This week I had the opportunity to go into the ranching business.
It reminded me of the cartoon I used a few 
months ago.
I was 100+ yards from the house cleaning up a dead tree and loading burnable parts into the truck when I heard a noise behind me. I had a small herd of cattle passing behind me on their way south into the field. There are 5 or 6 ranches within a mile of me and I did not have phone numbers for any of them. I didn’t want to chase them back onto the county road where bad things can happen and the sheriff deputies might get involved.
The ole’ Swedberg pastures are rented out to a neighbor, so I called Dale S. and got the phone number of the suspected owner. He was an hour away, but headed this way.
On arrival he came into the driveway only about 100 feet, but the cows recognized (I think) the distinctive sound of his flatbed truck. They headed in that direction – also the open gate onto Naneum Road. We visited for a minute as they filed out and turned north, from the direction they came apparently. Then he followed to make sure they found a way off the road.
Dale had told him the fences were good around a plot, but that (no surprise) was not the case.
If I’m out and hear cattle coming I can close the gate. On a regular move operation there are usually several riders, a pickup, and a dog or two. Two days before, a different rancher moved a herd and cows came onto my place. There were horse prints indicating a retrieve. Cows, with cloven hooves, versus horses with iron shoes, even I can tell apart.
I continue with making firewood and some garden/landscape things. Otherwise, nothing exciting happens. I did make brownies with walnuts and chocolate chips this morning, Sunday.
I’m hoping the temp will go up some. I have one outside unit still reporting 38° but another is saying 48° and a near-neighbor has an on-line site that says 49°. The one reading low (given to me two years ago) quit a month ago and then mysteriously started again. Maybe it is time for a new one.
Keeping Track
on the Naneum Fan
John