February on The Ranch

Well, there's not much to do around here in February, and that is just about more than a man can take. Somehow it's a different feeling than December and January. In December, the winter is new and exciting. The hay barn is full. And there's Christmas, which including the preparations and such makes the month fly by. Which brings on January and the promise of calves. But once the calving is done and the holidays are in the rear view mirror, there isn't much to think about other than all the work there is to be done when the weather gets better.

My commutes to school are filled with thoughts of projects needing to be done-rebuild the corral, lots of fencing, a milking shed, reinforce the hay shed, re-roof the skunk shed, install siding on side the shop, swap out Maureen's pellet stove for good ol' wood and much more. Then there are dream projects, like relocating the old cabin in the barnyard to store hay and provide winter cover for the cows. Speaking of cows...branding will be here before we know it. And then comes the farming! Both ends of the field need working up and planted in a rest crop, before returning it to alfalfa. This entails reinstalling the pump we had rewound last summer and making sure the control box isn't what's causing the problem...

So much to do...and February just lingers, the shortest month of the year, yet too long still. We find things to do, but March is a welcome month, because you can feel the change in the air and you know it's almost time to get to work!