Journal 2012-13

June 21, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 92°.
56° at 5:30 a.m.

June 20, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 88°.
56° at 5:30 a.m.

June 19, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 92°.
55° at 5:30 a.m.

June 17, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 99°.
61° at 5:30 a.m.

June 16, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 101°.
61° at 5:30 a.m.

June 15, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 99°.
60° at 5:30 a.m.

June 14, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 96°.
60° at 5:30 a.m.

June 13, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 102°.
60° at 5:30 a.m.

June 12, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 100°.
65° at 5:30 a.m.
Perhaps it should be noted that our high temperatures have ranged about 3° warmer than the reported highs in Fresno and Visalia this past week, with a degree or so warmer lows. Longer days as we approach the Summer Solstice, hills of clay and granite exposed to 100+° heat without town’s irrigated lawns and trees, I suspect, make up the difference. Once over the century mark, this canyon becomes an oven, but we’ve had some active breezes that help keep men and cattle cooler in the shade.

June 10, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 107°.
67° at 5:30 a.m.

June 9, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 112°.
73° at 5:30 a.m.

June 8, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 109°.
73° at 5:30 a.m.
98° at 9:00 a.m.

June 7, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 104°.
68° at 5:30 a.m.

June 6, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 100°.
67° at 5:30 a.m.

June 5, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 100°.
66° at 5:30 a.m.

June 4, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 101°.
68° at 4:30 a.m.
Record-breaking highs predicted for this weekend.

June 3, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 106°.
67° at 5:00 a.m.

June 2, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 104°.
62° at 5:30 a.m.

June 1, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 97°.
58° at 5:30 a.m.

May 31, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 94°.
57° at 5:30 a.m.

May 30, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 90°.
56° at 6:00 a.m.

May 29, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 87°.
54° at 6:00 a.m.

May 28, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 85°.
52° at 6:00 a.m.
Cloudy.

May 27, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 87°.
51° at 6:00 a.m.

May 26, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 87°.
52° at 6:00 a.m.

May 25, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 88°.
53° at 5:30 a.m.

May 24, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 82°.
48° at 5:30 a.m.

May 23, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 83°.
47° at 5:30 a.m.

May 22, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 97°.
56° at 5:30 a.m.

May 21, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 98°.
59° at 5:30 a.m.

May 20, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 90°.
54° at 5:30 a.m.

May 19, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 89°.
55° at 5:30 a.m.

May 18, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 88°.
52° at 6:00 a.m.

May 17, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 85°.
56° at 5:00 a.m.

May 16, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 95°.
58° at 4:00 a.m.

May 15, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 97°.
65° at 5:30 a.m.

May 14, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 104°.
65° at 5:30 a.m.

May 13, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 103°.
66° at 5:30 a.m.

May 12, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 102°.
61° at 6:00 a.m.

May 11, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 93°.
63° at 6:00 a.m.

May 10, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 88°.
56° at 6:00 a.m.

May 9, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 80°.
54° at 6:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.22″
T-showers overnight.

May 8, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 70°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.
Sprinkles.

May 7, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 77°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.60″
Thunder and lightening. Nice to see that it can still rain, though too late to help the grass that’s done for the season. As much rain yesterday afternoon and last night as we received in the months of March and April.

May 6, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 86°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.
Cloudy.

May 5, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 96°.
56° at 6:00 a.m.
Early a.m. clouds.

May 4, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 97°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.

May 3, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 95°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.

May 2, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 94°.
56° at 6:00 a.m.

May 1, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 93°.
56° at 6:00 a.m.

April 30, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 95°.
61° at 6:00 a.m.

April 29, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 95°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.

April 28, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 92°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.

April 27, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 91°.
53° at 6:00 a.m.

April 26, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 85°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.

April 25, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 93°.
55° at 6:00 a.m.
Wagyu X calves to irrigated pasture.

April 24, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 91°.
53° at 6:00 a.m.
Ship drys to Coelho’s.

April 23, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 91°.
55° at 6:30 a.m.

April 22, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 89°.
55° at 6:30 a.m.

April 17, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 79°.
40° at 6:30 a.m.

April 16, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 77°.
44° at 6:30 a.m.

April 14, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 86°.
49° at 6:30 a.m.

April 13, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 83°.
51° at 6:30 a.m.

April 12, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 83°.
52° at 6:30 a.m.

April 11, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 84°.
46° at 6:30 a.m.

April 10, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 72°.
44° at 6:30 a.m.

April 9, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 60°.
41° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.02″

April 8, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 78°.
49° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.10″

April 7, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 77°.
50° at 6:30 a.m.

April 6, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 72°.
50° at 7:00 a.m.

April 5, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 77°.
50° at 6:30 a.m.

April 4, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 82°.
56° at 6:30 a.m.

April 3, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 76°.
48° at 6:30 a.m.

April 2, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 75°.
45° at 6:30 a.m.

April 1, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 72°.
50° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.15″

Easter, March 31, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 86°.
55° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.20″

March 30, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 81°.
53° at 6:30 a.m.

March 29, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 76°.
46° at 6:30 a.m.
50% chance of rain/showers tomorrow night and Easter Sunday, forecast amounts vary between 1-2 tenths up to a 1/4 -1/2 inch in the foothills, depending on the weatherman. Hard to have your hopes up on a skimpy year like this, but…with the feed in dire straits, any little bit helps prolong what grass we have, now, as well as any dry feed we’ll need through the summer and fall.

March 28, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 75°.
48° at 6:30 a.m.

March 27, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 77°.
50° at 6:30 a.m.

March 26, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 79°.
46° at 6:30 a.m.

March 25, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 75°.
45° at 7:00 a.m.

March 24, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 71°.
41° at 7:00 a.m.

March 23, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 70°.
41° at 7:00 a.m.
Branding calves at Kenny & Virginia McKee’s this a.m.

March 22, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 67°.
46° at 7:00 a.m.

March 21, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 76°.
46° at 7:00 a.m.

March 20, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 77°.
57° at 7:00 a.m.
Forecast showers overnight never materialized, weathermen now predicting to please with rainfall at 60% of our average as our rainy season draws to a close.

March 19, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 74°.
47° at 7:00 a.m.

March 18, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 75°.
45° at 6:30 a.m.
Most south slopes are gone, short and brown as the west slopes turn. We are a week past saving our grass season, as the flats begin to mature and head out, show yellowing. Cooler weather helps, but it’s time to make a new plan, prepare to wean and ship early, cull cows deep.

March 17, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 79°.
48° at 7:00 a.m.

March 16, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 81°.
53° at 7:00 a.m.

March 15, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 86°.
51° at 7:00 a.m.

March 14, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 81°.
50° at 6:30 a.m.

March 13, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 77°.
47° at 7:00 a.m.

March 12, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 71°.
44° at 7:00 a.m.

March 11, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 69°.
45° at 7:00 a.m.

March 10, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
40° at 7:00 a.m.

March 9, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 65°.
47° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.09″
Under the threat of rain that did not materialize, we branded at the Shrock Ranch yesterday. More rain in the Valley that in the foothills as the low slid down the coast; only 0.27″ inches over the past four days on Dry Creek, barely enough to wet the dry south slopes or get us through the coming week’s forecast warming trend.

March 8, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 65°.
46° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.07″
A light rain continues this a.m., but we’ve benefitted as much from the cooler temperatures and cloudy skies as from the scant precipitation the past three days. Much rides on the moisture of the remainder of this storm.

March 7, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 67°.
48° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.02″

March 6, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 74°.
47° at 6:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.09″

March 5, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 71°.
44° at 6:00 a.m.
Beautiful morning. After a good gather yesterday, branding this a.m. instead of tomorrow to beat forecast rains tonight. Last minute phone calls to get a crew, neighbors with other plans and things to do. In what other modern walk of life could this happen? We are so grateful and appreciative for our unique community of friends in the cattle business.

March 4, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 70°.
45° at 6:30 a.m.

March 3, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 80°.
60° at 6:30 a.m.
Cloudy and warm. Chances of rain we’ll gladly let interfere with our plans to brand this coming week.

March 2, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 75°.
45° at 6:00 a.m.

March 1, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 71°.
42° at 6:00 a.m.
With optimistic forecasts of rain next week, south slopes short and browning, we brand our second to the last bunch of calves today, Frank Ainley, Sr.’s tomorrow. High temperatures are supposed to peak in the mid-70s over the weekend, then cooling once again as the pattern of dry cold fronts is supposed to repeat itself. Still mostly green, but between early morning frost and below-normal rains, our grass is short and the ground is dry everywhere but on the north slopes.

February 28, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 69°.
39° at 6:30 a.m.

February 27, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 65°.
38° at 6:30 a.m.

February 26, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 67°.
36° at 6:00 a.m.

February 25, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 62°.
36° at 6:00 a.m.

February 22, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 60°.
34° at 6:30 a.m.

February 21, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 50°.
40° at 6:30 a.m.
Snow remains above 2,000′.

February 20, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
38° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.62″
Good rain overnight, snow down to 1,000′.

February 19, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 69°.
41° at 7:00 a.m.
Forecast cold rain, sleet today and into tomorrow.

February 18, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 69°.
39° at 6:00 a.m.

February 17, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 73°.
38° at 6:30 a.m.

February 16, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 72°.
42° at 6:30 a.m.

February 15, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 67°.
40° at 5:30 a.m.
Branding the balance of the Wagyu calves this morning.

February 14, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 64°.
37° at 6:30 a.m.

February 13, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 63°.
35° at 6:30 a.m.
Cold nights and mornings persist. Scrolling through the low temperatures for the past 2 1/2 months confirms a colder than normal winter for us and our cattle, too cold for the grass to grow much above 1,500′, and tending dry on the south slopes below that elevation. A cow in cold weather burns more calories to stay warm, most are still thin, adding concerns that they may not be bred back on time, or at all, for next year. Our situation is not isolated in the West, though our calving differs from fall to spring.

February 12, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 60°.
34° at 6:30 a.m.

February 11, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
29° at 6:30 a.m.

February 10, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 57°.
34° at 6:30 a.m.

February 9, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 54°.
40° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.20″

February 8, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 60°.
42° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.30″
Never heard a drop after celebrating the Wrangler with the neighbors.

February 7, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
35° at 6:30 a.m.
Clear. Forecast cooler, showers this evening with a chance into Friday

February 6, 2013
46° at 7:00 a.m.
High fog.

January 26, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 56°.
53° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.05″
Fog.

January 25, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 65°.
56° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.19″
High fog above 900 feet.

January 24, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 66°.
56° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.05″
Significantly warmer this a.m. in a light rain.

January 23, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 68°.
38° at 6:30 a.m.
Fairly dark clouds gathering in the Sierras.

January 22, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 66°.
34° at 6:00 a.m.
Branding at the Perkins, Tony Rabb’s today.

January 21, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 63°.
35° at 6:30 a.m.
No two years the same, December 2011 and January 2012 were without rain and we worried about which bunch of cows we were going to have to sell. This year, of course, we got the moisture, but the prolonged cold and three month-old calves have kept our cows thin at the higher elevations, and frankly, they look worse than last year as we continue to keep hay in front of them. Not only has the cold kept the grass from growing this January, freezing every morning for nearly two weeks, but the cows are also burning more calories just to stay warm while nursing calves—the variable of the weather always a player in this game.

January 20, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 66°.
38° at 6:30 a.m.

January 19, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 64°.
33° at 6:00 a.m.
Branding @ Kenny & Virginia’s in Woodlake.

January 18, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 63°.
34° at 6:30 a.m.
Days warming, cold mornings persist.

January 17, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
35° at 6:00 a.m.

January 16, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
35° at 6:00 a.m.
Warming up slightly. Branding Clarence’s calves down the road this a.m.

January 15, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 53°.
29° at 6:30 a.m.

January 14, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 53°.
30° at 6:30 a.m.

January 13, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 53°.
30° at 6:30 a.m.

January 12, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 52°.
31° at 6:30 a.m.

January 11, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 52°.
31° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.05″
Wild and windy, tried to sleet and snow.

January 10, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 65°.
42° at 6:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.18″
Snow on Sulphur, down to about 3,000′.

January 9, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
37° at 6:00 a.m.
Forecast slight chance of rain tonight and tomorrow, much cooler into the weekend.

January 8, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
38° at 6:00 a.m.
Branding today in Greasy.

January 7, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
42° at 6:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.08″
Never really stopped sprinkling yesterday. Road too wet to get to the cattle. Branding Tuesday.

January 6, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 63°.
48° at 5:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.35″
Steady hard rain from 2:00 to 3:30 a.m. Canceled branding until tomorrow, forecast showers on and off for the remainder of the day.

January 5, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
37° at 6:30 a.m.
70% chance of rain Sunday, beginning at midnight tonight, forecast 0.2 – 0.4″ as the trailing tail of this Pacific storm takes aim at the South Valley and Southern California and we prepare to brand. My best hope is that this one slides down the coast, limiting us to a few showers. Cattle gathered, we’re feeding hay today. We’ll watch the radar tonight and tomorrow morning to see if we go or not.

January 4, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
36° at 6:30 a.m.
Forecast chance of showers Sunday, here we go.

January 3, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 57°.
33° at 6:30 a.m.
Forecast weather clear, gathering to brand on Sunday.

January 2, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 57°.
29° at 7:00 a.m.

January 1, 2013
Yesterday’s high: 57°.
38° at 7:00 a.m.
Overnight clouds kept temperatures well-above forecasts of mid-20s. Forecast mid-20s tonight.

December 31, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 57°.
39° at 7:00 a.m.
Clouds. Forecast cold tomorrow a.m.

December 30, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 54°.
39° at 7:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.02″
A gray day with only a trace of rain as the thrust of the yesterday’s Pacific storm slid down the coast and even into the San Joaquin Valley, missing the Sierra Nevada foothills almost entirely. Gray again this a.m.

Relatively colder as we head into the New Year, mid-20s forecast. Talk of a storm around the third as we try to get another bunch of calves branded that we can get to, ground saturated, little canyons running. Cattle and grass on the improve.

December 29, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
35° at 7:30 a.m.

December 28, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
33° at 7:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.05″

December 27, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 56°.
44° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.49″
Clouds at dawn.

December 26, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
42° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.48″
Showers forecast along the foothills today.

December 25, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 58°.
46° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.03″ came after I emptied the gauge yesterday a.m.
Forecast: showers tonight and tomorrow.

December 24, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
48° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.55″

December 23, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 56°.
48° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.38″

December 22, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 62°.
40° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.02″

December 21, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 56°.
34° at 6:30 a.m.

December 20, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
30° at 6:30 a.m.
Frost at dawn. Local forecasts call for better than an even chance of rain beginning tomorrow night through Monday, the day before Christmas.

December 19, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 54°.
30° at 6:30 a.m.
Frost at dawn.

December 18, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 66°.
49° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.70″
Monday night football couldn’t hold me, fell asleep early and frankly surprised to find 0.70″ in the gauge this a.m. after yesterday’s weak showing of clouds and Saturday night’s forecast rain that never happened. We’ll take very drop!

December 17, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 61°.
49° at 7:00 a.m.
Cloudy at dawn, forecast showers.

December 16, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
34° at 7:00 a.m.
Last night’s forecast storm brought no rain. A few clouds at dawn.

December 15, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 52°.
37° at 6:30 a.m.
Partial clouds at dawn.

 

MANWOOD

Hands grown soft, hide
thin as tissue paper

limbing a dead manzanita,
brittle twigs piled for quail

a four-wheel drive hour
from the wood stove,

alone at 2,500 feet,
above the fog.

Roads slick, scattered
cows and calves on hay,

the chain saw hums,
sun tries to set, the day

not long enough
to keep up—I’ve grown

slow—I know
I’ll need headlights,

that she’ll worry, but
if the weathermen are right,

this is my last chance
for the next two wet weeks

for manwood. Carefully,
I learn to work with gloves.

 

December 14, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 55°.
38° at 7:00 a.m.
High fog down to 700′ at 7:00 a.m.

December 13, 2012

Yesterday’s high: 60°.
46° at 7:00 a.m.
0.55″ rain at daylight.

December 12, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 65°.
47° at 4:30 a.m.
Stars. Latest forecast: 70% showers. Branding.

December 11, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 64°.
39° at 6:30 a.m.
Beautiful morning, clear skies at dawn. Latest forecast: 70% of showers beginning tomorrow afternoon, by which time we hope to have our calves marked.

December 10, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 62°.
40° at 6:30 a.m.
Clear skies at dawn.

December 9, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 65°.
51° at 7:00 a.m.
High dense fog hangs at 700′ at dawn. Talk of showers on the 12th, when we plan to brand.

December 8, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 68°.
45° at 7:00 a.m.
High clouds at dawn.

December 7, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 67°.
45° at 7:00 a.m.
High, wet fog: 0.02″ at dawn.

December 6, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 70°.
49° at 7:00 a.m.
High fog before daylight, partially cloudy at dawn.

December 5, 2012
46° at 6:30 a.m.
Partially cloudy skies.

December 4, 2012
Robbin & I have been gone for a week for my daughter Jessica’s wedding to Jaro in Kauai. We arrived home to find 1.58″ in the gauge and a definite tinge of green on the hills. Good rains Wednesday (28th) plus Saturday and Sunday (1st & 2nd).

November 26, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 67°
38° at 6:30 a.m.
Wet and hazy as fog rises from the Valley. We’ll see what the week brings.

November 25, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 68°
42° at 6:30 a.m.
Depending on the source, predicted chance of rain (showers) at the end of the month, 30th & 1st, that coincides with showers this time last month. Farmer’s Almanac has it stormy, if we could be so lucky, but the trend so far has been spotty showers that have started a little grass in the shade, far short of enough to quit feeding hay. But it will rain, someday.

November 24, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 69°
41° at 6:30 a.m.
Talking chance of rain next week, storm door opening.

November 23, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 67°
43° at 6:30 a.m.
Hazy, light fog.

November 22, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 68°
43° at 6:30 a.m.

November 21, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 69°
45° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain stays north of Madera.

November 20, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 62°
43° at 7:00 a.m.
Increased feeding. That’s why we bought the hay. Wagyu bulls arrive today.

November 19, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 70°
49° at 7:00 a.m.

November 18, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 71°
52° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.23″
The gods have not been as generous with the rain as to our neighbors Fresno north, or even in the Valley, receiving more than we along the foothills, much the same as the beginning of last year’s rainy season, ‘that season in California when it might rain.’ NOAA’s radar indicates that the third and last trailing tail of these storm fronts will approach midday. Another .20″ might get the grass started.

Nonetheless, the sycamores are striking this a.m., their tops frosted a week ago, a fringe of flames upon dark green, like torchlights along the creek.

November 17, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 73°
53° at 7:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.15″
Rain began at 5:00 a.m., we’re hoping it lingers against the foothills.

November 16, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 72°
49° at 6:00 a.m.
Rain: 0.02″
Sprinkle overnight.

November 15, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 68°
42° at 6:00 a.m.
Clouds at dawn

November 14, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 66°
36° at 6:00 a.m.
40-50% chance of showers predicted beginning Friday through the weekend, we can’t seemed to draw a real storm to get the grass started. Maybe we’ll get lucky and be under the right cloud.

November 13, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 63°
36° at 6:00 a.m.

November 12, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 60°
36° at 6:30 a.m.

November 11, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 58°
32° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.01″
Counting every drop. Beautifully clear at dawn, frost on the pumpkin, COLD! Damn-short fall. 83° last week, over 93° just 23 days ago. Time to feed.

November 10, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 65°
38° overnight, 42° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.04″
Once again, we’re on the southern end of this relatively dry cold front. A definite weather change, but without much moisture. I could see thunder cells yesterday sliding over the valley, over Visalia while it hailed bucketfuls and plugged-up storm drains, according to Robbin, in town while I fed and cut a little man-wood on Top, in Greasy. Dry feed bright with sunshine in Dry Creek canyon as I came off the hill. It’s still trying to shower this morning as I empty the gauge this a.m., overcast, clouds stacked against the Sierras, light snow on Sulphur Peak down to 3,000′.

November 9, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 78°
44° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.03″
Good to hear showers on the roof early this a.m., though light.

November 8, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 80°
50° at 6:00 a.m.

November 7, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 83°
52° at 5:30 a.m.

November 6, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 80°
48° at 7:00 a.m.
Current local forecast of less than a 50% chance of rain: 8th, 9th & 10th. I have higher hopes that the storm will build and intensify for an extra 24 hrs. before arriving off the Pacific to start our grass. Hope, nothing more than that, just hope. The alternative: more hay.

November 5, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 76°
48° at 7:00 a.m.

November 4, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 74°
48° at 7:00 a.m. PST.
Yesterday’s forecast called for rain on the 8th, but by this a.m., our chances have diminished to 50%. Still looking for some good precipitation around the 11th or 12th, but too far out yet for local weathermen. We’ll take what we get. Clarence is 74 years young today.

November 3, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 74°
52° at 7:00 a.m.

November 2, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 74°
48° at 7:00 a.m.
Hazy at dawn. No rain.

November 1, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 83°
48° at 7:00 a.m.
Clouds at dawn, 20% chance of showers.

October 31, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 83°
48° at 7:00 a.m.
Thin clouds at dawn.

October 30, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 81°
48° at 6:30 a.m.

October 29, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 80°
49° at 7:30 a.m.

October 28, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 75°
43° at 7:00 a.m.

October 27, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 71°
43° at 7:00 a.m.

October 26, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 70°
44° at 7:00 a.m.

October 25, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 70°
43° at 7:00 a.m.
The results are in: Foothills Fresno north to Redding recorded in the vicinity of an 1.5″ rain from the last storm. We were just sixty miles away from starting our grass. Feeding hay today.

October 24, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 70°
42° at 7:00 a.m.
Clear skies.

October 23, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 71°
50° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.07″
A few clouds at first light. According to the Farmers’ Almanac Long Range (below), we may have a chance of rain towards the end of the month, a chance that doesn’t coincide with any weather changes in September, so I don’t look for much. Based on our pattern begun this month, our best chance for enough rain to start the grass will be around November 11th & 12th; also forecast by the Farmers’ Almanac.

Farmers’ Almanac Long Range

October 2012
20th-23rd. Clearing, colder.
24th-27th. Fair initially, then unsettled again.
28th-31st. Starting off pleasant, but turning stormy, colder for California east.

November 2012
1st-3rd. Stormy.
4th-7th. Fair, cold.
8th-11th. Light snow Nevada, Utah, much of northern Arizona.
12th-15th. Stormy weather redevelops.
16th-19th. Stormy conditions exit, drier, colder.
20th-23rd. Unsettled; some snow again for Nevada, Utah, northern Arizona.
24th-27th. Fair at first, then becoming stormy, with gales along California coast. Heavy snow (6-12″) over mountains.
28th-30th. Storms sweep out, replaced by clearing.

December 2012
1st-3rd. Generally fair.
4th-7th. Fair, then showery from California east.
8th-11th. Fair, milder at first, then stormy weather sweeps in from Pacific; heavy rains for the valleys, heavy snows over mountains.
12th-15th. Drier, clearer conditions.
16th-19th. Mostly fair, then unsettled with light rain/snow.

October 22, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 75°
59° at 6:30 a.m. Sprinkles.

October 21, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 83°
56° at 6:30 a.m.
Humidity: 50%. A few clouds at dawn.

October 20, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 83°
58° at 6:30 a.m.
Dramatic weather change. Front out of the Gulf of Alaska approaches the West Coast as forecasters vacillate as to where it will make landfall on Monday (22nd) and Tuesday, coinciding with September’s weather change, but off the mark slightly with the forecast from the Farmer’s Almanac below. We’re ready to let go of summer, ready for cooler days and a good rain.

October 19, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 92°
57° at 6:30 a.m.

October 18, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 86°
58° at 6:30 a.m.

October 17, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 83°
57° at 6:30 a.m.

October 16, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 82°
53° at 6:30 a.m. Forecast 91° for the 18th.

October 15, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 80°
54° at 6:30 a.m. Thin clouds at dawn.

October 14, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 72°
50° at 6:30 a.m.

October 13, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 67°
56° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.09″
Light sprinkle until noon while Robbin and I fed. With softer ground, most of the first-calf heifers have left for the dry feed in the hills above the creek with their calves. Beautiful overcast day. Forecast for the weekend cool, but warming into the high-80s next week.

October 12, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 73°
57° at 6:30 a.m.
Rain: 0.15″
Perfect slow showers to settle the dust. Overcast drizzle this a.m.

October 11, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 79°
53° at 6:30 a.m. Clouds at dawn.

October 10, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 79°
55° at 6:30 a.m. Clear skies at dawn.

October 9, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 80°
60° at 6:30 a.m. Clouds at dawn.

October 8, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 80°
52° at 6:00 a.m.

October 7, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 81°
54° at 6:30 a.m.

October 6, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 82°
56° at 6:30 a.m.
This is a major weather change, perhaps one of the most drastic summer/fall transitions that I can remember, 14° on the high side in 48 hours, 6° on the low. Local forecast continues cooling with a slight chance of showers beginning Tuesday the 9th, not far off the mark from the Farmer’s Almanac forecast below. Certainly no 30-day indicators in September when summer loitered near 100°. The near pattern looks interesting, we’ll see where it goes.

October 5, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 90°
58° at 6:30 a.m.
High clouds. Temperatures cooled substantially yesterday. Weather change.

October 4, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 96°
62° at 6:30 a.m.

October 3, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 98°
63° at 6:30 a.m.

October 2, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 97°
63° at 6:30 a.m.

October 1, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 95°
63° at 6:00 a.m.
Temperatures the past few days have not reached their forecast highs. Rumors of a possibility of rain near the 8th, next week, that roughly coincide with the Farmer’s Almanac below. Forecast today: 101°. Tuesday: 103°.

September 30, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 94°
62° at 6:00 a.m.

September 29, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 97°
62° at 6:00 a.m.

September 28, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 97°
62° at 6:00 a.m.
Summer hangs on, warming into the weekend. I look for lots of panting, fat bulls at Sunday’s bull sale in Visalia, forecast 99° – 102° by Tuesday.

September 27, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 93°
58° at 6:00 a.m.

September 26, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 93°
56° at 6:00 a.m.

September 25, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 95°
57° at 6:00 a.m.

September 24, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 99°
64° at 6:00 a.m.

September 23, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 96°
63° at 6:00 a.m.

September 22, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 96°
67° at 6:00 a.m.
Cloudy this a.m. as low pressure enters CA, marking our first real weather change for the season.

September 21, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 93°
68° at 6:00 a.m.

September 20, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 92°
65° at 6:00 a.m.
It was 48° when we left Santa Cruz in the dark yesterday a.m. We’ve missed some heat while we’ve been gone, but forecast cooler into the coming week, below 100°. Pasture needs water as days grow shorter and the shadows longer. Looking forward to getting out to see the first-calf heifers. Good to be home!

September 12, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 98°
66° @ 6:00 a.m.

September 11, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 98°
66° @ 6:00 a.m.
Very pleasant this a.m., slight downcanyon breeze, but summer tenaciously hangs on with little sign of fall except for the lengthening shadows and contrast of new colors with this new perspective of light. Days dramatically shorter now, our high temperatures don’t last long. Our commercial cows have begun to calve. Innocent new life, the buck and run to find their legs, it is both gratifying and entertaining, a wonderful time of year.

September 10, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 97°
68° @ 6:00 a.m.

September 9, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 97°
69° @ 6:00 a.m.

September 8, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 100°
67° @ 6:00 a.m.

September 7, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 100°
67° @ 6:00 a.m.

Farmer’s Almanac Long Range

September 2012

4th-7th. Fair weather deteriorates to unsettled conditions.

8th-11th. Tranquil.

12th-15th. Mostly fair initially, then unsettled weather spreads east from the California coast by the 15th.

16th-19th. Pleasant weather.

20th-23rd. Unsettled again for California coast.

24th-27th. Dry, but quite breezy.

28th-30th. Unsettled weather returns.

October 2012

1st-3rd. Fair and tranquil.

4th-7th. Windy, with a few scattered showers, especially California.

8th-11th. Turning fair, rather cold.

12th-15th. Scattered showers.

16th-19th. Windy, rainy; quite stormy Utah down into Arizona.

20th-23rd. Clearing, colder.

24th-27th. Fair initially, then unsettled again.

28th-31st. Starting off pleasant, but turning stormy, colder for California east.

November 2012

1st-3rd. Stormy.

September 6, 2012

Yesterday’s high: 100°.
71° @ 6:00 a.m.
Light sprinkle last evening, the smell of fall returns.

September 5, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 100°.
69° @ 6:00 a.m.
Southern moisture moving-in earlier than expected.

September 4, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 96°.
64° @ 6:00 a.m.
A couple of cooler days during Labor Day weekend, but warmer forecast in the upper 90s, near 100° today and tomorrow. Southern moisture expected mid-week for a chance of thundershowers.

September 1, 2012

Yesterday’s high: 97°.
63° @ 6:00 a.m.
Major change this morning. Not so much in the numbers but in the feel of fall, gusty upcanyon breeze at daylight stirs the blood with hope.

August 31, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 102°.
69° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 30, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 98°.
65° @ 6:00 a.m.
Local weathermen have announced this August as the warmest on record, breaking average August highs set in 1931 by 3°. As far as predicting near-term weather, I’m not sure what it means, but as far as a trend in climate change, we can’t ignore it. A couple of long-range forecasters are predicting increased precipitation for the San Joaquin Valley and Sierra Nevada Mountains, good news for foothill grazers, but the rain, they predict, will come instead of snow pack and a slower snow melt runoff for valley farmers. This will, of course, renew interest in flood control and water storage facilities just above the valley floor, renew proposals for dams on every creek and canyon. Meanwhile, new State water quality regulations have farmers up in arms and eager developers waiting in the wings.

August 29, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 97°.
66° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 28, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 97°.
63° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 27, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 97°.
60° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 26, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 99°.
66° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 25, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 99°.
69° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 24, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 99°.
68° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 23, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 97°.
68° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 22, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 101°.
69° @ 6:00 a.m.
Clouds at dawn for the past week leaking over the mountains, a steady pattern of monsoonal activity out of the southwest that has helped keep temperatures tamer, occasional thundershowers in the Sierras – making for some beautiful sunrises. Looking forward to fall!

August 21, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 101°.
69° @ 6:00 a.m.
It may seem that I’m running a wheel off here with daily temps, but readers may recall August as my father’s indicator month, to be confirmed in September, for the weather in October and November when we need rain. Two-thirds through the month, nothing extraordinary but the heat. Too early to tell, but so far the coming fall looks dry.

August 20, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 102°.
71° @ 6:00 a.m.
Moving cooler, weather change noticeable this morning, nothing drastic as we welcome even the slightest sign of some relief from 100° days. Days shorter now, 102° seems tame.

August 19,2012
Yesterday’s high: 102°.
74° @ 7:00 a.m.

August 18,2012
Yesterday’s high: 101°.
78° @ 6:00 a.m. Muggy.

August 17, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 102°.
75° @ 6:45 A.M.

August 16, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 105°.
78° @ 4:30 a.m.

August 15, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 110°.
77° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 14, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 110°.
79° @ 6:00 a.m.
Forecasts call for another week over 100°

August 13, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 109°.
77° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 12, 2012
Yesterday’s High: 110°.
81° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 11, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 108°.
75° @ 6:00 a.m.

August 10, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 107°.
76° @ 6:00 a.m.
Bracing for a warm weekend, forecast 111°.

August 7, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 100°.
69° at 5:00 a.m.
We’ve enjoyed three days in the high 90s, looking ahead to a week above 100°, peaking Saturday on 110°.

August 2, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 105°.
68° @ 7:00 a.m.
Local weathermen have extended our heat wave forecast of 100° or better until Friday (10th) with a chance of T-storms this weekend. Anything can happen, of course, but looks as if we’ll have to suck it up for another week, get out early and work in the shade.

July 29, 2012
It’s been a delightful week since we shipped our steers, highs in the 90s, lows in the 60s, occasionally breezy. Temperatures are expected to warm in the week ahead and hover around the century mark.

July 23, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 108°.
78° @ 4:00 a.m. this morning. Shipping steers today.

July 21, 2012
High today: 103°. Forecast same through Wednesday. Ship steers Monday.

July 19, 2012

Light sprinkle early this a.m. as the remnants of Fabio coast along the Sierras.

July 18, 2012

Yesterday’s high: 87°
62° @ 6:00 a.m. Forecast high of 87°.
It’s been a pleasant few days, cool and breezy. A weak storm system spins off the Northern California coast as the clouds from a dissipating tropical depression (Fabio) spread NE into Southern California and expected to reach the Central Valley this afternoon and evening. Chance of T-storms in the Sierras today and tomorrow as temperatures are expected to return 100+° by the weekend.

July 15, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 99°.
64° @ 5:30 a.m. Forecast high of 98° in Fresno. A delightful weather change beginning yesterday, forecast below 100° for the next week.

July 14, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 106°.
69° @ 6:30 a.m. Forecast high of 99° in Fresno. It seems all living things are pleased with the change in weather this a.m. The heifers we processed yesterday are tired, but everything else seems rested and relaxed, out getting breakfast, but still utilizing the morning shade.

July 13, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 107°.
81° @ 4:30 a.m., overcast (no stars) and still. Yesterday was muggy as monsoonal clouds leaked over the Sierras. Today looks like more of yesterday as we prepare to gather and process our replacement heifers early this morning. Forecast 103°, Robbin’s packing lots of liquid.

July 12, 2012
Yesterday’s high: 107°.
75° @ 5:30 a.m., light clouds, downcanyon breeze. Forecast high of 109° today. It could be muggy here with T-storms in the Sierras.

July 11, 2012
Yesterday’s high on Dry Creek: 104°.
77° @ 5:00 a.m. Forecast high of 108° today.

July 10, 2012
72° @ 5:30 a.m. Forecast high of 106°.

July 9, 2012
Yessiree Bob, 102° before 11:00 a.m., when all good men and women ought to be in the shade. Amy Hale Auker sent me a piece yesterday about the heat/drought in Arizona I tried to identify with in today’s post, ‘Icarus’. Their temperatures have been running in the teens in the past weeks, waiting on monsoon relief. Hope they get it soon!

July 7, 2012
With 97° at 9:00 a.m., I expect over 100° before the end of the day. Forecast over the century mark for the week ahead, summer has arrived, cows headed to shade by 7:30 a.m. Fortunately, most of the intensive cattle work is done. Bangs vaccinate our yearling heifers next Friday.

July 4, 2012
We’ve enjoyed a relatively cool two weeks as we finished weaning our calves, though most of the rest of the US has endured record-breaking temperatures. 99° on Dry Creek yesterday, forecasts above 100° by the weekend.

Total rainfall amounts last season were near normal, despite two months of no rain last winter that substantially diminished the Sierra snowpack and surface water runoff to agricultural interests in the San Joaquin Valley. Most reservoirs will be depleted by the 1st of August, if not sooner. Though the late spring rains generated exceptional feed towards the end of our grass season, they did little to increase the availability of surface water.

Even as our calves wait on the irrigated pasture to be sold and shipped, we look forward to a new year and new grass season.