Dwayne and I have been going non-stop around here. Above all else - it's been weather at the
head of the challenge. We just keep
putting one foot in front of the other.
And bless their hearts - the cows have been so wonderful and patient.
We've all spent the good days having fun when we
can. Killian and April take turns going
out to ' The Big Yard ' with Bruce and Cora.
Both seem to understand what’s going on.
Neither have thrown any hissy fits.
But that’s not to say nobody has.
Artist posing for the front cover of Tales and
Shakers. ( Shaking my head. )
Artist had a little bit to say about Killian
being in the paddock with Cora the other day.
Dwayne had to go back there and have a chat with him. He wasn’t happy to hear about hot wires. I conned him into giving up the pouting with some
Alfalfa cubes, afterward. Promised him
that Killian was NOT going to stay there forever.
And all was fine in the Land of Irish Moos for
the rest of the day.
It’s been pretty tough handling all the chores outside
– through the mud – by myself when Dwayne’s at work. He doesn’t get home until after the evening
chores, as well. And we’ve conceded to
using only square bales of hay – because of all the rain.
I’m spending a whole lot of time climbing up into
the loft and throwing bales of hay down into the side where Artist and Patty
have their stall – then over to the alley of the inside of the barn – for
everyone else.
And on the good days – flakes and flakes – and
more flakes are hand-carried out to both paddocks - a few times each day. ( I’ve
submitted a Requisition Form to the Boss for 2 new Hay Racks that will hold a
whole bale of hay. )
Not sure when that might happen. Now there's a possibility they might be putting Dwayne on Night Shift for a while.
Technically - he's supposed to have 4 days off each round. And we've mapped out our entire life around here accordingly.
But when he goes on Night Shift - it's no different than if he only gets 2 days off. He ends up sleeping during the first day off - and sitting in his recliner for the second.
That leaves me doing all the farm chores and yard work - by myself - for 6 out of 8 days that roll.
And I'm not even supposed to be carrying groceries from the driveway. Or walking up and down stairs. Even worse - hauling and throwing bales of hay.
That was the last hair off my back. I bought Annointing Oil.
I'm annointing the house - the barn and our vehicles.
I am going into Spiritual Warfare.
And I have discovered - I despise Hay inside my Bra.
I’ve been going through Seed Catalogs. We decided to build raised bed boxes again –
like we did in Maryville – and put our garden in a completely different area.
That's been the plan - anyway.
I’ve already placed orders for seeds from 3
different sources.
And the first batch arrived yesterday. I can hardly wait. I ordered my favorite. I love the Amish Paste Tomato seeds for
canning my Tomatoes and Tomato Puree’.
I received the Crenshaw Melon, Chives, Okra,
Carrots, and Bush Beans. I’m waiting for
Spinach, Watermelon, and corn.
We’ve decided to try an experiment with our corn
- for keeping the Raccoons from robbing our entire yield.
We’re gonna grow it in the little yard of the
Girls’ Coop. It’s completely closed in –
and chicken wire is buried under the soil down around the outside bottom of the
entire coop – extended approximately 2’ outwardly.
I can only hope we don’t wake up to dead Raccoons
hanging from the chicken wire.
I spent time putting a run sheet together for our
Vet – so she can come deal with everybody all at once – before Patty and Cora
drop their calves.
Dwayne and I backtracked from the Seller's Vet’s
confirmation on their Preg Checks to figure out - approximately - when Patty and Cora conceived. Thank God for dates on
receipts. Otherwise – well – Life would
just be ugly. Let’s leave it at that.
Glass half-full… Give me dates on receipts and
notepads – I am still good to go.
But we determined Patty conceived around July 15,
2012 – and Cora conceived around July 25, 2012.
That means Patty’s Due Date is around April 23,
2013.
Cora’s Due Date is around May 3, 2013.
Ohh, joy.
Two more Taurus Bulls in the family - that will really never be bulls - even if they're born as males.
But the real kicker – Cora’s due 1 day before her
own birthday – which also happens to be my daughter, Britni’s
birthday. And that just makes for a
really great inside joke!
Anyway.
Well!
Damn! We gotta have something to
laugh about around here to keep us from going out to play in the freeway.
I’ll be going to bed with TyelenolPm every night
for the rest of my life.
Unless we go ahead and get one of those Teeter Inversion Tables at Costco.
;)
4 comments:
I LOVE that alley way through your barn...I have a fondness for old barns anyway, and seeing all the work yall have done just makes it better! Can't wait to see your calving pics...and by the way....I'd rather stuff hay in my bra than get on that inversion thingy! :)
Wouldn't it be nice to have a farm hand or two now and then! LOL Sure would help get things done around here faster. And this is winter...summer will be even busier! *gasp* Hope you can keep going, animals are wonderful to have on a farm, but they do add to the work load. :-))
I sure would love to garden. We had coon problems and moved. They are soo smart and will figure it out before you know it.
Now we have bunnies but I think they can be controlled with chicken wire.
Hay bales are indeed not for women to carry. You sure do need an easier way to do this sort of work.
I do hope the workload gets easier - the work needing done may never change, but sometimes ideas pop up that help us re-organize & streamline how it can be done! I'm always tinkering with ways to work smarter.
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