Baby it's cold outside......but the shipping must go on.....

I sure did want to call in sick today.  6 degrees out side and I did not want to go out in the freezing elements and work.  But couldn't do that......no one to call when you are your own boss and/or are living with the boss.  Today was shipping day for the yearlings and of course I am my Farmers number one helper (ya right, like he says, I have to be there to make sure he does it right) so I had to be there.
Fortunately, I got a new pair of Carhartt overalls for Christmas, to keep me warm and looking good.  My old pair were mens and were really big and baggy on me.  These are still big, but they are womens and they are purple. (and yes I am smiling)  I still look like a blimp with them on, but I'm a stylin' blimp. 
Loading the yearlings (calves that are about a year old) can be interesting, but my Farmer has developed a pretty good system.  He sorts off about 3 at a time and runs them up into the trailer.  My job is to stand inside the trailer and keep the loaded ones from coming back off and then getting out of the way when more come on.  Oh ya, plus to count them, which seems to be hard for me.  You'd think loading three at a time it'd be easy to keep count, but it's not, for me anyways.  I forget easily.  As far as standing in the trailer as the critters load, I try to be brave as I do this......but really I am not.  This morning I told myself, be brave they are just yearlings and they are not gonna hurt you.  Then I over hear my Farmer telling a new helper that if the animal comes toward you to turn your body so your back is toward it so if and when it kicks, your knees will bend in the right direction.  WHAT!! Have I been told this before?  I know it's very good advice, but now I am spooked.  However I am totally stylin' in my new overalls, so why would one try and kick at me.  Right?  And I was right.  Not one tried to get me....I mean kick me.  Everything went smoothly,  and now they are off  to market which means pay day for us.  Yeappy! 

As I said it was 6 degrees when we left the house, but by the time we were done, the sun was shining, it had warmed up to about 12 degrees and it was a beautiful morning......still cold, but beautiful.   Turns out I am glad I couldn't call in sick.   I really did enjoy the morning.....but DO NOT tell my Farmer.  I can't let him know I enjoyed getting up early with him.....it would totally ruin my image.