Christmas has Come!

What a time of celebration with family and friends!  Early Christmas morning (about 3:30), the dogs and I snuck off to the barn while Farmer Rick and family slept soundly.  While sweeping the mangers and prepping the cows for milking, the new farm dog - Sandy - chased barn kitties around and under the still half-asleep cows.  They were dozing in and out as the light bulbs gradually brightened as they warmed and the radio cranked out joyous Christmas tunes.

There is no quiet way to turn on the milker pump, but I was hoping that no one would wake in the house.  We managed to keep our secret quiet for about 3/4 of the milking, but soon thereafter, Farmer Rick came down to the barn, rubbing his still sleepy eyes and patting one of the dogs on the head as he entered the barn.  We hurried through the rest of chores and quickly headed back to the house before daylight.  We warmed up the griddle and had pancakes, OJ and cinnamon rolls ready to go as the kids both young and old were crawling out of bed.

The only thing wrong was that once the day started to get in full swing, Farmer Rick and I couldn't keep out eyes open as we settled in the couch to watch all of the festivities!

Getting the Tree

What a super cold day!  We finished up with a blizzard-like snowstorm late last night, but now that the snow has ended, we are left with a bitter cold wind.  Still, we all bundled up in our snowmobile suits and heavy gloves to head to the woods to find a tree.  One of our boys took a snowmobile ahead of us to break a path through the snow because it was so deep, then followed by Farmer Rick with a plow on the four wheeler.  Behind them followed mom with the horse harnessed up and ready to drag the tree back.  Even with the path broke by the snowmobile and four wheeler, both horse and driver were huffing and puffing, dragging ourselves through the very deep snow!  Farmer Rick ended up picking up stragglers along the way, piling them on the back of the four wheeler, as they were getting quite tired from trugging through the snow!  Luckily, I had been in the woods before the snowstorm hit to pick out a tree.  Two days prior, I took one of the geldings to the woods to scout one out so that we could save time and energy since I knew the storm was coming. 

We quickly spotted our "Charlie Brown" tree and one of my boys cut it down.  I attached it to the logging chain and away we went, dragging the tree behind us, right up to the back door of the house!  Boy, am I ever glad we had that tree picked out ahead of time!  ALL were cold and wiped out from trudging through the snow.  Even though the tree is rather thin, these have been pretty much the norm throughout the years and our family is used to them.  A very "spacious" tree harvested from our swamp, but loved by all!

Filling the woodpile

As I look out the window at the sliver of moon in the easter sky, my eye shifts to the thermometer reading minus 1.  While contemplating the cold,my mind wanders to the woodpile that is quickly diminishing in the woodshed.  With all of the fall work and activities, this project just kept being put aside.  But now, it's payback time!  Farmer Rick spent a good deal of time after milking last night sharpening saws, mixing gas, and checking oil levels.  Today we will be spending almost the entire day in the woods trying to catch up on the wood supply.  When walking the woods during deer season, we take a mental note of fallen trees and blow-down branches.  There's a huge oak that is blown over from the roots on the backside of our heifer pasture that will be about a 3 day project to cut up.  But, it's nice to know that the wood won't go to waste.  Farmer Rick will take the John Deere 3020 with the wood-hauler (retired) manure spreader, and I'll take the four wheeler and cart for hauling saws, chain oil (and tired dog) to the woods.  As long as one can stay dry with a thermos full of hot chocolate of coffee, you can last a long time in the woods, even if the temp doesn't meander much above zero for the day.  We are supposed to get a few inches of snow starting this afternoon, so it'll be nice to have the bulk of the wood loaded in the old spreader before it hits.  But, it will be so much easier to relax and watch the falling snow this evening after chores, knowing that we've made a substantial gain in the supply of wood.  It will take a full week of days like this to get the woodshed full, but it'll be worth it.  Having wood heat compares to none other when it comes to constant warmth that fills every room.  After spending many a cold winter in drafty old farmhouses, it's a welcome caress of warmth that greets you when you come in the door after a long day in the woods and chores in the barn.

Putting the Orange away

The countertop is filled with used hand-warmers, bullets and compasses.  Farmer Rick has been emptying the pockets of blaze orange bibs, jackets and coats, getting ready to pack them away for another year.  This is one job that I don't look forward to doing, but if the gear is going to be ready to go for next year, it all needs to be washed and packed away in our "hunting" barrels kept in the loft of the garage.

All-in-all, we had a wonderful season.  Everybody got atleast one of their tags filled.  We had a great time in the woods, tromping up and down the hills and getting great workouts that would rival any that they throw at contestants in those weight-loss programs on TV.  The scenery in the woods can't be beat either.  Once in awhile, we come across bitter-sweet vines that grow amongst the bushes in the woods.  They stand out from quite a distance when there's snow on the ground.  Beautiful.  Just looking at the tree branches and how each and every one lifts toward the sky.  It's as if they're praising their Creator night and day, lifting up their joy.

The only thing I don't like about the end of the season is seeing everybody pack up and go home.  I still choke up when the last one pulls out of the driveway as they begin their journey home.  Some travel back into a busy life that is so different from our own.  But, for ten days each fall, we enjoy one another's company, and have a wealth of memories and stories to repeat over the years.  I think that these good times together just adds to the "pull" that brings them back, year after year, to a long-standing family tradition that is being passed on to future generations.

Just a few more tags to fill

Deer season is about half done and the deer take is going well.  Most all have atleast filled one of their tags and have meat already in the freezer.  Farmer Rick shot two bucks yesterday, having four come right out to him from behind a big round bale.  It's such a blessing to have meat in the freezer for the winter.  When you work long hard hours outside, it's nice to come in to a full pot of chili, simmering in the crock pot with a little bit of cheese and sour cream.  Mmmm, I'm getting hungry! 
The time spent with the guys on the deer hunting crew is always a blast.  The stories of past hunts, practical jokes and just plain old fun is such a welcome break for everyone.  Whether your drive a tractor or a desk, being in the woods, enjoying God's creation and harvesting meat for your family is a long standing tradition on Farmer Rick's side of the family.  Being a family tradition that I married into, I've adapted, and have come to look forward to this time of year just as much as Farmer Rick and the rest of our family.  These times together just can't be compared to.  When everybody pitches in to help get chores done, the work seems so much lighter and it's so much easier to spend a whole day in the woods, knowing that you'll have someone to push that wheelbarrel around the barn, or slop some hungry hogs, just to help you get in the house a little sooner.
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving! We'll hunt in the morning, then enjoy a relaxing day, filling up on turkey with all of the fixings, sweet potato pie, buttery mashed potatoes and gravy and an assortment of desserts.  Cards and games await us after chores, along with several re-visitings of  past hunts, passing on stories that grandpa shared of his time raising a family in the northwoods.  Traditions. Family. Being Together.  Again, we truly are blessed.

Tomorrow is deer season

Family and friends will be spilling in the doorway soon.  The house will turn blaze orange and wet muddy boots and gloves will be scattered about.  But, for one week, to spend time, eat, share stories (some embellished?) and hunt with family is worth it.  We look forward to this time of year just to hault the farm work, shift gears and spend time in the woods that we love.  There's just something about being out on your stand, listening for that "big one" to come trotting into your range.  Most often, all I hear is a tiny red squirrel who chatters at me every year for disturbing his food gathering route.  When scurrying about his business, he'll come right up to me on my bucket, stand up on his hind legs and let out a "chirrrrrr" and quickly scramble back to his hole in the log behind my stand.  As the season goes on, his courage builds and he comes out sooner each day, chattering and complaining about my presence.  But by the last day, he comes to accept having me around.  I think we both know that it's time to pack up, haul the bucket home and settle in for a long, snowy winter.

Isn't she Lovely?!



Sandy!

We have been looking for another Border Collie puppy for quite some time.  There have been many in the paper, but most were out of our price range.  We have had several over the years here in the farm and have enjoyed them so much as reliable cattle dogs and friends.  When riding in the woods, I always take the dogs with me since we have so many bear and now we hear of big cats around too.  These dogs are very smart and active.  Sandy already has lots of energy and is practicing her herding instincts on the barn cats.  She comes down to the barn morning and night, then comes back up to the house when we're done.  She's too small to leave in the barn with the other two dogs for now, but when she's older, she'll fit right in.

Here comes thd snow!

Wow - is it ever snowing!  As we're pulling on our chore gear to head to the barn, looking out the window, it's rather hard to make out the barn in the dim pre-dawn.  All of the machinery and buildings are being covered in a thick blanket of white.
The last few days have been long and hard ones.  Farmer Rick has spent a goodly amount of his time in the combine, pushing it to get the last of the corn in before this snowstorm.  As has many farmers in this area.  Once the corn is out, though, many are having a hard time finding a place that will take it.  All local elevators are filled to capacity.  We had three loads waiting at the scale yesterday which we weren't sure if it was going to be taken or not.  But once the moisture was tested, we were waived on in since it was down to 14.2.  The loads went directly in to the feed mill.  Thank God!  There was a parade of wagons and trucks behind us - I sure hope they were able to get in also.  Now that the snow has finally come, everything comes to a standstill and the corn is at the mercy of the deer while it stands in the field all winter.  Once the corn is covered by snow, it will cause all kinds of trouble if it gets into the combine and freezes.  If by chance a bright sunny day comes along and all of the snow is either blown off or melted off of the cornstalks, we might be able to sneak back out there and get the rest, but when I rode my horse through the remaining two fields yesterday, we were sinking a good four inches in the muddy corn rows.  They will probably have to wait until spring to dry out.  But I am so thankful for what we got in.  It truly was a blessing.

Penden is stunned

I knew Penden would be a little confused when he came into the barn to find Brandy not there.  But he was totally stunned.  When he finally gobbled down his grain, he realized where he was and had such a stunned bewildered look on his face.  Trying to console him didn't do much good.  I hadn't seen that look on his face since we had to put our old stallion down.  Penden knew he was gone.  When the rendering truck came to pick up the old horse, Penden just stood at the gate, longingly looking down the road, his gaze following the truck until long after it was out of sight.  I don't know who I cried the most for - the old horse - or the way in which it impacted Penden.

But now, Brandy is gone.  It will take some time for Penden to adjust without his old friend.  I stayed in the barn for quite some time last night, talking to him, brushing him and pulling a stray bur from his mane here and there.  He refused to eat anything beyond his grain. I'll have to check on him first thing this morning to see if he's any better.

Brandy is going Home

After many happy years here on the farm, Brandy is going home.  It's not a sad thing, but I will miss her.  This mare has been here and has given many lessons to both kids and adults alike.  She is owned by a former student who did not have a place to keep her while attending college and starting a family.  In exchange for providing her a home free of charge, I was allowed to use the mare as a lesson horse for beginners.  Now that her life has settled down a bit, with two girls who just adore horses, she's ready to have her mare begin a new life on her own farm in Minnesota.  Brandy is in her 20's now, but still has lots of energy, but tempered with a little bit more patience and forgiveness after having students of all kinds riding and handling her.  She's at a good age to slow down and enjoy the little ones.  There's no doubt, though, Brandy was and will be the mare in charge, putting all of the youngsters and wimpy geldings in their places.  No one challenges Brandy - when meeting a horse for the first time, she has the sweetest little nicker that draws them into her range, horse speaking in such soft tender tones that she's irresistible.  But once they're close enough, WHAM!  Brandy turns in the blink of an eye and fires with both hind feet!  It only takes one time for her to establish who's boss in the herd.  We've had no other horse seriously hurt, thank goodness, by Brandy's herd initiations!

Well, it's time to go.  Before loading her up in the trailer, I have to let her say goodbye to her friend and companion, Penden.  He's managed to escape her antics over the years and remain her #2 horse in the herd.  He's a 26 year old arabian gelding who has been in the stall beside her at night ever since she's been in the herd.  I know the old guy is going to miss her.  But she's going to a good home and will be well taken care of.  I introduced a companion to him who has become quite a little buddy.  He's a very mischevious oversized mini who shares a corner of Penden's stall when they come in at night.  (He also helps himself to some of Penden's food, too!)  They've developed a good friendship which I think will help buffer the sadness when Brandy goes home.

What is that SMELL?!

Believe me - you can find all kinds of smells in a farmhouse.  But this one was different.  We've brought baby kittens, pigs, and even a calf into the house from time to time to warm them up and nourish them back to health.  No matter how much I investigated, I just couldn't find the source of the smell.  When just about to toss both housecats out the door, blaming them for the infraction, my eyes happened upon something that Farmer Rick had left in the back window of the mud porch.  A bladder.  A camouflage bladder that he hangs in the tree on the well-worn deer path that meanders past his ladder stand.  OH YUCK!  He had filled it the night before, intending to take it out to his stand the next chance he got.  But that next chance wasn't soon enough for me.  GONE!  No wonder we don't get much company!  Time to break out the candles . . .

Cleaning the Chicken Barn

What a job!  It took three skid-steer buckets to finally get down to the floor.  But once the hinge is re-attached to the door and the grain feeders are hung, the chickens will be all set to go for winter.  The chicken barn only needs to be shoveled out spring and fall, but Oh, what work.  So glad it's done!  The garden greatly benefited from the boost of fertilizer.  Am already looking forward to more big and delicious veggies from the garden again next year.

The cows are in the barn now each night.  The cowyard is a muddy mess, so we have kept them in even during the day for the last week.  Soon they'll be able to go back out to soak up some sunshine before they're tucked into the barn for the winter.  The haymow is stacked to the rafters with hay and there's plenty of straw for bedding.  What a welcome sight - though it was a lot of work - but it's nice having the barn prepared for winter with plenty of bedding and feed.  After the last five drought years, we are so thankful to have all of this feed.  Not having to buy it sure spared the budget too this year.

Chores are calling - cows are ready to be milked, so off we go!

The wind is Unreal

Two days of rain, wind and snow.  It just doesn't want to quit.  Boy, am I thankful that we baled up the last 300 bales last Friday when the sun was shining and the skies were clear.  What a change by Saturday morning!  Cold rain began to fall, followed by ever increasing winds.  We awoke this morning to find about 1 1/2 inches of snow on the ground and still coming down.  Now we head to the barn . . .

We had to clean barn 3 times yesterday because of all of the rain that came into the gutter.  Our barn is on a slight hill, and when we get heavy rains, we end up with a gutterful of water.  If cows are laying down, they slap their tails in the dirty water and make a mess of the barn.

Let's go see what we have this morning . . .

Corn Picking Time

The chill is in the air, the corn has dried down enough to pick, so off we go!  Watching the corn roll through the corn picker head and seeing the big ears drop into the gravity box is kind of exciting as we see each box fill up to the top.  Usually I'm running the picker while Farmer Rick is unloading into the elevator which takes the corn up into the corn crib.  If we fill both cribs up, we have enough for grain for the cows for about a year and a half.  This corn is ready much earlier than last year when the moisture content was so high.  We were combining our corn on Christmas Eve, trying to beat a snowstorm that was coming in.  At the top of a hill in one of our fields, the back of the combine dropped into a huge hole which turned out to be one of three bear dens in the expanse of an 18 acre field.  The back axle of the combine snapped in two and there she sat.  So on Christmas Eve, while most are sipping hot chocolate and enjoying time with family and friends, were were out in the swirling snow, down in some not so good smelling stuff (poke your nose in a bear den sometime - you'll understand!), jacking up the combine to swap in an axle that we had gotten from a neighbor's combine that was junked out sitting back in the woods.  But, the guys managed to fix her up after a full day of work and got the corn in so that we could enjoy a nice holiday.

A chilly morning indeed

By the time I get the laundry on the line before chores this morning, my fingers will probably be quite numb!  Not too many days left to hang out laundry to dry - unless I want it freeze-dried.  But it sure saves on the propane bill when every load of laundry doesn't have to go through the dryer.  Goodness knows that the money saved on propane can certainly be used somewhere else on the farm!
Once the laundry is up, the dogs and I will head to the night pasture to call the cows in.  It's really neat, and kind of spooky sometimes to see these creatures emerging from the darkness at the edge of the woods, slowly coming into view as they lumber up towards the barn.  The dogs trot from cow to cow, giving them a slight bit of encouragement to pick up the pace, or give a playful nip to those who are wanting to stay in bed just a little bit longer before they make that morning trip to the barn.  Sure am glad I don't have the dogs as my snooze alarm!

The machinery is home

After a long and bumpy trip, our machinery that we purchased in Illinois is home safe and sound.  Farmer Rick had it all chained and strapped down so that it wouldn't shift.  Sure wouldn't be any fun rounding up two gravity boxes and extra tires after they bumped down interstate 90/94!  All went well on the home front with chores except the loss of one of our daughter's baby hogs.  The horses were all glad to see me and were full of nickers and whinnies . . . UNTIL . . . I brought out the wormer.  They're all easy to do, but they despise this task that we do every three months.  Now that we've had a couple of hard frosts, the timing is just right to get 'er done.  I also took one of the geldings out and longed him for about 20 minute.  The coyotes were singing and yapping the whole time we were out there.  They sure were making alot of noise down in the woods.  The neighbor's cattle were pretty upset about all of the noise.  I hope that they are all OK.  Once the snow is on the ground, I'll do more riding at night after chores, but right now it's too hard to see any other critters that may be out there with us.  Usually even the old mare doesn't get spooked when out at night, but the last few times she's been edgy too.  This old cow hand is getting too old to deal with coyotes and bears at night, even with the dogs out there with me.  That's OK, because we're planning on hitting the trails again this weekend to catch some of the last spectacular views of fall color before the wind blows the last of the leaves off of the trees!

Pigs in the Kitchen!

What a distinct odor greeted my nose when coming down the stairs this morning.  One of our daughter's sows farrowed last night and she refuses to nurse the little ones.  So Farmer Rick did what any other good farmer would do.  He offered the sow a few beers and after she toppled over, the little ones nursed and all were happy!  Since he didn't want the sow to lay on any of the little ones, they were loaded up into a bright yellow tote and brought up to a nice warm farm house to spend the night.  They are scurrying around in their makeshift home, warming themselves under the heat lamp.  We'll soon be heading to the barn for morning milking, taking them with us so that they can fill their little tummies.  They'll soon be snug again under their heat lamp, dreaming little pig dreams of filling their bellies and getting into trouble!

The squash just keep marching in

What a year for squash!  Each day we gather in more and bring them to the house.  After running through the steamer and scraping out the bright orange flesh, we cool it down and put in freezer bags.  Couldn't resist making a pumpkin pie from the squash last night.  Very good - Yummy!  Also works great for sweet potato pie.  Frost is on its way for the weekend, so that may put an end to most of the garden.  There's still plenty of tomatoes and banana peppers out there that need to be gathered.  Always so much to do!  Farmer Rick is almost finished filling silo.  I chopped while he ran the blower, putting the silage from the wagons into the silo.  Running the tractor with the chopper with it isn't too bad now that we have a cab tractor.  Much of the noise is difused from the sound gard cab on the tractor.  Plus, when it's windy and cold, I can turn the heat on!  After years of doing all of our tractor work out in the cold, heat, wind or sun, we really appreciate having a tractor that keeps us out of the worst of the elements.

Back from a quick vacation

It's not very often that Farmer Rick and I get away from the farm.  We had very reliable help cover chores for us while we were away.  Although, it never fails, one cow (who had cancer) died, two went off feed, and one came down with mastitis. I don't know if cell phones are a blessing or not because we received daily, sometimes hourly updates on what was going on.  You try to put the farm behind you for a few days, but it never seems to be that far behind, staring in your rearview mirror!  Somehow, when we returned from our travels, we managed to bring home two gravity boxes, three kittens, two rakes for the barn and lead ropes for the horses.  It's true, the farm is never that far away, physically and from your heart.

Maybe we'll get that hay up today!

After a whopper of a thunderstorm yesterday morning, the sun finally came out.  Suprisingly, the hay looked pretty good when raked up, so maybe it'll make some decent hay after all.  Would be nice to get it in the barn today.
We have been keeping a close watch on my old jersey cow.  She has been very ill for a couple of days.  The vet checked her over yesterday.  We have meds we're giving her, but she's not responding.  She is due to calve mid October, but not sure if she's gonna make it.  Each one of our cows are special, and it is so hard to lose one.  The grandmother and mother of this old girl were both shown by our oldest son at the county fair.  Funny how they would never place real high in the classes, but year after year they'd keep coming back whereas many of the cows that were shown against these old girls never lasted in their herds quite like these cows.  They just keep going and going.  We have bred for longevity for several years and have found that these cows have feet and legs that will last a long time.  They may not give near as much milk as some, but they're built for grazing and many years of productive life.  When the cows are out on pasture for the night, it's interesting to look out across the pasture. The jerseys and jersey cross cows are always the last to lay down.  They will graze and make good use of the pasture that the holsteins just pass over.  They all have their own special personality and love a good scratch on the head when they're snapped into their tie stalls in the barn for milking.  One exception is "Cuddles" the holstein cow.  She'll just about run you over looking for a pat and scratch!  She just calved and is milking well.  This is her 6th calf - a bull.  She's been having bulls ever since she was a young heifer.  But her mother was the same way.  She lived to 18 and had two heifers, all the rest were bull calves.  One of her heifers was struck by lightning along with the heifer standing next to her.  So the only offspring we have out her mother - Polly - is Cuddles.  I think she's a keeper.  Farming . . .what a challenging life, but I wouldn't want any other!

Chilly this Morning!

No frost yet, but it won't be long!  We'll have to sneak down to the barn this morning and check on a couple of momma cows that are due to calve.  I bet their breath will be steaming, but they'll be snuggled down in their bed of straw, staying nice and warm.  One of the cows belongs to our nephew (aka "the greenhorn) who is learning the ropes of dairy farming.  He works weekends here at the farm, gradually adding to his herd of cows, so that eventually he can farm on his own.  By learning the ropes this way, he'll have lots of experience under his belt before he attempts it on his own.  Good Luck!

Rain, Rain Go Away!!

Don't come back 'til we've baled our hay!  Once again the rain clouds rolled over, dumping more rain on our already soggy hay that was cut last weekend.  Farmer Rick will just have to wait another day before he can see if it'll be dry enough to bale.  Even the cats were soaked this morning when they came in for their kitty food.  Cubby and Macy are our resident house cats.  Macy's been around for about 13 years now, catching mice and leaving an occaisional leftover on the floor reminding us that he's still doing his job, and Cubby hasn't quite figured out what to do with a mouse once he gets it!  Our barn is full of lively new kittens also.  Our calico, Snowball, had four distinctly different kitties, and are they ever fun to play with.  Garfield is especially goofy in the morning when we set the hay down before cows come in.  He bolts and dashes in and out of the fluffed up hay.  His favorite thing to do is to come out from under the hay, chasing his tail.  If I can figure out how to get the camera down to the barn and back without it getting beat up, stepped on, or most likely, ending up in the tractor toolbox, waiting for somebody to drop a wrench of wagon pin on it, I'll drop a picture or two of them into a daily post.  Good Day!

The dogs scampered at my horse's feet

Saddling up after evening milking, my gelding and I headed out to the high hayfield across the road.  The view up on the highest hill is just breathtaking when the sun is setting.  The dogs get so excited when they see me with a horse on cross ties, saddling up.  They are very good about staying on the farm each day, but when they see the horse being readied for a ride, they get so excited that they just about wiggle right out of their skin.  When we head down the driveway to mount up, they're in and out, all around the horse's feet, anxiously awaiting for me to turn out onto the road.

So across the road and through the cornfield we went, up to the hills to take in the final blast of sunshine acrosst the treetops before finally setting for the night.  After a brisk canter across the adjoining field, we took the corn rows home, crossed the road and said good night to another day.

Sprinkles!

Once again it's sprinkling.  Seems like whenever we cut hay, it's like a magnet for the clouds to follow, right over our farm.  But, after five previous years of drought, having a few sprinkles on the hay rows is still a blessing!  Farmer Rick says it's time to put on the raincoat and head out to round up cows for milking.

Yeah! Sweetcorn season is done!

The last cob of corn went through the back of the truck to the last customer of the season.  Sad to see the season end, but now as Farmer Rick puts it:  Time to get back to farmin'.  We enjoy our family of customers that come back year after year and also meeting new ones that quickly become friends who are eager to learn and are full of questions about life on a small dairy farm.  We love to share aspects of our farming operation to those who are interested.  Many are thrilled that there are still a few viable operations left in our area of the state who truly enjoy what they're doing.  By finding this niche market with our sweetcorn, it helps to further sustain our way of life and opens a window into a life that is exhilerating, full of hard work, but quite fulfilling!

Sweet Corn, Seet Corn Everywhere!

Even sleep doesn't bring a brief respite from the ongoing clatter of sweetcorn!  We're right in the middle of our busiest week of the year.  After milking each evening, we all head out to the patch and fill 4 or 5 trucks, preparing them for the next day's sales.  It's so neat to listen to the lively banter that goes on, the stories that customers have shared, and the laughter that echos down the corn rows as we work our way across the 15 acre field.  If you ever want to get sore, cut hands, an occaisional corn leaf right across the eye, or stumble upon a section where the bear have been rolling around, spend an evening in the patch.  Last night we were chased out by lightning, and ended up picking until after 10 pm.  When the storm passed, we all pulled on our rain gear and headed out to fill 'em up!

Awoke to thunder

The wind and rain were blowing in my face as I woke up from the the lounge on the screen porch.  When the cat finally decided to jump off and head in the house, I figured it was time to go too.  So nice to listen to the rain on the roof and to see the frequent flashes of lightning.  But once the rain starts blowing sideways, watch out!  Time to head in.  Soon it will be time to call the dog and round up the cows from the woods.

What a beautiful rain we're getting this morning

The straw is safely put up in the barn, and the cows are enjoying a cool shower before we call them into the barn this morning for milking.  After a long week of selling sweetcorn and putting up about 1000 bales of straw and hay, it is a welcome excuse to relax for a day and do nothing!

Welcome to mygravelroad where you'll get interesting glimpses into the lives of a small dairy farm family.  There aren't too many small farmers left, but our lives are interesting and full.  Join us as we share stories of our ups and downs of daily farm life.  Meet Cuddles, Daisy, Fergus and many more interesting characters that encompass our milking string.  Learn what it's like to have to go to the woods and bring the cows back across the swamp on horseback, track down a momma cow that calved (and doesn't want to come back to the barn!), chasing the neighbor's bull out of our pasture, and many more!

Now, as the lightning is streaking, and the rain is coming down, I need to pull on my boots, full length raincoat and coax about 25 bovines out of their comfortable spots in the night pasture where they've bedded down to wait out the rain.