365 days a year...

Pulling up t-posts to expand heifer pen (2011)

 

Weekdays:
Drive to Windy Hill on the way home after school.
Weekends/Holidays/Breaks/and all summer long:
Drive 25 miles to Windy Hill from home/25 miles back.
Chores:
Hook up east pasture hose.
Fill east pasture water.
Fill dog water.
Unhook and drain hose.
East pasture:  (Temporary:) Catch Posey/doctor

In the barn:
Fill Posey's bucket.
Fill Ayan's bucket.
Fill Juicy's bucket.
Fill Faith's bucket.
(All are custom portions and custom diets.)
Evaluate when to place next feed order.
South pen:
Pour Faith's feed.
Shake Juicy's bucket to get her attention so she doesn't go to eat Faith's feed.
Pour Juicy's feed.
Hook Juicy's halter to the chain.
Hook Faith's halter to the chain.
(Thieving nibbler prevention)
Hook up south pen hose.
Fill pen water.
Unhook and drain hose.
East pasture:
Pour Posey's feed.
Pour Ayan's feed and immediately stick bucket between Posey and Ayan to guide Ayan to her own feed.
Check creep levels for calves on nurse cow.
West pasture:
Hook up hose.
Fill water tank for landlord's heifers.
Grainery:
Fill two buckets for landlord's heifers.  Fill feed troughs.
Wait for Juicy and Faith to BOTH be finished eating before unhooking their chains.
Pick up rocks to fill in low spots in the driveway while waiting for them to finish eating.  (Battling wind/water erosion of the sandy ground.)

Add in show ring practice, extra chores, and unexpected problems/temporary chores (landlord's chores while out of town, wounds, flipped troughs, heat check, etc.) as needed.

Repeat DAILY, 365 days a year.

Down time:
Endlessly question and discuss with my breeder and parents...
Plan breeding schedule.
Order sexed semen.
Schedule artificial insemination.
Plot heat on calendar.
Make plans for a visit to a bull if necessary.
Schedule fetal sexing.
Order/pick up feed.
Re-configure pens.
Order hay.
Plot calving date on calendar.
Figure up how many entries will need to be paid for OKC and TULSA STATE FAIR and the total cost.
Figure up what days of school will be missed for County Fair, OKC, and Tulsa State Fair.  Work ahead in math and any other classes possible.  Get remainder of makeup work.
Decide names for new calves.
Check fence.
Evaluate show supplies.  Re-order when necessary.
And, and, and...