Somethin' Bout a Truck....

Since being down here, I have gotten to drive pickups, a tractor, the kubota, and cattle (of course). Last Friday, Mike trusted his life in my hands as I operated the post driver, which he taught me to drive just minutes earlier. He first explained the #1 rule --- don't run him over. Though I did kill the tractor within the first few seconds of running it, I didn't kill Mike. Needless to say, I chalked that up as a win.

Massey-Ferguson Post Driver....and Mike

I also got to work on Sunday because my steer calves needed to be rotated in their pastures again and the forage heights needed to be collected. It was only Greg (the foreman), Marc, and I working that day. It was great to get to work along side them and get to know them better. I really enjoy working with the whole crew of guys here. They are all so nice, helpful, and humorous. Sorry if I'm being a little redundant, but they are just a great group of guys and I'm thankful that I get to know and work with them this summer.

Peaches the cow has been sick for a week and wasn't eating. I looked deep into her eyes on Sunday, hoping and begging her to eat something, telling her that she would get better if she did. As I did this, she stood eerily still and bowed her head as if she was going to eat something. This morning we saw that she did!!! That's my girl!

Anyways, so on Sunday I got to help the boys hang tarps on the shades for the steer calves. My job was to drive the old, beat up, blue truck as close to the posts as I could so Marc could stand on the cab and nail down the tarp. I admit it wasn't the safest method, but we got the job done. Plus I got to earn the title of "Earnhart Junior Junior" because I'm not the best at navigating, that truck has stiff gas pedal, and I almost lost Marc. He says he will have me ready for NASCAR by the end of the summer.......we'll see about that.

the frog I found on our porch

Today, I rode in the kubota with Roger checking fences and, moving and checking on cattle. Throughout the day, I got to meet some animals I don't normally run into back home. In addition the frog I meet on the porch tonight, I came across 2 turtles, a coyote, a dead snake, a ground hog, and a white skunk. I'm definitely not in the suburbs anymore.

the rabbit that must live under our garage

Roger, Eileen, and I also got drenched in the rain storm. But Eileen and I took it as an opportunity to test out our dance moves. I felt like Chris Farley in Tommy Boy when he is being squirted with the water hose at the gas station.
Tommy Boy Dance Scene
Eileen and I also managed to get stuck in a muddy ditch. Once she got stuck, I jumped out of the kubota to help her but my feet slipped right out from under me and landing on my butt. After I finally was able to get up, I tried to pull her out but she ended up pulling me in...Long story short, we were covered in wet clay by the end of the day. We definitely make a great team!
Well that's all for now! I'm sure I'll have more adventures to tell you about tomorrow!