I.   HUMOR (sorta)

"Snow Job!"  A "short" story by Tom Harvey...:)

Well, if you read last months newsletter you heard the history behind Tina and I's first ski trip together, and you knew we were headed for the slopes for our 25th wedding anniversary.  I am using this newsletter to fill you in on the juicy details...in case you wondered how it went..:)  Folks, I can't make this stuff up, and what you are about to read is not elaborated.  To begin with, the trip had been planned for months.  I had set up the location, lodging, transportation, route, times, cost, and who would be going with us.  We decided to take our children since we had never taken them skiing, and it might be the last chance for a winter vacation together for years.  It quickly turned into a party of seven.

Day One

We left in the wee hours of the morning, making four stops for everybody to load themselves and their luggage in the 15 passenger rental van.  We got on the road and made good time despite one of the mountain passes having ice and snow....and one other incident...:)  After getting into Colorado, we made a highway change and came into a small town.  The traffic was backed up all through town, and you could see emergency lights off in the distance.  I told my son (who was driving at this point) to make a few manuvers in town and try to get around it.  When we popped out at the other end of town we realized the traffic extended far out of town and up the mountain as far as you could see (miles).  The light we saw was just a patrol car blocking the highway going out of town.  About that time a crazed driver darted around us, cut several people off then pulled up to the patrol car, talked to him for a minute, then took off down a gravel road across the highway.  The officer started moving down the oppisite lane informing everyone the highway was shut down for an indefinate period due to a serious fatality accident. When he got to us, I asked about an alternate route.  He pointed at the gravel road and said follow those cars.  "A few" cars were starting to break off and head down the gravel road.  Most didn't want to take a chance on gravel...in the snow.  We weren't one of the latter, and we certainly didn't want to wait for hours, so off we went wanting to get over another pass before dark, but did we?.....Noooo!

We deliberated that the crazed driver had spoken with the officer for some time and it probably meant he not only got good directions, but that he was probably a local since he appeared to know where he was going...with determination. We could still see his car, and the dust trailing behind as we entered the gravel road.  We decided that a couple of the other cars in front of us (and behind him) seemed very apprehensive on the road so we passed them hoping to catch up to the crazed driver and follow him, because "surely" he knew these roads traveling at the speed he was going.  It was hopeless trying to catch him so we gave up after a gallant effort.  We did manage to come up on a 4 wheel vehicle with Colorado plates just tooting along though.  We convinced ourselves that "certainly" this person knew where they were going too, and we elected just to follow them instead.  We came to a fork in the road where a truck was coming from the other direction (should have been a sign).  It was a gravel road like the one we were on, but it wasn't marked.  The vehicle we were following and the crazed driver had stayed on the current road, so we did too.  I did notice the vehicle we were following tapped their break lights at the intersection, and it gave me cause for wonder....does he really know where he is?...naw, he has to know.  The road started to narrow.  More and more snow and ice began to accumilate.  My son had not driven in ice and snow before (and he was driving a 15 passenger van full of worried people on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere), so I started coaching in the tight spots...:)  Meanwhile we all continued to convince ourselves our reasoning for choosing this path was correct, but was it?...Noooo!

After some time a car came around the corner at a high rate a speed going in the other direction.  Somebody yelled "that's the crazy guy!" (a term we began using for him as we discussed our current delimma).  Something was wrong, why was he going the other way?  Maybe he was a local that lived up here and he just need to pick something up? Besides, the 4WD vehicle we were following was still heading up the road...which seemed to be getting more and more away from civilization and the highway...:)  We had gone just a little further up the road from where "you know who" had passed us, when we rounded a corner to find the snow so deep on the road for a 150' stretch that I had to tell my son to stop...we couldn't make it.  The 4WD vehicle in front of us kept going, but barely made it.  Funny thing is once they got on the other side they stopped in what appeared to be a long driveway leading to a cabin.  Maybe they were really local, and they were just checking their mail.  Our ability to reason was beginning to fail us.  Maybe we should have turned around!  I told Matt to flash his lights vigorously (it was dusk at this point) and get their attention, then Matt jumped out and ran about 200 yards through the snow, up hill (both ways..heheh).  He talked with them for a moment.  In the mean time I jumped in the driver seat and began to turn the van around on the narrow snow covered road with a nice deep creek crevasse on one side of the road.  Matt came back to inform us that they were lost too...just great!...but they had called a friend who knew the right way...it was an intersection back about four miles....you know...the one we passed, but did we take it?...Noooo!

We took off like a bullet with me at the helm.  I was determined to make up lost time.  As we came over a hill we saw a trail of lights streaming up the mountain at us....everybody was going the wrong way!  I did my part by slowing, rolling down my window and informing people to turn around, and follow us.  Now I was the crazed lead vehicle, but I got it right!  One hour later, miles of dirt road and snow, and we were back on the highway.  The highway must have still been blocked because not one vehicle was heading in our direction and not one ever passed us going over that pass.  At least we made the right choice despite the delay.  Yours truly took the blunt of the 17 hours that we spent on the road that day.  We got over that last pass, even though it was dark... and icy. We made it to the last major town before our final destination and we stopped at a Walmart.  It was to pick up "a few" things that we didn't get before we left...or so I thought. I stayed in the van while everyone else went shopping....for over an hour!  I think I had chewed some rubber of the steering wheel by the time they were done (ok that was elaboration).  After we got loaded back up and squeezed two shopping carts of "junk" into the van we were off again...until my daughter yelled "wait", I left my NY hat in the store! I drove around, let Melissa and my future Daughter in Law out to make a quick search.  Fifteen minutes later my daughter came back out. Melissa had decided she wasn't finished shopping and I suppose she assumed we wouldn't mind. Everybody couldn't believe it.  I just thought it funny that everyone else was fit to be tied in the 15 minutes they had to wait, when I had been out there for almost an hour and a half in zero degree weather, but did I try to get empathy?.....Noooo!

We then decided it would be too late to cook when we reached the vacation home, and nobody wanted take the extra time needed for a sit down meal in town, so I pulled into a fast food place.  Thank goodness, at least we would  keep moving since we were still about an hour and a half from our destination.  Well, I made the mistake of using the drive through... thirty minutes later, with much humiliation on my part, and we got on the road again.  The humiliation came in the form of sarcastic and humorous comments coming from the bowels of the van while I was trying to order and transact seven seperate meals...most of which had to be custom ordered of course.  The passengers were warm, full of energy, and and had just come from a shopping spree where they were able to buy some spoils for the trip.  I, on the other hand was whipped, having gotten up earlier then anyone else, checked on a very sick cow, fed, packed the van, drove for hours on end, got no car nap on the way up, then sat in the cold for over an hour and a half in the parking lot.  Nope, all the antics were just irritating the heck out of me, but did I show it....Noooo!

We finally made it to the cabin.  The road leading to it was full of snow drifts and hadn't been plowed.  I got out and walked to 300' to the cabin, checking the depth and consistency.  I certainly didn't want to haul oull our stuff to the cabin, it was very late, and I had already had my day full of adventure.  I came back to the van got in, backed up, said hold on and went for it.  A little sliding, snow throwing, and allot of screaming, but we made it!  On top of that the van fit in the garage, so the girls didn't even have to get out in the cold.  I had ended the drive with my integrity still intact...:)  The cabin was warm and inviting.  It came with heated floors and all the conveniences (phone, cable, air hockey table, hot showers, etc.)...including a big bed for me!  We quickly unpacked and went to bed. Snowmobiling was scheduled for 11:00 in the morning and it was a 30 minute drive away.  We needed to have everybody up, fed, showered, dressed for snow, and on the road no later then 10:00 (that schedule included having to wait on 3 women..heheh).  If snow didn't come in and bury the driveway, a 0700 wake-up should do it, but did we get out of there at 10:00...Noooo!

Day Two

It was about 0530 when I awoke to a sound.  I got up and looked out the window.  It was a snow plower working the driveway...yes! It took him about 45 minutes to get it cleared, but I knew we would have no trouble there.  I went ahead and got my shower in, made coffee, started breakfast, and got the rest of the party moving when it was time. We arrived at the location for the snowmobiling with about one minute to spare.  Everyone was dressed warm and ready to go.  We got a quick familiarization on the operation of the bikes and off we went.  Tina and I were doubled up with me driving.  I brought up the rear knowing I could not go as fast.  We drove for over two hours.  We passed through running creeks, went up a mountain, drove through steep canyons and deep woods.  It was absolutely beautiful.  Sometimes the light in the canyons would almost have a violet hue amongst the trees.  I'm sure it had something to do with my shaded goggles...:)  Even though Tina and I were traveling an average speed of 30mph, the main group was still having to periodically stop and wait for us.  As we went over the numorous whoops in the trail I could hear Tina grunting as the surge in forces will make you do on a real bumpy road.  We "almost" went off a bridge once, and we only dumped it twice.  We were having a blast.  Tina even got to drive it when we stopped at an open meadow with plenty of room.  There the guys also spent time racing with the guide at speeds close to 60mph, taking jumps and cutting loose..ahhharrr arrr arrr.  Did I win?....Noooo!

When it was time to go Tina and I once again brought up the rear.  She said her back was sore and to take it easy, so I did...sorta.  We were far behind the main group on the way out, enjoying the drive and commenting how much fun we were having and how beautiful the scenery was.  Only one other person (a women on a single bike) was in front and near us.  Every once in a while her husband would come back down the trail and give the hurry up signal to his wife....you could see his frustration.  We were pushing our time limit for rental and I think he was trying to be considerate of the guide (I wasn't worried,.. that's what tips are for, and it was the guide that started us back out later then he planned anyway).  It's ironic that after almost 17 years since our last trip there was some husband pushing his apprehensive wife along...:)  Well the woman kept trying to speed up, and I stayed on her tail even though we still weren't going very fast (Tina never said slow down).  At least we would try to get back together with the woman.  Well, when her husband gave his third urge to hurry it up (using his fist in a double-time motion), his wife decided to take off, so I in turn also sped up.  My vision was a little obscured with dirty goggles and snow being thrown from her snowmobile, so when the woman went over a "small" whoop in the trail I was still fast on her heals...running sorta blind.  The whoop however wasn't small on the back side, in fact it was a "wow" and allot deeper on the back side!  The woman almost crashed after she came down from being airborne, then she slammed on the brakes!  It was too late for me to brake for fear we would slide off the trail or jump into a creek, so I just yelled "hang on!"as we hit the whoop.  Did we make it...yes, but was it without incident?...Noooo!

We were about 3' to 4' in the air for a moment, then we came down hard almost hitting the women in front of us.  I was able to maintain control but as we landed Tina let out a blood curdling scream.  She had hurt her back...bad!  I got the bike stopped and she almost fell off to her knees.  She was in excruciating pain.  I had to convince, and help her, to get back on the bike.  I putted it in.  She cryed the whole time.  Everybody was wide eyed when we pulled into the starting point hearing Tina's crys of pain.  She was helped to the van and layed down in a seat as comfortable as possible.  The ride back over the mountain was a slow....and quiet one!  We helped her upstairs once we got to the cabin, gave her some IBU Profen and let her rest.  I called a Pharmacists we knew who was working late and got some advice.  I also had two paramedics that were with me look at her and make sure there was no serious back injury.  I ran into town and got some "Icy Hot" and warm patches to help the torn muscles (at least that's what we figured had happened.).  That was the end of Tina's fun.  The rest of the vacation she was very sore (but her spirits weren't) and she stayed in either in a soft chair or in the bed. What a trooper!  Luckly my son had recently gone through another surgery and had some other pain killers with him for his leg...which he gladly gave his mother...:)  Poor Tina didn't even get to go skiing, and this time there was no doubt she wasn't looking for an excuse.  At least she got pampered a little...:)  Did anybody (besides Tina) think or believe that the injury wasn't my fault though?...Noooo!

Day Three

The next day we set Tina up in the living room (literally and figuratively) with everything in reach she would need for the day (movies, food, drink, magazines, medicine, blankets, pillows, etc.).  All of the rest of us went to the slopes (me feeling guitly the whole time).  Tina wanted me to drive the rent van up the mountain, not the boys, (it was on my insurance) so I had no choice!  The day was going to be beautiful; sunshine, the roads were clear, the scenary was beautiful, and nobody was on the road that morning, except that one car....that looks like...it was....a Colorado State Trooper.  He was coming down off the mountain towards me.  I looked at my speedometer and figured I was safe....but I was wrong...his name was officer Sanchez.  That area just "happened" to be 10 mph slower then the rest.  He was very polite, but I think since he was also an immigration officer and I was driving a large tinted van with Texas plates I think I caught his eye...:(  He actually said he was obligated to give me a ticket...I was obligated to say thankyou!  Of course the peanut gallery in the back was trying everything they could do to make me laugh and make comments about Officer Sanchez under their breath.  Once again I controlled the urge, but did I get out of the ticket?...Noooo!

We made it to the slopes and got our ski's and such.  I decided I wasn't going to re-live the experience of 17 years ago, so I opted to take the ski lessons with my kids as a supportive figure.  Matt caught on quick, but Melissa struggled.  She was concentrating on all the technical details and not relaxing and getting her own feel of balance.  About half way through the 4 hour lesson, the experienced members of the party decided to crash ours!...:)  One came barreling down the bunny slope, dusting Matt and the instructor with a blanket of snow as he stopped.  The other came at Me, Melissa, and another instructor.  I tried to wave him off, but it was too late...we ate snow.  "They didn't know the people with us were instructors"...I just shook my head.  Well, Matt decided he was done with lessons at that point (I wish the others would have stayed away just a little longer), and he headed for the harder slopes, much to my disappointment and my attempts at encouragement to stay.  I'll have to admit it was awful slow and boring for me too since I knew how to ski, but I was there for my kids.  Actually, I kept doing other things besides what the instructors were teaching the class of 10, and they had to get on to me for setting a bad example (too much too fast)  One of them commented on where they felt Matt got it from..., but did I agree?...Noooo!

Lunch was called, and Melissa and I headed for the lodge (that's me checking up with Tina on the phone).  I actually did get me a stiff drink....:)  After lunch Melissa said she did not want to go out there and try again.  I'm not exactly sure how I convinced her to give it one more try, but I did.  Anyway, since she was exhausted from the morning, she actually relaxed and didn't focus on the little things, and do you know that girl was a natural!  I only wish I could ski as smooth as her.  We went up the mountain that afternoon and she only fell once after four long runs down the mountain.  Throughout the day I heard from the others that Matt made a huge mistake.  He had been falling constantly, and had almost quit skiing...serves him right!  He found me late that afternoon, and he "tried" to even race me.  I let him think he was good until the last steep incline, then I snuck up behind him and was on my way around when he turned back and saw me.  He tried to ram me and knock me off my feet but my balance was a little better, and poor Matty went down.  I skied on in for a victory!  Did either of them thank Dad that day for staying by their side and seeing it through?...Noooo!

Day Four

It stormed all night; the wind howled and lots of snow fell.  The morning started with getting Tina situated in the cabin, then the rest of us loaded up and headed back to the slopes.  The drive was slow due to the weather.  The resort was clouded over and the snow fall limited our visibilty to a couple hundred feet, but the powder on the mountain was fresh and everybody could ski where they wanted too...thank goodness!  I stayed with sis for the first part of the day.  She was done by noon and content to remain in the lodge making friends with the mountain rescue guy and his dog. As for me it was off to more difficult slopes and some skiing (racing) with Matt and the others.  Unfortunately the weather was so bad I only found Matt, but we had a great time on some long runs from the top of the mountain. Watching him fall was a hoot!....:)  We also finally figured out that we had somehow got our ski's mixed up the day before and both of us had been skiing on two different size skis for most of the time!  Well, we skiied all day until we were completely exhausted.  When it got about closing time, we hightailed it out of there!  That night was spent like the others with plenty of socializing, card playing and air hockey, plus some snow tunneling and snow burying! We also took the time to pack everything up for the trip home, and clean up the cabin so we could get an extra early start, but was the weather in our favor?...Noooo!

Day Five

As we left that morning, a fog had settled in, plus there was fresh snow on the ground.  I decided not to opt for then chains thinking I would only have to stop and remove them in a couple of hours.  It was dark and the roads were "dicey".  Luckily my nephew stayed awake and kept me company while I strained to see where I was going, at a whopping 30 mph.  A different route was chosen on the way out in hopes that we would avoid the passes, but we still fought ice and snow covered roads for hours.  After about six hours we finally got out of the mountains and out on the plains.  The roads were clear and we started to make good time.  We stopped at a Dairy Queen where a bunch of ol'country gentlemen were gathered for lunch.  I'm not sure how, but they got convinced that Tina and I had sired of all 5 of the young adults (who were are simular in age) that were with us!  The conversation became comical, and needless to say, I left there with a great impression on them!  As we neared our part of the country we began to here reports of severe weather and ice that was now plaguing our area.  Just our luck.  Drive out of the frying pan and into the fire!  Nevertheless, we made it home safely and without incident.  By the time we unloaded four different times and drove back to our place (80 miles away) it was close to midnight and I was whooped....again, but did it stop me from checking on the cows?...Noooo!

I walked the pasture behind the house to find my sick cow and see how she was fairing.  I found her dead.  It was my first loss of an adult bovine (lost a horse once) in 12 years.  What's worse is that she was one of my premier females and was due to be flushed following her calving this spring.  I was disappointed but not suprised based on her condition, age, and the seriousness of her illness.  The next day I buried her.  Six days later another old DOD had twin bulls, and I thanked the lord for the blessing, and for helping me recoup my losses.  All in all, the trip was a success, Tina only missed a weeks work after we got back (following a doctor's appointment).  We were able to give our family a vacation to remember, and I got to spend about a week of "down time" with my wife of 25 years after we got back.....Yessss! 

  
The moral of the story: 

Revisiting the past to make for a better future can still re-create some of the same ups and downs

From a cattle raisers point of view:

Buying your herd based on past proven genetics doesn't "prove" anything....for years.  Building your herd means exactly that!




II.   INFORMATIVE

"No informative article this month due to the lengthy short story!"




III.  FARM NEWS:

Consignment Sale results:

Magnolia: Our herd bull DBLH Stewart Boomer 80E P35, who was co-owned with Stewart Polled Herefords, placed Reserve Grand Champion at the 2008 Magnolia Hereford Show/Sale in Magnolia, Arkansas.  He had never been shown before, but he stood as a champion when he did make the ring. P35 was also the second highest selling bull lot, and fourth highest selling lot overall out of the 51 lots sold.  He was also the oldest and largest Hereford at the sale.  He started breeding in January of 2005, and worked several lease periods with other herds through age two. P35 has left us with several nice sons and daughters that we will be using in our program.  Thank you! Garner Land and Cattle, Arkadelphia, Arkansas for your purchase of P35.  


STPHA:  Thank You Bar L Ranch of Austin for your purchase of DBLH Stooby S12

NETHA:  Thank you

It's a..."boys"!  Our 14 year old Dam of Distinction/Donor cow JDB Sara D9A D14 calved twin bulls to Feltons Jedi on the 1st of February.  Look for these sons to be for sale next year.

FCC M201 John Paul S11, our herd bull owned with Forge Cattle Co. had his first calf hit the ground on February 20th, 2008.  Congratulations Michael Forge!

 


IV.   CURRENT/ UPCOMING EVENTS:

Cross Timbers Association Sale, West, Texas - April 26th

All Star Sale, Denison, Texas  - May, 2008

TJPHA and TJHA Combined State Show in Kerrville, Texas, June 19-22

Junior Nationals will be in Kansas City, Mo this year.




V.  HEREFORD HIGHLIGHTS:


DBLH 154 Suki T04
02/26/07
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Sring 2008
Thanks, and keep coming back! 
We figured we would give you a glimpse of our ski trip through this newsletter story, and a few select pictures.  The story is lengthy, but somewhat entertaining.  Click on the underlined text within the story to see pictures that relate to the trip.  We didn't place an informative article on the newsletter this month since the humor story was so long.  Hope you enjoy reading it.
Sneaking a kiss after 25 years
This is a Bred and owned heifer straight out of our program. Her sire is our trait leader herd bull, Feltons Jedi 154, and her dam is our DOD/Donor cow, JDB Sara D9A D14.  She is an attractive, moderate sized animal with good pigmentation, and she carries the maternal genetics to make an excellent brood cow.  She was sold into our Buy-Back Plan as a show heifer in 2007. We are looking forward to putting her back in our program and into production. We like this 154xD14 combination so much that we plan on flushing her dam back to Jedi.  Suki will be bred to Feltons 621, our calving ease specialist, for her first calf. The proven genetics is already behind this nice young heifer, now it is up to her to prove her worth!  There are two (twin bulls) born from our D14 cow this spring.  They are sired by Jedi, so they are full siblings to Suki.  If you are interested in this genetic combination, both of these bull calves will 
be for sale, following their weaning this coming fall.
113
doubleh@vzinet.com
209 CR 4625
Cooper Texas 75432
903 395-2413