Sunday, October 02, 2005
Sunday, September 25, 2005
We were so lucky today. We could easily have lost a good cow in a very strange way. The first thing I noticed amiss was that little Ricky had cuts all over her. Ricky, whose registered name is Frieland Ricky Austin, is a real favorite of mine because she listens when I tell her to behave herself. If she is starting to kick her milker off and I tell her not to she actually stops. Not the norm for cows, I’ll tell you. Tonight there were deep gouges on the inside of her back legs, with flaps of skin hanging loose and nasty slits sliced into her rump. It looked like someone had been after her with a machete. She was also soaking wet. The girls and I speculated about where she could have gotten injured in such a manner and finally decided that she must have gotten tangled in barbed wire some where. We figured we would have to ask the guys to go look in case the fence was down. Then the boss noticed that A) the water in the big, steel watering trough was full of cow manure. B) the trough was leaking pretty badly. C) there was a huge dent in the side.
Detective that he is, he figured out that some big rough cows must have fallen to fighting with poor little Ricky and tipped her over into it. There isn’t much worse than a cow upside down in a water tub. Liz’s Jersey, Heather, was dumped into the other one, made of concrete, when she was younger and would have drowned if Liz and Ralph hadn’t helped her out. Somehow Ricky got herself out and we are very thankful. Alan told us when he came in from feeding the cows that he had heard a commotion in the afternoon, but when he looked down all he saw was a few cows hurrying away. We figure that either 16 or 471 did the dirty deed. They are both massive and miserable and like to fight.
Anyhow, we treated Ricky’s cuts with Blue Coat and checked her over for any real serious injuries. She was chewing her cud and looking pretty good so we turned her back outside after milking. I am real glad she didn’t drown or get too badly damaged. I like her.
Detective that he is, he figured out that some big rough cows must have fallen to fighting with poor little Ricky and tipped her over into it. There isn’t much worse than a cow upside down in a water tub. Liz’s Jersey, Heather, was dumped into the other one, made of concrete, when she was younger and would have drowned if Liz and Ralph hadn’t helped her out. Somehow Ricky got herself out and we are very thankful. Alan told us when he came in from feeding the cows that he had heard a commotion in the afternoon, but when he looked down all he saw was a few cows hurrying away. We figure that either 16 or 471 did the dirty deed. They are both massive and miserable and like to fight.
Anyhow, we treated Ricky’s cuts with Blue Coat and checked her over for any real serious injuries. She was chewing her cud and looking pretty good so we turned her back outside after milking. I am real glad she didn’t drown or get too badly damaged. I like her.
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Alan and I went to church today, way out in Freysbush, at St. John’s Lutheran, where we always feel welcome and at home. We came away feeling refreshed and rejuvenated and all new, which seems to be the way it always is when we find the time and energy to go there to worship. I have attended many churches over the years of my life, but never, ever felt like I belonged until St. John’s. We don’t go very often. There are many excuses. It is twenty miles or more away; Sunday is the only time I get any time that is really my own, etc. etc. However, I am always very glad when I do work up the gumption. I have to thank Alan for asking me to take him.
The trip in both directions made it clear that the seasons are about to change. Apples hang heavy on the trees, goldenrod nods in full flower in abandoned hay fields. Just a scattering of trees are turning pale yellow or dark, maroon-ish red on a few outer branches and there are pumpkins to be bought at roadside stands. We saw dozens of blue jays and one large turkey vulture as we drove along. The vulture was sitting on a dead elm branch, holding its dusty black wings aloft like a tattered umbrella, warming up before it tried to fly. Where there was still corn in the fields the outer and lower leaves have turned yellow and tan and the ears have tilted outward for easy picking. It is easy to see that harvest time is here.
There is yet another chapter in the story of the water garden snake. After I tossed him over the bank we thought the pond frogs would be safe for a while. However, a mere three days later he was neck-deep in the water and frogs were scattered all over the lawn, heading for the high country. This time Becky took action. She grabbed him by his snaky neck, took him all the way down the long, steep house driveway, across the road and the guard rails and tossed him over the bike path.
Take that snake! Let’s see if he makes it back this time.
The trip in both directions made it clear that the seasons are about to change. Apples hang heavy on the trees, goldenrod nods in full flower in abandoned hay fields. Just a scattering of trees are turning pale yellow or dark, maroon-ish red on a few outer branches and there are pumpkins to be bought at roadside stands. We saw dozens of blue jays and one large turkey vulture as we drove along. The vulture was sitting on a dead elm branch, holding its dusty black wings aloft like a tattered umbrella, warming up before it tried to fly. Where there was still corn in the fields the outer and lower leaves have turned yellow and tan and the ears have tilted outward for easy picking. It is easy to see that harvest time is here.
There is yet another chapter in the story of the water garden snake. After I tossed him over the bank we thought the pond frogs would be safe for a while. However, a mere three days later he was neck-deep in the water and frogs were scattered all over the lawn, heading for the high country. This time Becky took action. She grabbed him by his snaky neck, took him all the way down the long, steep house driveway, across the road and the guard rails and tossed him over the bike path.
Take that snake! Let’s see if he makes it back this time.
Saturday, September 17, 2005
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
Here on the farm we live our lives surrounded by other creatures. Some of them are domestic animals that belong to us, cows, sheep, rabbits, dogs, cats and horses. And chickens. They work for us; we work for them.
There are also wild things. We feed the birds, welcome itinerant frogs to the garden pond and hunt deer, squirrels and turkeys. Or at least the guys do.
However, there are other, less glamorous, and perhaps less welcome critters living here too. This time of year we become quite aware of some of them. For example the bats that live under the roofs of the barns are not really much noticed at any other time of year. They go to bed at dawn, come out at dark and hibernate in the winter, so even though we keep long hours we don’t meet them much. However, with the short days of fall they are still a-wing when we go to the barn in the morning and they emerge from their daytime stupor at around seven PM, intent on insect coursing. Even this wouldn’t be much of a problem if they hunted outdoors, but they like to eat flies in the cow barn. They also are not exactly impressed by human beings and swoop wildly around our heads if we don’t hustle to turn off the lights and head for the house. I don’t mind watching them flutter against the last strip of pink along the western horizon when I am sitting out by the garden pond after chores, but I wish they would wait until later to search the barn.
Then there are the snakes. We have a lot of them, milk snakes, garters, ring necks and once a big old hog-nosed that rattled his tail just like a diamondback when I walked too close. For the most part we don’t bother about them. All the real rattlesnakes are over on the other side of the river and the snakes here hunt more pests than helpful things. However, the one that has been sharing the garden pond with the frogs this summer has plumb worn out his welcome.
The first time I saw him was months ago during a real hot, dry spell. He was lounging in the water with his head on the side of the pond, looking like a scaly gigolo trolling for starlets. I grabbed him by the neck and gave him a toss, concerned that he was either after my goldfish or the frogs. We like to play a sort of “Where’s Waldo?” with the latter, scanning the water lettuce and lily pads for their carefully concealed hiding places. I think camouflage was invented by a green frog. Anyhow, things that eat frogs are unwelcome, as several barn cats have discovered to their damp discomfort. After I chucked him out the snake, a long, shiny garter, hung around but seemed to leave the amphibians and fish alone. He and I enjoyed the waterside in tentative harmony. He became so tame that he often popped out from between my feet when I sat in my red chair and slid quickly through the petunias, to rest on the side of the pond.
Then, yesterday when I was pulling out dead water lily leaves, all five current frogs leapt into the air and dove, hell bent for election, under the water. Woosh, there was Mr. Garter Snake gliding swiftly out to nab one. He missed, lucky for him. This time I hauled him down below the driveway and gave him a fling into the bushes there. He had better stay away. There has been some talk of snakeskin belts or hatbands around here since he showed his true colors.
There are also wild things. We feed the birds, welcome itinerant frogs to the garden pond and hunt deer, squirrels and turkeys. Or at least the guys do.
However, there are other, less glamorous, and perhaps less welcome critters living here too. This time of year we become quite aware of some of them. For example the bats that live under the roofs of the barns are not really much noticed at any other time of year. They go to bed at dawn, come out at dark and hibernate in the winter, so even though we keep long hours we don’t meet them much. However, with the short days of fall they are still a-wing when we go to the barn in the morning and they emerge from their daytime stupor at around seven PM, intent on insect coursing. Even this wouldn’t be much of a problem if they hunted outdoors, but they like to eat flies in the cow barn. They also are not exactly impressed by human beings and swoop wildly around our heads if we don’t hustle to turn off the lights and head for the house. I don’t mind watching them flutter against the last strip of pink along the western horizon when I am sitting out by the garden pond after chores, but I wish they would wait until later to search the barn.
Then there are the snakes. We have a lot of them, milk snakes, garters, ring necks and once a big old hog-nosed that rattled his tail just like a diamondback when I walked too close. For the most part we don’t bother about them. All the real rattlesnakes are over on the other side of the river and the snakes here hunt more pests than helpful things. However, the one that has been sharing the garden pond with the frogs this summer has plumb worn out his welcome.
The first time I saw him was months ago during a real hot, dry spell. He was lounging in the water with his head on the side of the pond, looking like a scaly gigolo trolling for starlets. I grabbed him by the neck and gave him a toss, concerned that he was either after my goldfish or the frogs. We like to play a sort of “Where’s Waldo?” with the latter, scanning the water lettuce and lily pads for their carefully concealed hiding places. I think camouflage was invented by a green frog. Anyhow, things that eat frogs are unwelcome, as several barn cats have discovered to their damp discomfort. After I chucked him out the snake, a long, shiny garter, hung around but seemed to leave the amphibians and fish alone. He and I enjoyed the waterside in tentative harmony. He became so tame that he often popped out from between my feet when I sat in my red chair and slid quickly through the petunias, to rest on the side of the pond.
Then, yesterday when I was pulling out dead water lily leaves, all five current frogs leapt into the air and dove, hell bent for election, under the water. Woosh, there was Mr. Garter Snake gliding swiftly out to nab one. He missed, lucky for him. This time I hauled him down below the driveway and gave him a fling into the bushes there. He had better stay away. There has been some talk of snakeskin belts or hatbands around here since he showed his true colors.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Another Sunday has rolled around and a fine one it is. There was a heavy ground fog when I got up but it is gone now and the sun is putting a serious shine on everything. The old horse pasture just glows with goldenrod and the geraniums are like multi-colored torches.
I think the gardens and fields give us a nice show every year so when the snow flies we know just what we are missing. Fall must be on its way. The weather is turning much cooler, at least at night, and the kids are coming down with colds. The health issue with back-to-school is a big one here at Northview. All three kids have asthma to some degree and the cold and flu season is just a misery for all of us. One more reason to love the seasons when they are not in school.
Back-to-school also means less help and not much company during the daytime. We get a real good picture of just how much the kids do for us (and with us) when they are not here to do it. This year none of them will be able to miss school to go to the fall farm show with us, which takes some of the fun out of it. On the other hand, it is amazing just how much work I can get done with no interruptions.
I miss them though.
This morning the milking crew, (not including yours truly because of my day off), had another typical Sunday-fine-as-frog-hair time. A former show heifer named Drive had a great big half-shorthorn bull calf up in the cow pasture yesterday evening. (We have been moving the close-up heifers in with the milk cows because the coyotes have been stealing calves from the inexperienced young mothers. Cows don’t put up with such shenanigans.) This morning poor Drive came down minus her newborn, looking all forlorn. They put her in the barn and went looking for baby…and for a milk cow from my string, named Zinnia, who was also absent without leave. They found the pair together, Zinnia smug as a cat with a bowl full of cream, with “her” new baby. They had to put the calf in the barn to get Zinny in and then they couldn’t get her out.
She wanted to stay with the young ‘un.
Thinking back I remembered another calf stealing cow, old number 20, whom we eventually sold because she stole all the calves she could find. She would literally try to kill anyone who tried to take them to the barn. She once jumped into a 20-foot sheer sided ravine just to get around us and run back out to pasture to a stolen calf. I ticked back over the generations to Maroy Bianca. That was 20’s pedigree name. Sure enough, Bianca was the mother of Milestone Blackie, dam of Blackbird, dam of Black Berry, through several other cows to Blueberry, (you guessed it), dam of Zinnia. The whole crew traces back to an old show cow, Ronscott Sovereign Lucky, a 4-H calf Ralph bought from Mike Scott. Who would believe that such a tendency would come down through so many generations?
A cow like Zinnia is a mixed blessing. On one hand there is no way a coyote is going to kill a newborn calf with a cow like her in the picture. On the other hand, sometimes it is a little hard for people to bring calves in as well.
This is the forth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Since that day, we never hear a plane go over without looking up.
Every single time.
One of the ones that flew into the World Trade Center turned south for New York City over the City of Amsterdam, just eight short miles from here. It made me think then and it makes me think now.
I think the gardens and fields give us a nice show every year so when the snow flies we know just what we are missing. Fall must be on its way. The weather is turning much cooler, at least at night, and the kids are coming down with colds. The health issue with back-to-school is a big one here at Northview. All three kids have asthma to some degree and the cold and flu season is just a misery for all of us. One more reason to love the seasons when they are not in school.
Back-to-school also means less help and not much company during the daytime. We get a real good picture of just how much the kids do for us (and with us) when they are not here to do it. This year none of them will be able to miss school to go to the fall farm show with us, which takes some of the fun out of it. On the other hand, it is amazing just how much work I can get done with no interruptions.
I miss them though.
This morning the milking crew, (not including yours truly because of my day off), had another typical Sunday-fine-as-frog-hair time. A former show heifer named Drive had a great big half-shorthorn bull calf up in the cow pasture yesterday evening. (We have been moving the close-up heifers in with the milk cows because the coyotes have been stealing calves from the inexperienced young mothers. Cows don’t put up with such shenanigans.) This morning poor Drive came down minus her newborn, looking all forlorn. They put her in the barn and went looking for baby…and for a milk cow from my string, named Zinnia, who was also absent without leave. They found the pair together, Zinnia smug as a cat with a bowl full of cream, with “her” new baby. They had to put the calf in the barn to get Zinny in and then they couldn’t get her out.
She wanted to stay with the young ‘un.
Thinking back I remembered another calf stealing cow, old number 20, whom we eventually sold because she stole all the calves she could find. She would literally try to kill anyone who tried to take them to the barn. She once jumped into a 20-foot sheer sided ravine just to get around us and run back out to pasture to a stolen calf. I ticked back over the generations to Maroy Bianca. That was 20’s pedigree name. Sure enough, Bianca was the mother of Milestone Blackie, dam of Blackbird, dam of Black Berry, through several other cows to Blueberry, (you guessed it), dam of Zinnia. The whole crew traces back to an old show cow, Ronscott Sovereign Lucky, a 4-H calf Ralph bought from Mike Scott. Who would believe that such a tendency would come down through so many generations?
A cow like Zinnia is a mixed blessing. On one hand there is no way a coyote is going to kill a newborn calf with a cow like her in the picture. On the other hand, sometimes it is a little hard for people to bring calves in as well.
This is the forth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks. Since that day, we never hear a plane go over without looking up.
Every single time.
One of the ones that flew into the World Trade Center turned south for New York City over the City of Amsterdam, just eight short miles from here. It made me think then and it makes me think now.
Monday, September 05, 2005
We went over to the fair after milking last night and had a sort of mixed experience. We saw dozens of people that we haven't talked to in ages and thoroughly and very enjoyably talked to them all. However, we also sat in the parking lot for over half an hour waiting for them to let all the big rigs and tractors from the truck and tractor pull leave before the paying customers. I wonder if they had any idea how much gas they were wasting at over three bucks a gallon, with a couple of hundred cars sitting there idling.
Had a short, but enjoyable visit with Matt and Lisa and the kids. It was good to see them. Then we had a nice, but terribly salty dinner at the pancake house and headed over to the agricultural building for some extra milk. That was about as far as we got for at least an hour, as we ran into Gerald and Eileen D., Barney and Brian Y., Ron and Tom and Elma P., Stacie K. and her new baby, and most of the rest of the agricultural population of at least three counties. It was wonderful. Alan and I must have spent ten minutes just admiring Bettie Myer's butter sculpture. It's about time they got smart and hired one of the woodcarvers to do the job. I believe that Bettie produced the best sculpture the fair has ever seen.
Eventually, we moved on to walk around the fair and look at the exhibits. Fonda Fair has fallen from favor with me in recent years, but I have to say that they did a spectacular job with the displays this year. It took us quite a while to make it to the ultimate farmer destination, the Cow Palace. There was the usual group of really high-quality cattle there, but what really caught my eye was an Intermediate Senior Calf, by Silky Gibson, that belonged to Koronas. Wow! That's all I can say. She stood on the south aisle, but I spotted her the instant we walked through the north door. She was foursquare, strong and correct and everything anyone could ask for in a calf. I think she could show well even at the national level. I sure would like to own one just like her.
We will be starting to chop corn as soon as the fair is out of the way. I hope the weather holds warm and dry like it is now and that the machinery all holds together for a few weeks. Then maybe there will be time for some fall plowing before the snow flies.
Had a short, but enjoyable visit with Matt and Lisa and the kids. It was good to see them. Then we had a nice, but terribly salty dinner at the pancake house and headed over to the agricultural building for some extra milk. That was about as far as we got for at least an hour, as we ran into Gerald and Eileen D., Barney and Brian Y., Ron and Tom and Elma P., Stacie K. and her new baby, and most of the rest of the agricultural population of at least three counties. It was wonderful. Alan and I must have spent ten minutes just admiring Bettie Myer's butter sculpture. It's about time they got smart and hired one of the woodcarvers to do the job. I believe that Bettie produced the best sculpture the fair has ever seen.
Eventually, we moved on to walk around the fair and look at the exhibits. Fonda Fair has fallen from favor with me in recent years, but I have to say that they did a spectacular job with the displays this year. It took us quite a while to make it to the ultimate farmer destination, the Cow Palace. There was the usual group of really high-quality cattle there, but what really caught my eye was an Intermediate Senior Calf, by Silky Gibson, that belonged to Koronas. Wow! That's all I can say. She stood on the south aisle, but I spotted her the instant we walked through the north door. She was foursquare, strong and correct and everything anyone could ask for in a calf. I think she could show well even at the national level. I sure would like to own one just like her.
We will be starting to chop corn as soon as the fair is out of the way. I hope the weather holds warm and dry like it is now and that the machinery all holds together for a few weeks. Then maybe there will be time for some fall plowing before the snow flies.
Sunday, August 28, 2005
It is like a time of anticipation and irresolution, these weeks between the fair and the start of high school. Time sort of hangs suspended between the seasons and can’t sort out whether it is one or the other. It still feels like summer, but there are hints of fall everywhere. Swallows are lining up on electric wires near the farms where they summered, collecting in large flocks for their migration to somewhere south of here. There are already very few robins, even though just a few weeks ago they were raising their second or third broods of the season and hunting the long lawn for night crawlers every dawn and dusk. Goldenrod is turning its signature color and staghorn sumac is just beginning to change its drab green for the cardinal red it sports in autumn. Still it is warm and sunny and the days are not too awful short just yet.
I started a few herb plants today. I have a number of pots of top onions growing well and a couple of chives started from seeds from my own plants. Today I added rhubarb from seeds from Grandpa Lachmayer’s strain and some lemon balm. All of mine died out when we moved up here and I miss its fresh lemony flavor in ice water, omelets and salads. I also planted some winter lettuce and mesclun greens in containers by the back door.
We took a drive over to Sharon Springs this afternoon to pick up some garlic from the garlic lady and some ginger gold apples from Sunnycrest. We are thinking of planting a bit of garlic this fall as we use a lot and like it fresh.
There is a lot of very badly drought-stressed corn around the county and many farms are already chopping for silage. Ours isn’t too hot either and we are going to have the crop insurance adjuster take a look at it as soon as we can. I expect that buying forage will be a real challenge this winter.
What a morning the milking crew had. I was chatting on the phone with my baby brother this morning when they came in with long, cranky faces and milled around waiting to tell me all about it. Seems they went out early in hopes of getting a few extra hours of Sunday down time today, but found the pump that moves the milk into the bulk tank from the pipeline broken down. The boss went to the truck stop for fuses and they fiddled with it until they got it going at 8:00 AM, and were finally able to start milking. Boy am I ever glad it was my morning off and I didn’t know a thing about it until breakfast time. Hope it holds together tonight so we can milk!
Prayers and good thoughts to all those who may be in the path of Hurricane Katrina. Looks like a real monster.
©Northview Diary 2005
I started a few herb plants today. I have a number of pots of top onions growing well and a couple of chives started from seeds from my own plants. Today I added rhubarb from seeds from Grandpa Lachmayer’s strain and some lemon balm. All of mine died out when we moved up here and I miss its fresh lemony flavor in ice water, omelets and salads. I also planted some winter lettuce and mesclun greens in containers by the back door.
We took a drive over to Sharon Springs this afternoon to pick up some garlic from the garlic lady and some ginger gold apples from Sunnycrest. We are thinking of planting a bit of garlic this fall as we use a lot and like it fresh.
There is a lot of very badly drought-stressed corn around the county and many farms are already chopping for silage. Ours isn’t too hot either and we are going to have the crop insurance adjuster take a look at it as soon as we can. I expect that buying forage will be a real challenge this winter.
What a morning the milking crew had. I was chatting on the phone with my baby brother this morning when they came in with long, cranky faces and milled around waiting to tell me all about it. Seems they went out early in hopes of getting a few extra hours of Sunday down time today, but found the pump that moves the milk into the bulk tank from the pipeline broken down. The boss went to the truck stop for fuses and they fiddled with it until they got it going at 8:00 AM, and were finally able to start milking. Boy am I ever glad it was my morning off and I didn’t know a thing about it until breakfast time. Hope it holds together tonight so we can milk!
Prayers and good thoughts to all those who may be in the path of Hurricane Katrina. Looks like a real monster.
©Northview Diary 2005
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Whitewash day-it's nobody's favorite. First we have to take everything out of the barn, and I do mean everything, from shovels and pitch forks to the calendar and the radio. We do most of that the day before the whitewash guys come. Then on the actual morning we get up extra-early, do the milking and chores and take out all the stuff we use every day. It is amazing how many cow collars, wrenches and bottles of fly spray can accumulate in one barn.
Next comes covering the things that can't be moved, but shouldn't be whitewashed. We put little sandwich bags on every single milk line inlet and pulsator mount on the pipeline, and on all the thermostats and fasten them with rubberbands. Big trash bags and feed bags cover all the electrical motors. There are a lot of them, expecially in the summer, when all the big fans are in use. We cover all the blackboards and cork boards where we keep track of cow information too.We use canvas for things like the vaccuum pump that are too big to cover with bags. It is a fussy, messy job.
When everything is removed or covered, we get to go to the house for breakfast, while we wait for the whitewash men to do their job. They bring in a huge truck that is equiped to supply hoses with lots of compressed air to blow down a year's accumulation of cobwebs and dust and then to spray on the whitewash like paint. It took them over two hours today.
We wait a while after they are finished to let the whitewash dry a little. This is pretty futile, but the worst part of the job is next and we want to put it off as long as we can. However, eventually, we have to go back to the barn to bring everthing we took out back in and to uncover everything we covered. This is a really messy job. Everyone ends up with whitewash all over their hair, skin and clothes. It is very drying and feels terrible. We always seem to find something we forgot to cover that is now sprayed a stunning white. This year it was the clock, which fortunately was easy to clean. We replace all the lightbulbs too. They are pretty grubby by the end of the summer and aren't really worth saving. Then we have to scrape every single walkway and stall to get rid of the flakes of whitewash that rain down all over, as the cows are afraid of anything new and strange. We fill the mangers with hay and grain so they won't see or smell whitewash there and hope for the best when it's time to bring them in. Some years they are afraid of the blank, white newness and won't come in, and then run all over when they do, instead of going to their stalls.
Eventually it is done, and the guys head out to mow and chop hay. I come in for a nice cup of coffee that I feel I really earned and wait for evening milking time. The barn looks nice and the milk inspector should be happy for a while too.
I sure am glad we only do this once a year.
Next comes covering the things that can't be moved, but shouldn't be whitewashed. We put little sandwich bags on every single milk line inlet and pulsator mount on the pipeline, and on all the thermostats and fasten them with rubberbands. Big trash bags and feed bags cover all the electrical motors. There are a lot of them, expecially in the summer, when all the big fans are in use. We cover all the blackboards and cork boards where we keep track of cow information too.We use canvas for things like the vaccuum pump that are too big to cover with bags. It is a fussy, messy job.
When everything is removed or covered, we get to go to the house for breakfast, while we wait for the whitewash men to do their job. They bring in a huge truck that is equiped to supply hoses with lots of compressed air to blow down a year's accumulation of cobwebs and dust and then to spray on the whitewash like paint. It took them over two hours today.
We wait a while after they are finished to let the whitewash dry a little. This is pretty futile, but the worst part of the job is next and we want to put it off as long as we can. However, eventually, we have to go back to the barn to bring everthing we took out back in and to uncover everything we covered. This is a really messy job. Everyone ends up with whitewash all over their hair, skin and clothes. It is very drying and feels terrible. We always seem to find something we forgot to cover that is now sprayed a stunning white. This year it was the clock, which fortunately was easy to clean. We replace all the lightbulbs too. They are pretty grubby by the end of the summer and aren't really worth saving. Then we have to scrape every single walkway and stall to get rid of the flakes of whitewash that rain down all over, as the cows are afraid of anything new and strange. We fill the mangers with hay and grain so they won't see or smell whitewash there and hope for the best when it's time to bring them in. Some years they are afraid of the blank, white newness and won't come in, and then run all over when they do, instead of going to their stalls.
Eventually it is done, and the guys head out to mow and chop hay. I come in for a nice cup of coffee that I feel I really earned and wait for evening milking time. The barn looks nice and the milk inspector should be happy for a while too.
I sure am glad we only do this once a year.
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
Much excitement in the days since the fair. We have been trying to catch our two elderly sheep all summer, with the intent of shearing off a couple of years of scraggly, burdock-filled wool. We could have caught them with the dogs, but it has been so hot, and they are so old, that we didn't want to stress them that way. They got so wily that you couldn't even lay a hand on either of them. The impasse continued until the boss began to scratch them behind the ears every day when he went out to feed Junie and Bayberry their grain. The sheep were eager to steal a little and so they tolerated his touch. Night before last Alan took the grain out to the heifers and just grabbed a passing sheep. We haltered both of them and the others did the milking while I got out the scissors. Yes, that's right, scissors. It took two hours of bending over cranky woolies, carefully separating wool from tender sheep hide before they were semi, sort-of, halfway sheared. Freckles, the old white ewe, loved it and stood like a statue. BS, whose name means just what you might think that it would, fought and struggled the whole time. When we turned them loose, they demonstrated the high intelligence level of the average sheep, by not recognizing each other and fighting like fools until they started bleating and knew each other's voices. Then they trotted off, happier and cooler by far.
Next came the hornets. Every time we moved the horse trailer this summer, there have been clouds of them whirring around trying to sting everyone. We looked for nests on the ground under it, but just couldn't find any. Still the nasty insects were there every time we went near the trailer. The boss found out why yesterday when he put his hand under the hitch to pick up the safety chain. The nest was suspended under the hitch. He was badly stung.
Then while my good friend and I were getting the bookkeeping caught up and enjoying homemade soup and good fellowship, the guys went over to the auction and bought two lovely little bunnies, a white one for Becky and a red satin for Alan. When Alan was out by the coop petting his bunny a veritable cloud of yellow jackets swirled out of the ground stinging him and the poor bunny horribly. She ran under the chicken coop where we can't to get her, and he ran for the house. It was a sad time all around. I hope we can catch her soon. Grandpa has a Have-a-Heart humane trap we are going to borrow and hope that she will go inside.
Next came the hornets. Every time we moved the horse trailer this summer, there have been clouds of them whirring around trying to sting everyone. We looked for nests on the ground under it, but just couldn't find any. Still the nasty insects were there every time we went near the trailer. The boss found out why yesterday when he put his hand under the hitch to pick up the safety chain. The nest was suspended under the hitch. He was badly stung.
Then while my good friend and I were getting the bookkeeping caught up and enjoying homemade soup and good fellowship, the guys went over to the auction and bought two lovely little bunnies, a white one for Becky and a red satin for Alan. When Alan was out by the coop petting his bunny a veritable cloud of yellow jackets swirled out of the ground stinging him and the poor bunny horribly. She ran under the chicken coop where we can't to get her, and he ran for the house. It was a sad time all around. I hope we can catch her soon. Grandpa has a Have-a-Heart humane trap we are going to borrow and hope that she will go inside.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Finally made it over to the fair last night, despite the lack of a car. The new barn is really quite attractive and if there are a few traffic problems, I think they will be sorted out over time. I really liked what Liz and Becky did with the decorations; very professional.
The kids did well in the show ring too, although they were disappointed by the big cows. Mandy only managed a third place and Cincinnatti came in second. Everyone thinks that Mandy was held back by her youthfulness and the fact that she is growing very fast and freshened way back in January. I believe she will mature to do much better. Old Dixie was that way. Nice enough as a young animal, but improving every year as she grew older. I wish I had a decent picture of her when she was 7 or 8. Ralph and I were going to get her pictured by a professional for Liz for Christmas but we didn't get it done and then she died. I took a lot of pics last night with a disposable camera in hopes of getting one or two worth the trouble.
The young stock really showed their mettle, with Junie winning Senior Yearling, Lemonade getting the blue in the Senior Calf class and Foolish coming in second Junior Heifer Calf against some impressive competition. I was quite proud of them. The kids also won the Get of Sire class with a get of Ocean-View Extra Special-ET, including Junie, Lemonade and Bubbles. Alan's pair, Bayberry and Bubbles were second in the Produce of Dam. Their mother, Balsam won Junior Heifer back in her show days at Altamont, so it was a case of the apple answering the pull of gravity there. Sedona, Bubbles, and Bayberry also won ribbons in their individual classes and the kids were second in Young Exhibitors Bred and Owned Herd.
Now I am ready for the fair to be over. The kids are tired and cranky and it is hard to get any work done with everybody either so pooped they can't find their shoes or over at the fairgrounds every day. Liz starts college Monday too. I can't imagine how she is going to manage that.
The kids did well in the show ring too, although they were disappointed by the big cows. Mandy only managed a third place and Cincinnatti came in second. Everyone thinks that Mandy was held back by her youthfulness and the fact that she is growing very fast and freshened way back in January. I believe she will mature to do much better. Old Dixie was that way. Nice enough as a young animal, but improving every year as she grew older. I wish I had a decent picture of her when she was 7 or 8. Ralph and I were going to get her pictured by a professional for Liz for Christmas but we didn't get it done and then she died. I took a lot of pics last night with a disposable camera in hopes of getting one or two worth the trouble.
The young stock really showed their mettle, with Junie winning Senior Yearling, Lemonade getting the blue in the Senior Calf class and Foolish coming in second Junior Heifer Calf against some impressive competition. I was quite proud of them. The kids also won the Get of Sire class with a get of Ocean-View Extra Special-ET, including Junie, Lemonade and Bubbles. Alan's pair, Bayberry and Bubbles were second in the Produce of Dam. Their mother, Balsam won Junior Heifer back in her show days at Altamont, so it was a case of the apple answering the pull of gravity there. Sedona, Bubbles, and Bayberry also won ribbons in their individual classes and the kids were second in Young Exhibitors Bred and Owned Herd.
Now I am ready for the fair to be over. The kids are tired and cranky and it is hard to get any work done with everybody either so pooped they can't find their shoes or over at the fairgrounds every day. Liz starts college Monday too. I can't imagine how she is going to manage that.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
I miss my boy. Oh, I miss his sister too, but I have gotten used to her being away at college, traveling out west and flying on planes and all so it is easier. However, he and I spend a lot of each day in engaging conversation. Sometimes I just tune him out when he gets babbling on and on about tractors or cars and such, but nights after work we always share a few minutes out by the garden pond just chatting about the day. I was out there alone tonight and felt deprived.
I miss his help too. He can always be counted on to light the fire that I lay in the woodstove each day. I put the papers and wood out sometime in the forenoon, but it doesn't really need to be lit until evening chore time, when hot water will soon be needed for showers. Now that he is over at the fair with his big sister, it is just another job I have to do myself. Not a big one, certainly, but time consuming just the same. The field work is taking longer without his able tractor work too. He usually does a good part of the chopping, baling, feeding and unloading of hay. With him gone, his dad has to do it all alone and then come in and milk Liz's string of cows both milkings too. We are starting early and finishing late these days.
Feeding calves just takes forever. When everyone is here, one person scrapes up and throws down hay, two feed the milk calves, while the boss milks the bucket cows and sets up the pipeline washer. At most it usually takes about twenty minutes. With just the two of us and Becky it takes close to an hour before all the critters are fed and things are cleaned up. I will be glad when the fair is over for sure.
Alan got his picture in the Troy Record today, or at least the reporter said that it would be there. He was sleeping on a show box and Hootie, the tiny little Jersey baby, and Foolish, the youngest Holstein, put their heads on him and slept too. It was probably pretty cute. However, we haven't been able to get a copy of the paper so I guess we won't be seeing it. A man from Excaliber Sires stopped by the string at the fair today and admired the cows and went to his car to bring the kids back a stud book, which was pretty encouraging. It is nice when someone who knows what they are looking at likes your stock.
Text and photos © Northview Dairy 2005
I miss his help too. He can always be counted on to light the fire that I lay in the woodstove each day. I put the papers and wood out sometime in the forenoon, but it doesn't really need to be lit until evening chore time, when hot water will soon be needed for showers. Now that he is over at the fair with his big sister, it is just another job I have to do myself. Not a big one, certainly, but time consuming just the same. The field work is taking longer without his able tractor work too. He usually does a good part of the chopping, baling, feeding and unloading of hay. With him gone, his dad has to do it all alone and then come in and milk Liz's string of cows both milkings too. We are starting early and finishing late these days.
Feeding calves just takes forever. When everyone is here, one person scrapes up and throws down hay, two feed the milk calves, while the boss milks the bucket cows and sets up the pipeline washer. At most it usually takes about twenty minutes. With just the two of us and Becky it takes close to an hour before all the critters are fed and things are cleaned up. I will be glad when the fair is over for sure.
Alan got his picture in the Troy Record today, or at least the reporter said that it would be there. He was sleeping on a show box and Hootie, the tiny little Jersey baby, and Foolish, the youngest Holstein, put their heads on him and slept too. It was probably pretty cute. However, we haven't been able to get a copy of the paper so I guess we won't be seeing it. A man from Excaliber Sires stopped by the string at the fair today and admired the cows and went to his car to bring the kids back a stud book, which was pretty encouraging. It is nice when someone who knows what they are looking at likes your stock.
Text and photos © Northview Dairy 2005
Saturday, August 13, 2005
We had rain last night! A whole inch! Of course, the horses were out and there was thunder so midnight saw most of the family up unplugging computers or running for the house with eager horses in tow. You don't have to ask them twice to come inside if it is stormy. They just hate the lightning. Of course, everybody was sleepy and cranky today, which makes taking the first stuff over to the fair extra challenging.
The boss went over to Holloways for some straw this morning. They make real nice stuff over there; big, heavy, bales of short chopped barley straw that fluffs up just wonderfully under the show cows and keeps them nice and clean. We try to buy some every winter for the milk cows too. They just love it and lie down as soon as their stalls are bedded. Sometimes you can tell in the morning that some of them never got up all night, because they were so comfy.
I don't have much time today, because I have been requested to go over to the fairgrounds and take a look at the new cow barn there. The kids want me to offer suggestions on how they can fit the hay and straw into their area and get the signs, flowers, and decorations up. In a way I would rather stay home, but then again, it is fun to be part of all the excitement.
The boss went over to Holloways for some straw this morning. They make real nice stuff over there; big, heavy, bales of short chopped barley straw that fluffs up just wonderfully under the show cows and keeps them nice and clean. We try to buy some every winter for the milk cows too. They just love it and lie down as soon as their stalls are bedded. Sometimes you can tell in the morning that some of them never got up all night, because they were so comfy.
I don't have much time today, because I have been requested to go over to the fairgrounds and take a look at the new cow barn there. The kids want me to offer suggestions on how they can fit the hay and straw into their area and get the signs, flowers, and decorations up. In a way I would rather stay home, but then again, it is fun to be part of all the excitement.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Hot and getting hotter. Text and photos © Northview Dairy
It is just too darned hot and dry here in the valley. "Maybe" clouds drift smugly across the brassy blue of the August sky lining up in sorrowful rows. They promise rain, but don't deliver. Thunderheads build and loom and then subside into puffy cumulous. They are merely stormcloud wannabes.
We are going to have to start watering 16 young heifers that are spending the summer out on the hill behind the house. Normally the creek there flows year round. Sometimes it roars down the hill in vigorous spate. Sometimes it meanders by, languorously slipping between its rocky banks. This summer it is reduced to a few stagnant puddles languishing in the shadier corners of the woods. The young stock still look fine, but it would be better for them to have a steady source of cool, clean water, so we will set out hoses tomorrow. We haven't used the watering trough out there in years, but it is still functional enough anyhow.
I planted a yellow lilac bush yesterday and a few irises today. It is incredible how dry and hard the ground is. A hole dug to the depth of the shovel blade uncovered no moisture at all, just Sahara-dry, hard, clay and sand. I filled the hole with water and had to wait half an hour for it to dissipate. We may get a few showers tonight due to a cold front passing through. I sure am hoping. Somehow no matter how disastrous the weather turns out to be we always seem to muddle through somehow. I am sure we will this year too.
It is just too darned hot and dry here in the valley. "Maybe" clouds drift smugly across the brassy blue of the August sky lining up in sorrowful rows. They promise rain, but don't deliver. Thunderheads build and loom and then subside into puffy cumulous. They are merely stormcloud wannabes.
We are going to have to start watering 16 young heifers that are spending the summer out on the hill behind the house. Normally the creek there flows year round. Sometimes it roars down the hill in vigorous spate. Sometimes it meanders by, languorously slipping between its rocky banks. This summer it is reduced to a few stagnant puddles languishing in the shadier corners of the woods. The young stock still look fine, but it would be better for them to have a steady source of cool, clean water, so we will set out hoses tomorrow. We haven't used the watering trough out there in years, but it is still functional enough anyhow.
I planted a yellow lilac bush yesterday and a few irises today. It is incredible how dry and hard the ground is. A hole dug to the depth of the shovel blade uncovered no moisture at all, just Sahara-dry, hard, clay and sand. I filled the hole with water and had to wait half an hour for it to dissipate. We may get a few showers tonight due to a cold front passing through. I sure am hoping. Somehow no matter how disastrous the weather turns out to be we always seem to muddle through somehow. I am sure we will this year too.
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