the joys of cattle farming

We're home, again! Just spent an awesome weekend in Grand Forks! I love going to Grand Forks and Fargo. The cities are small enough to enjoy, they're clean, and they have great shopping. No crime issues, either.
So this last week has been more of the same. Monday & Tuesday, I worked days. Wednesday, I got my hair done, and took Kyle to hockey practice. Thursday, well, I won't elaborate right now what I did during the day, (i'll get to it later!), and took both boys to practice in the evening. Home at 1130. Friday morning, we were up early to leave for our hockey weekend. We dropped off Jayde with friends that were going to his hockey tournament area. He stayed with them all weekend and went to the rink for his games. Del, Kyle, and I went to Grand Forks for Kyle's tournament. We got home last night. Here we are today....... I need to catch up at home!! Laundry, unpack, dishes, eat homecooking, bake buns.....
So, I was feeling pretty good about our cattle last week; in regards to them staying contained in their fences, that is. Really, that's quite a feat. Spring fever is sickening with cattle. They find a loose board or gate, and they're on it! So, Thursday morning, I'm going for a ride with a friend, taking her to get some tests, and we're driving along the highway. We're driving by a friends house, who is a cattle farmer. I'm looking in their yard as we're driving by, and I see a herd of cattle running down their driveway. I'm thinking, wow, they're moving cattle to another fence this morning, how wonderful! Then I see a cloud of dust behind the herd, it's the tractor and farm truck. I start thinking, this can't be moving cattle day. I keep driving and am wondering, do I stop?? and help?? Then, I look back and see some cattle seperate from the herd and start running along the bush beside the highway, and the tractor is right after them. I realize, maybe this is not a planned move! So, I 360 on the highway and hightail it back to their driveway. Poor Andrea! This is not what she had in mind for today! I race into the yard, because now I see the herd that had run into one fenced area, is now coming out, and heading towards the highway. No way! I drove in front of them and try to wave them back. No, they didn't go back, but they did turn and start running from where they started from initially! At this point, the farmer's wife comes to where I am, and she was quite upset! I ask where they're moving the cattle to, and she very nicely tells me, we can have them all, every one! So this was not a planned event! I didn't need to have that spelled out anymore! So she followed that bunch and they did go back where they came from. The other bunch along the trees, started heading back as well. So, I thought, all good, we can move along. As we're driving away, another bunch of cattle is running along the other driveway and starts heading towards the highway. I change direction of my truck, and try to cut them off. Theres bales on one side of the driveway, and snow, bush, and a small open field onthe other side. Wouldn't you know, they turned, and started heading back, until one lousy animal decided it hadn't had enough, and took off through the snow, into the open field. Cattle play follow the leader all the time, and this was no different. All 15 animals took off. I'm not wearing boots. I'm wearing flat slip ons. I actually looked at my feet and considered taking off my shoes, and running barefoot through the snow, and mud. I realized I wouldn't be much help like that. So, the race was on again. Those lousy animals ran 1/2 mile south in that little field. The owner couple went around and had to chase them back on foot and by tractor, through the water and mud. Good tractor driving, by the way. I watched them from the highway, and them went back to the yard to divert the animals when they rounded the bush. Then we were on our way. Andrea and Onyx, had quite the show! We've/I've had cattle out and know how frustrated and hopeless it feels to have this happen! So, Friday morning, we're up at 6 to feed the cattle before we leave for the weekend. Del is having breakfast by the table. I'm having pineapple by the computer. The boys are trying to get up. Jayde had started the shower and just gotten in it, when I hear Del say, "what?" and I ask, what do you see?" He says, "cattle are out". Oh, man, that was not what I wanted to hear!!!! I'm off to the bedroom to put on some appropiate cattle chasing attire. I'm yelling to the boys, "put on farm clothes and get outside!" Poor Jayde. Ii'm into the bathroom, telling him the cattle are out and get out of the shower and outside to help us. Good boy! So, I get outside and Del's already out there somewhere. I see two animals in our back yard. They seem pretty relaxed. I get them to turn around and actually run towards the corrals. I'm calling out to Del that I'm bringing the animals. I have no idea where he is. so, I wait with the animals because they're kind of where we will want them to chase them in. Del comes running through that pen, where these animals belong, opens the gate, and I chase them in. I'm thinking this went too well. Del, says, come on there's more out behind the pen. So, off we went to the back of that pen. There were about 10-15 animals on that side. They had loosened boards and crept out through a hole in the fence. By now the boys are calling where should they be. They waited on one side of the pen in case the cattle came around. And, we actually managed to get those animals in where they got out. Did some fixing after that! That was one crazy way to wake up!!!! I'm not a morning person!! This story is not over! Sunday night, we're coming home, and Del comes home the way past the pasture, to check on the four bulls we have there. Wouldn't you know, we don't see any bulls!! This is like 815, and its dusk. The panels are open. Beats me how those animals opened the panels! So, we drive into the yard across from the pasture to see if the animals are there. I'm phoning home to check the answering machine to see if someone has left a message about stray bulls. sure enough, at 5 pm some neighbours had seen the animals heading south of this yard. So, we kept driving along this back yard road, and seen our lost bulls wandering 1/2 mile south of there. So, off we went home, the boys unpacked the truck, while del went to the pasture with the 4 wheeler and I with the Blazer. Del took along a pail of feed to lure them. I wait by the road while Del goes to the back field. The actually followed him a little ways. I walked into the back yard, and am trying to see how its going. It's getting kind of hard to see by now. I hear all this grunting and low bellowing. I finally see Del walking with the pail, and the bulls following him. I guess they didn't like the 4 wheeler. I'm wondering whats going on in Del's mind with these 4 beasts following him. Sounded like they were looking for some 'fun'. Yeah, you're thinking right! So, they followed him into the yard, and that's as far as they would follow him. Finally, I got the Blazer, and managed to get behind them to try to push from behind. That worked for about 20 feet until they walked into a treed area. It's getting frustrating! Finally, I got out of the vehicle, and start walking behind them and waving them along. That got them going. Del in front, and I'm behinD! This is true! It's not a joke! Yes, we got them in. One hour from beginning to end. and we got'er done! I went straight home into the shower. The yard we were in had chicken barns, and the wind was blowing from the east. So, we smelled like chickens, and the pigs that were next to the chicken barns. Yuck! I love farming! :-( I think this was all because I was feeling so proud of our animals last week, for not getting out! Seriously, it happens to everyone at some point. I hope we're good for awhile. So, this morning we're up early because we hadn't fed the animals last night. I made sure those fences were closed real well. I'm not in the mood for more rodeos any time soon.
So, I'm going to keep enjoying our wonderful spring weather. No sunshine yet, today, but It'll be back. I have a real ham baking in the slow cooker. Supper's gonna be good tonight! No hockey tonight, for anyone. Wow! I'm off to switch my laundry, and i'm gonna hang the towels out on the line. Have a good day!