The week was exceptional. With the season for beef fully upon us Perry and I had a reservation to deliver his five beeves to the butcher shop. We had talked to our butcher of choice and he gave us the last available week to deliver before he shut down beef processing for the year. October 27th. Just a couple of weeks ago I had no idea how we were going to get the cows over there. Attempts to hire someone fell through. Livestock trailers were scarce and expensive. Maybe we would have a cattle drive? Finally just last week Perry was able to buy a nice bumper pull unit for a good price. We borrowed Daddy’s one ton dually and were ready for work. Tuesday morning we got the trailer backed up to the catch pen and went looking for the cows. They saw us and easily followed our bucket of treats into the catch pen. All except for one Loco cow. We went ahead and coaxed the first cow upto the trailer. Once the cows have a few minutes to stare at everything you can twist one of their tails and they move right ahead into the trailer. Once the first one loads the others flow in just like water. Easy. Now for Loco. He was eyeing all this and didn’t like it. He cared nothing for the food and nothing for the pen. We tried to lure him near the catch pen but everytime he got close he would bolt and run up the pasture to the top of the hill. We would walk up and behind him them walk him back down near the catch pen only to see him bolt back up the hill. After about an hour of this we decided to take the ones in the trailer for their ride and come back that afternoon to get Loco. That went well. When we returned Loco was no where to be found. The hot wire was off and we wondered if he had gotten out. No such luck. With the rain pouring down my other son Mattaniah had discovered Loco’s hiding place and drove him back toward the catch pen. It was the same song and verse. Back to the hilltop and down again. After three hours of this we kludged up a bigger catch pen with some posts and barb wire (bob ware I guess). Down we brough him and finally into the new catch pen. As we rushed to close the pen we watched him stretch the wire and go through the fence. Someone told me you shouldn’t have a rifle when you are getting cows up. I now know why. So we quit for the day. The other four are already hanging for their 2 or 3 week dry ageing then they will be cut up and go to the customers. If we ever catch Loco he will be in our freezer.