A Picture Post

Last week I decided it was time to get active blogging again (which if you look back at my past blogs,  I make this plan alot)(and fail at it).  The goal I set for myself is a new post once a week.  Well here it is the end of the week and I still have no new blog.  I have one started but it still needs tweaked.  So instead of stressing over not finding the time to get it finished, and staying true to my goal, I've decided to just post a blog of pictures.

I'm happy with that. Simple. Done.  Until next week. 😊

Why Oh Why do we Farm???

This spring has been a long one.  Lots of really yucky weather seems to make one rather "grouchy", especially when you are working out in it.  I was pretty negative in my last writing, which I apologize for, as that is not my intention with my blog.  However, maybe it's good to let you know that I do have bad days.  Days I wonder what I am doing here.  Those miserable days seem to make a person wonder why we do what we do.  The thoughts in my head seem to shout... "I'm sure there are easier jobs out there!....Like inside a building!"
As I was out checking cows again the other day, I once again asked myself why. It had been raining and snowing that morning, again.  It was windy and cold, and my thoughts were heading in that direction.....Why do we farm!?!? It's for sure not for the money! And it is not because its easy!  It's definitely not the glamour job that some people think it is.
I stopped on top of a hill and just sat for a moment.  Pondering this question, I looked around at my surroundings.  Suddenly, the wind became a whisper, the blue sky started to peek out from behind the clouds, the sun shined its warmth across my face and a different view formed within my mind and maybe my soul.

What does make this farming life worth it?

Sitting out in the middle of a field and soaking all in....sights, sounds, smells.

The sound of a cow mooing to her new born calf.

Watching a brand new calf attempt to stand for the first time.  And once he has his legs planted firmly underneath him, he miraculously makes the way to momma's utter for that much anticipated and nutritional first meal.

Watching the hay fields bare up, after being buried underneath layers of snow for 5 months (or is it 10 months), turn green and begin to grow.

The "I'm wakin' up" smell of the pasture grass after it is harrowed.

Watching a fox hunt, sneak up, then pounce on his unsuspected prey.

Listening to 150 black birds (yep...I counted) lined up on the power line and fence line singing joyfully as if saying "Hello Mr. Sunshine!"

Watching an eagle or hawk glide flawlessly in flight over head.

The smell of fresh turned dirt as it boils out from behind the plow.

The sweet fragrant smell of a newly cut hay field.

Watching the pride on my Farmer's face as he looks out across his field of oats that has grown chest high.

The pride we feel watching our calf crop enter into the auction ring.  Knowing that all those sleepless nights during calving season was worth it.

Realizing that someone in my Farmers family, has been in the same spot, doing the same thing, on the same land for over 100 years.

Yep, I AM.......Livin' the Life........The FARM LIFE that is!!!!
And I am truly blessed.

(However, if it frickin' snows again tomorrow.........the why will be back.  😉 )

Rain, Wind, and Snow makes life not so enjoyable

Diary of my last few days......

 Day 1          Forecast......RAIN

9:00........All is good in the cows, so I am having another cup of my morning brew and doing a bit of office work.

12:00......I have lunch ready, however my Farmer arrives and informs me he has a meeting, and no time for lunch.  That's what I get for fixing it before I see the whites of his eyes.  In the fridge it goes. Guess we have lunch for tomorrow.  With my Farmer gone, I am solo at afternoon calf watching duty. (that's ok....he was solo all morning)

 12:30......It is pouring down rain, so I decide to wait a bit to see if it lets up.

1:00........Still pouring.

1:30.......Decide I have to buck up and go check the cows.  Dang.

1:45.......Found 4 new babies, 3 had eaten, 1 just getting up, and 1 cow that was starting to calve.  

2:30.......Decide to go visit my mother-in-law for a bit to get out of the rain.

3:00......Time to check on things again.  As I get on my ATV, I think to myself, (well I may have said it out loud, with a few more added words) Dummy,  you should have parked in the garage!  As I am now sitting on a very wet seat. Dang it!  New baby has eaten. Yay!  Cow that was calving has feet sticking out.  Good, I think.  Best drive up close and make sure they are pointing in the right direction.  As I approach the cow,  my first thought is oh my.  On my 5th or 6th drive by, I finally admit that the feet are pointed wrong....this baby is coming backwards.  It will not be born alive without help.  I make a frantic call to my Farmer.  "Where are you?"  He is 30 minutes away.  Dang it again!  I tell him to drive fast.  I get the calf puller and open the necessary gates that I can so everything's ready when my Farmer arrives. By the time my Farmer arrives to my aide, (which seems like hours!) he proceeds past me to open the only gate I have not opened, because ALL the other cows are standing in front of it, and he yells to me to "bring her".  Bring her?!?!?!  Are you kidding me?  By myself???   Ok....I have bonded with her for the last 2+ hours...I can do this.  And guess what?  I did!!  WooHOO!!  Yay for me!!  In the pen she goes, and my Farmer hooks up the calf puller and out comes the calf......ALIVE!   Thanks to me. 😊 I know, my Farmer pulled him, but I caught that there was trouble, which sometimes is the key.   By now it is time to feed, and doctor all the other new calves.

7:00.......Finally to the house for a bite to eat, and warm up.  Oh, by the way.....did I mention it was raining!!  And had been the whole time!  I was wet, wet, wet.  My Farmer asks me how long it had been raining.  SINCE HE LEFT!!!!  

8:00........Back out to check on things.  Our backwards calf has eaten and is doing great! They are both let back out into the pasture.

9:00.......Back home and my Farmer heads to bed.

10:30......I go back out just to check and make sure all is good.  All is good so I too call it a night.

Day 2             Forecast.......WIND

9:00....... I feel like being nice so I fix my Farmer breakfast. (He was out for early check)

10:00......The wind is blowing really hard, and I do not want to go out, but my Farmer needs my help. All my clothes are still wet from yesterday, so I have to find some other gear to wear.  As I am driving over to the pasture, I watch a tree fall across the county road.  Yep, my friend was right, we are having hurricane force winds.  Crap.  Today is not going to be fun.  We start moving the cows that have calved to another pasture. We are in the middle of herding, have the cows and calves almost to the gate when it starts hailing.....hard.  Dang!  We can't turn and head for shelter, we have to keep pushing the cows through the gate.  Holy moly that hail stings, especially when it is coming in sideways!  I am really starting to wonder about this life.  This is not fun.  

1:30.......Head to the house for lunch....which is fast, cuz it's yesterdays lunch!

2:30.......Back out to the cows.  The wind is still blowing really hard.  I hate the wind.  Especially when it is mixed with sleet and hail.  All day is spent in the cows.  Making sure the new babies get up and eat, then get doctored.

The wind blew one of our wheel lines almost into the road.  This is just crazy weather!  I am starting to wish I had an office job.

8:30.......Head home for dinner and call it a night.  Its warmer tonight, and all seemed quiet, so no late night check tonight.  Thank goodness!!!

Day 3               Forecast.......SNOW

8:00.......My Farmer reports we had 2 new babies over night and both are doing fine.  

9:00.......Sitting in my office, wanting to do paperwork and not work outside.

9:30.......OK, fine.  I bundle up and head out to the field.  The winds not blowing, its not raining, however snow is predicted.  And sure enough, as soon as I crawl on my ATV and head out to the pasture, the snow starts.  Really?!?!  I have had enough of this stupid weather.  And the weatherman is predicting snow for the next 5 days.  Oh ya, of course!  That's what happens during calving season.

I am sooooo not liking this life right now.

Church Services will be held in the Corral Today....

I got up this morning, and since nothing seemed to be needing my attention,  I decided I could make it to church today.   I showered, got all dressed up, (meaning makeup, jewelry,  even dress pants) and was just about ready to leave when my Farmer walks in the door and heads to get some calf supplies.  So I ask, did we have a new calf?  He states no but a cow is calving.  I ask if I need to hang around in case he needs to bring her to the corral.   He grumbles something like no, he can handle it, so I continue with my "I'm going to church" plan.  As I was headed out the door, I quickly grabbed my work boots, hat, gloves, and coveralls, just in case, and threw them in my pickup.  Off to church I continue.   As I was about to the church parking lot I decided to check in with my Farmer just to make sure all was good.  He answered his phone and says the cow still hasn't calved.  He is thinking something isn't right.  She needs brought to the corral. Ok.......I roll on past the parking lot.  On my way.  Church services for me have just been moved.  I hurry to the corral, change from my nice shoes to my boots,  put my coveralls on over my nice dress pants and shirt, pull my stocking cap on to my styled and still slightly wet hair, and am ready to help my Farmer with the cow.  Yep, that's how it seems to work around here.  What was I thinking making plans when its calving season. Silly me. Oh well, at least I did make it to church.  I just didn't stay.  We had our own private service......in the corral.  And that's Livin' the Life......the Farm Life that is.