruiting players from our little community college, so it was not unusual for them to make a visit or two. The year before, Kurt Schottenheimer and a couple of our receivers had signed with the team and they were doing well.
That night I had a good night running the ball, and two of my punts were boomers. After the game, a couple of us were greeted by the Miami coaches and asked to stick around to watch some Miami film and talk about the opportunity for a scholarship. It was an exciting time.
"Jack, we were really impressed with your punts tonight and think you're the guy we'd like to have punting for us next year. We believe that if we get you to a warmer climate, and concentrate on just punting, you'll probably add 5-7 yards to your average."
"What do you mean, concentrate on just punting? I'm a running back."
"We have a stable full of good running backs, what we need is a good punter."
"Not interested. I want to go to a school where I can run the ball."
Days like today get me to thinking about that conversation.....Do you know that the University of Miami used to have a picture of its Olympic sized swimming pool on the cover of its brochure? What was I thinking?
You think it's too late for a "do-over"?
Evidently, this whole "What do I know" goes way back.....
Friday, February 4, 2011
It's okay, I'll blaze the trail for us......oops!
Well, that was fun!
The wind blew, the snow flew, and my FJ Cruiser went in the ditch......how embarrassing.
Miss Elizabeth's Yukon was left sitting in the garage as we loaded up the cars. I insisted we take my FJ since it's the "go anywhere" vehicle, and we sure don't want to get stranded. After all, this was the blizzard of 2011, and it was nothing to mess around with. The wind was howling 40 miles per hour and the snow was falling at the rate of 1-2 inches per hour......Wait a minute, why are we even thinking of getting out in this mess?
Unfortunately, we had a family funeral to attend and there was no turning back. Here we go. Just in case the unthinkable might happen, I threw in some boots, coveralls, coat, hat and gloves. "Better to be safe than sorry" I said....it's the old boy scout in me. Never really expected to have to use those things.....purely precautionary. Did I mention that we live on a ranch.....way out in the country....off the beaten path....well, we do.
My eldest son was here from Wisconsin, and even he was concerned about the way the snow was piling up. He was driving his own SUV, but he would be following me as I blazed the trail. Fortunately, the service was a mid-morning event, and the brunt of the storm was yet to arrive. We were sure that we would be safely back home before things became totally impassable....In retrospect, that may have been wishful thinking.
We arrived at the church with plenty of time to spare, and no significant issues with the roads. We did, however, decide to postpone the graveside services. A quick glance outside confirmed that the decision was the right one, so we were back on the road home before noon.
It was a delightful drive.....
Drifting snow can be deceptive. Especially when the snow and ice on the windshield, combined with blowing snow, reduce the visibility to basically the front of the hood. Regardless, we made it nearly all the way home without incident, then a large snowdrift appeared.....a really large snowdrift....right in the middle of the road......no problem. I'm invincible in this here FJ Cruiser, and we'll plow right through it. Blaze the trail, if you will....Oops.
This car is equipped with a skid plate to protect the undercarriage from rock damage, and it does a great job. It also (much to my chagrin) creates a wonderful bobsled effect when the car is launched into the appropriate amount of snow, which is evidently about the size of the snowdrift we encountered. Suddenly we were on top of the snowdrift, sliding right along in my newly converted FJ bobsled....right into the very large ditch alongside this desolate, untraveled stretch of rural road....Oops, again.
Thank goodness for Rural Mail Carriers, who will not let a "paralyzing blizzard" keep them from their appointed rounds. Neither rain, snow, etc, etc....and all that stuff. It was great to see that little red jeep bouncing down the road. "Need some help?". "Yes........ma'am".
A short time later the red-faced FJ, and its owner, were headed for home....rescued by a jeep, and the mail lady! That's something that may be hard to live down, but then, what do I know?
The wind blew, the snow flew, and my FJ Cruiser went in the ditch......how embarrassing.
Miss Elizabeth's Yukon was left sitting in the garage as we loaded up the cars. I insisted we take my FJ since it's the "go anywhere" vehicle, and we sure don't want to get stranded. After all, this was the blizzard of 2011, and it was nothing to mess around with. The wind was howling 40 miles per hour and the snow was falling at the rate of 1-2 inches per hour......Wait a minute, why are we even thinking of getting out in this mess?
Unfortunately, we had a family funeral to attend and there was no turning back. Here we go. Just in case the unthinkable might happen, I threw in some boots, coveralls, coat, hat and gloves. "Better to be safe than sorry" I said....it's the old boy scout in me. Never really expected to have to use those things.....purely precautionary. Did I mention that we live on a ranch.....way out in the country....off the beaten path....well, we do.
My eldest son was here from Wisconsin, and even he was concerned about the way the snow was piling up. He was driving his own SUV, but he would be following me as I blazed the trail. Fortunately, the service was a mid-morning event, and the brunt of the storm was yet to arrive. We were sure that we would be safely back home before things became totally impassable....In retrospect, that may have been wishful thinking.
We arrived at the church with plenty of time to spare, and no significant issues with the roads. We did, however, decide to postpone the graveside services. A quick glance outside confirmed that the decision was the right one, so we were back on the road home before noon.
It was a delightful drive.....
Drifting snow can be deceptive. Especially when the snow and ice on the windshield, combined with blowing snow, reduce the visibility to basically the front of the hood. Regardless, we made it nearly all the way home without incident, then a large snowdrift appeared.....a really large snowdrift....right in the middle of the road......no problem. I'm invincible in this here FJ Cruiser, and we'll plow right through it. Blaze the trail, if you will....Oops.
This car is equipped with a skid plate to protect the undercarriage from rock damage, and it does a great job. It also (much to my chagrin) creates a wonderful bobsled effect when the car is launched into the appropriate amount of snow, which is evidently about the size of the snowdrift we encountered. Suddenly we were on top of the snowdrift, sliding right along in my newly converted FJ bobsled....right into the very large ditch alongside this desolate, untraveled stretch of rural road....Oops, again.
Thank goodness for Rural Mail Carriers, who will not let a "paralyzing blizzard" keep them from their appointed rounds. Neither rain, snow, etc, etc....and all that stuff. It was great to see that little red jeep bouncing down the road. "Need some help?". "Yes........ma'am".
A short time later the red-faced FJ, and its owner, were headed for home....rescued by a jeep, and the mail lady! That's something that may be hard to live down, but then, what do I know?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)