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.