I wish that weeds could equal time.  I know that I am running out of time, but I don’t seem to be running out of weeds.  I can spray, pull, hoe, whatever, they just keep coming.  Time, on the other hand, just seems to get shorter by the day.  I look at the calendar and realize that we are currently dealing with the longest daylight hours of the year.  Yet, I still need more time in a day.  

      Just like weeds popping up, it seems like there is a new online sale everyday.  Take pics and boom, let’s have a sale.  I’ve done online goat sales as long as anybody and I can guarantee you that I have made mistakes.  I don’t hardly have time to peruse all of the online offerings currently being offered, but I did check out the June Mania offering.  I do think that there is a specimen that needs to be looked at.  I mean, heck, if he was in OK or TX, they wouldn’t sell him.  Me, I would rather pull weeds than have to picture a goat that looks like that.  I don’t get it.  How can people look at pics/videos of good goats and make the decision that “This is our place to sell” and this is a great one.  WTH?   Take a pic, then cut/paste a pic of a high seller, put them side by side on your desktop.  Now if they don’t look similar, do something different.  

     Wait!  Didn’t we have assignments back in grade school that made us do same or different projects?  

        Just like weeds, it does seem like there are more people popping up wanting to spend a donkey-pile to buy a show goat.  They may not know which one to buy, but they will gladly spend some cash.  There is money to be made on people like this.  For me, that is not the customer that I want.  I know, I’m a dip-shit.  

       I’ve got a lot of thoughts on this fine evening, but I think that I will stop.  Have a good one and a better one tomorrow.  

     Another weekend, another trip south.  Braden, Duke and I decided to break the old gray goat of a pickup out of the barn for another run.  It ran like it was trying to prove something.  We made it to several farms and several sales.  Saw some really good stock.  Bought several.  Got out ran on several that I really wanted.  At least those will stay in Texas.  

     Gallagher’s put on a heckuva production.  Wow!  They have a crew that works to put on a sale.  Really good set of goats.  And they sold like it.  Then, they served up a full course BBQ dinner.  We didn’t have time to eat as we still had to head to Sanders’ sale.  But we did grab some cookies for the road.  I ate one or two, then turned around and went back for more.   Those were the best oatmeal raisin cookies that I have ever eaten.  Duke and Braden fell in love with the potato chip cookies.  Yep, cookies made out of potato chips.  I’m pretty sure that Garland didn’t bake those cookies, but he dang sure knows who to get to do it.  Great cookies.

     Sunday brings Fathers Day.  Happy Father’s Day to all!  I got a killer cool selfie pic of my daughter holding a Happy Father’s day sign in front of a VERY recognizable landmark.  I don’t know what day she was at this location, but I loved the pic.  

     Duke went to Cameron University livestock judging camp last week.  We got home Thursday night, then headed south early Friday morning.  Got home late Saturday night and now he leaves for OSU livestock judging camp until Wednesday.  I think that the boy is getting a bit road sour.  He announced for me not to book anything for him on Thursday.  

     Have a good day and a better tomorrow.

     Your president is a moron.  He actually said, “Mass violence like this doesn’t happen in other advanced countries.”  France, England, Germany, Norway, etc.  Not too mention terms like ISIS and all of the terrors that have gone on in the Middle East and in numerous African countries.  

      Thank goodness I get to attend a bunch of goat sales this weekend.  I will get to be a part of mild retardation instead of the full blown deal that resides in our capitol.  

     I don’t like talking on the phone and it is a well known fact that I am limited at texting.  I have had lots of calls this week and they all focus towards the same two questions.

1–Is there another Rumour in this Helms’ online buck sale?

2–How many wethers have you already got out of Helms?

     I don’t work for Kenneth Helms, I don’t get paid by Kenneth Helms but I do like feeding goats from that operation.  I like skinny, crappy looking goats with good genetics that have a chance.  He and I have always dealt fair with each other and I like that.  Therefore, I will answer these questions and others as you call, preferably.  If you’ve never talked to me on the phone before, don’t text me about this sale.  

1–Rumour wasn’t bought via online sale.  I threw a BIG # out and the deal was done.  However, to answer the question, there is not a buck like Rumour Has It in this year’s offering.  But, there are several that are better in certain areas. Rumour was the buck that I needed at the time.  This sale offering has 3 or 4 that will make drastic changes to lots of programs.  I REALLY like a certain buck as he has a ribcage shaped like a Budweiser can, a square rack that sits on that cage and a massive loin that ties into a big ass.  He isn’t perfect in a structure area or two, but he makes high dollar goats out of most does.  He will work at most any program in the business.  No, I am not planning on buying him as I am currently in a NO spend mode.  But, I will be watching and I know a good value.  The buck kids have been kept dry and are in good condition.  

2–Duke and I left Quitiquae without any wethers.  Why?  The best ones are selling in this online buck sale.  2nd–They have had a butt-load of rain and keep getting rain.  I like skinny,crappy goats, but not that skinny and that wet.  I did buy several at the Lone Star Elite & the Helms/Book sale.  I will bid on more at Norman.  I’m real sure that there will be lots of good goats come out of there in August and September.   

      I like talking goats.  I don’t like texting goats.  I don’t mind answering questions about goats that I have seen.  I don’t like taking pics of goats.  I would rather tell you exactly what I see.  Mine or anybody else’s.  

      So, to wrap up this diatribe.  I will answer your calls.  I will tell you what I have seen.  I would recommend going out there and actually seeing and handling each one.  It will be worth your trip.  They are better than the pics.  As for the wethers,  go out there. Buy them.  Cool.  I’ve bought lots of wethers out of there in July, August and September in the past.  I’m sure that I will again.  I like my showmen/feeders and I like my chances.  Besides, they usually get cheaper.  And the only thing that I like better than a skinny, crappy looking goat with good genetics is a CHEAP skinny, crappy looking goat with good genetics.  

      Have a good day and a better tomorrow.  

     Sunday and Monday brought flush dates to this part of the world.  Jodi Seelke scheduled a flush at her place.  On Sunday, Seelkes, Schovanecs and Milligan flushed does.  On Monday, Poe and I flushed does.  It was a typical flush.  Some went well, some not so well.  And it all cost money.

      I wasn’t there on Sunday, but I wish that I could have seen and heard the excitement.  A spanish cross recip carrying fresh embroys got out of the catch pen and headed down the highway.  They said that Milligan ran from the back of the trailer to the front of the pickup and that was as far as he could make it.  However, Braden and Bob Seelke were in full flight and ran her down like a cheetah chasing a gazelle.  Braden snagged her by the tail and they had her caught.  I would have like to hear Bob’s commentary.

     I did figure out the plan for successful flushes.  Don’t have any recips programmed.  Seriously.  2014 was a horrible flush year for Milligan.  He used different technicians, different bucks, different programs and did them at different locations and had similar results from all–horrible.  So, in 2015 he was preparing for his next crash–he didn’t even sync recips.  He just wanted embryos to put in his next trainwreck.  Well, 2015 looks to be different.  His four does gave so many embryos that he had to use Schovanecs recips to utilize these eggs.  Plus, he still froze a bunch.  Poe kind of had the same plan.  He was just going to freeze some eggs and didn’t have any recips.  Luckily for him, I didn’t need all of my recips.  So he put embryos in and still froze some.  I swore that I wouldn’t buy recips again.  I held true to my word.  I used some very proven does as recips.  I know that they will raise babies.  And the ones that I didn’t use, can still be bred and raise good kids.  Plus, I don’t have to look at a bunch of sale barn crap-quality goats nor worry about introducing any diseases, worms or other critters into my herd.  I’m in a better mood.  

     Thanks to Jodi for cooridinating and hosting.  She had Jordan there to help, the local vet was there working right beside us and everything went smooth.  All of the does made lots of eggs, just not all useable.  

     Dang, I wish I could have seen Bob chase a doe while cussing.  Dad gum!

      I was pleased to be asked to sell at the Friday Night Fever sale.  When Mock asked, I told him I didn’t have much that would be ready.  I didn’t lie.  I took a doe kid that I thought was worth $2-3K.  She brought $3k.  I took a green Joe Dirt wether and a little Rumour wether that was still hitting the tit.  These two sold cheap.  But they went to good homes.  I was pleased.  Kevin Mock and his crew worked to put on a top shelf sale.  And I think it went real well.  Thanks for the opportunity.  

      I did meet new people and this deal allowed people to put a face with the name.  Not all bad.  I thoroughly enjoyed meeting Erby Chandler.  I had heard of Erby for the past decade, but hadn’t gotten to meet him.    I also got a chance to meet numerous people who read this little blog deal.  Several readers actually got to meet the Dragon Lady as she made the trip with me.  They all agreed that she is way better looking than I am and that they would rather talk to her than me.  Well hell, I agree with that.  Some even asked about Kela and her current job with the Amazing Race.  This was way cool for me as Kela is currently on a flight to film the newest season of the Amazing Race.  I don’t know where they are headed, but I do know that it isn’t in Fargo, OK.  Thanks to you readers that came and introduced yourself.  It always scares me when somebody admits to reading this crap.  I usually apologize, but it is fun.  My favorite, yet the scariest quote, “If I could get my husband to read the bible as often as he does your blog, he would be a saint.”  Trust me, I don’t want to impede anybody’s progress towards sainthood.

     I liked that the first lot sold was pick of the males.  I thought that this would be stupid high.  But, I think that there were others like me that had several candidates for pick of the barn.  It still sold high.   I can’t argue with the Stork wether that was picked first.  Later on, they sold pick of the doe kids.  I thought that this was a two horse race.  Henkhaus brought a killer doe prospect  and Cade Halfman brought a wicked good paint kid.  $19K later and you could make the Henkhaus doe kid your pick.  The paint sold well also.  I was amazed that a bunch of the high sellers came back to Oklahoma.  What’s the term….$h!t just got real?  

      After the sale, a crew of Okies took over the lobby of the Hampton Inn.  Derek Pearson and his family, Schneberger and his lovely bride and daughter, the Sweet crew, the Poe battalion and Tammy and I.  Nothing out of hand, just Papa John’s pizza, Whataburger and good stories.  I don’t care how bad you want to hang a banner, it is evenings like this that we remember.  

      This is the first time, that I have traveled from Paradise to south Texas and it was WET and GREEN all of the way.  We even came through a wicked downpour near Paducah that had the ditches full and running across the highway, terraces were busted and freshly planted, CHEAP cotton seed was being washed out.  Much like the goat sales that have seen lots and lots of dollars changing hands, there was lots and lots of water moving at a rapid pace.  

      Here’s to horseshoes and shamrocks for everybody.  Especially for Kela as she embarks on this new journey. 

    I have limited time, limited desire and too many things racing through my skull.  It was a good day, but I am not near done for the night.  Have a good one….and a better tomorrow.  It’s all good.

     Tonight was a really good night in paradise.  A buddy of mine was home for a few days, so we met for supper at, you guessed it, Charlie’s.  Another great American came in for supper, so we joined forces for an hour or two.  Great stories.  

     The Dragon Lady and I cruised back home.  I parked a pickup or two inside the barn and shut the doors.  The stars are visible on this evening.  There is just enough wind to catch that buck smell as you walk near the buck pen.  Yeah, you goat breeders know the smell.  Pungent, similar to a skunk.  It is actually a really nice evening.  I stopped and sat on the yard fence.  Just listening.  Crickets.  We are wet enough that there are frogs making some noise.  No bullfrogs, just frogs chirping.  

      Sometimes, these nights of solitary are not a bad deal.  I like to sit in the dark, look at the stars and listen.  I’ve been this way for awhile.  And, Duke has the same problem.  You can just listen to nature.  Sounds become amplified.  Wait?  What is that sound?  That isn’t natural.  Well, crap.  I forgot to shut a sprinkler off earlier this afternoon.  That part of the garden is what you would call saturated.  I’m on good behavior, so I’m not soaked.  

      Here’s to hoping that you all had a good day and a better tomorrow.    

Here we go again.  That is one of my favorite songs.  And much like the song, here we go again.  I ventured south to numerous Texas sales.  Saw some good goats, saw some really good goats and saw several that didn’t look good but will be good.  I like those kind.  Of course, those common ones that don’t look good, yet, always cost $1,500 to $3,000 in Texas.  Okay.  I guess that is the cost of doing business.  But, I like what I brought home.  I may not like them next March, but I like them today.  They have a chance.  And sometimes, all you really want is a chance.  

     I left Duke at home to help sync recips.  I always like having him with me to set goats up and to eat at favorite spots. I traded him for Brandon the Bruce.   Not so good a trade at setting little goats up, but unparalled at the eating part and discussing late 80s/early 90s music.  Great trip.  

      I did have a humerous moment at the Lone Star Elite sale.  Jason Spence was auctioneering and a goat was crowding $5k.  I was bidding but bowed out.  Another bidder was sitting straight across the building.  He was waivering on the next bid, and the ringman went RUNNING right up to him to try to entice him to bid again.  Spence went  “Easy on him. That guy used to be my jockey.”  It was Belmont Stakes day.  And I guess you have to find the humour in the fact that John Henkhaus probably NEVER was a jockey for anybody.  No offense meant toward Henkhaus, but I had visions of Schneberger wearing a crappy little straw hat with his FR overalls while riding a burro.  Or a bear riding a tricycle.  One in the same.  No matter “The Situation”, I like humour.  

       Triple crown….YES!  And no, I didn’t get to watch it.  I was in between Vernon and Altus.  My fault for not watching it live.  Ask Brandon the Bruce.  I may, might be, probably is a dumb $hit.  The whole time zone deal always causes me problems.  

      And I really don’t like dealing with does.  I like babies, bucks, wethers and doe kdis.  But I really don’t like the beasts that are required to raise said wethers, bucks, doe kids, etc.  They rub, wear, crap on and beat the heck out of anything they can.  Fence…Not anymore.  A full feeder–yeah, it was full, right up until they crapped in the feed tray.  Good looking kid…What?  Not anymore, he now walks with a limp.  I really like raising good goats.  But I DESPISE dealing with does.  

And much like Whitesnake, weve heard this tune before.  CRANK IT!   Have a good one, and a better tomorrow.  

is here and that means that I will be hitting the road.  Chores are done.  Another doe kidded this morning.  Knock on wood, but the buck kid percentage is rapidly increasing.  I look forward to the sales this weekend and every weekend through the rest of June.  There will be some cash spent on fuel, food and motels.  People sometimes forget to factor travel expenses into finding good goats.  Looks like lots of online sales scheduled this month.  Some will go better than others.  Those too will require travel/delivery expenses.  It all takes money.  

Have a great weekend.