Noms! I want noms!!So much is happening on the farm right now that I can't keep up. Haying has come to a halt because of the rain, but a few dry days and the men will get back to that. We are rotating the cows from pasture to pasture. They like the old heifer pasture best for some reason and would rather go there, especially at night. However, we are putting them up behind the barn as we need to get that chewed down pretty quickly.
One of the cows in my string started acting strangely about ten days ago. Bailey had been bred in October and re-bred in March. However, after milking along very nicely for a cow so long in milk, she suddenly dropped precipitously in production. Then her udder swelled up and became oddly fleshy and she would not let down her milk. We couldn't figure out what was going on until last Thursday when she wouldn't come in with the other cows.
The boss told us she was losing her calf. As we thought she was pregnant to the March service we expected a total disaster. However the next day we went out and there she was with a tiny little bull calf....obviously she had been pregnant to the October service. The calf was six weeks early and should not have survived. Instead he is so lively he is hilariously funny, following everyone around the barn butting them in the fanny and dancing like a fawn. I can't describe to you how tiny he is...like a little velvet plush toy. I will try to get some pics today.
The kids named him Scooter and have a great time with him. We were pretty lucky as Bailey came into milk as if she had gone through a normal pregnancy and although her milk can't be put in the tank yet and is being used to feed calves, soon she will once again be a productive member of the herd. I am glad because I really like her.
The kids also rescued an abandoned kitten from the hay mow. Sinopa had three, two tortoiseshells and an orange and white one. When the hay started coming down into the mow she removed two, but left one little tortie behind. The poor thing was so hungry that she was hanging out the haymow window screaming. The kids drove down to a friend's farm to borrow a kitty crate and little Nom Noms now resides in the kitchen, much to Elvis's chagrin. (If he knew she was also noming food from his canz he would really be ticked off.)
Some Amish contractors came in to measure the barn roof for repairs and hopefully will be giving us a good estimate on that, and a scrap guy came in to bid on some old machinery we have around. Another hopeful prospect as maybe one can pay for the other. Plus feed reps have been coming by....Alan went up to the brother's house and got some honey from his bees yesterday. Fantastic stuff! I love honey anyhow, but this is really good. So many activities...so little time....
Well, time for the salt mines..have a good one!****I forgot to give Becky credit for taking these photos
Posts
7 comments:
Can't wait to see Scooter!
That little kitten is so cute! Love the first pic. And I'm glad Scooter is doing well. Quite a surprise.
I think kitties are brought into our lives when we need a diversion from the big old awful world. Petting and snuggling a needy baby somehow helps to center us. Beautiful kitty, and I'm waiting to see Scooter also.
Glad the cow and calf are fine...it's always nice to get a surprise like that. We had a heifer that we'd thought had slipped a calf that had one a couple months later. We figured she must have had a set of twins and lost one. Cute kitten...but then they are all that way ;)
Dani, it is done, although the pictures make him look much bigger than he is.
CTG, she is a pistol! So demanding and bossy for one so small
NW, I think you have the right of it. We struggle and suffer the miseries of not being paid enough to buy groceries half the time, but the payment in cute and sweet and beautiful never lessens. No matter how low the milk price falls kittens are still cute, calves are still amazing, indigo buntings still sing from the power lines and deer come peeking in the living room windows. I read a thing recently where someone had interviewed people in all walks of life and many of them hated their jobs no matter how well they paid. But he never interviewed a farmer who hated his job (except some days of course)
Linda, they will surprise you won't they?
What a darling kitten! And great news on the calf, even if it is a bull. I'm glad Mom is doing well.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
Linda, thanks, she is a pistol, little kitty "arms" outside the crate all the time wanting someone to come pick her up and carry her around. we have to watch her every minute because the old cat hates all other cats with a passion...a very violent passion.
Post a Comment