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.