A Breakdown and a Fence-down

Another very...interesting day on the ranch.



I got most of chores done before everyone came around this morning and we managed just fine to have no disasters by 7 o'clock. Dean headed out to go fence and Merle and Stephanie and I went up to the shed and I used the air compressor to clean out the newer grain wagon that Merle has. The best part about the whole deal is that when I was done I asked his opinon on what he thought I should do with the nest that was built inside the box. He said....knock it down and find out! Haha- easy for him to say! I grabbed a rod and knocked it down and lucked out. The wasps or hornets or whatever they were still looked like larve...no chance they were gunna get me. But, the whole thing was kinda funny.



By that time Ross was pulling in with a ton of salt in his pickup. It was time to load up and get back at it. It took us a while but we got his pickup unloaded and enough bags put onto the flatbed to head out and string salt and mineral. We had just made it to the big unit and only strung to one or two troughs in there in addition to a couple that we skipped in the steers the other day...when Ross stopped the pickup and it died overlooking a nice little hill... After some investigation, I discovered that the pin that hold the clutch pedal in place was out and was not at all interested in going back into place. I moved the pedal every way possible and banged on the pin about 100 times but could not get it to budge...Ross did the same but had no luck. Our radio wouldn't work because we were so low in a hole so I walked up the hill a ways and tried to make a call. After some yelling at my phone and lots of steps later I was able to get ahold of Merle and kinda sorta describe where I was before we got cut off. Then, I quick ran down to Ross to make sure I knew what I was talking about and ran back up the hill to call him again. While he was on his way out to rescue us (and keep me from ripping the pedal out all together) I was able to pushe the dumb thing into place long enough to get it started and backed out of there. When we got up on the hill I slipped it into gear and off we went. Merle me us about halfway and opened the gates so I didn't have to stop for them anymore. Ross and I had stopped for a couple but we were definitly taking chances on my free shifting/using a crappy clutch skills. Somehow we managed to get out of there and I got the dumb thing backed into the shed at home. Talk about a morning...and I had to laugh at Ross. When we first headed out he was telling me that he thought Marva had "flipped her lid" when she told him there was a baby in the house this morning. One of Nancy's daughters, Megan made it in really early this morning and Marva was watching the baby for a while. But Ross told me he was pretty sure she had lost it until he got the whole story! lol



So anyway, we parked the uncooperative pickup and went in for some dinner. We were all sad because Adrienne was in Rapid and we had to cook it oursleves! Haha, treats us right! But, we faired alright. After dinner Merle and Stephanie kept working on the wagon and brought it into town for some repairs (the darn thing is brand new :( ) and Ross and I took off on four wheelers to go put nine steers that got out on Risse's back into the timber reserve. To make that simple...we went a long ways from home- found the steers about halfway through the pasture along the fence of Merle's black cows, chased them very slowly back to the gate- and got them in. We actually had them right at the gate when they decided they might want to turn around- but we managed. Then, of course, we rode the fence to find the hole that they got through- fixed it and paved our own path back home...which is pretty interesting when you follow Ross. I swear (For real now) he had three wheels on the the ground like three or four times. I just drive far enough back that I can avoid such things...or drive ahead so I can find them myself! AFter going over the river and through the woods we made it back home in time to meet Stephanie, Megan and her husband (who I can't remember the name of at the moement :s ) It was nice to meet them and chat for a while but it was about chore time so Ross and I sent them with some eggs to take to town and did chores. Boy were the calves thirsty after a hot day! Once everyone was fed and happy we went up and unloaded the load from the flatbed that we put on this morning minus only a couple bags. Guess you gotta do what you gotta do!



After decided that I was plain exhaused (which didn't take much convincing) - I went home, showered, and watched a movie. I decided the movie was better then bookwork or anything else constructive. Today should not have been that tiring but after breaking down- holding our breath back home hoping that I don't kill the darn pickup and chasing steers around in addition to the lovely heat the result was tiredness!



Although we didn't really take any steps forward today, we still got something done. It sounds like the rodeo in Martin is tomorrow-not sure if I will go or not but either way I'll be sure to fill you in ;)



"Sometimes a hard day's work is a lot easier than a lot of things you can meet in life." -Chris LeDoux