Systems

So Matt’s been sketching and designing his nights away this week, working on a plan for a catch pen. It involves a hexagon, 12-foot gates, cattle panel, cosigns and square roots. And he keeps asking me to help. I don’t know why some people think that other people who minored in mathematics in college should be of any help. My eyes glaze over 5 seconds into his question. But I try to be supportive.

And that’s about the most exciting thing that’s going on around here farm-wise. Which is a good thing. This time last year the cows would watch for us to leave home, and stage a breakout the minute we were gone. Neighbors would notice, try to call us, and then start down the chain of my relatives until they found someone at home. No breakouts this year. Our outbuildings are the saddest, most dilapidated structures. They aren’t even insurable. But we’re developing systems that work in spite of them.

“We learn geology the morning after the earthquake.”
~Ralph Waldo Emerson