2016 = The Beginning

January 10, 2016. It's a crystal clear morning with a slight north breeze and a temperature of 9 degrees Fahrenheit. At least the ground is frozen solid so there's no need to be wading in the mud when I feed the cattle.


I sold three unbred cows last Thursday. Hated to get rid of them, but it makes no sense to carry them through the winter when no income will be generated from having  a calf this spring. So now I have 23 cows that will start calving sometime in February....hoping all goes well and we end up with 23 healthy calves. We also have six young heifers that will be bred this spring for calves next year, and we'll replace several of the older cows in the fall.


I'm going to try to write a weekly update of the events of 2016, and create a diary to capture the daily activities. It should be an interesting year as Miss Elizabeth and I both hit that milestone of turning 65 years old and begin to deal with Medicare, and related insurance options. Not sure where the time has gone, but I'm grateful to still be around to experience all that life has to give.


Until next week.....

Idle hands...

It's Monday, the start of the first week after Christmas. The weather outside is a nasty mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow, but inside the house it's a comfortable 72 degrees. I usually take a few days of vacation at this time of the year, and this year is no exception. It's a dead week as far as work goes anyway, so why not take advantage of the time.

Unfortunately I'm not a very good idler, and after a few hours of doing nothing, I'm ready to find something productive to do. Right now I've just returned from pacing through the house, sat down to check emails, browse the Facebook activity, and find something that will keep me out of harm's way in the kitchen where Miss Elizabeth is busy preparing a big pot of chili for the evening meal.

I've already checked the livestock, filled the birdfeeders. walked to the mailbox, and fiddled around with the TV remote, searching for anything "remotely" interesting on the 150+ channels of High Definition programming.....reminder to self, why do we subscribe to this junk??

The house seems to echo whenever either of the current occupants makes a sound. Somehow. after a few days of kids and grandkids celebrating a grand Christmas here at the ranch, the silence is almost as unsettling as was the near constant buzz of activity and laughter. The whirlwind of activity created by seven grandkids (ages 10 and below) is breathtaking.....especially for a grumpy old man like me. But, oh, how I miss each and every one of them when the depart. Like all Grandpas, I guess my bark is worse than my bite, and the grandkids see right through the gruff façade.

Well, it's nearly 3:00pm.....almost through the first day of my week long vacation. Time for another pass around the house.....stir the chili.....maybe even sneak a taste when her head is turned.....

Geez, what's that old adage about "idle hands....."

Oh well, tomorrow's another day, followed by another, and another, and another......but what do I know!

How's that salad......really!

I raise beef cattle, and I eat beef steak. There, I've stated it about as plainly as possible, and I apologize to no one for being a part of the life cycle of beef. From field to fork, and enjoying it every step of the way.

Periodically, I post to Facebook a picture of a nice looking calf, or a very pregnant cow, or a massive bull whose sole job is to provide the seeds for future generations of prime beef cattle. Even though it's a hobby more than a business, I love the work. There's something very satisfying about caring for the herd and watching over the baby calves from birth to weaning.

Invariably, after posting a beef related photo, I hear from those who absolutely abhor the thought of cutting into a big, juicy T-Bone. It must literally make them sick, for they go on and on about the evils of killing animals for food, and my goodness, the health aspects of ingesting red meat, it appears that I may die tomorrow!  I've even had people tell me that I'm trying to poison my fellow man by creating this demand for my very fine beef. I guess that vegan fare you're stuffing in your mouth must leave a lot to be desired.

How is it that by simply posting a photograph of a nice, sizzling steak on the grill, I can generate such animosity?

Methinks the lack of red meat in their diet has created a chemical imbalance that has driven them to the point that reasonable conversation can no longer take place. Instead, I'm pelted (pun intended)with every lame-brained, ideologically based, and vegetable only dietary study that's ever existed.

Well, excuse me while I go eat my dinner......wait, we're having what?

It appears that tonight's menu is.......fajitas, a combination of vegetables and BEEF!

Maybe the vegetable part of this dinner will satisfy my vegan friends, but then again, What Do I Know....

Rainy day mornings...

I woke up late this morning. At least it was late according to the bedside clock. A glance outside revealed an ominous sky, scattered raindrops, and a pre-storm atmosphere.....perfect for catching a few more minutes of sleep, but alas, it was too late. I was already awake for the day.

There was a time when days like this would entice me to stay abed until mid-morning. Now, it's just a pleasant break from the typical August day, and the enticement is to grab a cup of coffee, sit on the back porch, and enjoy the serenity of the cows grazing on the still green grass of summer. I think as I get older, the pleasures are more about the time I spend awake than the hours lolling in bed.

Rainy mornings, and they have been plentiful this summer, are times to be savored. Some of the typical chores can be put on hold until the weather is more cooperative, and like most, I enjoy the respite from the drudgery.

So, why is it that, today, I find myself wandering through the house, waiting not so patiently for the skies to clear so I can get back to what needs to be done?

Sometimes, I find it difficult to figure myself out......again, giving support to why this blog is named What do I know!

I get by with a little help from my friends......

I lost a piece of my past today.......

It was just before the Christmas of 1970, and I was getting ready to head north for college in January. It was an exciting time as I made a list, checked it twice, and decided there were still a couple of  "must haves" missing.

First, college was in South Dakota so a nice warm coat was mandatory. And, second, I was lacking a dynamite stereo for the dorm room.....an essential piece of equipment for any self-respecting college student.

A friend, Tom Jones, was to be my roommate. We were destined to play football for the SDSU Jackrabbits, but right then, we were both more concerned about acquiring the college necessities before piling into his 19968 Olds 442 for the drive to South Dakota.

First stop, the music store and the purchase of a portable stereo system with lots of wattage and big speakers.....it was awesome. Next stop, Weinberg's Western Wear, where Willie Weinberg was more concerned about our choices of coats than either of us were. She knew I would struggle to pay for the coat she had picked out for me, but she insisted, and I relented. She then rang up an amount that barely covered the sales tax, and threw in a nice warm pair of gloves to boot. I was astounded, and if her husband, Maurice, had known.......Oh, but it was the Christmas Season!

On the way back to my house, I figured I still had a few extra dollars in my pocket (savings from the gift of the coat you know) so we stopped by the record store for a couple of new albums. It was a great time for music......

First selection; Sly and the Family Stone with the featured track, "I Want to Take You Higher".

Next selection; Joe Cocker, Mad Dogs and Englishmen.

Practically every song was destined to become a classic, and Joe Cocker became my all-time favorite performer. Who will ever forget his 1969 performance at Woodstock!

I turned eighteen the Sunday morning when Jimi Hendrix electrified the crowd on the last day of the festival, so it was a very special time of life.

This morning, at age seventy, Joe Cocker died. I feel much like people must have felt when a plane crash took the life of Buddy Holly.......immortalized by Don Mclean in the song, "The Day the Music Died".

I still have the albums we bought that day......I think I'll run a needle through a few of the old tunes of my youth, and conjure up memories of a time when one of  my very best friends entertained us all with his spot-on impersonations of Joe Cocker singing "The Letter". What times we had.

Rest in peace Joe. It's been a great ride.

What just happened??

The letter began, "Based on a national program, the Kansas Power+Hope award recognizes individuals...."

The event occurred a few months ago.

It was a typical August day, hot as blazes outside, which was why I was firmly ensconced in my home office with the air conditioning cranking out a constant stream of cool air. Working from home has it's advantages, one of which is the ability to do professional work while clad in shorts, tee shirt, and flip flops.....no one is the wiser.

I caught a glimpse of the pick-up as it flashed by my office window, so I was in the process of heading outside when the pounding on the front door caused me to reverse my steps. No one ever comes to the front door.....I didn't recognize the face of the young man, but anxiety and fear was written all over his face.

"You've got to come quick!" he said. "Your neighbor has had a bad accident, and needs help." Immediately, my mind started racing, Which neighbor, what kind of accident, is he hurt badly, and what the heck am I supposed to do. At that point I just headed out the door to see what we could do.

"He's flipped his tractor over and he's trapped. He's been there for nearly two hours and is in bad shape." Tom, the fellow who was now driving us back to the site of the accident, was talking a mile a minute. He was scared, and was short on details except to say that my neighbor needed help right away. He was right. We both scrambled out of the truck before it even stopped, and I rushed over to the ditch where the tractor was turned on its side. I jumped up on the wheel, grabbed my young neighbor by the arm, and asked, "What happened?"

He was in shock, barely conscious, and was pinned by a t-post that was impaled in his thigh. For two hours he had been in the hot sun, unable to move, and now it was almost too late. The relief on his face was almost too much for me to bear. He just assumed that we would be able to handle the situation. I, on the other hand, had no confidence at all that this would turn out well.

We had no coverage for the cell phones, so Tom used his truck radio to call for an ambulance. It would be at least thirty minutes and we were running out of time. Again, my mind raced for an answer. 

What do we do? I don't have a way to cut the post, I can't risk nicking an artery, but he's going to die if we can't get him free.

So we did what anyone would do, we prayed for some divine guidance and went to work. A chain was located, and as Tom backed the truck into position, I attached the chain to the tractor. Another prayer, and we tried to raise the tractor enough to get him free. It was working, so I climbed back on the tractor, grabbed the young man under the arms and lifted him from where he'd been trapped.

I'll never forget the look on his face......and, I suppose he'll never forget mine.

When the ambulance arrived, we had him ready to go. His blood pressure was almost immeasurable, his kidneys were shutting down, and he had a leg that didn't look like it could be saved. So, we prayed again, hoped for the best, and sent him on his way to Wichita for surgery.

I've visited with him several times since. His initial surgery was to cleanse and repair the leg injury, and a second one was needed to remove some damaged toes. But, he's alive, he still has his leg, and recovery is well on its way. Another prayer of thanks for prayers that have been answered.

And now, Tom and I have been given this award in recognition of our actions in saving someone's life. Awards are nice, but I've already received my reward;  Every time I see my neighbor walking upright, and smiling as we greet each other, I rejoice in God's work and happily embrace His miracles.

But really, what do I know!   

The aroma of camp coffee and bacon....

Dawn was just breaking and I was still lying in my bunk. Outside, I could hear muffled conversation, but was unable to grasp the words.....perhaps it was my typical early morning stupor, or maybe the early risers were just being considerate of those of us who were still abed.

Soon the aroma of coffee and bacon wafted into the room and I rolled out of my sleeping bag. Nothing like camp coffee and bacon to get one's juices flowing, and I'm no exception.

The morning was spectacular, and as I stepped outside I felt a pang of remorse that I had missed the sunrise. The remnants of an early morning fog still floated above the river, and we watched as a few boats drifted by with only the upper torsos of the fishermen visible from the shoreline. It was a surreal scene, and lasted just a moment before it was gone. I tried to capture it with my camera, but the mist had already begun to lift.....leaving only a picture of a boat floating on the still waters of the river.

It was our last day of a four day excursion to Arkansas. Each year our group tries to schedule a few days in May to float and fish the beautiful rivers where we find peace, friendship, and an opportunity to rejuvenate the soul. The experiences we've had along the way simply add fodder for the stories that grow along with our ages.



This year was no exception. We had two of us doing our infamous "snake dance" when a slithery friend decided to drop into our boat from a low hanging branch, and of course, my very own, soon to be classic, "slow motion swan dive" from the bow of the boat.......geez I'll never live that one down.



This trip, however, had fewer epic events than previous outings when we saw a deer fall from a cliff and nearly capsize one of our pontoon boats, or the eight hour late-night float in absolute darkness, or the time we decided that we would brave the elements and launch our rafts into the flood waters in spite of the signs warning us of the danger.  No, this trip was just about as peaceful as that last morning was beautiful. Good friends, good stories, and the scenic river views we all enjoy.

I'm already looking forward to next year's trip. Who knows what the future holds for us; certainly not me, for as everyone already suspects, What does Jack know!