The Yo-Yo syndrome

On thing you learn about weather in Montana is, that it can and will change. Lately it feels as if we're yo-yoing, first to Spring like temps. for a week or so, then snow and back into winter weather patterns, then back to as high as 60 F, then the next day back into the 20'sF. Our poor animals are confused as to whether or not to shed or hang onto their winter coats. Thankfully they all have shelter with thick bedding and plenty of water and feed. It must be frustrating to them because for a week or so they can graze and enjoy the sunshine and then BAM! everything is covered in snow and temps are frigid again. Yesterday we woke to a dark skyline. We feed at 6 am., there was no precip at that time, in fact it didn't begin to SNOW until 9 am. By 11am we already had 2-3 inches on the ground and it was still snow heavily( flakes as big as golfballs). Our plans were to help set up the Fireman's Chili Feed, delivering our cornbread and then leave for the city and a day of errands. Well..... that abruptly changed. I'm a HUGE chicken when it comes to bad roads! So instead we stayed and helped serve chili and had a wonderful time visiting with neighbors and friends. It so happens that due to the weather and bad roads the Chili Feed was a HUGE success, netting the Fire Dept. alittle over $1500 to put toward their new water truck. They had a wonderful selection of donated items for their silent auction as well. It seems we were destine to have animals in trouble this past week. First Casino's jaw muscles and then Friday evening, Cortney's heifer calf was feeling frisky and took off running and playing with the dogs. She realized Cortney had opened her corral to let her in for evening feeding. She came running and hooked one side of her horns in the corral as she came around the corner. This broke the horn. Yes it bled, although not to bad. Actually it broke away the solid part of her horn leaving the inside core unharmed. The hard shell is still attached by a small portion and hanging, we hope it falls off, if not we'll have to remove it ourselves. We spoke to the vets office( actually to the vet tech.) and he said if the interior wasn't damaged, her horn may grow back, it simply won't be a matched set. It's kind of like smashing your fingernail and you loose it, it's tender until the new nail grows back in. Poor Cortney, after Bessie gave birth to a still born heifer calf two summers ago, then getting Bessie to adopt a heifer calf( given to us) and finding out this heifer had her own set of problems, which lead to the decission to have her put down and then this. Well.... she was a wreck to say the least. Cortney is very tender hearted and ALL animals are attracted to her. Her tender heart makes it hard for her to see an animal hurting though. Many blessings to you this week. Well, it's time to clean the barns and see if the girls want to come out today!