Carter Cattle Company

Carter Cattle Company

And we're back! We had a new baby calf (bull) last weekend. I haven't updated, hoping to include a photo of him. The cows are so new, they are staying hidden in the brush, only coming out at night. The dogs aren't helping, either. They bark and run at the fence when the cows come up, which makes them very skittish. Speaking of the dogs, they killed Angel, our big white turkey hen. Sure, Bear needs a bird dog to keep him company!!!!!! She was over 3 years old, quite old for the breed. Now the tom gobbles constantly. With no hens, I guess I'll haul him out to Brent's. I may gather the ducks and geese and turn them out on the lake, before the dogs get them, too. They don't eat them, it looks like they are playing with them and they have a heart attack. No blood or anything. I've just about given up hope on the creek ever running, again. It's been a year this April that it's been dry. I'll try to get a photo of the new calf this weekend. The chickens in the coops are laying eggs right and left. We have 14 eggs in one nest and 11 in another. I hope they hatch. Meanwhile, still have plenty for pickling. Finally got the garden planted (partially) last weekend. Still need orka and cucumbers. We got a total of 1" of rain, this week. Better than nothing, but still need another 6-8". Burnet County lifted the burn ban on Wednesday, and by noon Thursday they were fighting 3 different grass fires at once. Some people are idiots. Here's yer sign! Or, as Ron White says, "You can't fix stupid!" Well, guess I had better'd get to work. I'll keep ya posted, Rick

Carter Cattle Company

Carter Cattle Company

Hi-Ho neighbor,

Meanwhile, back at the ranch.... Been foggy and drizzling all weekend. All the rain went north of us (again). Looks like the only way we'll get any significant rain is to truck it in from San Saba. They got a good one last nite. I finally bought two cows on Wednesday. The red one is 8 months bred and the black one is 7 months. Took them by the vet's office before leaving Lampasas and got their black-leg shots. (I lost a calf to "black-leg" a couple of years ago in similar drought conditions.) As usual, when I turned them out, they went straight to the back corner and stayed hid in the cedars for a couple of days. They are settling in, slowly. They found the water trough and round bale. The red one was working out on the mineral block, this morning. The black one is real spooky. As soon as she sees us, she heads for the brush. Red one's not quite as bad, just takes time. Before ya know it, they'll be eating out of my hand. The red one looks like she's starting to "bag" some. May have a calf soon. Cha-ching! I have to leave for San Antonio for another school this afternoon. Be back Wednesday evening. The red one will probably drop her calf while I'm gone, like Harriett did. Guess we'll call the red one Ruby and the black one Betty. If the drought holds on, I may keep them till they calve-out, put about 30 days or so milk fat on them, and take them back to sale. Then start over, for the short haul. Should be enough to keep my AG exemption. Finally getting a few eggs. They are SO much better than the store bought ones. They make the ones from the store look anemic. They must be UT chickens, the yolks are bright orange. Spring has sprung, here. The mesquite trees are all putting on leaves. The grass is starting to green up. Really need some good, soaking rains before the summer heat. We had a birthday-bash planned for Valerie and Vanessa this weekend. Deb came down with another stomach bug on Friday and was down through Saturday with the "puking-poops". She called Vanessa and cancelled. She called Valerie and told her, too; but, true to form, she brought the boys out for the afternoon, anyway!! I made Deb some potato soup last nite, which worked well. She got up this morning and had a regular breakfast(eggs and Owen's Hot sausage), which held up well, also. I had a "Hungry-Man" frozen dinner, last nite. Looks like I'll be eating Burger King and Souper-Salad for the next three days. They are within walking distance of the hotel, so I don't have to get out and fight the traffic. Fun and games! Still haven't gotten the garden tilled. Too wet to plow. Maybe next weekend. Well, guess I better start packing for San Antonio. Should be warm today and Monday, then turn off cold for a couple days. Maybe when Vanessa comes down she'll bring some of that rain they've been getting. Till next time, Peace, Love and Crabs!

Carter Cattle Company

Carter Cattle Company
Well, well, back again. The Dr put Deb on a pill once a day (Protonix, I think), seems to be working. She can eat just about anything. She's supposed to take this for 3 weeks, then switch to one of the purple pills. If she would drink more Budweiser, she wouldn't have that problem. I have a cast-iron stomach (something along the lines of a dutch oven, I think). One more day of "hell week" after today. I HATE it. Deb's dad brought us 10 new chickens from the people that used to live behind us at Buchanan Dam. We had a shelf in front of the bottom nesting boxes. I said something about taking it down, since we had so many chickens in that one coop. I didn't think much about it, as I was looking at the newspaper. A short while later, I looked out the window and saw her heading to the coop. Well,......she opened the door and went over to the shelf, but didn't close the door behind her. Five of the new hens got out before I could get her attention(?) and get her to close the door. I did manage to pick-up 3 eggs off the ground yesterday afternoon. Didn't find any today. The Lord giveth and the Carter luck taketh away. Guess the dogs beat me to them. Cowboy, the rooster, thinks he is in heaven with 5 new girlfriends. Quite a show, watching him dance and hustle. Looks like spring has sprung around here. Peach trees trying to bloom. Poor bluebonnets sure are stunted tho, due to lack of rain. I need to buy more cows, but I sure would like to have some grass to put them on. Still haven't got the garden tilled. When I'm on call, I have to leave my truck at the city yard and drive the G-ride home. That's why I couldn't go get the tiller. Saves on gas, but everything I need to do anything is in the tool box on the truck. My hands and arms look like I've been a fight with a wildcat, from working on fences without my gloves. Oh, I guess Deb was feeling guilty about letting half the chickens go, 'cuz she made me a pot of beans today. First time that I can remember since we moved out here. I doctored 'em up pretty good, since she can't taste them. Tomorrow is Monday, again. I took some new photos of Harriett and Jackson. I'll have to wait till I get to the office in the morning to post them. Hope I have time, what with all the BS piled up from the weekend, plus the usual Monday morning chores (pick-up pawn tickets, etc). Well, better'd go for now. Viva Las Vegas! Rick

Carter Cattle Company

Carter Cattle Company

Hi, all! Well, we moved the miniature game chickens into the other hen house, away from the black miniatures. Might as well, the dogs were getting to the goose eggs before we could gather them. They weren't fertile, anyway. Little Jackson is a delight. I can't stand the thought that he'll get mean when he gets older. He's started eating solid food, Harriett shares her meals with him. He is learning to eat small pieces of carrots. He has a time, wallering them around, and dribbles them, but he likes it. The little "broke-foot" duck is having a rough time. She broke it when she was a duckling, but it mended, somewhat. She has always limped on it. We think she broke it again, she just barely gets around on it, mostly dragging it behind her. I think the other ducks might have been too heavy on her. You know how they are!

Deb had the "scopey" thing down the throat last week. She's still having throwing up spells and major heartburn. Got her some Mylanta, seems to help, some. Sticking to a very bland (yech!) menu. She had an appt with the DR this coming Thursday, but they had a cancellation and she got moved up to Monday. Don't know what's going to happen. I'm hoping they can put her on the "purple pill" or something like that, as opposed to gall bladder surgery. If it comes to that, we hope Tracy is there. It means alot to have someone there that you know and trust. She's a peach!

Was going to till the garden this weekend. I called Pam (Rod's wife) to borrow her tiller. She was out of town for the weekend. Just as well, I was going to put out some onions, and the whole place was infested with Fire Ants. Went to Wal-Mart and got something for them. If it doesn't rain this week, maybe I can till next weekend. I found out Pam fell at work and broke her elbow on Dec 29. She's all better, now. She said Rod has a torn something-or-other in his knee as is going to have surgery on it. I hoped he might get to come home for the surgery, but she said they'll do it there. He's supposed to get to come home for a couple of weeks in August. Then, back to Bosnia. Damn, better him than me.

Well, tomorrow is Monday. Then, I go on call on Tuesday. That's the part of the job I detest. Works out to three months out of the year, you can't go anywhere or do anything. Can't drink a beer. Just about the time you put a rack of ribs on the grill or get into a pay-per-view movie, you have to drop everything and run. Must be able to respond to the PD within 30 minutes. All for 58.6 cents per hour, BEFORE taxes and insurance. If I had it all to do over, I wouldn't. Maybe fire dept or something. Hey, on the plus side, I get to wear a necktie, Monday through Thursday. Well, bettered go. Good show coming on TV, want to enjoy it, while I can. Love to all, Rick.