I was reminded today just how fast something can change.
This morning, we noticed Bub (the cat) was out of the dog pen. We figured he was small enough to go through the fence but he hadn’t figured that out – until this morning. I had done all I could to plug each gaping hole along the sides of the pen with anything that would work. I was told the dog could be locked in the pen but how fair was that? We were the visitors. Why should he have to do something out of the ordinary?
So, I quickly scooped him up before the dog saw him, took him back to the pen and closed up any hole that looked like may have been big enough for him to get through. And then I saw it – he went right through the fence. Well, this was a problem. How in the world would I keep him in now? My only hope was that he would kick into survival mode if that dog spotted him and began the chase.
We had just poured some coffee and was “fixing” to have a cinnamon roll when I heard it – Bub’s cry. I went outside to see what was going on only to witness him in the dog’s mouth. I rescued him but it was too late. It’s been a rough day! If you haven’t been following my blog for long, you may not know about Bub. He was rescued by a neighbor and brought to my house when he was about 2 weeks old. I bottle fed him and fell in love with him. There’s a picture of him in my last post, “just tinkering”.
Just a cat. That’s what I keep trying to tell myself. An animal. Then why do I hurt so much? Sometimes, I just wish God wouldn’t have given us the ability to hurt. But I guess I have to believe that if there’s hurt it’s because there was love. And love is an emotion that is so very necessary in this world! I keep kicking myself for not leaving him with Jamie. I think I knew there was a dog here but I had forgotten. Had I remembered, he would have stayed with her. But the “if only’s” won’t change things now. If only I could turn back time.
On a more positive note, we did get to cut two truckloads of wheat yesterday before it rained. It was a BEAUTIFUL patch of dry land wheat. It probably averaged 40 bushels to the acre. Jim said it weighed 64 lbs. Outstanding wheat considering what the patches of wheat look like around here. We started about 5:00 and the temp was still over 100 degrees.
And then the clouds started rolling in and the skies got darker and darker. I had just emptied the last load onto Frank, Jim tarped it and it started to sprinkle. That ended the “what do we do now” phase of the day. We parked the Yellow Beast on some summer fallow – headed East, of course – took Frank back to the farmyard and headed for the Cottage on wheels. This is what this monster storm looked like:
And from the door of the Cottage:
If someone had asked me if we should head for the tornado shelter, I would have said yes. But the weather band radio kept reassuring us it was just a severe thunderstorm. The green-ness said we should have hail. So the pickups got put in the shed. What did we get out of it? A lot of wind, nearly an inch of rain and a raincation. I think we were pretty lucky and this desert definitely needs the drink!
So, we’ll wait a little longer before we get back in the field.
Tracy…………..nothing I can say to stop the memories of that darn cute baby kitty….while he was with you kids….he was loved….and your neighbors little girls loved him too…….I wish for you too..
Gma seems to be getting better…I will go visit her tomorrow afternoon, after I get the yard mowed
and the flowers planted…..hugs ans kisses xxxxxxxoooooooo…mom
Thanks, Mom. A sad day, for sure.
Sadly, this was more or less the result the two times we took cats on harvest, too. Very unfortunate for you and for the kitten. 🙁
It just sucks!
Sorry about your kitten. It’s not easy losing a special friend. We had an 11 month old dog go missing in 2011 while harvesting fall crop in SD. I still miss her tremendously. Our crew started in Ness City on Sunday and described a very similar storm.
The sky has been green and the yard light has been on for over 30 minutes with round #2. Hail and lots of rain this time!
Sorry about the kitten it is always sad day or two. We go through it every year a stray dog or one or two get run over. Glad to hear you got started to combine
Well, we DID get started and then the rains came. We just had another 1.5″ of rain this afternoon. Oh well…
God will provide.
A raincation is that a Nebraska Wheatie isim !!! Do you have it copy righted??? Love it . Talk about backwards weather in Alberta , southern part maybe +20c to +23c northern part +27c or better,Inuvik NWT. way inside the Artic circle was +28c yesterday. Let’s hope the wheat you’re cutt’n is 60lbs after the rains
I don’t think I’ve heard anyone else talking about a “raincation” so maybe it IS a Nebraska Wheatie isim. 🙂
Now, you’ll have to tell me how to turn C into F to better understand your temps.
The wheat was 64 lbs prior to the monsoonal downpour.
I’m so sorry about your cat. What an adorable sweet creature.
Love your blog and reading about your wheat adventures. I pray that your heart heals from the pain of losing your cat.
Oh, Hilary…
Thank you so much. If I keep my mind off things, it’s ok. But, when I think about just how sweet he was or see a picture of him, it makes my heart hurt all over again. The prayers will help, I’m sure. The pain of losing something or someone you love can almost be more than a person can bear. Without faith in God, I don’t know how people can get through the loss of a loved one.