Cattle Call Farm Blog

Everybody does their part

People are always asking me how I get everything done. Simply, "One day at a time." If I there is one thing I have learned, on a farm you are never "done". It's a cycle that just keeps repeating and it will plum wear you out if you try to get done. Since it has been raining I have been working on getting the road banks cleared and trying to clean up the pasture fields from all of the dead limbs winter left in the field. The girls are pretty good and will lend a hand when needed. They too have a couple of cows and they know if they want to keep them, they have to pull their weight around here. Of course when the heifers seen us coming with the trailor they had to come and check to see if they were getting a hand out. I have 4 young heifers, 1 older cow  and the horse in this pasture. Three of the heifers and the older cow are due to calf in September.

The hay is ripe and ready! The weather is supposed to clear up next week so maybe we can get started. This is the most nerve racking job on the farm. You can only put up hay when the sun is shining, and it needs to shine for at least 3 days. We have a little over 30 acres to put up one square bale at a time. It may take 2 weeks it may take a month. All depending on the weather and the equipment. If anyone would like to come for a visit now would be a great time, but like everyone else on the farm you have to earn your keep. LOL

Meet the "Hereford Maid"

We have had alot of heavy rains so Amber & I went over on the ridge to check on the cows. Lady is sure enjoying her new pasture, and "Lady Garetta" was hiding close by in the weeds. I don't like to bother them or jump them up, makes their moms more trusting when I am around.

I thought it was time for you to see who this crazy cow lady is. Not really crazy about having my picture taken, but Amber is always snapping pictures with her camera and this one isn't that bad.

The cows have all gotten back together. I have 10 pairs, 2 bred heifers and the bull in this field.All are doing great and enjoying the new grass that the rain has brought. Jim was off chasing after one of the ladies, so hopefully they he will get them back in time.Calving was spread out this year, but they are all in good shape and should breed back fast. Of course I really won't know until next spring.

Notice the house in the background? I tease the girls and tell them this is my retirement home. It is actually an original farm house that goes with the far barn. The farm is a combination of to 100acre tracts that were 2 separate farms. The house actually is in good shape. Hoping to fix it up one day, just to have a place to escape. Currently no phones, electric, water or neighbors. Sounds perfect to me.LOL

Look at my Itty Bitties now

The chicks have really grown. I have been letting them out in the yard to wander in the evenings and they follow me around like I am their mother. I just have to say, here Itty Bitties and they come running. I keep them up in their outdoor pen at night, but try to let them run loose as much as possible. I hate keeping anything tied up or locked up. I worked in an office for 10 years in a little cube big enough for my desk and chair and I didn't like it, so I know they don't.I'm still not sure of their breed. They were brown but now they are speckled grey with grey feathers on their legs.

Saturday the guy who owns the feed store told me my turkeys would be here on the 25th. Last week he told me he couldn't get them, then he said the hatchery called back and said they had an order canceled so they would go ahead and send them out. He had to order the min. of 15, but I only want six. I am supposed to be spreading the word to get the rest sold, but I think they will sale when he gets them in. If not I will take them all so he doesn't get stuck with them. Since I get first pick, does any know how to tell the difference between the gobblers and hens when they are little? I hope there is a little bit of a difference and I will just get 3 of each. My luck they will all be gobblers, if so we may have a big Thanksgiving Feast this fall. This will be my first experience raising turkeys, so get ready for some questions. If you have any tips, please pass them my way.

One last look, before I turned them out on pasture.

It's official. The new baby will be named "Legends Garetta". This is one last look at her before turning her and her mom "Lady Garetta' out to pasture. Legend comes from the bull,"John Legend" which I have sold but his picture is an earlier post. I also have "Legends Lady" which is 13 months old and she is also out on pasture. Everything is out on pasture. But there are still a few animals to feed, but at least no more late nights walks to the barn.

You have to check this out!

Two of my blogging buddies are having giveaways at their sights.  Click on below and check them out! Now I am going to have to come up with something to give away. HMMMMMMMMMMMMM? This may require some thought. While I am busy thinking check out Eden Hills,Iowa and Life on a Southern Farm, Georgia here are their links,

http://www.edenhills.blog.com

 http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com

You will be glad you did!

Life is Good, pass it on

 

 

1. What would your prefect day consist of?

My perfect day is no phones or computers,food,family,friends and animals.

  2. How would you describe yourself if you were an item of clothing?

A pair of worn out blue jeans, tough and comfortable.

 3. What hobbies are you currently working on?

My hobbies currently are landscaping, gardening and woodworking.

4. Walking in the woods in wellies or bare foot on the beach?

I love taking walks in the woods, but every few years I do escape to the beach and love to take walks in the sand in the evenings.

5. Have you ever hugged or sang to a tree?

I have never hugged or sang to a tree, but have closed my eyes and gotten lost in the smell of them blooming.

6. Growing your own veggies or nipping to the supermarket?

I grow many of my own veggies!  No comparison. Nothing taste fresh from the supermarket, although the farmers markets work for items I don't grow when they are in season.

7. Have you found anyone exciting in your family tree?

I have enough trouble keeping up with my family around here. I have never researched my family tree. But it is something I would like to do one day.

8. Slap up meal in a posh restaurant or fish ‘n’ chips from the wrapper?

I prefer a home cooked meal, that way I know who's cooking it and where it came from.

9. Which element do you most resonate with, Earth, Air, Fire or water?

I too was born in the sign of water, but I think I'm more at one with fire. It keeps me driven.

10. Do you believe in fairy’s?

 I believe if you keep your mind open anything can happen, but I have never seen a fairy.

This was an award past on to me from Teresa at http://www.edenhills.blog.com. Check out her answers, set back and take a minute to see how you would answer.

Teresa is also having a 100th post giveaway, visit her blog and check it out!

I would also like to pass this award on to:

http://wwwaj-oaks.blogspot.com

http://windowontheprairie.com

http://georgiafarmwoman.blogspot.com/

Saving the best for last.

Oh what a wonderful day. Last calf of the spring. No more late night trips to the barn, no more carrying water, everything out on pasture, no more feeding. Oh Happy Days! And she true ly was worth waiting on. I actually thought this cow was going to have a bull this year, since she had a heifer last year. But she blessed me with another heifer. I am the most excited because this is the 3rd of "my" herd. I bought her mom, "Lady Garretta" 3 years ago. She was the first of my papered registered cattle. All of the cows on the farm are pure bred, but are not registered. I have just started registering the calves.

 Her sister is "Legends Lady" and she is 13 months old. I just finished her out and put her out on pasture. She was named after the bull, John Legend and Lady Garretta, thus the name "Legends Lady". Now I have to name this beautiful baby. She is a keeper, her dad was also John Legend, so I am going to have to work that in. As I said John left the farm, but his "legend" will carry on. As long as these girls grow out good and raise me some good calves, they will be around for several years. This is the start to "my herd". Her mom is my big baby, I got her when she was 7 months old and I am the only one she will let handle her. She sometimes gets a little pushy and for some reason she doesn't like men.

So final count for spring calves. 10 for 10 no problems. 7 bulls/3 heifers. Life is good! 

Do you know what this means???

 

If you live on a farm you do. Yes, it's hay season, and we still do it one bale at a time. This mower is as old as I am.I went to buy parts for it last year and was told it had been discontinued. I had to get on the internet just to find a fitting and it only cost $1.00, but I had to pay $5 more to get it shipped from New York. I spent the past few months running adds and looking for another mower for parts but have had no luck. If anyone know anywhere I gould get parts or another mower to use for parts, please pass it on. Here are the specs on the mower;

Massey Ferguson 135 Industrial Side Mower

  I have had this thing apart and back together several times and have became the "self made" mechanic to add to my list of job experiences. Homer's eye sight is pretty bad so I get to figure out all of the little pieces and where they go. Give me a parts book and I can pretty much put any thing back together.

Well the last cow to calf is in the lot. Everything else is out on pasture, including a yearling heifer that I finished out this spring. Most of the hay is gone, so now it's time to fill the barns back up again. It has been pretty rainy here, but on the next 3 day dry forcast the hay will hit the ground. We will just start with a small field by the house. It's just the kick off and to make sure all of the equipment is in working order.Our goal is to be finished by July this year, sounds easy but it's not. We have one tractor, we still do square bales, the weather has to cooperate and good help is hard to find hay season. So if anyone would like to take a vacation on a farm to see what it's really like come on over.Visitors are always welcome hay season, but you have to earn your keep. Ask my girls, to them June doesn't mean school is out and time for fun, the first thing they say is June is hay sesaon. They too have to work to keep thier animals. After all the work is done I always treat them to a weeks vaction at my moms at Smith MT Lake, Virginia.That way they are rested up for the 2nd cutting that starts in August.

Take a real close look at this picture

Yes, you are seeing right. PeeWee has learned how to open the latch on his pen. Notice the chain that is around the gate to ensure he doesn't escape. I was at the barn feeding the other morning looking over the fence to check on the cows. All of the sudden I see a flash of black and white out of the corner of my eye. It was PeeWee the magic goat. I think I am going to start calling him "Houdini". He had a look of amazement on his face that he had actually escaped. We only keep him in the pen at night because of stray dogs and coyotes and also because he likes to visit the neighbors and eat their roses when I'm not looking. 

I hadn't let him out on this particular morning and started watching him trying to escape. Apparently the other morning we didn't have the chain latched good enough and he some how managed to get it loose too. He has mastered opening the latch with his nose as you can see in the above picture.

Now he is trying to master the chain. He will look at it, chew on it, hook it with his horn, back up, look at it again, then go at it at another angle. There's not a doubt in my mind he will one day figure out how to unhook the chain. Somehow he managed too the other day. Of all of the animals Ihave raised, and believe me there is a list, I believe he is the smartest and best pet ever. He could care less if you pay him attention and go off and amuse himself, or if the girls are here he will hang with them and follow them like dogs. I have had him since he was just a couple of days old and still had his umbilical cord. It was touch and go at first but he made it. I have had him 2 years now and he always seems to find a way to amaze us and make us laugh. Leave a door open and he is right in the house. Leave the building door open and he is like a kid in a candy store. There is nothing he won't eat, except just plain old green grass. He is on a 20'circle tie out(40'radius) and the grass is greener there than any spot in the yard. He gets feed in the morning and feed at night when he is put up. He supposed to be a miniature but I believe he is only half, either that or he just eats too darn good.

Check out this chunk.....

Finally"he" is here. Weighing in at close to 100lbs.Check out the fat rolls on his legs. No wonder his momma was putting off having him for so long. Youch! I don't actually have scales to weigh him on but Ihave unloaded enough 100lb bags of feed to know he is close. Homer  said he is the 2nd biggest calf he has ever seen born on the farm. His momma, Dippy was a little sore but this morning she came out of the barn and was fine. She really gives a lot of milk and her bag is huge, we made sure the calf got on all four teets and I am going to keep him in the lot another day just to make sure he can take her milk. When I went to tag him he just laid there and was as calm as could be. It was cold here this morning about 36, but when it warmed up this afternoon he was running around in the lot  looking for the gate out. This is Dippy's 3rd calf and she did it all on her own. We had to pull her first calf which was a bull and last year she had a heifer with no problem. But this guy is bigger than either one of those. I can't wait to put him with the other calves to see the difference. Well that's 3 down this week and 1 to go. Standing count 7 bulls, 2 heifers.

 

I also went and picked up the girls sheep to show at the Black Walnut Festival in October. These aren't keepers, just visiting for awhile. They have had buyers give them back to them and we in turn take them back to the farm and donate them to our friend Danny Cummings who raises lambs. The girls always choose to show ewes. It's hard to swallow the fact that you know the wethers are going to slaughter. They work with them so much that they are more like dogs than lambs.  This is Callie's 5th year and Amber's 3rd. Amber has set herself a goal to win Grand Champion. I told her no one is going to just give it to her and she will have to work hard. The worst part is she gets so attached and has the biggest heart when it comes to the animals. If I can't find her she is usually somewhere hold up with an animal.Since she was little I have found her in the doghouse, under the porch, laying on the porch under a blanket with the dogs or in a stall at the barn with some of the other animals. Callie usually hangs pretty tight with PeeWee, where ever you find Callie you find PeeWee.(our goat)

All in all it has been a pretty good weekend. Softball is over. (YAY!!!) No more running to practice every evening and driving 3-4hours back and forth to ball games twice a week. Just about done with the planting at the greenhouse and 1 cow to go. Time to get the tractor out and get ready for hay season.