Your mission, if you choose to accept it

No, it wasn't Mission Impossible. It was cattle sorting day on the County Line. We are selling feeder cattle at Pratt Livestock on Thursday. My job was running the secondary gate. Depending upon whether it was a heifer Randy wanted to keep to add to our herd or a steer that was going to be loaded onto the semi tomorrow, I pulled the gate to the north or south.

Just a side note: This blog stuff is obviously new. I normally wouldn't consent to getting my photo taken in this get-up: a short-sleeved t-shirt, long-sleeved t-shirt, crew neck sweatshirt, hoody sweatshirt and a wind-resistant jacket on top. And note the lovely headband underneath the two hoods. I don't need any help in adding bulk to my frame. But when it's 21 degrees, you do what you've got to do.

Even in my bulky garb, I tried to blend into the fence post so the cattle wouldn't shy away from the wide open gate to the north. You can also note my camouflage gloves, also good for blending.

I know my husband loves me because for Christmas, he gave me hand warmers. Some girls get diamonds. Others get hand warmers. But I ask you: How warm do diamonds keep you on a cold January morning??

Randy is a hopeless (?!) romantic when it comes to keeping me warm. For the Valentine's Day prior to our March 28 wedding in 1981, he didn't shower me with flowers or candy. He gave me long johns. Yes, I know he's lucky I didn't call it off. But he redeemed himself a little when he said it was to "keep you warm when I'm not around." Ah, a practical farmer ... you gotta love him!

All in all, it was a successful morning. For the most part, the cattle did a good job in "follow the leader." Let's hope loading on the semi tomorrow goes just as well!