Karbon Kounty Moos

The Kim Bash 2005 was a great get together. None were bashed. Some may have been smashed. The Sugar Beet Baron and I were glad that we made the trip to Billings. A good time was had by all in attendance. I took a handful of consistently unflattering photos. I’ve seen some of the photos that have been posted by fellow bloggers. They serve to remind me of why I prefer to stay behind the lens. My scary photos are right here.

The guest of honor was Kim. I wanted to show her my rock collection, but the Baron said that there was no way we were bringing the stock trailer; the Secret Birthday Boy was Randy; Amber won the “I don’t know a soul in this room - oh - yes I do award”; Craig was the coordinator; Sarpy Sam and His Darling Wife received the award for longest distance traveled; the two farmer blogwidowers found quite a bit to discuss; Mike told a swimming bear story and tried to interrogate me with an overhead light; I was happy to see Pandora again, and to meet her husband - but we really need to sit down and catch up soon.

What’s that in the road?

Oh. . . nice buttons.

I’ve been all over these hills for the last couple of days. I saw a horned toad yesterday and a couple of lizards that were too fast to photograph. But I hadn’t seen any of these. It was annoyed, coiled and hissing. I was in the pickup leaving. All I had with me was the camera and the puppy. But I couldn’t miss the opportunity. The photos aren’t very clear. I wasn’t getting any closer, sorry!

Will wonders never cease?
Last night we “got off the place for a bit” again.
We traveled to Bridger to a Pioneer Corn Barbecue.
Which has nothing to do with Pioneer Day.

We were treated to some great beef.

And tasty corn - it had to be Pioneer.

We visited with people who we haven’t seen in ages.
And with a few that we saw at Saturday’s dance.

No more fun, back to work…

Hooray!

We have the 2004 barley off the place. Which means that there will be a check coming in for a change.

“Barley 2005″ is freshly combined and binned. We have a field of oats to go. The hay is ready for second cutting.

I hope to make the time for some blog visiting. All I’ve done (on the computer) the last few days is post photos to flickr. It takes so long on dialup, I just upload and leave the room - or the house - or the country.

Saturday was a long day. I helped with the Pioneer Day Parade. The Baron was at home irrigating. I was on my way home when someone told me that they saw my husband in town. What?! It took me less than five minutes to find him in the big city of Belfry. Even if the population had quadrupled. We met one of his many cousins and stopped for dinner, lunch (or whatever you call the noon meal). We went home, and then took the pickup with tools and fencing supplies out to the hills.

We will be putting cattle here soon.

Flipped the switch, and made sure that water was going to the tanks.

I found a little wildlife to photograph. There were sage hens and doves, too - but the camera was in my pocket when they took off. We headed for home again.

We stopped at the Clark’s Fork for a Pentax moment or two.

By the time we got back it was time to load more grain. We ate supper after nine and went into town for the dance. I left the camera home.

This is Lydia Hergenrider. She didn’t have a photo in the Gazette article. But she does here. Aunt Lydia is 93 years young and always smiling - or laughing.

Parade Announcers - Dale and Elmer Webb.

Here’s Melvin Brown. He hates photos, so please don’t tell him.

Closeup of one of the many cars Gene Sticka entered in the parade.

Lovely Naomi in Grandpa Earl’s MG.

Harold Peterson came up from Bridger to show off one of his tractors. Harold’s hobby is restoring 2 cylinder tractors.

Burl Hodges and his team of Welshes.

Doug Spaulding is staying cool in the shade. He’s still serving up the barbecue. There’s a dance tonight, so if you’re in the neighborhood - c’mon up!

Ty was thrilled to have company on Monday. I brought his bowling ball out of retirement from the shed. These photos were taken yesterday. Before I put the ball away again.

Sugar tries to keep up with the “big dogs” - but a 16 pound bowling ball was a bit too much.

Lucky doesn’t bowl. She’d much rather relax - or go for a ride.

No, not me - my blog nephew Troy.

He took a break on the hejira to drop in yesterday.
We, of course, were busy.
I know, I know, I always say that.
Even if I didn’t - it still would be true.

We managed to have a mini blogger bash.
Randy was able to stop up on short notice, too.
Hooray!

The Goat has his camera with him. He’s been documenting his travels. When he returns to the eastern MT homestead, he hopes to find the time to upload some of them at his flick’r site.

I began this blog one year ago.
Knowing that people stop here to visit makes it worthwhile. I’ve enjoyed blogging - and your feedback. I hope that you have fun here, too.

This unused card was discovered in Chicago by my brother, John. He claims that he was searching for Mrs. O’Leary’s cow, but found Elsie instead. Discriminating taste doesn’t run in our family - it gallops. The card will open in a larger window - just click on it.

ELSIE THE COW
and her BRAND NEW TWINS

Elsie the Cow is the traveling representative of Borden’s family of fine foods.

The back has more information:

1957
ELSIE and her TWINS IN PERSON

Elsie is in her canopied bed, the twins in their double sized playpen. For the little ones there’s a twin-sized bassinet for nighttime and a two seater rocking horse for playtime. For Elsie, there’s a library complete with antique victrola. Favorite albums - “Moo-in Over Miami”, “Cow Cow Boogie”, and “Jersey Bounce”. Favorite books - “The Farmer With Cold Hands”, “Calves or Career”, “How to Live on 5,000 Quarts a Year”. Elsie’s quite proud of her cowsmetics table made from her grandmother’s milking stanchion. Favorite necessities - “Meadow Mud Pack”, “Tail Wave Set”, “Eau de New Mown Hay”. Elsie’s unique Barn Boudoir, housed within a 35 foot trailer, closes into a comfortably compact unit for traveling.

For 100 years folks have been saying, “If it’s Borden’s, it’s got to be good!”

Elsie Link

I have the camera with me most of the time now. I have been taking photos constantly.

But no, no HNT photos of my poor leg. You wouldn’t want to see my leg without the bruises, so I wouldn’t subject anyone to that.

I took a walk the other evening with Sugar and Ty. I’m sure that the doctor would be thrilled. We went up the hill south of the place. I took too many photos of the Clark’s Fork Valley and the Beartooths. Why aren’t they called the Bearteeth?

There are lots more at my flick’r site.

Farm, garden, cows and dogs a speciality. . .

We’ve started combining. This is a problem since our bins are full of grain from last year’s harvest. Because of a glut of cheap corn, and so much malt barley not making the grade, we’ve been sitting on our feed barley. Which was probably one of the best harvests that we had. It doesn’t do us much good if we can’t sell it. We are still trying to line up truckers to take it to a feedlot. Right now, all the grain truckers are busier than ever, too. The alfalfa is almost ready for second cutting. Everything else is being irrigated.

I made a quick trip to Red Lodge yesterday morning. To the doctor.
I’m supposed to be keeping my leg up and iced.
Yeah.
Sure.
Okay.
Right.

On Saturday evening, we sorted seven pairs from the “uncalved” dries. We were moving them to the pasture across the road. We do this on foot. Our cattle are accustomed to us. Most of them are gentle and okay with us walking through them. Two of the calves needed to be tagged, so we brought them all into a cutting pen. I pushed two cows with three calves into a small alleyway. I had the two calves that we needed to eartag. We were packed tight by three gates and a loading chute. I told the Baron, “Why don’t we kick these cows out - they’re really kicking.”
Famous last words. . .
Did he listen? Yes.
Did he agree with me? No.
Did he get kicked?
No. Enough said.
Yesterday I thought that maybe I should have it looked at -
by someone other than me.
I’ll live. But now I have two bum legs.