Steer Planet - Show Steers and Club Calves Forum

Yes, I remember that winter very well.  Walked out of the house and promptly fell down several times.  The ice on the ground was terribly thick.  I would have to ask Dad if he remembers how thick it was.  The ice we got this week was mostly on the trees and power lines, we had so much rain to go with it that it didn't accumulate on the ground.  I do remember not going to school the whole of January.  Not much to do living 22 miles from town and iced in.  I also remember a winter in the 70's when we had significant snowfall ( My horse was chest deep in places) and it then iced on top of that.  The cows hoof prints were bloody.  Can still picture that in my mind.  Every time they broke through the ice into the snow they were cutting their legs.

Don't see much beautiful about all of our trees destroyed.  Sorry I can't agree with you Show Heifer.  I know that we have alot to be thankful for in our life time but I refuse to be thankful for lost power, the expense that many of our neighbors are having replacing downed power lines and all the other misc expenses that go with not having power.

However,   The funniest story I have heard was from a lady that came in the store today and said that the National Guard came by their farm (ice storm in January) and asked if they needed any assistance.  This was after seven days w/o power.  They said yes that water for their livestock was greatly needed (ponds frozen up and many still dry) and the National Guard unloaded five gallons of water and said that they could come back the next week with five more gallons.  She said thank you.  Told me that it wasn't worth trying to explain to the Guard that one cow would use that water in a day.

Yes, Gidget called me this morning & her hubby spent almost a day clearing limbs & trees so they could get to the highway. A little work goes a long way!
Still no electric for them. They were going to a bigger town for a doctor's appointment.

Red

One thing I find interesting is last night the news was showing a group of men complaining that they had not been able to go to work because the city had not cleaned a tree from the road way.  I just cannot understand why they just did not move it them selves.  I think one of the main problems with our country especially the urban areas is the fact that most people have lost the ability to do any thing for themselves.  Their first reaction when a problem arises is to call someone.  Growing up as a poor farm kid our first reaction was to try and fix it ourselves, and as a last resort call a neighbor who owed you a favor.  On another note last year during our power outage I went to check on a lady in her nineties.  She just laughed at me and told me not to worry about her she had lived over 5o years without power.  I actually had lunch with her that she had made on a wood stove.

Great post, Will.  Out here in the land of Californication, (What used to be the Rocky Mountain west)....(Sorry Knabe), we typically have brutal 3 day blizzards in Feb & March.  Visibility is non existant and conditions with wind chill are very dangerous.  Folks are told to stay home.  Yet search and rescue teams are overextended from looking for people who just could not stay home...."I had to get to the store for cigarettes!"   These geniuses do not stop to think that the stores are closed too!  DUH

They are calling for 6-12" of snow here this weekend. There might be some freezing rain at first. I just fear the ice for my hubby. It makes it so rough for him to get around & you just can't keep him home.
Has anyone ever tried ice cleats on shoes? I was also wondering about ice tips on his crutches. Any thoughts?

Red

Just got our power back last night, took about an hour to re-boat the computer. Family and livestock faired well, we ran two generators. Figured out to about $600 in fuel  God bless rural electrification, and all the out-of-state linemen that helped get it up and runnin!

It'll take forever to catch up on the Planet posts.

Lee, I was wondering where you were! I hope that little girl is alright. Take care & we're glad to have you back!!!

Red