Finally a little time to breathe and write! It has been three weeks since I last blogged, a lot can happen in three weeks... and has!
Fall calving season is in full swing here in the tidewater, with two to six calves arriving every day, or night as is too often the case with first calf heifers and each one needing to be weighed and tagged. We finished up the summer Grass Hay season last week with 1000, 50lb square bales and 50, 5x5 round bales and began repairs and preparations for Peanut Hay beginning next week. We also weaned, weighed, and vaccinated sixty or so spring calves, sorted the 2006 fall calves into three groups; heifers to retain, steers and heifers to market in the Spring, and 6 to 9 weight Fall market steers. We hauled the Fall market steers to a graded feeder sale in Clinton, NC last Tuesday. We finished the Corn harvest up on Thursday, and began picking Cotton on Wednesday. We'll begin digging Peanuts on Wednesday, 250 acres, which also translates into about 400 tons of Hay to rake, roll, and bale, and begin planting the winter Wheat behind the Cotton pickers. We have also been planting the winter Pasture Grasses, and are preparing to plant Cover Crop behind the Peanut harvest.
Yes... Summer has hit the cap rock, and we are rollin' downhill into Fall.
I love the Fall, it is my favorite time of the year. Leaves changing color, crisp chill mornings and hot black coffee, warm afternoons and fresh chilled apple cider, High School football games under the Friday night lights. Saturday evenings with friends around the fire pit, and Sunday afternoon BBQ's with ribs, or briskit and pinto beans, cornbread, and persimmon pudding and pumpkin pie for desert or maybe a checkerboard cowboy cobbler. I like Fall calving time... watching the mommas mother the new calves, easing into the pastures in the early morning to see the nursery full of calves with the babysitter cow laying in the middle of them while their mothers are grazing in the distance, I like walking among them in the middle of the day as the babies nap singing...
Sweet little dogies sleep,
sleep little dogies sleep,
Momma's near, the cowboy's here,
watching or'e you while you sleep,
Sweet little dogies sleep,
sleep little dogies sleep.
Copywrite kdtw 1981
So what has all of this got to do with a life of Leather and Silk?
A few years ago at a Promise Keepers meeting, the speaker shared with us an excerpt from a book by Aubrey Andelin, titled Man of Steel and Velvet, and as I continue on this journey of personal growth, spiritual restoration, and building relationships based on unconditional love, I was reminded of these words...
Excerpt from
Man of Steel and Velvet
By Aubrey Andelin
An unusual tribute was paid to Abraham Lincoln by Carl Sandburg. The poet wrote, "Not often in the story of mankind does a man arrive on earth who is both steel and velvet, who is as hard as rock and soft as drifting fog, who holds in his heart and mind the paradox of terrible storm and peace unspeakable and perfect".
Lincoln demonstrated then and now how a person can possess both a will of iron and a heart of tenderness. Nothing deterred the president during the American Civil War from his noble cause, and few persons have ever endured more criticism and detractors than Lincoln. Yet he was no more a man of steel than one of velvet.
When General Robert E. Lee surrendered his army, Lincoln sent an unexpected message to the enemy commander. “Tell your men they may keep their horses; they'll need them for plowing,” said the president. Then this: “Tell your men they may keep their rifles; they'll need them for hunting.” When Lee read those words he wept.
And, while Sandburgs words were about Lincoln, they could also be said of Lee... both were men of passion and compassion... Iron wills with tender hearts... leaders and servants.
As I relate this then to my own life, I'd rather think of myself as a man of Leather and Silk... I'll explain... Steel is strong, but it is also hard... and cold... it takes a great deal of effort to work with it... you have to use heat or a harder metal to change it's shape... to make something useful from it... and still, it will, if uncared for rust away. Leather is strong also, durable and tough... it can be shaped much easier, can be used to make all sorts of things, and is in every way more comfortable than steel... if you keep leather clean... and oiled... it can last as long as steel. I have an old headstall...bridle... that I dug up near the remains of an old cabin and barn in Johnson County, Wyoming. It probably dates from 1878 to 1898. I kept it because of the way it was made... I have used it as a pattern to make other headstalls. What is interesting to me is that the buckles and dee's were nearly rusted away when I found it, but with cleaning, oiling, and a little care... the leather is supple and strong... if I changed out the buckles and dee's I could put that headstall on Peanut today.
Why silk rather than velvet? When my girls were little they had velvet dresses... blankets made of velvet... and stuffed velveteen toys... and while they were gentle... soft... warm... and cuddly, The velvet was hot... tore easily... when crushed wrinkled... and did not tolerate abuse or wear well. I have almost always worn a bandanna around my neck, especially in the winter, and though they can be made from acetate, satin, cotton, or a number of other materials... I prefer the ones made of silk. It keeps my nose warm in winter and the dust out of my mouth and nose in summer. They are warm... yet breathe and are cool in the summer... you can dip it into a stream and hang it around your neck to cool off... it is gentle against your skin... yet when you twist it into a line... it is nearly as strong as rawhide. I have tied the ends of a twisted bandanna to the legs of an unborn calf to help pull it into life. It was gentle on the legs of that calf, yet strong enough to withstand the pull; I then washed it out in a stock-tank, wrung it out and tied it back around my neck. Gentle and strong!
I believe a man ought to be strong... strong in character, passion, honor, integrity, resolve, and will, yet that will should be able to be shaped... in my case, I believe by God... and I also believe a man should be gentle... gentle spirit, kind, compassionate, caring, trusting, temperate...
I believe a man should be a leader... and a servant!
I'd like to think that my life is a life of leather and silk, passion and compassion. a leader and servant... that I am a man of Leather and Silk... as I continue on this journey...
... for in the west you're aware, that all that you are, is what you say, and do... and the kind gentle man, with the strong, calloused hands... is the one that's looked up to...
copywrite 2007 kdtw
I remain, the lastbuckaroo!
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read more blogs!
Blogs by lastbuckaroo:
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| A life of Leather and Silk! |
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misschoos
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Sep 22 @ 5:43PM
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There is something about autumn 
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Sunbabie
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Sep 22 @ 5:46PM
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As usual, a beautiful blog  .
You are a busy man and a man who speaks words of wisdom. I hope you have time for a breather and a relaxing Sunday 
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honeybear285
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Sep 22 @ 5:49PM
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Oh my.......your words took my breath away.....that is so beautiful....you truly are a man of leather and silk.....the depths of your spirit and your understanding of the circle are profound.....I am humbled...
Peace and Love my friend
Honeybear
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kattsmeow
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Sep 22 @ 5:57PM
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Ah my friend, yes, you describe it so wonderful. I can feel the morning chill, and smell the hot coffee.
I can see the silk scarf around the calfs legs, strong but gentle.
Kudo's to the best blog in a long time on here.
When winter hits, come on over to California.
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ladykay488
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Sep 22 @ 6:00PM
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I would say that you are a busy man that knows who he is, where he is going and what he going to do when he gets there. Great Blog, enjoyed reading it. 
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American_Woman
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Sep 22 @ 6:51PM
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I love the way you write. You are an amazing man.
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luvshorses644
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Sep 22 @ 7:18PM
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Yep, autumn is a busy time... and you still found the time to write something lovely. I agree with Sandberg about Lincoln, he was a complex deep man with a heart that understood people.
Very nice read.. and I want some of that chilled cider also. I just bought a bushel of Cortland apples and next weekend is apple pie time..I usually put up 15 to 20 pies each year and the tomato sauce has been canned and so have the pickles and red beets.
I like that silk scarf of yours... it suits you!
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Rinimer2003
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Sep 22 @ 8:27PM
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Many strong words written in your Blog...but they were te4mpered with your silky smooth writing.
Wonderful readings - thansk for the post!
Sara
(in my area we only got one good cutting of hay! The dry summer wiped out the second cut. Luckily, I have mine reserved with a farmer - its going to be scare around here this year! Hope you had a better hay year then us!)
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Palomino
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Sep 22 @ 8:28PM
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The best read I've had for a long time...perhaps 3 weeks? ;) A kudo for you, of course. Your words are beautiful and true, Tucker, yet they brought out a longing I have kept hidden for half my life. I think it's time to go for a walk in the rain.
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keeno
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Sep 22 @ 10:11PM
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thanks for the well written words and the wisdom, we could all use a little more of that. 
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littlangel
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Sep 23 @ 2:41AM
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I have to agree with Palomino, the best read I have seen on in here in 3 weeks. Leather and silk ----soft, kind, true and strong---an amazing combination in a human being for sure. Your words bring out a longing in me as well Tucker.
Thank you for the best blog in a very long time and a kudo to you..:)
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suzzieq356
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Sep 23 @ 10:58AM
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As alway's darlin you touched my heart with your sweet word's.. You are such a wonderful man....
Wish I was there with ya....Thank you for giving me big chillbump's....You are a true COWBOY!!!! Love ya ... 
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Tunes4u
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Sep 23 @ 12:15PM
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I believe a man ought to be strong... strong in character, passion, honor, integrity, resolve, and will, yet that will should be able to be shaped... in my case, I believe by God... and I also believe a man should be gentle... gentle spirit, kind, compassionate, caring, trusting, temperate...
I believe a man should be a leader... and a servant!
... for in the west you're aware, that all that you are, is what you say, and do... and the kind gentle man, with the strong, calloused hands... is the one that's looked up to...
Kudos to you Sir T.......excellent.....thank you for this post.....
Wyoming anxiously awaits your return!
I hope to be in the front of the line of those waiting!
Tunes
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HopelesslyHopeful
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Sep 24 @ 11:05AM
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Unfortunately I don't have time to read this blog fully, but I was drawn in by the title .. sounds lovely on it's own!
I can see I'll have to come back. It's a pleasure to see that sort of writing on a blog. .especially when it's not being ignored as most of the best thought out and written blogs usually are.
Thanks for the smile this morning!
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Loreli
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Sep 24 @ 1:07PM
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I look forward to each new blog of yours. You describe things so well, it is if I am witness to it with my own eyes, ears, taste, smell and touch.
Kudo for you!
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mystery2u888
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Sep 26 @ 12:35AM
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very nice blog
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