tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27085794914742367562024-03-14T00:07:33.150-04:00 A Minute Atta Time" And just how are YOU doing, today? "Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.comBlogger259125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-69424907559005794722014-10-06T12:05:00.001-04:002014-10-06T12:05:21.425-04:00Watch Farmland - A Documentary - FOR FREE on Hulu.com - RIGHT NOW!No matter what you do in life.... No matter where you live in the United States...<br />
<br />
YOU HAVE TO EAT FOOD to sustain your body's life.
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SIT DOWN WITH YOUR KIDS and watch <a href="http://www.farmlandfilm.com/">this Documentary</a> as soon as you can.<br />
<br />
This will help you understand so much more. It will help you RECOGNIZE THE PARANOID RABID EXTREMISM running rabid around this country and over the Internet.<br />
<br />
Hulu.com is hosting this Documentary FOR FREE for the next few weeks.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-62028337797260573862014-09-10T06:00:00.001-04:002014-09-11T13:52:54.116-04:00
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<script async="" src="//widget.battleforthenet.com/widget.min.js"></script>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-39763877976519575132014-08-05T07:13:00.001-04:002014-08-05T07:13:40.190-04:00Getting Some Canning Accomplished<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We couldn’t
resist.</b> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Found Zucker here -completely
out of it – as we headed to bed last night.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">He was even snoring!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Give him
pillows all around the house.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Why
bother?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">After my
appointment with the doctor last Tuesday – I’ve been trying to drudge my way
forward – and carefully. Daily exercises
with my left foot. I have no choice but
to do stretches if I want to get out of bed.
Otherwise – it feels as if I’ve had an ice pick stuck up my shin through
the heel of my foot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I’ve been
getting some canning out of the way – in between heading out to try cleaning up
and reviving my veggie garden.</b> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Got the
first case of green beans set up with the pressure canner – all by myself!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Hubs has helped with the white grape
jelly.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We have 4 cases, so far.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">I’ve got another 2 cases to get finished
today.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Had to run for more pectin yesterday,
while getting some grocery shopping done.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>The reason
for my jelly being so dark – 1 tablespoon of Balsamic Vinegar added to each
batch.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Sent Jen
home with a couple jars last night.</b> I
woke up with a text from her – informing me that her roommate tasted it. “<i>Mmmm….. You hungry?</i>” She got busy making biscuits. Jen said it was 10:50pm when they sat down to
pig out. LOL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I went ahead
and stopped by the new produce place by the park on Grove Street in Loudon
yesterday.</b> I didn’t get to plant any
squash. And our corn is becoming an
issue. Just not sure if it will make as
well as I’d hoped. It was more than my
foot that was hurt at the wrong time of year - for sure. But I am so happy the place has opened!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I picked up
a dozen ears of Peaches and Cream corn, along with some squash and some
Grainger County Tomatoes.</b> We’ll be
having our Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken Skewers during this run of days
off. The yellow and Zucchini squash goes
great in the mix, along with mushrooms, cherry tomatoes and Cilantro.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEs07VFEwYg/U-C6jqGNdoI/AAAAAAAAKII/fL0ZjVpBJU8/s1600/boatrightside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lEs07VFEwYg/U-C6jqGNdoI/AAAAAAAAKII/fL0ZjVpBJU8/s1600/boatrightside.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><a href="http://knoxville.craigslist.org/boa/4583437248.html" target="_blank">We’re
selling the boat.</a></b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><a href="http://knoxville.craigslist.org/boa/4583437248.html" target="_blank"> </a> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We haven’t been able
to take time to go out fishing for the past 2 years.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s been dead money – sitting in the garage
all this time.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">So – we decided to make
better use of the space and money.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Plans
for another boat are on the list for down the road – after we move from here
and find our new home with more land – if we need one at all.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Hopefully – we’ll find a place with a couple
ponds that we can stock with fish.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">If
not – a place near Savannah, Georgia – where we can enjoy seafood again –
safely.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Both of us are squeamish about
eating seafood from the Gulf of Mexico anymore.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JLrfX8jek-E/U-C69-PGVqI/AAAAAAAAKIQ/Y2ZibNPOhCM/s1600/April_Aon_2014-8-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JLrfX8jek-E/U-C69-PGVqI/AAAAAAAAKIQ/Y2ZibNPOhCM/s1600/April_Aon_2014-8-3.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Well – I don’t
recall ever teaching April how to tell time.</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">But she seems to have learned – somehow.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">And there are times when I wish they made muzzles for cows.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She has the most obnoxious scream.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Worse than a donkey.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Time to head
out for this morning’s feeding!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-72330295552772955302014-07-28T18:12:00.000-04:002014-07-28T18:12:39.859-04:00Cora's Transformation - Part 2If you haven't read Part 1 - <u><a href="http://aminuteattatime.blogspot.com/2014/07/coras-transformation.html" target="_blank">Go Here First!</a></u><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We had a
situation erupt – 3 days after Cora gave birth to Seamus.</b> Naturally – it was a Friday night. Not a good time to have this huge necessity
become a reality - getting Cora into the chute.
The last time we tried getting her into the chute – Dwayne had backed it
up to the gate for the little yard. He
refused to square it up – and left a gap.
Cora jumped through - and jumped me.
Knocked me on my butt. Scared the
crap out of Dr. Kate. I got up looking
for the cow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>That was a
bad day.</b> Dwayne had to repair fencing
and run a LOT MORE hotwire. Cora didn’t
get her annuals that day. Brucey had
jumped through the gap before Cora. He
jumped over the 3 foot fence for the chicken yard. And then he got too scared to jump back over
– after we got a halter and lead rope on him.
Dwayne had to rip up part of the fence so I could get him out. And then that fart walked with me - all the
way across the open area – into Artist’s paddock – all the way across to the
gate for the little yard – ALL THE WAY into the chute – head secured in the
headgate – without a bit of hassle.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">I miss my
Brucey.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xYsRZi3eiE/U9bDNaf__vI/AAAAAAAAKGc/OCc9Ua_O6sw/s1600/cora_right_fronta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9xYsRZi3eiE/U9bDNaf__vI/AAAAAAAAKGc/OCc9Ua_O6sw/s1600/cora_right_fronta.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>The next
time Cora had to be treated was for having a screw removed from her leg.</b> She’d yanked the cattle rub off the wall and
tripped over the mount. Thank God – the
screw made a clean pass above her hoof.
Thank God for giving me the inclination to look all our cattle over when
I feed. And for cellphones that can take
pictures. But Kate had to scrounge up a
Dart gun. And it took 2 darts to knock
Cora’s lights out so she could be treated.
We took advantage of the moment and gave her the annuals then.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">Dwayne and I
had fun touching her face and loving on her after Kate put her on her feet
again – while Cora was still drunk. </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6DaXAQ1qqE/U9bEYTm-ypI/AAAAAAAAKG0/53py785EhYc/s1600/paininthebutt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-g6DaXAQ1qqE/U9bEYTm-ypI/AAAAAAAAKG0/53py785EhYc/s1600/paininthebutt.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>But on this
3<sup>rd</sup> day after birthing Seamus - I had to wait for Dwayne to get home
from work.</b> He had to use the tractor to
move the Chute on its trailer. We had to
take it through April’s paddock – then through Storm and Dodger’s paddock –
then get it into Artist’s paddock. The
tractor and the trailer were too wide for the gate with the latch installed. Dwayne had to remove the latch. We used a chain and clasp for the time
being. He had to unhitch the chute from
its trailer. He had to drag the chute
into the little yard with the tractor.
And then we had to hand-pull the trailer into the little yard – hook it
back up to the chute – hook that back up to the tractor – and manipulate it
until we had it butted up to the door of the barn. None of it comes easy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qneNRYztokY/U9bJgfPUskI/AAAAAAAAKHU/YlpWtJzWv9w/s1600/cora-2014-6-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qneNRYztokY/U9bJgfPUskI/AAAAAAAAKHU/YlpWtJzWv9w/s1600/cora-2014-6-9.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Cora’s udder
was in trouble.</b> And we had to get her
into the chute before calling for any kind of help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We had to
use Seamus for bait – tying him outside the chute.</b> And one more surprise came when Dwayne
managed to get a nylon combination halter/ lead rope on Cora. We were shocked that he managed without her
getting as ugly as April or Patty. But
she wouldn’t budge one step forward for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I showed her
the sweetfeed – before handing it to Dwayne.</b>
He held the bucket while I took the lead rope and prodded. We all made our way through the chute until
we got Cora secured in the headgate. I
let her touch her baby first. And then –
I always – follow through when I con with the sweetfeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I don’t like
to my husband.</b> I don’t lie to my
kids. I don’t lie to my cows.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Thank God
for ADCA members - and a Vet that was willing and able to show up on this
particular Saturday.</b> We called Kathy
Chaney. She hooked us up with Jennifer
McPheeters – who got dressed and drove all the way over to our place to help.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I will never
forget a particular moment. </b> Jennifer was well into the milking when she was informed that she was milking a brood cow
- that had only recently allowed us to touch her – and had never been milked
before in her life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>But it got
even better. </b> Jennifer informed us – she had
never milked a cow in her life before!
Only goats. And none of us could
believe the pail of milk was standing there so still – filling up so fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And
Seamus.</b> He was only a 3-day-old bull
calf – enduring some very unexpected and expedited halter training. He was so tiny that we used the nylon
combination halter/lead rope for lambs.
And that little boy was just a pure natural at it. He was so good! He did such a wonderful job at it! He stood right there by Mama – where they
could see and touch each other. And he’d
just lay down when he got tired of standing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Cora spent over
3 hours in that chute.</b> That made it a
bit harder to get her back into the chute on Saturday. I had to help with getting the combo halter
on her. And then Kate had to help us
when she got there - getting Cora’s backside in and locked in so we could get
her into the headgate. Dwayne thought it
through and we put a Control halter on her while we had her in the chute.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Me and Cora
had a little party after we got that halter on her.</b> ;) It
was funny! Her eyes started
shining! She knew what was going
on. She had her own bling – just like
all the others! She’d never had a real
halter on in her life before that day.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And then Dr. Kate
got busy.</b> It was a list that included - examining her – taking teat cultures – milking her out –injecting
her 2 right side teats with antibiotic - and needle punching her all over the
place – under her tail – both sides of her neck. Once again – we took advantage of the
situation – dealing with those annuals.
This was worse than that 3+ hours she’d spent in the chute during the
night before – even though she wasn’t in there near as long. But I did all I could to keep her attention
redirected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I taught
Seamus a game. </b> “<i>Love Mama, Seamus.</i>” He’d stick his head through the headgate and
rub up and down her brisket! They learn
so fast at such an early age! “Awww –
Seamus loves his Mama!” And Cora would
start licking his neck and back.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I took advantage of having her in the chute – proving reasons to trust being
touched. </b> She finally experienced being
brushed. She went through the touching
on her face and figuring out what I was doing with the others when I do that while
saying – “gentle.” She’s come to enjoy
that! I’d rub her ears. She’d almost go to sleep.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We went
through several days afterward - getting Cora into the chute so we could milk out
her right side quarters and inject the <u><a href="https://www.zoetisus.com/products/dairy/spectramast-lc-_ceftiofur-hydrochloride_-sterile-suspension.aspx" target="_blank">SpectraMast</a></u>.</b> Each day became more of a challenge to get
her into the chute. Having that Control
Halter on her has been a huge help. But
she just won’t budge for anyone but me.
And even then – it’s a fight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We moved the
chute away from the barn door and to an area that’s shaded in the evenings
after Dwayne comes home from work. </b> We
had several more days when we had to haul her into the chute and milk her out –
even after finishing up the box of SpectraMast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>There’s a
possibility that she may have let her milk down on that day when we tried
putting her into the paddock with April and Aon.</b> It was a week or so before Seamus was
born. That may have contributed to the
Mastitis developing. It was shortly
after that – when her udder began to just blow up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hVGHMLg0IaU/U9bFRK92AaI/AAAAAAAAKG4/ygOAE8Z0SmA/s1600/1stdaypostpartumb2014-6-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hVGHMLg0IaU/U9bFRK92AaI/AAAAAAAAKG4/ygOAE8Z0SmA/s1600/1stdaypostpartumb2014-6-17.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(<i>Took Cora 5 minutes to square April up about who was Boss!</i>)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Time finally
came when we could put Cora and Seamus into the paddock with April and
Aon.</b> We had to bring them back into the
little yard to milk her a couple times.
But we changed rations to get everybody grazing more. And we began seeing Cora’s udder looking
normal as it should be. Dwayne
discovered later – we were getting some help!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Dwayne
busted Aon and Seamus – both – nursing on Cora.</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pYAIy2StNuU/U9bISuYwwvI/AAAAAAAAKHI/xcgmIryJT3Y/s1600/Aon-2014-6-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pYAIy2StNuU/U9bISuYwwvI/AAAAAAAAKHI/xcgmIryJT3Y/s1600/Aon-2014-6-17.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Aon is a smart fart.</b> He lets
Seamus get situated with his butt to his mama.
And then Aon gets situated on the left side of Seamus. Seamus hits the right quarters. Aon hits the left side! He has no trouble finding things!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Seamus won’t mess with the teats on the right side because they’re too big for him.</b></span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;">And he always got so confused on the left side of Cora.</span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;">He kept bumping her under her chest – trying to get her to let her milk down.</span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"> </span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;">Wrong end!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Kate will be
coming out to inject Cora’s udder quarters with a prescribed med for drying up
when we begin weaning.</b> We’re taking this
protocol to assist with ensuring a better chance of having no issues in the
future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>It’s come
along so well that I can walk out to the paddock with a brush and Cora will
stand there – enjoying every bit of it!</b>
She even walks toward me when she sees the brush.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;">It’s amazing
to me – the fact that it only took a year.
I’m sure the circumstances had a lot to do with helping. But it’s such a wonderful feeling to be able to
love on that cow!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Don’t laugh
at me.</b> Having a steer for a pet is a
whole lot damn cheaper than a dog!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hgknq8Bqo3A/U9bHzNDNEqI/AAAAAAAAKHA/x0vAztqJiio/s1600/2014-6-14-cora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hgknq8Bqo3A/U9bHzNDNEqI/AAAAAAAAKHA/x0vAztqJiio/s1600/2014-6-14-cora.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Obviously –
she’s wanted to fit in and be pampered like all the others. </b> She just needed time – patience – a little
nurturing – and a lot of compromising.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><i><b>Nobody can
recognize that need for fitting in with the others more than me.</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Never let
anyone tell you that cows are stupid. </b> If
you take the time to pay attention closely enough – they’ll tell you all kinds
of secrets!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-42070231778191143282014-07-27T16:27:00.000-04:002014-07-28T17:14:06.628-04:00Cora's Transformation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXAHZO4ED58/U9VbXfwKU2I/AAAAAAAAKFU/kJkg34X1Oh4/s1600/CoraLabor1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IXAHZO4ED58/U9VbXfwKU2I/AAAAAAAAKFU/kJkg34X1Oh4/s1600/CoraLabor1.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(<i>Taken as soon as I noticed Cora in labor and before the storm hit.</i>)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>It was a
vision in my mind of the difference living here could make for Cora – that made
sense out of deciding to cull Patty from our Herd.</b> It’s hard to describe. But there was a moment I will never forget - on
April 27, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I had Cora’s
calf in our Gorilla cart – beckoning her to follow me into the barn so I could
get both of them into a stall and out of the storm.</b> That baby needed to be put under the heat
lamp and dried off – fast.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Cora
followed me. </b> She got about 20 feet from the
barn door – before Patty came charging up.
She T-boned Cora and started raising cane at Cora – demanding she come
back. Patty forced Cora all the way back
to the furthest corner of the paddock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>It was an ‘<i>eye-to-eye</i>’
contact of communication between the 2 of us that told me so much. </b> In Cora’s eyes I could see her telling me
that she wanted to come with me. But she
had no choice other than to go with Patty – no matter <i>what she wanted</i>. Patty was one to get revenge when the Humans
weren’t around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And I knew
that.</b> I’d seen it. Patty never could see me watching her from
between the blades of the window blinds in my sewing room.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>But it was
that moment of ‘<i>eye-to-eye</i>’ contact with Cora that put a solid hunch into my
heart.</b> I just knew Cora would be so much
happier – if Patty were gone. And a day
would come when I could brush her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We just don’t
sell mean animals.</b> Patty became much
nicer – in the Freezer. And you could
just – feel – this warm and fuzzy blanket of – pure calmness – covering our
entire property – as soon as that livestock trailer could no longer be seen or
heard by the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcRUeeL6HME/U9VcrttmTeI/AAAAAAAAKFg/S-w8M3oVOXQ/s1600/Cora2014-5-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kcRUeeL6HME/U9VcrttmTeI/AAAAAAAAKFg/S-w8M3oVOXQ/s1600/Cora2014-5-6.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>It’s been a
long – slow – patient – compromising journey with helping Cora build trust
enough to fit in just like all the others – over this past year. </b> But we’ve pampered her. We’ve never pushed. She’s enjoyed the cookies – the extra hay –
having so many things her way. She’s
appreciated being allowed to come inside the barn during the rough cold winter
periods and during storms. She’s appreciated
the respect we’ve given her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Through it
all – she’s maintained 2 rules - <i>“Do NOT touch me.” – “I don’t share my food
with anybody!”</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We’ve had to
dance around the issue regarding her food rations.</b> Our first go-round of having April and Anna
in the same paddock with her presented problems during meals. She wasn’t backing down. So we tried bringing the other 2 girls into
the little yard to share the bunker during meals. When it works – <i>you go with it</i>. When it doesn’t work – <i>you better be willing</i>
to think fast and try something else – if you want your own supper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Cora has
enjoyed – and appreciated - her life here since Patty left. </b> And she let that be known when April dropped
her first calf. She witnessed April take
such a drastic switch into a negative direction with her behavior – as soon as
that calf hit the ground.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxTd4cJFn5I/U9VdQafeIYI/AAAAAAAAKFo/r9ISC4GisZ8/s1600/Aon2014-5-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XxTd4cJFn5I/U9VdQafeIYI/AAAAAAAAKFo/r9ISC4GisZ8/s1600/Aon2014-5-15.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Cora was in
her own stall – beside April’s – when she watched April throw Dwayne into the
air and against the wall. </b> All he was
doing was picking up manure so she could enjoy a clean stall. Cora’s always understood and appreciated that
care from us. She’s never resisted
scooting over so we could <i>“get the poo-poo” </i>for her – not even when she spent a
week in her stall after having Stormy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>She
witnessed April’s constant attempts to ram us when we tried dishing her grain
into her feed trough – even when we’d try giving that girl extra hay.</b> But I think the turning point came when Cora
saw April ram me out in the paddock - and hurt my right arm – which I’d had
surgery on in January.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Training
Cora to come inside her stall to eat paid off in more ways than we’d even
hoped. </b> We needed to be able to con her
into that stall – especially when it came time for her to calve. Having this calf was a whole new ballgame for
her. Patty wasn’t around. And we wanted her to enjoy the experience –
for a change. But we never assumed
things would go as hoped.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>The surprise
came when we noticed her eagerness and willingness from the start.</b> This was just one more thing that Cora wanted
– in order to feel like she fit in with the others. She wanted to eat inside her own stall – like
April. With the exception of the few
days she spent in that stall after she calved Stormy – Cora had always shared
the alley of the barn with Bruce – or – alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We turned April
and Aon out into the paddock – after they’d had time to bond and he was fit for
going outside.</b> We tried turning Cora out
with them. Right off the bat – Cora began
trying to nurse Aon. And she began shoving
April out of the way.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We had to
pull Cora out of there – </span><i style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">immediately</i><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">.</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">She was close to calving.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">We
could not have another calf robbing the Colostrum from Cora that would be
needed for her own calf.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b><i>We’re not
quite sure if this may have attributed to a problem we had later.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>But the
trouble we had with getting her out of there had me concerned.</b> Cora’s persistence – reluctance – followed by
blowing snot at me for the rest of the day – had me feeling there was something
more to it. I had to kiss her butt with
cookies and extra hay – even after the sweetfeed – just to get her to stop
blowing the snot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We know now –
and we will try next time – milking the colostrum from Cora for storage –
before pulling April’s calf and putting it with Cora.</b> But things with Cora began changing after
that.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>My routine
with her during meals was to – deliberately – set her feed bowl in the furthest
corner of her stall.</b> I was letting her
know that I was respecting her flight zone in a small space. I picked up manure around her – first. And then I would lay her hay out along the
front wall of her stall.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>All of this –
at the time – was about conditioning her - preparation for being able to access
her stall with her and the calf inside.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I always made
a point of swinging out - away from her <i>big preggers butt</i> to leave the stall
after setting down her feed bowl.</b> The 2
of us developed a comfortable routine within a couple days. Cora would follow me in and even give me room to
set the bowl down before approaching to put her nose inside. Basically – I’d walk the back wall of the
stall – then walk the side wall and exit through the door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>There was a
day – before we’d tried letting her out into the paddock with April and Aon –
when she pulled a stunt on me. </b> I set the
bowl down. She approached the bowl and
began eating as soon as I stepped to the right.
But as I reached the corner of the stall connecting the back and side
walls – Cora made an <i>obvious and deliberate</i> move – dragging her feed bowl backward
and swinging that <i>big preggers butt</i> to the right – trapping me into the
corner. She did it so fast that I lost
my footing and had no choice but to lean on her right backside to catch myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Not one
single flinch appeared in her entire body.</b>
She just continued inhaling that grain – like nothing happened. I had to remember to breathe first – move my
hand second.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Until then -
I’d always used my buzz words <i>“coming around, Baby Girl”</i> – whenever I needed to
pass by her in the alley of the barn for any reason. </b> But I never touched her. When I tried doing the same for this moment –
the Girl would not budge.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I tried it
again. </b> Only <i>this time</i> I gave her 2 soft
pats on her right backside as I said the words.
That was one of those cliff-jumping moments. <i>My gut was wrecked!</i> She could have kicked the fool out of me –
smashed me into the walls. I could have
been a goner – so easily – after touching her again!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>She made one
step to the left.</b> That was all. I had to squeeze around her backside to get
out of the corner. (<i>Compromising to the
bitter end?</i>) She never even moved a hoof
until I made it outside and closed the stall door.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>I just stood
there – holding back tears.</b> Everything
inside me told me that she’d done that on purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>From that
day until Seamus was born – Dwayne and I would test the waters with patting her
on the butt every now and then.</b> She
never fussed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gnUbuap9J8/U9Vd6W7DOeI/AAAAAAAAKFw/Y4arv8E9M9k/s1600/Cora_Seamus6-6-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9gnUbuap9J8/U9Vd6W7DOeI/AAAAAAAAKFw/Y4arv8E9M9k/s1600/Cora_Seamus6-6-14.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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(<i>Taken after we knew it was okay to go inside.</i>)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>As luck
would have it – I couldn’t bring myself to lock her up in her stall near the
end.</b> Me and my cup of coffee headed out
to the barn as soon as I could see outlines of trees and structures on June 6,
2014. I found Cora standing about 20
feet from her new black baby that was curled up in a ball and sleeping. But that was even better than had she been
inside the barn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We’d been
prepping Artist for the new arrivals.</b> He
became <i>pissed off</i> after seeing April and Aon in the other paddock for the first
time. I had been telling him that he was
gonna get to see HIS new baby. I had
prepped him with my buzz words. <i> “You and
April are gonna have a new baby! You’re
gonna be a Daddy, Artist! I’m gonna make sure you get to see your baby. I promise!”</i>
They all know that last part secures the deal. Mom follows through with that one – all but
this one time anyway. And it broke my
heart. I was as angry as him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IYn-Be-sY_U/U9VenQWXpqI/AAAAAAAAKF4/zE4T6QthD_I/s1600/Artist-Seamus6-6-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IYn-Be-sY_U/U9VenQWXpqI/AAAAAAAAKF4/zE4T6QthD_I/s1600/Artist-Seamus6-6-14.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>But Artist
was able to stand only a few feet from Cora while she gave birth to
Seamus! </b> He had to go through some
training with learning how to use his <i>“ Baby voice, Artist… Gentle.”</i> He goes from holding his head up kicking out a
roar to holding his head way down and looking up with his eyes while he gives
off this gentle coo. I snicker every
time he does it. He loves to coo to the
babies. And it’s all just so cute!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>But after
all the frightening nightmare we went through with April – we both stood
outside the little yard.</b> Dwayne stood next
to the gate. I stood under the RV pad. Cora seemed to conclude that we were not
coming inside. And the <i>coolest thing</i>
happened!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>She walked
over to the calf – began nudging and mooing until the calf stood. </b> And then – she began pushing the calf toward
me! Dwayne and I just looked at each
other with mouths wide open. We went
inside!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>It was as if
she was compensating for April’s bad behavior – deciding to share her calf with
us.</b> And Miss April watched the whole
thing. We could only hope she would
learn a lot from Cora – and cool her jets.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0geKNPG8mg4/U9Ve1nV1wnI/AAAAAAAAKGA/_19A5ZcKYjk/s1600/Seamus6-6-2014a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0geKNPG8mg4/U9Ve1nV1wnI/AAAAAAAAKGA/_19A5ZcKYjk/s1600/Seamus6-6-2014a.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We took
pictures – of course!</b> And then we
decided on a plan for getting the 2 of them into her stall – at least long
enough to figure out how we’d get to the calf so we could dip the navel and
give him his intranasal e.Coli bovine vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>We tried the
usual feeding routine.</b> It worked. But she left the calf outside! So Dwayne carried him in while I manned the
stall door to get him in with her quickly – to quiet her down. All she did was moo a little louder to let
Seamus know she was there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>So much more
different than April. </b> THAT Girl has had
to learn so much with this first calf.
And the first lesson was learning that mommies do not leave their new
babies in a corner of the bedroom and go partying! All it took was a flake of hay. She almost ran out of the barn to get to it. It was as if she’d completely forgot that she’d
just had a calf!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>And then it
took her a few minutes to realize we’d shut the barn door!</b> But when she snapped – all Hell broke
loose! Luckily – we had Rob and Michelle
there. We had to work fast to dip Aon’s
navel – weigh him and give him the intranasal vaccine. But Dwayne cleaned the stall. He laid fresh hay over the entire stall and
have her a couple flakes to eat. All was
fresh and clean – and baby was just fine.
Took her 5 whole minutes to shut up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>Cora had no
problem after Dwayne set the calf down.</b>
She let him come back into the stall to dip his navel and give him his
vaccine. She let both of us come inside
and pet him – love on him. She just made
it so obvious that she wanted to share this calf with us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><b>That
surprise became a blessing more than we could have imagined – 3 days later</b>. And I’ll share all that in the next posting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-43329149410359933322014-07-26T13:44:00.001-04:002014-07-26T13:45:59.948-04:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxO4PRDGeRM/U9PRkPJl3dI/AAAAAAAAKDs/4m7OelfpzIY/s1600/worker2014-7-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RxO4PRDGeRM/U9PRkPJl3dI/AAAAAAAAKDs/4m7OelfpzIY/s1600/worker2014-7-1.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b><i>It’s been forever since my last post.</i></b> And so much has happened. Amazing to see how a year can fill up with so many events in one’s life. But I’ll do my best to catch up with short versions, as much as possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Had <i>Carpal Tunnel Release surgery</i> on my <i>left</i> hand – July 16, 2013.</b> And then I went back in for the same surgery on the <i>right</i> hand – January 17, 2014. But <i>they also had to go back</i> into the left hand – to do a <i>Trigger Thumb Release</i> on my thumb.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Had a bout of inflammation in my spine.</b> <i>That</i> sent me to the E.R. after a week of not being able to stand up or sit down for more than a few minutes at a time. When I couldn’t even lay down to sleep – it was time to go. They pumped me up with so much crap. I don’t even remember going for any x-ray.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>I'm currently scheduled to see a Spinal Neurosurgeon in a couple weeks.</b> An MRI showed issues with <b>L1 through L5</b> in my spine. <i>They’re pretty concerned about L4 and L5</i>. Something about bulges – a spur – and the canal beginning to close? I have no idea. I only know I’m in Hell. And it looks like another surgery could be in front of me.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><i>As if that weren’t enough...</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>A visit with my doctor – almost 2 weeks ago - </b>sent me home with a diagnosis of having awakened that morning with Sprained Ligaments in my left foot. <i>I’m telling everybody that Dwayne did it.</i> ;) Actually – she says it could be a delayed injury that is known to happen hours before with some people. I’ve been in a splint for the past 2 weeks. I’m praying she’ll let me move into the boot when I see her this week. I’ve been warned this will be one more lengthy trip to recovery. <i>Story of my life. Smh…</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>With all this going on – Hubs is carrying the full load.</b> We had 23 hens and a Roo – until I came home with the splint on my leg. Luckily – one of Hubs’ coworkers bought all the birds from us. We were able to send him home with additional equipment and feed, as well.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>We’ve had a new girl added to our Irish Dexter family!</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8J-1fkHlJGI/U9PUbkHA9aI/AAAAAAAAKD8/iyegNcbBcLE/s1600/IMAG0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8J-1fkHlJGI/U9PUbkHA9aI/AAAAAAAAKD8/iyegNcbBcLE/s1600/IMAG0145.jpg" height="191" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Meet N40’s Anna Maria - ADCA <a href="http://dextercattle.org/pedigreedb/ponyweb.cgi?horse=033480&OwnerName=8145&SearchFor=1&Page=1&Sort=0" target="_blank">#033480</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Anna came to us last December.</b> She is the most lovable – sweetest – funniest – girl I have ever seen in a Heifer! <i>Unless she’s in heat.</i> Otherwise - she follows us around like a puppy!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Miss Anna caused problems for a guy leasing land across from us!</b> <i> We did all we could to hang in there</i> for that 16th month. And we ended up caving in a little early – after finding out our neighbor was having to fix a lot of fence. I’ll never forget Hubs shifting his eyes at me and spitting out the words – “<i>Put her in there with him - NOW!</i>”</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><i>She was totally silent for the next month.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ESzORHTyc84/U9PVSqKhyZI/AAAAAAAAKEE/QXQMyk0yWbI/s1600/Artist-2014-5-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ESzORHTyc84/U9PVSqKhyZI/AAAAAAAAKEE/QXQMyk0yWbI/s1600/Artist-2014-5-20.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b><i>Which reminds me</i> – Artist finally had his first year of breeding. </b> He wasted no time at all with April and Cora – last August.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5QTZRtkcytg/U9PViKI05uI/AAAAAAAAKEM/heqpB2H0dA0/s1600/Aon-2014-6-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5QTZRtkcytg/U9PViKI05uI/AAAAAAAAKEM/heqpB2H0dA0/s1600/Aon-2014-6-17.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Meet "Aon" - Very first Calf for both - April and Artist!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;">He was <b>born May 15, 2014 - weighed 45lbs. – red and horned.</b> <i>Sadly</i> – Aon has extracted temperament traits from April and Cora’s Dam. <i>We are just - absolutely - sick about it.</i> He had so much promise with such a thick structure. He was banded on the same day Hubs and Jeff de-horned and immunized.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt_6uZjC7_U/U9PVsXxAZvI/AAAAAAAAKEU/s8zG_tBGEIU/s1600/April-2014-6-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Nt_6uZjC7_U/U9PVsXxAZvI/AAAAAAAAKEU/s8zG_tBGEIU/s1600/April-2014-6-17.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>We're going a second round with Miss April and trying something different.</b> She'll be allowed to keep her calf for 3 days - long enough to gain a good amount of colostrum. We'll pull the calf after that. If we don't get lucky enough with getting Cora or Anna to adopt the calf - I'll be bottle feeding.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>April took a very serious turn in temperament after dropping her first calf - behaving even worse than her Dam.</b> She's injured both of us. She's calmed down some. We made a point of giving her every opportunity to watch all the interaction that went on between the two of us with Cora and her calf. Cora was very helpful with that. And she seems to have helped keep April in check since rejoining with her back in the paddock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Attempting to leave her calf with her next time has been written off.</b> Despite all the time that's gone by for adjustment and help from Cora - <i>April triggers without warning</i> around Aon. We've seen an <i>even more</i> dangerous imprint in this calf. <i>He almost took out my kneecap.</i> It's enough that we can tell - that's as good as it's gonna get. <i>And that's unacceptable.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>I am hoping and praying we are successful by pulling calves from April.</b> Anyone that has kept in touch knows - <i>She is my Baby Girl.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>If we don't see a difference in temperament - we will be faced with culling April from our herd.</b> She'll head off to the other realm of life with her Dam. The freezer. I've laid my foot down - and Dwayne agrees. We just <i>don't</i> sell mean animals. It would be as heartbreaking for me as Bruce <i>still is</i>. But I've always been used to having to shove my personal feelings to the bottom of any list in my life.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1K2zL4i5WQ/U9PWmfTZzPI/AAAAAAAAKEg/KlPkWQzFZEk/s1600/cora-bling-2014-6-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w1K2zL4i5WQ/U9PWmfTZzPI/AAAAAAAAKEg/KlPkWQzFZEk/s1600/cora-bling-2014-6-11.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Miss Cora had another black bull calf again – this year.</b> And let me say this. Her story this year has been nothing short of a miracle for the 2 of us that are green as goose poop!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>From the moment it was decided that Patty needed to be culled – I’ve had a picture in my head about the difference it would make in Cora’s life here.</b> </span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;">Not only did that picture become a reality. But Miss Cora decided to <i>pay us back in kind</i> – 100 fold. And that story will be in my next posting!</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-naxWV6BSBf0/U9PWyxpaMrI/AAAAAAAAKEo/5n1R9o50ors/s1600/Seamus-2014-6-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-naxWV6BSBf0/U9PWyxpaMrI/AAAAAAAAKEo/5n1R9o50ors/s1600/Seamus-2014-6-17.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Meet “STC Ealaiontoir’s Seamus” – ADCA #<i>pending!</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;">He was <b>born June 6, 2014 - </b></span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>weighed 55lbs.</b>.</span><span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"> (<i>Cora seems to produce bigger calves</i>.)</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>His tests just came back a couple days ago – all but the Parentage Genotyping.</b> We’re expecting to receive that by this coming Tuesday – according to Stephanie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>He's been de-horned.</b> Seamus is <b>black – carries red and dun - Chondro and PHA Negative - milk genotype is A1/A2.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>So – we struck out with the A2/A2 and any hope of Chondro.</b> (<i>Cora’s Sire is Chondro.</i>) Can’t win everything that flows with the latest fads. But then – I’ve never been one to roll with fads! ;) <i> Besides</i> – this young man makes up the difference in soooo many other ways!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b><i>Ohhhh – I just LOVE this boy!</i></b> He’s so adorable! And such a lover!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Once we get all his test results back – Seamus will be registered with Legacy and ADCA. </b> After all the registrations are complete – we will decide on a price and he will be available to purchase after weaning in September!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>We do know one thing for sure right at the moment!</b> Once we’ve found a new home for Seamus -</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>We’re wanting to find a black – horned – PHA negative – <u>Chondro POSITIVE</u> Heifer to add to our Herd.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>She should be completely halter/lead broken – AND fully trained.</b> A2/A2 is not mandatory for us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>In the meantime - Anna is expecting her first calf around January 31, 2015.</b> April and Cora have already been bred back. April should be <i>due to calve around April 14, 2015</i>. Cora should be <i>due to calve around April 25, 2015</i>.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKuamszCto4/U9PXFkP7UGI/AAAAAAAAKEw/bHvPALh9p5g/s1600/veggies2014-7-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iKuamszCto4/U9PXFkP7UGI/AAAAAAAAKEw/bHvPALh9p5g/s1600/veggies2014-7-1.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Our garden was doing great – until I injured my ankle. </b>Dwayne keeps the harvesting up as much as he can. But it’s impossible for him to do everything. We were already looking for a pocket of safe time for harvesting another cutting of hay. And that takes priority over the veggies. If nothing else – we can hit the farmer’s markets in Knoxville. We were planning on hitting a bunch of those this year anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>We planted Lapins and Bing varieties of Cherry trees this year.</b> This past winter took out several of our plantings. I lost my potted red <b>Crepe Myrtle</b> that I adored. We thought we lost our <b>Pink Escallonia</b> – <b>Black Knight Butterfly Bush</b> – and my precious <b>Celeste Fig</b> tree. <i>But all three died back to the ground and came back! </i> I’ll be mulching a LOT more this fall season.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>All our fantastic job with the landscape under our front porch staircase was destroyed by the chickens.</b> Now that they’re gone – we can repair all that damage!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Our Thornless Blackberry bush refuses to die.</b> And of course – when I give up on the thing – it decides to give me a harvest better than ever. <i> Go figure.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9dBYd9IfZPE/U9PXlwoJKyI/AAAAAAAAKE4/RKhfdsc2Jug/s1600/jellycoming2014-6-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9dBYd9IfZPE/U9PXlwoJKyI/AAAAAAAAKE4/RKhfdsc2Jug/s1600/jellycoming2014-6-9.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Our Kay Gray grapes are turning out a harvest 5 times more than we had last year! </b> We are so excited about the grape jelly we’re gonna get this year!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>Dwayne put his foot down and demanded we plant melon seeds in the ‘<i>hole</i>’ out between all the paddocks.</b> <i>Yeaaah</i>. That won’t be happening again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>I planted my very first Lilac bush this year!</b> It’s very happy with it’s spot in the Veggie garden.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19px; line-height: 19.97333335876465px;"><b>The next big project – more shelter construction – and getting the new pasture area fenced after the next cutting of hay.</b></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-86596150194960315462013-09-08T21:50:00.000-04:002013-09-08T21:50:01.058-04:00Online Pedigree Picture Day<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1V5cRlTJAQ/Ui0ktfRKhaI/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/kcL3TE12ZaM/s1600/9-8-2013Artist1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q1V5cRlTJAQ/Ui0ktfRKhaI/AAAAAAAAJ0Q/kcL3TE12ZaM/s1600/9-8-2013Artist1.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It was Picture Day today.</b> I've sent the photos in. But this is Sunday. I expect it will be a couple days before the new photos are posted. But you can still get to their Pedigree by clicking on their name where I've underlined!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">New guidelines have been set up for Online Pedigree photos with the ADCA. <i>So we did
our most Amateur-Plagued Best!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>‘Cuz Amateur is all we
got!</i></b> And we’ll count it as a blessing
and take it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zczPVeSd5lU/Ui0lRP5s18I/AAAAAAAAJ0Y/cNo2yGnSc34/s1600/9-8-2013Artist2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zczPVeSd5lU/Ui0lRP5s18I/AAAAAAAAJ0Y/cNo2yGnSc34/s1600/9-8-2013Artist2.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><u><a href="http://www.dextercattle.org/pedigreedb/ponyweb.cgi?horse=027128&OwnerName=8145&SearchFor=1&Page=1&Sort=0" target="_blank">Artist</a></u> is now 19 months
old.</b> I have trouble with that. I see him now and he’s changed so much since
he was a baby. It seems like he’s been
here forever. So my own mind wants to
assume he’s an old man.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Don’t even bother.</b> Trust me.
<i>I have no idea.</i> But then –<i> the more
I think about it…</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Maybe it has something to
do with spending every day going gaga over him every time I see him.</b> I’m just so proud of Artist! He won’t even be full-grown until he turns 3
years old. And I just know he’s gonna be
so gorgeous that I can’t stand it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0TOFrpIhk4/Ui0ln95NG9I/AAAAAAAAJ0g/KEyOGR9pYOE/s1600/9-8-2013Artist3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r0TOFrpIhk4/Ui0ln95NG9I/AAAAAAAAJ0g/KEyOGR9pYOE/s1600/9-8-2013Artist3.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>He melts for me and
Dwayne.</b> He’s like… <i>the best child we’ve
ever had.</i> He knows who butters his bread! <i>And he makes sure we know he appreciates
that!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Seriously.</b> He is the most well-behaved Bull we will
probably ever have. There is such a
strong level of respect and understanding between Artist and the two of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I was downright stunned
yesterday.</b> We’ve had to settle for
having April come into the barn alley to eat.
<i>It just keeps the peace for everyone.</i>
Cora just can’t find a happy medium with her issues. Artist has no problem with what’s
working.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>In fact</i> – April wouldn’t
come to me for yesterday evening’s feeding.</b>
She was feeling intimidated by Cora standing in the pathway. Artist – <i>literally</i> – goosed April in the butt
and shoved her toward me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I fell out!</b> He headed over to his feed bunker as soon as
April made her way to me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Two things I always do out
of pure habit during feedings.</b> I give
our animals a good looking over. And I
check their halters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hCk1O73fHQ/Ui0ma9opm2I/AAAAAAAAJ0o/Vr-Gg1twuV8/s1600/9-8-2013April.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6hCk1O73fHQ/Ui0ma9opm2I/AAAAAAAAJ0o/Vr-Gg1twuV8/s1600/9-8-2013April.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Yesterday was a big day
for <u><a href="http://www.dextercattle.org/pedigreedb/ponyweb.cgi?horse=029426&OwnerName=8145&SearchFor=1&Page=1&Sort=0" target="_blank">April</a></u>.</b> She got moved into a
Medium-size Dexter Halter. We made out
like it was ‘ <i>Girl Bling</i> ‘ and April just went gaga over all the
excitement! She kept wanting to lick the
halter while I was trying to get it on and adjusted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And Artist noticed her new
pretty as soon as she walked out into the paddock.</b> He liked it!
He walked right up to her new halter and began rubbing on it – giving her
kisses. It was soooo cute!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i>Actually</i> - i</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">t was just weird.</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I don’t expect seeing things like that going
on with cows.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>For now –</i> I keep tucking
these little scenarios in my mental file cabinet.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Just in case.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I mean – there’s awesomely well-behaved.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>And then there’s just – weird.</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I
just feel like I really need to keep my eyes on Mister Artist.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>Just sayin’.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uF81SjOoFAM/Ui0m66es1cI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/s87verURei4/s1600/9-8-2013Cora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uF81SjOoFAM/Ui0m66es1cI/AAAAAAAAJ0w/s87verURei4/s1600/9-8-2013Cora.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>She's talking to Dwayne. They gossip all the time.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>For whatever reason – <u><a href="http://www.dextercattle.org/pedigreedb/ponyweb.cgi?horse=025073&OwnerName=8145&SearchFor=1&Page=1&Sort=0" target="_blank">Cora</a></u>
has no problem with any of it. </b> She just
keeps her head to the grind – wherever the tall grass grows!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Until you bring the hay
out – anyway.</b> And then she works really
hard trying to convince you that she wants to be your BFF – long enough to ‘
<i>help you</i> ‘ with that hay you’re carrying.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Once she gets her way with
the hay – she’s forgotten you ever existed.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>But we all know what
happens with those girls.</b> <i>Right?!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>That’s okay. </b> I got a cellphone – a Vet – and we can get
our hands on a Dart Gun – anytime we need to do some serious dealings with Miss
Cora.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">;p</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-1256775062603877742013-09-02T15:02:00.000-04:002013-09-02T15:02:48.391-04:00So Long, August!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGbo1UOgERE/UiTZlECIMgI/AAAAAAAAJyI/oCgJvolyCmw/s1600/9-2-2013First4Eggs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGbo1UOgERE/UiTZlECIMgI/AAAAAAAAJyI/oCgJvolyCmw/s1600/9-2-2013First4Eggs.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>The white one is a commercial large white egg.</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This was NOT expected
until November!</b> I went out to collect a
couple of Escapees this morning. Got
everyone settled back into the yard and calm.
I Opened the big door to put away a small rake. Found a hen sitting on the perch inside the
coop looking into one of the nesting boxes.
I began snooping and found the eggs!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>I hope I have enough egg
cartons.</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This past week has been a
trip to Hell.</b> By Friday night - Dwayne
ended up leaving work in the middle of the night to drive all the way home and
take me to ER in Lenoir City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>By then I could only sit
on the edge of the bed with my legs dangling enough to take pressure off my
back.</b> And I had to sit on a heating
pad. I was submitting to pain pills and
stool softeners – which thoroughly hacked me off. Both of us had missed 2 nights of sleep
before he’d gone back to work. And I
just couldn’t take it anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>They took 4 vials of blood
and pushed Saline tubes – </b>before loading me with a series of pain meds and
muscle relaxers powerful enough to take me an inch away from being completely
sedated – just to take x-rays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The diagnosis was severe inflammation
of my spine and hips. </b> They don’t know
why it happens. But they’ve started
seeing a lot of it happening. And a
person doesn’t really have to do much at all for it to come along.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve been – quickly –
volleyed back to Heaven with a Steroid pack and muscle relaxers.</b> Have I mentioned before – how much I LOVE
those Steroid packs?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cIRHhkopOPw/UiTZz284dCI/AAAAAAAAJyQ/H1JhmBc6u6s/s1600/8-31-2013steroidhelped1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cIRHhkopOPw/UiTZz284dCI/AAAAAAAAJyQ/H1JhmBc6u6s/s1600/8-31-2013steroidhelped1.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I get things like this
accomplished!</b> More Jalapeno Peppers and packages of breaded Okra.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbwf52wkqm8/UiTZ-Ijr8bI/AAAAAAAAJyY/3CwDMnLThD4/s1600/8-31-2013firstDexterBurger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nbwf52wkqm8/UiTZ-Ijr8bI/AAAAAAAAJyY/3CwDMnLThD4/s1600/8-31-2013firstDexterBurger.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This was for dinner the
other night!</b> Our very first Dexter Beef
Hamburgers! We had our first grilled
T-bone steaks a day or so before that. But
I forgot to get photos. Grrrrr…..<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZryN-OHGwBQ/UiTaKMYBeHI/AAAAAAAAJyg/Yr61Erw_YgA/s1600/8-31-2013DodgerStorm3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZryN-OHGwBQ/UiTaKMYBeHI/AAAAAAAAJyg/Yr61Erw_YgA/s1600/8-31-2013DodgerStorm3.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Stormy and Dodger have
been moved back over to the paddock where they shared with their mothers.</b> And the boys are in their glory! Both boys love all the grazing. And they’ve had fun hanging out with Bruce at
the fence. Bruce seems to enjoy having
company on both sides of his place!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2KDa1neOtA/UiTaTl51czI/AAAAAAAAJyo/rKPwRZs1Gb0/s1600/8-31-2013BruceDodgerStorm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-w2KDa1neOtA/UiTaTl51czI/AAAAAAAAJyo/rKPwRZs1Gb0/s1600/8-31-2013BruceDodgerStorm.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The only negative – they look
like black ants again.</b> <i>Ha!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UvfI1Jjg34/UiTagdOe6HI/AAAAAAAAJyw/Jz-szYLHrdU/s1600/8-31-2013Bruce1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1UvfI1Jjg34/UiTagdOe6HI/AAAAAAAAJyw/Jz-szYLHrdU/s1600/8-31-2013Bruce1.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Bruce loves the shelter
Dwayne built in that paddock for Killian.</b>
We’ve had really warm temps and he’s snapped to the cool breezes that
filter through the boards. He gets
ticked off if you make him come out for any reason – until the shade from the
Cedars falls over to his side from Artist’s paddock.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1r7bkjM-V4/UiTbKkTSSNI/AAAAAAAAJzI/ngfE79J4F38/s1600/8-27-2013haycut2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1r7bkjM-V4/UiTbKkTSSNI/AAAAAAAAJzI/ngfE79J4F38/s1600/8-27-2013haycut2.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dwayne got the Hay cut! I am so proud of him!</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd49HhPLuZ8/UiTatu2scAI/AAAAAAAAJy4/jCZn2eCsorY/s1600/8-27-2013haycut8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd49HhPLuZ8/UiTatu2scAI/AAAAAAAAJy4/jCZn2eCsorY/s1600/8-27-2013haycut8.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This is his very first time cutting hay - ever!</b> And he did such a fantastic job! We came out with 164 bales - minus a few left inside the baler.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zSATjVfKDzY/UiTa80zXXhI/AAAAAAAAJzA/Ld0fY_kHpPo/s1600/8-27-2013haycut9b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zSATjVfKDzY/UiTa80zXXhI/AAAAAAAAJzA/Ld0fY_kHpPo/s1600/8-27-2013haycut9b.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Lloyd and Rita helped load
onto Lloyd’s hay wagon before they all struggled with getting it up the
elevator and stacked in the loft.</b>
Everybody was flat-out torn up by the end of the day – too tired to even
eat. But we got a variety package of
Dexter Beef together for him to share with Rita – along with some frozen breaded
Okra that Lloyd mentioned being ready for chomping down on!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’ve changed up
rations.</b> All the ‘ Bigs ‘ are now
receiving 2lbs. of Purina Stocker Grower ( non-medicated ) twice a day. They receive hay in the evenings. And this is encouraging more grazing on the
whole!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxtVUajAh08/UiTbojBl17I/AAAAAAAAJzY/pwkfUziJrho/s1600/8-26-2013StormyDodger1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wxtVUajAh08/UiTbojBl17I/AAAAAAAAJzY/pwkfUziJrho/s1600/8-26-2013StormyDodger1.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Last meal in the little yard - before moving back to the big Paddock!</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Stormy and Dodger are now
receiving 2c. Calf Starter and 2.5c. Purina Stocker Grower ( non-medicated )
twice a day.</b> They also get hay in the
evening. And we’ve just never had to
lift a finger to encourage those 2 growing boys with grazing! I think it really makes a difference when
they’re born on site – how well they take to the grasses they have in their
pastures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8h5dYQ1iBuM/UiTbfRlkwkI/AAAAAAAAJzQ/sJYN6JCKh_s/s1600/8-26-2013AprilArtCora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8h5dYQ1iBuM/UiTbfRlkwkI/AAAAAAAAJzQ/sJYN6JCKh_s/s1600/8-26-2013AprilArtCora.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Cora and April have
started eating ( DE ) Diatomaceous Earth out of the feeder bunker like
Artist.</b> In the past – Cora had no
interest. And Miss April would take to
putting her head down in it and spinning in wild circles – making wild
noises. It was like crack for her!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hYDBooNpAHw/UiTcCVTZaKI/AAAAAAAAJzg/aginfO06c7Q/s1600/8-23-2013PineTree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hYDBooNpAHw/UiTcCVTZaKI/AAAAAAAAJzg/aginfO06c7Q/s1600/8-23-2013PineTree.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’re having a serious
problem finding these worms on our little pine tree that we planted in front of
Artist’s paddock and on our Sunflower plant by the driveway. </b> The Neem barely phases them. Not sure what to do next.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>If anybody knows what
these little turds are – any help would be greatly appreciated!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve been putting a good
deal of green beans and okra away.</b> I’ve
even managed to get several packages of Purple Hull Peas frozen. We’re getting ready to plant some spinach for
fall season – now that the hot temps have calmed down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jB_QfU3z6v4/UiTcPvu9NiI/AAAAAAAAJzo/rBa_8ogxTps/s1600/8-23-2013melons1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jB_QfU3z6v4/UiTcPvu9NiI/AAAAAAAAJzo/rBa_8ogxTps/s1600/8-23-2013melons1.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Sharing one of the Tractor Tires!</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’m not quite sure what
happened here.</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYP7xbxHg0k/UiTcf16VOWI/AAAAAAAAJzw/MmhWMVp63CA/s1600/8-23-2013melons2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYP7xbxHg0k/UiTcf16VOWI/AAAAAAAAJzw/MmhWMVp63CA/s1600/8-23-2013melons2.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It looks like 2 different
melons are coming up.</b> The striped ones
must be the Sugar Baby watermelons.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEJ3ZSKkA30/UiTcsA78kQI/AAAAAAAAJz4/qmTdtqNKfU0/s1600/8-23-2013melons3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AEJ3ZSKkA30/UiTcsA78kQI/AAAAAAAAJz4/qmTdtqNKfU0/s1600/8-23-2013melons3.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And
the other looks like an organic honeydew that I tried to plant again.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I thought I’d replanted
squash!</b> I’m telling ya’ – <i>I’ve been in
Hell!</i> This year has just been a
challenge!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QrgwtQVBIJ8/UiTc6YjtZkI/AAAAAAAAJ0A/kc_gOB-CDm8/s1600/8-26-2013DwayneCoop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QrgwtQVBIJ8/UiTc6YjtZkI/AAAAAAAAJ0A/kc_gOB-CDm8/s1600/8-26-2013DwayneCoop.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne’s been helping me
with water buckets.</b> I promise. The door <i>is not</i> locked!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-49133637931196719192013-08-22T22:56:00.000-04:002013-08-22T22:56:45.321-04:00My Life KNOWS When It's Canning and Weaning Season!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7bWYx7hct0/UhbHxx3Ug4I/AAAAAAAAJww/pCftbHMOT04/s1600/IMAG0516.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M7bWYx7hct0/UhbHxx3Ug4I/AAAAAAAAJww/pCftbHMOT04/s1600/IMAG0516.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We had an incident that
led to housing Dodger and Stormy in separate stalls inside the barn for a few
days prior to Patty and Killian being taken to Hampton’s.</b> Mr. Stormy gave us a little bit of a struggle helping him through a bout with Scours.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Jen and I had headed to
<a href="http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/TopCategories_10151_10051" target="_blank">Academy</a> in Knoxville to pick up <a href="http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_27917_-1__?N=4294961844" target="_blank">bag rolls</a> for the <a href="http://www.academy.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Product_10151_10051_372607_-1__?N=4294961844" target="_blank">FoodSaver</a>. </b><i>Naturally</i> – Hell always breaks loose when I
leave the house. Never fails. Stormy managed to get his Easy Wean out of
his nose. It was raining. And of course – he nursed on Cora – who had
not nursed in over a week.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvv5cYri36k/UhbKFKbUGcI/AAAAAAAAJw8/CgfgD_gRITc/s1600/IMAG0527.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jvv5cYri36k/UhbKFKbUGcI/AAAAAAAAJw8/CgfgD_gRITc/s1600/IMAG0527.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We won’t be using these
Easy Wean appliances in the future.</b> They come off our Dexter babies too easily. Our
little yard seems to be a really good place for the babies to be fence-weaned
from now on.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’m just glad we got home
when we did.</b> Dwayne had also forgotten
to go get feed. And Co-Op was closed. He got to drive all the way to Lenoir City
and buy feed to get us through until Monday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dishing out a completely
different feed to our cattle in an instant is something that can downright set
me to pulling feathers out of my butt.</b>
But I had enough of the other left over to mix in for the next couple of
feedings. And we handed out extra hay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It turned out to be a
positive.</b> These animals went nuts over
the <b><a href="http://www.tractorsupply.com/en/store/purinareg%3B-4-squarereg%3B-stocker-grower-supreme-cattle-feed-50-lb" target="_blank">Purina Stocker Grower</a>.</b> Cora’s
previous owner used that feed. After
watching them eat without flipping feed bowls and leaving absolutely no waste –
we decided to stick with what works. Our
cattle have begun to lay down in contentment and chew their cud a lot
more. This is what we want to see. It means they’re actually digesting their
food properly. The mountains of manure
in the paddocks are nowhere to be found.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’ve been able to reduce
Cora’s ration back to the same feed and amount as everyone else.</b> We compensated a little with morning hay
until we got her moved over with Artist and April. All in all – everyone is now grazing more
productively as we want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’ve been putting Stormy
and Dodger through a gamut of training centered around their halters and lead
ropes.</b> They’ve also been going through
conditioning for getting used to us removing their halters when they come into
the stalls at night – and putting them back on before they step outside for
breakfast in the mornings. The routine
of off and on helps with being able to stand beside them anywhere and put a
halter on them for any reason in the future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’re now able to stand
around with them.</b> They have no problems
letting us pet and love on them. Both
boys are settling in with common routines and almost walk right beside us. They take no issue to walking up to us now –
as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It’s the petty little
things you can do during feeding time that can be used for big reasons down the
road.</b> I use my ‘<i>buzz words</i>‘ as I did with the others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>They even stand still out
in the little yard and let us adjust their halters without any need for a lead
rope.</b> I always give a few minutes to
connect ‘<i>does that feel better?</i>‘ to
a problem being fixed – long enough for them to focus on the difference in how
the fix feels.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>They connect the dots in
no time at all.</b> And a strong sense of
trust blossoms enough to allow us all the time we need. They come to understand that we’re doing
something for them that will help them feel more comfortable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>There have been several various
routines we’ve begun to teach and swap.</b>
These routines allow helping them become comfortable with things like
being tied to posts with enough excess lead rope that lets them eat from a feed
bowl on the ground. No more stretching
in attempts to break free. No more need
to tie them up taut – as is done when they are being administered to for any
animal care or grooming. This was an
issue while they were in the same paddock with Patty. But it is – pretty much – something normal to
be expected. That’s why training is
important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>They were allowed to keep
their feed bowls all day for the first day.</b>
They had not finished their rations.
But we let them slide. They both
left a little bit of feed in their bowls on the second day. I gave them time until I finished feeding everyone
and tending to the chickens before pulling their bowls and passing the
leftovers to Artist and April. <i>Leftovers don’t get left inside the barn to
encourage rodents.</i> And both boys
decided to finish up all their rations before I took up their bowls that next morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The really cool thing
about all this training and conditioning is that we don’t have to spend months
going through boring repetitions.</b> One of
the many wonderful traits that Irish Dexter Cattle possess is a strong level of
memory retention. For example – Bruce
went months without a halter and not being put on a lead rope. He still throws a fit when we try putting his
halter on. Always has. Until we bring out the bucket with a treat. And when we hook that lead rope – it’s as if
he spent the day before walking all around the entire area with us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9FAfE8IYJvQ/UhbLEV3JoWI/AAAAAAAAJxI/CBDqb3c1YJI/s1600/8-22-2013ArtAprCora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9FAfE8IYJvQ/UhbLEV3JoWI/AAAAAAAAJxI/CBDqb3c1YJI/s1600/8-22-2013ArtAprCora.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Artist – April – and Cora are
now in a paddock together.</b> The girls
will remain with Artist until a week or so out from their due dates – if we’re
lucky enough to get our young man to succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDaCi89rnMk/UhbLVqi68TI/AAAAAAAAJxQ/hv6FimAuKrg/s1600/8-19-2013StormDodger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oDaCi89rnMk/UhbLVqi68TI/AAAAAAAAJxQ/hv6FimAuKrg/s1600/8-19-2013StormDodger.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dodger and Storm will
remain in the little yard for a while longer – while they go through more
continued training.</b> Soon - they’ll be
moved back to the paddock where they were born and nursed.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HgNoNRznlss/UhbLlo8OoWI/AAAAAAAAJxY/HsYbxEMPmZo/s1600/8-19-2013Bruce2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HgNoNRznlss/UhbLlo8OoWI/AAAAAAAAJxY/HsYbxEMPmZo/s1600/8-19-2013Bruce2.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Bruce is now in a paddock by himself – but center
to the other two larger paddocks.</b> He’s
able to commune with everyone at the fences.
He’ll have the best of both worlds – until he goes to Hampton’s in
November.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Already – in the short
time since Patty and Killian were taken to Hampton’s – all the others seem to
have calmed down so much.</b> <i>You can feel
the quiet and the peacefulness in the air</i>.
You look at all of them during mid-day and there might be 1 or 2
standing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Cora has already started
her assertiveness toward April at the feed bunker.</b> But we’re working on that. She gets a special treat for being a good
girl if she shares.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Our cost for a 50lb. bag
of feed has gone up almost $2.00 per bag.</b>
And we’re driving all the way to Lenoir City to buy it. <i>Yet - the feed bill has gone down</i>. There is no more waste – period. And we’re able to work scheduling for buying
feed alongside other errands requiring driving to Lenoir City.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mvEHt0zM798/UhbL7gmpmPI/AAAAAAAAJxg/seJnlBcYxpA/s1600/8-22-2013figs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mvEHt0zM798/UhbL7gmpmPI/AAAAAAAAJxg/seJnlBcYxpA/s1600/8-22-2013figs.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve been really tickled
by our little Fig tree this year!</b> This
is its second season growing here. And
that little puppy has just loaded up with gorgeous figs! I only get about a half-dozen ready each day
now. But if all goes well – it’s a sure
sign that I’ll be canning fig preserves next year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>If that little Fig tree
doesn’t double up next year – <i>it’ll triple up</i> with some wonderful fruit!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cbse9x3p1_c/UhbMD--2D_I/AAAAAAAAJxo/7tDA-jjDCm8/s1600/8-22-2013Roo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cbse9x3p1_c/UhbMD--2D_I/AAAAAAAAJxo/7tDA-jjDCm8/s1600/8-22-2013Roo2.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Our dominate Americauna
Rooster is coming up absolutely gorgeous!</b>
Took him a while. But he finally
got a handle on his ‘<i>crow</i>.‘ He had
a pubescent ‘<i>Bobbie Brady Thing</i>‘
going on there for a few weeks. We laughed
every time we heard him!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9r1LmZNRYRU/UhbMPIIbPWI/AAAAAAAAJxw/TWDH3cEJswk/s1600/8-19-2013Roo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9r1LmZNRYRU/UhbMPIIbPWI/AAAAAAAAJxw/TWDH3cEJswk/s1600/8-19-2013Roo1.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>He’s funny to watch.</b> I’ve caught him resting a couple times and it
looks so weird! He doesn’t lay all the
way down! He only bends his knees and
ends up resting on his drumsticks! Haha!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFLZe-GgtGQ/UhbMioVNbPI/AAAAAAAAJx4/wTrjp6zcFe0/s1600/8-19-2013RIr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iFLZe-GgtGQ/UhbMioVNbPI/AAAAAAAAJx4/wTrjp6zcFe0/s1600/8-19-2013RIr.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And the Girls are growing
so big and so pretty!</b> Amazes me how we
can end up with 24 chickens that are 95% more quiet than the other 5 we had
before! <i>Never again</i> will I even look at
a Buff Orpington!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We are struggling to keep
up with the grass around here.</b> And it’s
got the upper hand on us at the moment.
But we’ll get there! One way or
another – we will win that battle. I can’t
stand high grass! Words start crawling
all over me – like ‘<i>snakes</i>‘ – ‘<i>ticks</i>‘ – ‘<i>rats</i>‘ – ‘<i>chiggers</i>.‘<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Eeewwwwww!</b></span></i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The garden’s going
good.</b> I’ve been breading and freezing
Okra for bagging with the FoodSaver. I’ve
been blanching and freezing green beans.
I’m gaining on a few packages of Purple Hull Peas. We have tomatoes coming. God willing – they’ll make it to harvesting
for sauce and diced tomatoes to be canned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The Eggplant just seems to
be refusing to die.</b> We’ve had an awesome
season of Eggplant Parmesan this year! And we have more eggplant coming every
time we harvest a few. All from 1 single
plant. <i>I don’t get it!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>There is one thing</i> I think
I goofed up on.</b> I thought I planted
Spaghetti Squash in one of the tractor tires.
The little babies on these 2 puppies are way too round and dented – <i>like
a melon.</i> And if I’m not mistaken – the seeds
may have come from an envelope that I forgot to mark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I think I had one of those
‘ <i>Screw it – let’s do it for shits n
giggles</i> ‘ days.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I only know this.</b> If I’d done it deliberately – they would have
croaked. <i>With my luck</i> – we’ll end up
with some really delicious melon for Christmas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>There it is again.
The story of my life!</b><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-67912083856628224502013-08-18T00:18:00.000-04:002013-08-18T00:18:06.912-04:00Transitions That Take Us Forward<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>It’s been so crazy around
here –</b> enough that I don’t even know where to begin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Okay.</b> <i>I figured that one out</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QY4f8PGqYx4/UhBEBZkAFKI/AAAAAAAAJvY/yXquckNXMZ0/s1600/8-17-2013Cora1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QY4f8PGqYx4/UhBEBZkAFKI/AAAAAAAAJvY/yXquckNXMZ0/s1600/8-17-2013Cora1.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Dwayne is still alive.</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EzzF296J8_k/UhBEIr_ow7I/AAAAAAAAJvg/TDu2d_j6II8/s1600/8-17-2013Cora2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EzzF296J8_k/UhBEIr_ow7I/AAAAAAAAJvg/TDu2d_j6II8/s1600/8-17-2013Cora2.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>And Cora just loves that
he helps her get really lazy about grazing.</b>
I don’t get it. But she goes
<i>absolutely nuts</i> whenever he mows our area between the house and the barn. She’ll even come running from the back side
of the paddock.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ceJXhGqaZc/UhBEPGWjg2I/AAAAAAAAJvo/Y3xHrlxyPN4/s1600/8-17-2013Cora3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2ceJXhGqaZc/UhBEPGWjg2I/AAAAAAAAJvo/Y3xHrlxyPN4/s1600/8-17-2013Cora3.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>She says that the freshly
cut green grass all over her back feels nice and cool.</b> Thank God - She’s not a white Dexter. But we did have to dump her water trough and clean it before refilling!</span></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;">Patty and Killian were
taken to Hampton’s on the evening of August 12, 2013.</b><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: 14pt; text-align: center;"> They were slaughtered the next morning for
butchering.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ_HClOMUZw/UhBFUC5XfWI/AAAAAAAAJwM/iKf2QsDzIv0/s1600/6-10-2013a1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xZ_HClOMUZw/UhBFUC5XfWI/AAAAAAAAJwM/iKf2QsDzIv0/s1600/6-10-2013a1.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I do my best not to think to long about them. </b> <i>I make myself remember Killian's feet.</i> And it makes me feel better. I know he feels no pain for sure now.</span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhR6PoQZdUI/UhBFMRn1_DI/AAAAAAAAJwE/1yytUex0-wM/s1600/dodger8-1-13-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WhR6PoQZdUI/UhBFMRn1_DI/AAAAAAAAJwE/1yytUex0-wM/s1600/dodger8-1-13-7.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Patty's disposition made it easy for me to let go.</b> It was frustrating to watch how she could be in one paddock - but manage to control every paddock. Heads would hang low. Eyes would shift. She ruled a whole herd under duress. And she had no qualms about hurting any of them - grown or only a week old - whenever she did not get her way.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our goal above all else is to have a happy and content herd that feels at peace.</span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUqNqpUiktE/UhBGteesa_I/AAAAAAAAJwU/O51IMQRpTio/s1600/7-31-2013BruceDodger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QUqNqpUiktE/UhBGteesa_I/AAAAAAAAJwU/O51IMQRpTio/s1600/7-31-2013BruceDodger.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Bruce walked with me over
to the paddock Killian had –</b> with absolutely no trouble at all. Of course!
He’s my ‘<i> Boocey Booce!</i> “ He
loves life now! He can eat his ration
and hay without any crap out of Artist!
He has his very own bedroom! And
a toy that hangs. He thinks the bullet
is a toy. And I’m just gonna let him go
on believing he’s an incredibly <i>Out-Of-The-Dexter-Ordinary</i> intelligent boy!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f7umIEh4d1w/UhBHGafVyxI/AAAAAAAAJwc/3AzTj7mqhP4/s1600/7-15-2013o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f7umIEh4d1w/UhBHGafVyxI/AAAAAAAAJwc/3AzTj7mqhP4/s1600/7-15-2013o.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Cora has remained in the
same paddock that she shared with Patty and the babies.</b> She’ll be moved over into the paddock with
Artist and April tomorrow morning. We’re
not certain Artist was successful with his virgin voyage into Manhood with
April – <i>the female virgin</i>. So – we’re
hoping the <i>experienced older woman</i> will be able to help this <i>spunky fresh lad</i>
with some – <i>tutoring</i> – before April hits her next cycle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>We’ve been able to reduce
Cora’s ration down to the same as everyone else.</b> We’re compensating a little with morning hay - <i>besides her evening hay</i> - until we get her moved over with Artist and April. But this is also encouraging her to graze
more productively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>As for the latest on my
left hand –</b> I can hold a bucket with 3lbs. of feed for a short period of
time. There is still a lot of
soreness. Pulling on the stall doors or
the handle for the refrigerator takes concentration and being very slow and gradual
on the pull.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I tried the Vitamin E massaging on the palm and
scar area.</b> It’s supposed to help with
the flexibility and keeping the scar from turning dark permanently. But I bought a big jar of Coconut Oil at
Cosco. I’ve been using that and my scar
began healing much faster. My hands keep
the soft feeling longer. And a little
bit of the coconut oil goes a long way!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I see the Surgeon on September 9th for conference and scheduling of surgery on my right hand.</b> Somehow - I have a feeling things might be a bit more of a struggle afterward. My left hand won't be up to par for a while.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>I had the advantage of full use of my right hand after the surgery on my left hand.</b> I won't have that same advantage. <i>And it only makes me worry about my husband even more.</i></span></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-48724520015938992052013-08-04T12:02:00.000-04:002013-08-04T12:02:58.053-04:00No More Moo Juice!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I4Mglt4h69s/Uf50ofVt6KI/AAAAAAAAJuU/_ulaIP0NiqU/s1600/weaning2013storm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I4Mglt4h69s/Uf50ofVt6KI/AAAAAAAAJuU/_ulaIP0NiqU/s1600/weaning2013storm.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #660000; font-size: x-large;"><i>“ Hey, look at me! “</i></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Oh, yes.</b> Stormy and Dodger had their Easy Wean ‘ <b>Bling</b>
‘ installed this morning! They’re now 3
months old. And we have several events
coming up within the next few weeks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Patty and Killian go to
butcher in 9 days.</b> We wanted to get
Dodger weaned while being able to continue spending some time with Patty before
she leaves for good.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>There are a lot of things
my husband is just insisting on learning the hard way.</b> And choosing on his own – to release April
into the paddock with Artist a couple weeks before she goes into another cycle around August
15<sup>th</sup>…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>HUGE lesson.</b> He learned about secrets building inside a
single steer that’s always been nothing less than pure lovable mush. Dwayne lured Bruce into the little yard
before thinking about getting April out first.
All those hidden secrets of resentment came raging out of Bruce – <i>toward
April</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It was a fight.</b> <i>It got downright ugly</i>. We were scared to death. I saw the same in her eyes. He was trying to rip up fences with her. Thank God - <i>even Artist helped</i>. April gave us no crap about squeezing through
the gate when Artist yelled for her and she saw me open the gate enough to keep
Bruce from coming through.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Never again –</b> will there
be another lone steer kept at our place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Technically –</b> it was
supposed to be safe enough for Bruce to remain in the paddock with Artist. They grew up together from the
beginning. <i>However –</i> Bruce became a
forced body of submission to Artist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Bruce found himself no
longer being allowed to be brushed –</b> by Artist.
He was no longer allowed to have treats.
Artist demanded having them all.
Come time for the girls going into season – Artist wasn’t even wanting
Bruce to be touched.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Bruce was watching
everyone else get all the love and attention through fences.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25icYPrhfvQ/Uf53ZMX7n5I/AAAAAAAAJuk/Au64VR-UCAM/s1600/bruce08-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-25icYPrhfvQ/Uf53ZMX7n5I/AAAAAAAAJuk/Au64VR-UCAM/s1600/bruce08-2013.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We got lucky. </b> Things have calmed down. Dwayne got hot wire extended all around the
little yard. And Bruce is loving time
spent in the little yard. He’s eating up
all the attention! <i>And he knows –</i> Mom’s
gonna go get him a flake of hay if she sees him standing up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Come August 13<sup>th</sup>
–</b> Bruce goes over to Killian’s pasture for better grazing. He’ll be going to butcher in November. And I’ll be having to go out there to spend a
lot of time with him. Fortunately – he’ll
be safe enough away from Artist hassling him.
And he’ll be able to commune at the fences with everyone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Cora will remain with
Stormy and Dodger to help them adjust after Patty departs.</b> She’ll be going over to Artist when she goes
into her next cycle – around the end of August.
And in the mix of all this – after witnessing the little debacle with
Bruce – we’ve had to make a major decision about Dodger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’ve had so many negative
situations come up at our place this year.</b>
There’s only enough time in a day.
There’s only 2 people. One is in
the middle of 2 surgeries. The other is
now carrying both loads. It’s just
impossible to keep up with everything.
And so you have to pick your battles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TB4NeMr5d7s/Uf53sjHpUPI/AAAAAAAAJus/vvG82B-NPG8/s1600/dodger8-1-13-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TB4NeMr5d7s/Uf53sjHpUPI/AAAAAAAAJus/vvG82B-NPG8/s1600/dodger8-1-13-7.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We decided to go ahead and
band Dodger this evening.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We were not able to disbud
these boys in the first week after they were born.</b> Dwayne had to learn that waiting until they’re
3 months old – does not work here. The
horns were already too big for the dehorner.
The fly problem<i> everyone </i>is having around here this year – just way too
risky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>To have Stormy banded and try leaving Dodger intact is too risky for us.</b> It would put us right back
into the same heavy pinch we’ve just resolved ourselves out of with Bruce and
Killian. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And it really breaks my heart. Because I know that Dodger would build into a gorgeous Bull with the right attention.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KzisfFC5T_M/Uf530TlI-CI/AAAAAAAAJu0/cEMRiTyCEfQ/s1600/dodger8-1-13-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KzisfFC5T_M/Uf530TlI-CI/AAAAAAAAJu0/cEMRiTyCEfQ/s1600/dodger8-1-13-1.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>I get kisses from this little fart - as soon as I connect his lead rope!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I no longer go into the paddock
with Killian unless Dwayne is with me.</b> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Bulls left in areas alone
with no other cattle become aggressive.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And we’ve learned that steers left in paddocks with Bulls coming of age
can become just as angry and resentful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Better for us to band both
boys and give them equal leverage in a paddock together.</b> We gain some heavy harmony – which is
<i>desperately</i> needed around here!</span></div>
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<b style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="font-size: 14pt;">I’m not even seriously
looking for another Heifer for Artist this year.</b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I need a break!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">He’ll just have to be happy with 2 girls this
first go-round!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.09090805053711px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usam9sPjv4E/Uf55I-z7tJI/AAAAAAAAJvE/UlVGZ6Xny94/s1600/DodgeStormwean2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usam9sPjv4E/Uf55I-z7tJI/AAAAAAAAJvE/UlVGZ6Xny94/s1600/DodgeStormwean2013.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.09090805053711px;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.09090805053711px;"><i><b>They look like they're scheming to con me into taking 'em off!</b></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>I think our entire life around our place - </b>the whole family - 2 legged and 4 legged - will be much more comfortable if these two go ahead and grow up together.</span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-19909323285139396102013-08-02T08:02:00.000-04:002013-08-02T08:02:22.740-04:00Each Experience is Its Own<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8o_kfMhgXY/UfucWodGRGI/AAAAAAAAJuE/CS4IkTi-Gg4/s1600/7-31-2013ArtistApril.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h8o_kfMhgXY/UfucWodGRGI/AAAAAAAAJuE/CS4IkTi-Gg4/s1600/7-31-2013ArtistApril.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b><i>WE DID IT !!</i></b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>April was
let into the paddock with Artist on July 28<sup>th</sup>!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Mind you –
</b>April turns 16 months old on August 1<sup>st</sup>. Artist is now 18 months old.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Both are
Virgins.</b> <i>Ha!</i> I’m just excited and wait with a thrill in my
heart to see what new little bundle will arrive next year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>I am downright amazed by how sweet and polite Artist is with April.</b> He's a perfect gentleman. Not showing the least amount of aggressiveness to get what he wants. Perfectly happy to allow her to call the shots. Very loving toward her!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Ya' hardly even know he's around anymore!</b> He's so calm!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Prior to
having my surgery - </b>I experienced an entirely different outlook from others
about post-op expectations compared to all that has transpired -<i> in my case</i> anyway.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>With only
having Dwayne and I to run this place –</b> it had me pretty scared.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>I know what
I take care of around here.</b> And I knew
Dwayne had <i>no idea.</i> At the same time – I
was worried about my husband trying to take care of – everything. <i>Not just all my load.</i> He has <i>his own load</i> around here – relative to
the tractor. And power tools.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>I’m so glad
I feel as good as I feel today.</b> As usual
– getting off the pain pills was easy for me.
I hate those things. <i>Can I just
be honest here?</i> I will never understand <i>anybody</i>
wanting to become addicted to <i>anything</i> having the power to <i>flat-dab plug your
ass up forever!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>The looks on
faces when being told to make sure I don’t use my hand – </b>had me thinking it
would be a horrible temptation. But when
the future depends on my hands – I’m not gonna screw with a Doctor’s orders.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>Are there
really people out there that blow it off and do so anyway?</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Anyway –</b> the
surgeon was very pleased with the results.
He decided to inform me that <i>he was most worried</i> about my thumb. He was afraid I would be losing use of it –
because I was well on the way with ‘ <i>Level 4</i> ‘ of the 4 levels he uses for
measuring severity of Carpal Tunnel cases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>Never thought I'd ever see a day when I'd feel this way, but...</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><i>I’m happy to
be able to brush my teeth – brush my hair and eat with my left hand again!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-76552186684506888562013-07-30T17:13:00.000-04:002013-07-30T17:13:49.418-04:00Exercising my Hand - That's What This Is<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I gained some freedom
yesterday!</b> We headed over to the
Orthopedic Surgeon’s office for post-op exam and further instructions. <i>I got my stitches out!</i> Now I’m trapped with 3 Butterfly tape
stitches until this weekend. And then –
I’m supposed to become very intimate with my hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Get yer mind outta the
gutter!</b> I’m supposed to massage the
wound with vitamin E oil.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This time –</b> I cornered him
into clarification between a couple instructions. I’m not allowed to carry or hold anything
with weight – whatsoever – until after August 6<sup>th</sup>. And then I begin with light weights and work
my way up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I guess that leaves out hauling
50lb. sacks of feed around for a while more.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>But I have not been an
angel.</b> And I really don’t care what
anyone thinks about it. All the naggers
are usually the ones that haven’t gone through the surgery. <i>Go figure.</i> " <i>Shut up. I can order Voo Doo Dolls, online.</i> "<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I got so fed up with
everything being done to my body and put into my body giving me a list of more
problems – </b>enough that I made a pretty serious decision. I just quit eating and taking any kind of
pill. I drank some coffee – on occasion. Instead – I just drank water.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Somehow – </b>a $15 plastic
jar full of Chocolate-Covered Almonds I’d just bought at Costco dwindled down
to about 1 cup left in the whole container.
<i>Was not me.</i> I lost 6 pounds! I made my husband stand with me while I got
on the scale.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I still have a far way to
go. </b> But Jen helped with getting 6 pints
of Jalapeno Peppers canned.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dx7KS7g0Z38/UfgloIgNVNI/AAAAAAAAJsE/ghZ3kNxQmGE/s1600/7-30-2013grapejelly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dx7KS7g0Z38/UfgloIgNVNI/AAAAAAAAJsE/ghZ3kNxQmGE/s1600/7-30-2013grapejelly.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And last night –</b> Dwayne and
I finished putting up 4 jars of homemade jelly from our ‘ <b><a href="http://www.naturehills.com/grape-kay-gray" target="_blank">Kay Gray</a> </b>‘
grapes! Our first batch – <i>ever</i> – so far! We made the recipe that does not call for
pectin ( <i>less sugar!</i> ). Trust me. A little bit <i>goes a long way</i> on a piece of
toast. And the flavor is absolutely
amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M8JWJy3-I-M/UfgluRHLfTI/AAAAAAAAJsM/BNld1JP4hq0/s1600/7-30-2013squash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M8JWJy3-I-M/UfgluRHLfTI/AAAAAAAAJsM/BNld1JP4hq0/s1600/7-30-2013squash.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">We got this shot of the
spaghetti and yellow hook-neck squash popping for us in the tire – before we
had to yank it out. Those damn squash
borers. <i>Maybe next year.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-caC4qO8jtHo/Ufgl3uWuHlI/AAAAAAAAJsU/PdkEFMAZsrY/s1600/7-30-2013broccolli.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-caC4qO8jtHo/Ufgl3uWuHlI/AAAAAAAAJsU/PdkEFMAZsrY/s1600/7-30-2013broccolli.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This is what I thought was
a different variety of Kale.</b> Yeah. The ranch dressing goes with it really
well! Ha! <i>What can I say?</i> The leaves never killed me! Worked in my salads for a while – until I
realized it was Broccoli.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9h0VwNoCkqw/UfgmAG3JrkI/AAAAAAAAJsc/gzOjBVQUU-E/s1600/7-30-2013eggplant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9h0VwNoCkqw/UfgmAG3JrkI/AAAAAAAAJsc/gzOjBVQUU-E/s1600/7-30-2013eggplant.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>They say you get an
average of 5-6 Eggplant from this plant.</b>
Well. That was about 4 Eggplant
back – and <i>even more</i> are on the way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4iBR3w75o4Y/UfgmH2fCqLI/AAAAAAAAJsk/GnmLQNM06LA/s1600/7-30-2013okra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4iBR3w75o4Y/UfgmH2fCqLI/AAAAAAAAJsk/GnmLQNM06LA/s1600/7-30-2013okra.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Our ‘<a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8664-carmine-splendor-f1.aspx" target="_blank">Carmine Splendor F1</a>’
Okra from Johnny’s Seeds is looking gorgeous!</b>
And <i>just loaded</i> with oncoming Okra!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z0iuIz20S9o/UfgmQ2OJLMI/AAAAAAAAJss/LVGPQ3eCYWk/s1600/7-30-2013okrabeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-z0iuIz20S9o/UfgmQ2OJLMI/AAAAAAAAJss/LVGPQ3eCYWk/s1600/7-30-2013okrabeans.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The Purple Hull Peas get
along with the Okra really well!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kEvV0FuwUgU/Ufgmam_uI0I/AAAAAAAAJs0/GeTRGjUvACs/s1600/7-30-2013prplpea1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kEvV0FuwUgU/Ufgmam_uI0I/AAAAAAAAJs0/GeTRGjUvACs/s1600/7-30-2013prplpea1.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ErcitbGJHbA/Ufgmjsq1s8I/AAAAAAAAJs8/B_SxGG4tKJg/s1600/7-30-2013prplpea2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ErcitbGJHbA/Ufgmjsq1s8I/AAAAAAAAJs8/B_SxGG4tKJg/s1600/7-30-2013prplpea2.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I love the
flowers from the Purple Hull Peas!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Sz7BpJ9zt4/Ufgmpg0PBPI/AAAAAAAAJtE/MGrhTqcMYOc/s1600/7-30-2013prplpea3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2Sz7BpJ9zt4/Ufgmpg0PBPI/AAAAAAAAJtE/MGrhTqcMYOc/s1600/7-30-2013prplpea3.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And the pods <i>are huge</i>!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nmZP1kd5HF4/UfgmzMndA_I/AAAAAAAAJtM/8rKY20BvY-M/s1600/7-30-2013gbeans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nmZP1kd5HF4/UfgmzMndA_I/AAAAAAAAJtM/8rKY20BvY-M/s1600/7-30-2013gbeans.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The green beans are
blooming now.</b> <i>Won’t be long!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTHV9op3xeQ/Ufgm5TIdzHI/AAAAAAAAJtU/UefF4zwQjUY/s1600/7-30-2013peppers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dTHV9op3xeQ/Ufgm5TIdzHI/AAAAAAAAJtU/UefF4zwQjUY/s1600/7-30-2013peppers.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The Peppers are loaded and
doing really wonderful!</b> The Lettuce is
looking gorgeous. But I’m getting ready
to replant that. <i>Getting too tall for
the peppers.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm81tYGTJM0/UfgnHiMGe2I/AAAAAAAAJtc/SCvGFqCK89k/s1600/7-30-2013tomatoes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Vm81tYGTJM0/UfgnHiMGe2I/AAAAAAAAJtc/SCvGFqCK89k/s1600/7-30-2013tomatoes.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The tomatoes are doing
really good.</b> And I’ve started letting
them go to fruit. The carrots around
them are throwing out the tops like it’s nobody’s business. And the Basil is just downright happy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Okay – one more thing and
then I gotta go.</b> My hand’s throwing
dirty looks – threatening to slap me. <i>Totally
showing the hand that I can use a hammer with my right hand.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Like I’d really <i>do
that!</i></b> But the hand does not know.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>Anyway…</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>What do you do when
somebody commits to cutting your hay –</b> and then never bothers showing up or calling?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.09090805053711px;"><b>You go buy your own damn equipment.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.09090805053711px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 19.09090805053711px;"><b>And you <i>never</i> forget what happened.</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_EdjX-W9fA/UfgnQoJ7D8I/AAAAAAAAJtk/70djAGaRPmU/s1600/7-30-2013haybaling1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-l_EdjX-W9fA/UfgnQoJ7D8I/AAAAAAAAJtk/70djAGaRPmU/s1600/7-30-2013haybaling1.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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Blue Hay baler in the back.</div>
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Dwayne had just picked up the sickle-mower and hoisted it off the pickup bed so he could go buy the rake.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKszZGZADd4/UfgoHaL6byI/AAAAAAAAJtw/Fx6nCgWLEa8/s1600/7-30-2013haybaling2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GKszZGZADd4/UfgoHaL6byI/AAAAAAAAJtw/Fx6nCgWLEa8/s1600/7-30-2013haybaling2.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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The Rake.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Okay.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Off to rest.</span></b></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-34787575883354352422013-07-15T12:36:00.001-04:002013-07-15T12:36:09.747-04:00Surgery Tomorrow - Next 4 Months Crazy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmCW_DZziwo/UeQZYpxw3YI/AAAAAAAAJnk/J2j5paEsZAg/s1600/6-21-2013g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WmCW_DZziwo/UeQZYpxw3YI/AAAAAAAAJnk/J2j5paEsZAg/s1600/6-21-2013g.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I decided to drop a few
things on the list and get a posting in before I go in for Carpal Tunnel
surgery tomorrow morning.</b> <i>They’ll be
doing my left hand first.</i> The right hand
will come a few weeks later – once the left hand has healed enough for me to be
able to use it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve put up with the pain
for so long that I’m not even worried about the surgery.</b> More than anything – <i>I’m worried about my
husband. </i> To begin with – he’s having to
use all his vacation time to be at home taking care of me and our little
micro-farm.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve been trying to get as
many things taken care of and out of the way since my last posting.</b> There’s been quite a bit going on. And this deal with the Carpal Tunnel has just
wedged itself smack in the middle of some crucial events going on here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wll2FVGgdz8/UeQaWkq7SKI/AAAAAAAAJn0/avOS55AtaYA/s1600/7-15-2013f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Wll2FVGgdz8/UeQaWkq7SKI/AAAAAAAAJn0/avOS55AtaYA/s1600/7-15-2013f.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The 2 bull calves have
some major turning points coming this next week.</b> Thank God – Dwayne has a couple of friends
that will be able to come help. Dodger
and Stormy are being tagged and de-horned. Both will be given their intranasal vaccines. And Stormy will be banded.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ll be in the babies’
sight for dispersing the intranasal vaccines. </b> <i>But I’m disappearing for all the other
work.</i> I’ll be honest. I’m not happy about these tasks being taken
care of so far from the date of their birth.
But I am not the only human living here.
I haven’t been able to get in there and do it myself – no thanks to the
Carpal Tunnel. My choices were outvoted
somehow. So – Dwayne gets to deal with all that stuff without me around. He gets to work 3 times harder to regain
trust with those 2 boys.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And if the
flies bring problems after the de-horning -</b> <i>he'</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>ll just have to put up
with another Vet bill.</i></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">End of THAT
conversation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><b>Speaking of Vet bills…</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkSAJIskkBs/UeQafOoJXlI/AAAAAAAAJn8/6GQjH2NXVDY/s1600/7-15-2013q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkSAJIskkBs/UeQafOoJXlI/AAAAAAAAJn8/6GQjH2NXVDY/s1600/7-15-2013q.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We had to have Dr. Kate
come out to help us with Miss Cora.</b> My
eyes fell upon a nasty surprise at the feeder bunker a couple weeks ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TToyY7jLOIo/UeQapWLBJgI/AAAAAAAAJoE/Cr6Yhis6KCU/s1600/cora_right_fronta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TToyY7jLOIo/UeQapWLBJgI/AAAAAAAAJoE/Cr6Yhis6KCU/s1600/cora_right_fronta.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Long story short – </b>it was
an old nail in one of the boards from the barn – all from time before we bought
this place. Cora had shoved on the
Cattle Rub enough to yank it off the barn wall – and the piece of board went
with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzEP9QzanTE/UeQa5Y6nG2I/AAAAAAAAJoM/OzQbDNH5Z3Q/s1600/cora_right_frontb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yzEP9QzanTE/UeQa5Y6nG2I/AAAAAAAAJoM/OzQbDNH5Z3Q/s1600/cora_right_frontb.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Apparently – </b>her foot got
tangled in the mess and she took a nail to her leg above the hoof. Dwayne had cleared all the debris from the
outside stall. But I found the
projectile that evening – at the feeder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It’s always been a habit
for me to check my animals out while they’re feeding.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I conned her into the barn
with no sweat –</b> before Kate arrived. But
it took 2 darts before she went down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atxa-ciirDE/UeQbHp_xtgI/AAAAAAAAJoU/1HYETgSOjas/s1600/7-15-2013p.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-atxa-ciirDE/UeQbHp_xtgI/AAAAAAAAJoU/1HYETgSOjas/s1600/7-15-2013p.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We got lucky.</b> The nail went in and out – <i>in 2 different
places</i> – completely missing anything significant. Would have been able to drain. Even better that I found it before that
became any issue. All that was needed
was a thorough cleansing and a Tetanus vaccine.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Well - Dwayne ended up searching the bedding with a magnet -</b> until he found the nail. <i>It popped out when she stood up after her first drunken fall.</i> LOL</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Took advantage of Cora
while we had her down.</b> Finally – Kate
was able to hit her with her annuals and replace her tag.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sf7b5tM7K7g/UeQbXJI9qsI/AAAAAAAAJoc/y1fieG8u5Hs/s1600/7-15-2013o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sf7b5tM7K7g/UeQbXJI9qsI/AAAAAAAAJoc/y1fieG8u5Hs/s1600/7-15-2013o.jpg" height="238" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>She was pretty drunk for a
while –</b> even after she could maintain standing on all four legs! We took advantage of that opportunity as
well! Dwayne and I spent time loving on
her – just petting her pretty face and – finally – <i>getting to touch her</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>She’s just like me.</b> She doesn’t remember a thing. We’re back to ‘ <i>don’t touch me,</i> ‘ again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUVPq5VTn3E/UeQbg5bfkCI/AAAAAAAAJok/ku4dPIVpmOA/s1600/7-15-2013m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YUVPq5VTn3E/UeQbg5bfkCI/AAAAAAAAJok/ku4dPIVpmOA/s1600/7-15-2013m.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>At this point in time –</b>
the garden is coming along. We had to
replant tomatoes. I had to re-seed
squash and melons. Oddly enough – the squash
that are coming along are from seeds I saved out of Spaghetti squash that I
purchased at the grocery store last year.
All others failed – including all the melons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o0-RQLsSFQA/UeQbp1C-NpI/AAAAAAAAJos/eO7WkM_essU/s1600/6-30-2013f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o0-RQLsSFQA/UeQbp1C-NpI/AAAAAAAAJos/eO7WkM_essU/s1600/6-30-2013f.jpg" height="400" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’ve already harvested 4
eggplant and a mess of Cilantro and Jalapeno peppers!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wMfrmaCvgik/UeQbu_A0IVI/AAAAAAAAJo0/MzabhEiG1Hk/s1600/7-15-2013n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wMfrmaCvgik/UeQbu_A0IVI/AAAAAAAAJo0/MzabhEiG1Hk/s1600/7-15-2013n.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Purple hull peas – Okra - and
Green Beans are coming along just wonderfully! </b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We’ll be amending the
tires around beginning of August and seeding the one where the melons failed –
with Kale. We’ll be planting more
cilantro and spinach seeds. If I find
room – more carrots.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NtAy-J9BYgY/UeQb6IpVe4I/AAAAAAAAJo8/cbHOYM_HYVQ/s1600/7-15-2013g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NtAy-J9BYgY/UeQb6IpVe4I/AAAAAAAAJo8/cbHOYM_HYVQ/s1600/7-15-2013g.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The 18" rubber stepping stones
I ordered from Home Depot arrived! </b> I
picked them up from the store in Lenoir City last week. Hoping I’ll feel up to getting them set in
sometime this next weekend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I am flat-dab loving
my little $9.99 yellow rose bush that I
bought at the Flower Shop inside Food City!</b> <i>So perrrrty!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And the Butterfly Flower
bush that we bought at Garden of Eden is putting out a new wave of
flowers.</b> That tells me it has
established its roots nice and comfy in its new home and feels quite content!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Our Gang of 24 is doing
just fabulous!</b> Everybody is growing and
staying perfectly healthy – minus one of our Roos that bruised his hip –<i> and his
ego </i>- by jumping from the coop rafters.
Both the boys have began crowing.
Not quite perfected. But enough
to stir the sense of humor out of us <i>and our neighbors!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Yet – </b>we are all amazed by
<i>how quiet 2 dozen birds have been</i> – compared to the 4 that we sent to Heaven
before bringing these chicks home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The date is set for August
13<sup>th</sup> –</b> when Dwayne will be taking Patty and Killian to butcher. All in all – we have Decided that behaviors
in Patty are something that do not fit in the plan and hopes we have for our
herd here. Most of all – we’re not happy
with the obvious fear of humans she manages to instill in the cattle around her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And she has a<i> very bad habit</i> of hurting the others if you threaten to not let her have her way with anything.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Through all the moving
about and swapping out roommates during various stages of ongoings around here –</b>
I’ve seen enough to know how much of a difference in gentleness is exhibited by
others when Patty is nowhere around.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve also experienced a
second go-round of a difference in time and techniques I’m having to try and
find during training with her calves.</b>
Once I get them away from her and give of myself to them – they become
absolutely lovable! My concern is her bad behavior showing up in her offspring and other cattle after watching her behavior.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Something I am seeing in
both of Cora’s calves – </b>Killian and Stormy – is possible aggression. Stormy is already behaving very headstrong as
he becomes older. It is a trait far from
the gentleness we are looking for in any bull.
Therefore – Stormy will be banded and tagged for the freezer in the
future.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Killian’s bad feet are the
main reason for his trip to the freezer.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We jeri-rigged half the
barn alley for the bull calves as a creep feeder and a place to just get away
and rest during the heat of the day.</b>
Dwayne and I yanked out the divider a couple days ago – to give more
room for training the boys to walk on their lead ropes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Miss April has chosen to
start laying in front of the door since we pulled the dividers out of the
alley.</b> She knows those babies are in there - and the dividers are gone! She turns 16-months-old on August
1<sup>st</sup>. Once she shows signs of
going into heat – we’ll be introducing her to Artist!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">She's getting so big now! And she just becomes more beautiful every day! She is ' <i>Mama's Girl</i> ' through and through! And she loves her Mama!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Bruce will be going to
Killian’s paddock while this takes place.</b>
I bet he’ll miss the baths given by Artist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We expect Cora to go in
with Artist around the end of August –</b> after Patty and Killian are taken to
butcher. This will - also - give the calves more
time around one of the Moms to aide in a smooth transition during weaning for
both calves. Cora is known to nurse both
the boys!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’m pulling tail hairs
from Dodger today. </b> The more time I spend
with him – the more he just melts in my arms.
<i>But more importantly –</i> all visuals of his physique give both of us
reason for seeing possibility in a really nice bull out of the line coming from
<a href="http://www.dextercattle.org/pedigreedb/ponyweb.cgi?horse=024624&OwnerName=8145&SearchFor=1&Page=1&Sort=0" target="_blank">PF Little Big Man</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>So far - </i>there is no
other progeny –</b> that we know to be registered - to carry on the line between
Patty and Little Big Man. And it is a
really good line with great potential.
If we get testing results on a few other things that please us well
enough – Dodger will be kept intact and registered. <i>If not -</i> he'll be banded as soon as we receive test results.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I would say things will be
quite different within the next 4 months.</b>
But I think we’ll be quite pleased!
I’m even counting on the replacement of tomato plants as a sign that
tomatoes won’t be ready for canning until after both my hands have healed from
surgery!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I hope all of you are
hanging in there and receiving blessings from God along the way.</b> I’ll keep everyone in my thoughts and prayers
while I’m away from the keyboard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Well – I might try
cheating once in a while – henpecking on <a href="https://twitter.com/WeldrBrat" target="_blank">Twitter</a> when I get a chance. Ha!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-1579863669212377672013-06-30T14:23:00.000-04:002013-06-30T14:29:15.077-04:00Cramming - But Stuff is Happening!<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Going through the
adjustment of working life around a graveyard shift has been a bit wild.</b> It's beginning to look like I'll be doing weekly posting for now. At best – I’ve had to keep shooting photos
and filing them with dates. Trust me. I’m not sure I’ll be able to catch up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Okay.</b> Maybe I’ll get lucky around next
January. I won't be posting - period - after I have the first surgery - until I'm given the green light after the 2nd surgery. <i>But anyway…</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Apparently – </b>we had the
experience of seeing true colors of a neighbor exposed this spring – which have
left a heavy feeling of total surprise and disappointment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Back in March –</b> Dwayne had
gone over to his place to talk with him about cutting and baling our hay
field. Dwayne was told there’d be no
problem at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Rain has been an issue
this year –</b> causing a lot of problems with flies and getting hay cut. This man is very aware of the fact we have
cows and were running out of hay. Dwayne
offered to learn and help him with getting hay cut and baled all around our
area – <i>besides helping with our own field</i> - <i>and still paying the man</i> for cutting
and baling. Dwayne would have loaded and
carried to our barn – just as he did last year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We went almost 2 weeks
without hay.</b> Come the 2<sup>nd</sup>
week of June – we had to buy hay elsewhere.
By then – the man had never even bothered to come by or call us to warn
us that he might be backed up with work. <i>And we - still - haven't heard from him.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>But we saw him baling our other neighbor's worthless hay yesterday.</b> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">That just sealed the deal in what shows us that he never had intentions of following through on the commitment he made with Dwayne.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>He could have –</b> <i>at least</i> –
given us fair heads up to find someone else before seed heads popped. It appeared as if he had intentionally set
out to do us wrong – without one bit of consideration for the fact we have cows
that we needed to feed with that hay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne took the tractor
out to the field – </b>and simply mowed it all down. We won’t need any of them to cut our hay in
the future. We’ve decided to go in
another direction with our hay field.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>From here on out –</b> we don’t
believe what we hear out of any mouths around here. <i>We’ll only trust what we – see.</i> Kindness given will return 10-fold from our hearts
and hands. <i>Distance will come from much
more than an acre of our land – when ugliness is shed upon our doorstep.</i> God can have them with their every breath –
through our faith in Him - without finding our footprints anywhere on their
path.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We don’t allow ugliness
from our own family – much less neighbors.</b>
We have more than enough challenges in front of our faces on a daily
basis – handling all this by ourselves.
We don’t deserve anyone trying to come bestow more grief on our lives – trying
to run us off – just because they consider us to be outsiders - rather than
newcomers very capable of contributing to helping others - which we are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The day may come when they
need help paying their utility bill –</b> with the funds we donate every month when
we pay our own bill. Or - They might
need food from those <i>$5 tickets</i> I hand the cashier for adding to the total at
the check-out when I buy groceries – <i>every chance I get.</i> Those are only 2 of several ways Dwayne and I do our part to contribute to this county where we live.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Yes. </b> We prefer to tithe <i>in those ways</i> – rather than
dumping money into a plate for constructing some gigantic building that’s empty
for most of the time. Believe it or not –
yes. <i>You can</i> get angry and cuss – not go
to any church – still believe and trust in God – <i>and tithe</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve been cramming all I
can get done into every day that comes –</b> before that first surgery. Among so many other things – there’s been a
lot of work with the veggie garden and the flowerbed around the driveway and
under the front porch staircase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve wanted the area under
the staircase done ever since we moved here.</b>
Finally! We are getting somewhere!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The Azaleas were given a
heavy pruning after their blooming finished up.</b>
I ended up finding a spare plant of each of the pink and white
shrubs. Sent the pink one home with Jen and
Josh. Planted the white one between the
pink and the new red one we planted this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We added more garden
soil. </b> Got the landscaping fabric laid
out and staked down. Added a brown
mulch.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This poor thing has been
patiently abiding in this pot for 3 or 4 years now.</b> It was time for it to enjoy a new home with
freedom!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I hope it thrives under
the staircase as well as it did in the pot before we set it by the gas meter
for a bit.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Waiting on some round 18-inch stepping
stones that I’ve ordered from Home Depot to be shipped
to the Lenoir City unit.</b> We’ll be
planting more color after those arrive and get put into place.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’re keeping the little
greenhouse under the staircase landing for a bit longer.</b> A Wren has constructed her nest inside. I found a whole mess of eggs that have not
hatched yet. Momma Wren has not minded
when we’ve moved the greenhouse a few feet out of the way while we worked on
the landscaping. She just takes off for
a while – and comes back later!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Came across this Petite
Pretty while we were at <a href="http://outofedengardencenter.com/" target="_blank">Out of Eden Garden Center</a> in Maryville last week. </b> I am loving her! She’s been put into her own special pot – to shine
and show off in front of the staircase!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>There were 2 different
colors of flowers blooming when we brought her home.</b> But this is one of them. And believe it or not – those are no flaws on
the petals. The color work-up in these
petals reminds me of the stripes on Zebras – the spots on a Cheetah – or – the mix
of colors on a Brindle puppy. Almost a
speckled effect!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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( <i>White film on the leaves is insect dust that dried after a rain.</i> )</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I picked up this beautiful
little yellow Princess rose bush at the garden department inside our local <a href="http://foodcity.com/" target="_blank">FoodCity</a> grocery store! </b> This little beauty
is just beaming! Seems to be perfectly
happy with her new home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We ended up pulling all
our Tomato plants and replanting.</b> I was
so glad that I kept a few extra <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8588-amish-paste-og.aspx" target="_blank">Amish Paste Tomato</a> seedlings! We picked up 3 more <a href="http://bonnieplants.com/products/heirlooms/rutgers-tomato" target="_blank">Rutgers Tomato</a> Plants from Bonnie's Plants. And we chose to go with their <a href="http://bonnieplants.com/products/vegetables/tomato-varieties/all-tomatoes/beefmaster-tomato" target="_blank">Hybrid Beefmaster Tomato</a> this time. That Heirloom Beefsteak variety started
the whole nightmare we experienced – with the fungus. The soil was running too heavy with the
clay. Adding garden soil seems to be
helping.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>But here’s a strong
tip.</b> They wanted $4.50 for a rinky-dink
bale of Pine straw. We spent less than
$3.00 on a 2.0cu. foot bag of the mini pine nugget mulch. Took less than 2 bags. They love it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The Veggie garden has
grown enough that we can enjoy looking it over from up on the front porch!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Our Green Beans have
popped!</b> We pulled the Spinach and Kale –
added garden soil before planting the beans.
Patty and Cora pigged out on the plants we pulled. Loved ‘em!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I kept one of the <a href="http://uprisingorganics.com/vegetables/kale-collards-brassica-sp-/black-tuscan-kale-aka-lacinato-dinosaur-heirloom-/prod_11.html" target="_blank">BlackTuscan Kale</a> plants.</b> I love this
variety! I purchased those seeds from <a href="http://uprisingorganics.com/index.php" target="_blank">Uprising Seeds</a>. I’ve been enjoying it in
salads. Read in another blog that the
flowers are really pretty and edible.
But I want the flowers to provide seeds for next year. So I’m experimenting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I am loving my <a href="http://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-eggplant/blackbeauty-eggplant-container-lo/" target="_blank">BlackBeauty Eggplant</a> bush - <i>again</i> - from Bonnie's Plants!</b> This little puppy
is flat-dab loading up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I have no idea how it
happened.</b> But this delicious little gem
is growing in front of the Eggplant. I
guess its seed was light enough to float from one bed to another. It just showed up. Me being me – couldn’t resist letting it
grow! But it gave me an idea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>I’ve planted the <a href="http://parkseed.com/lettuce-summer-glory-blend/p/05185-PK-P1/" target="_blank">SummerGlory Lettuce Blend</a> from Park Seed every year since 2006.</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I can’t recommend this variety enough!</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">And this year – wanting the chance for salads
from the garden to extend even longer through summer – I decided to try
bringing Park Seed and Bonnie’s Plants together!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve got my Lettuce
growing under our <a href="http://bonnieplants.com/products/vegetables/peppers/jalapeno-hot-pepper" target="_blank">Jalapeno Bushes</a> from Bonnie’s Plants.</b> It’s working!
You can see how the rash of afternoon Thunderstorms washed a lot of the
seeds to one corner of the bed. But I’m
not worried. Plenty of different lettuce
varieties coming along!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Using those new <a href="http://viagrow.biz/product/viagrow-garden-tomato-cage-tiered/" target="_blank">Viagro Tomato Cages</a> for all the Tomatoes <i>and the</i> Peppers and Eggplant has been working out really great!</b> I like these stakes because you can adjust
the cross bars as the plants grow. They
support everything so well! And you can buy extra cross bars by themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I have <a href="http://bonnieplants.com/growing/growing-basil/" target="_blank">Sweet Basil</a> from Bonnie's Plants growing
in 2 beds.</b> These 2 are growing behind the
Jalapeno and Lettuce plants.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And just look at our
Okra!</b> I’m growing excited more each day! Can hardly wait to see the flowers! This is
the <a href="http://www.johnnyseeds.com/p-8664-carmine-splendor-f1.aspx" target="_blank">Carmine Splendor Hybrid</a>. The pods
are a really deep red color. The Flowers
are tinted pink. But <i>they are sterile.</i> Seed collecting will result in failure. Still - I wanna check out the flavor and how
well things turn out for breading and freezing for frying. So far – the plants just look so pretty! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Sharing.</b> Venting.
Unloading. Dumping.
Enduring. Surviving. Accomplishing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Oh my gosh. </b> It’s all been happening in so many ways around
our home – and for that matter - all around the world these days.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>But my most favorite word
out of that bunch is <i>Accomplishing</i> –</b> by far. How could I <i>not</i> feel that way after looking
at these photos?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’m able to look
back.</b> Look over. Look out.
And see all there is to show for
every moment when the alarm goes off and I have to take another half of a pain
pill!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I can only do so
much.</b> Whatever I don’t manage to get
done before the first surgery – will just have to wait. And I’m finished worrying. God’s watching. If He wants us to get some things taken care
of – then I guess He’ll just have to make it happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne and I are the first
to admit – </b><i>we would just suck at being Magicians!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-52764913276380237502013-06-26T21:42:00.000-04:002013-06-26T21:42:06.060-04:00Feelin' Like a Dump Truck<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZT3vfzalsk/UcuP_pG6FLI/AAAAAAAAJg8/IeEA6c-_woI/s1600/6-21-2013j.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--ZT3vfzalsk/UcuP_pG6FLI/AAAAAAAAJg8/IeEA6c-_woI/s1600/6-21-2013j.jpg" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Anybody know what kind of Toad this is?</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It’s been a while.</b> Can’t help snickering about it, though. I’m not alone. The postings on personal blogs that I keep up
with – and vice versa – look like a piece of Swiss Cheese.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I only hope some of us are
lucky enough to get some real swiss cheese going along -</b> in the middle of all
the overwhelming additions to the lists of tasks we’ve all been facing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>If it’s not the weather –</b>
it’s the economy. Or – <i>in our case</i> – add
‘ <i>bad weeds of the 2-legged kind</i> ‘ to the list and put a check mark beside ‘
<i>all the above</i>. ‘<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6rBW5rgyLI/UcuQ9k4tdLI/AAAAAAAAJhM/Qzy1tniVIQk/s1600/6-21-2013f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G6rBW5rgyLI/UcuQ9k4tdLI/AAAAAAAAJhM/Qzy1tniVIQk/s1600/6-21-2013f.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>At any rate –</b> <i>if you are
reading this post</i> – you should understand it was meant to be – for one specific
reason.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>You need to know –</b> I’m
existing with my waders on just as much as you.
And we may never have sat at a table together and swapped chit-chat
while emptying a pot of coffee. But –
<i>you’re included in my thoughts and my never-ending conversations with God.</i></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWMu-8Rp5AE/UcuRSU5HE_I/AAAAAAAAJhU/cdGcf4hmAe4/s1600/6-21-2013m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dWMu-8Rp5AE/UcuRSU5HE_I/AAAAAAAAJhU/cdGcf4hmAe4/s1600/6-21-2013m.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I may have been between points A and B with 2
buckets of grain or water while looking up at the sky and doing a bit of yelling.</b> But it’s all been for your benefit as much as
everyone else needing God to come down here and start smacking some situations
back into proper shape.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I had to go in for the
nerve conduction test on both my hands and arms yesterday.</b> First – it was the
stimulation. And then came those dad-gum
needles. And the electricity.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And I flunked.</b> Big time.
I have to have both hands operated on for Carpal Tunnel. And my Doctor wasn’t too happy about the
results. Apparently – the level of the
problem in both hands is pretty severe – which she was already suspecting. I’m waiting for the Surgeon’s office to
contact me for scheduling the first surgery.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I went through one of
these same tests in 2000.</b> The tech wasn’t
able to complete the testing. <i>I must
give her credit</i> for having enough intelligence to figure some math on one more
attempt at sticking with me with one of those needles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Three days passed by –</b> and
I was still wishing I had decked that wench.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>However – </b>I decided to
prepare for this round. Thank God. I talked with Dwayne. And I told him that there was only 1 way I’d
go through with the nightmare. Once I
got out of that lab – he was to take me to the nearest place that would tickle
my fancy enough with THE Perfect Margarita.
And I didn’t care how early in the damn morning it might be!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Kids get suckers and Ice
Cream.</b> This wench wanted a Margarita. A real one.
The biggest they could make. I
knew I was gonna earn one - <i>without a doubt</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And nobody was gonna get what they wanted until <i>that deal</i> was made!</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I think my Doctor is
beginning to see the physical mess I am.</b>
<i>She knew</i> I’d done <i>everything I could manage</i> - to avoid having that test
done on me. She met me halfway. She offered to give me a prescription for a
couple of sedatives. I would take 1
about an hour before the procedure. The
second was for ‘ <i>just in case</i> ’ anything went haywire – time - rescheduling –
<i>whatever</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I took that sedative about
a half-hour before my appointment –</b> which turned out to be smart. Ya’ never know how long you’re gonna be
sitting in the waiting room. Right?.?.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>Long story short…</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I don’t remember finishing
the test.</b> I had to ask Dwayne where we
had lunch. I don’t remember what I ate
for lunch. Neither does Dwayne. But I’m sure he had other things on his mind
at the time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>However –</b> I will. Never.
Forget. That Margarita. Big Margarita! She even brought me a little flask filled
with the leftovers!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>Imagine my surprise when I
went to download photos off my phone…</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Mo63TzuI3M/UcuSE-rSM8I/AAAAAAAAJhg/H1eC3RWMNNY/s1600/6-26-2013a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7Mo63TzuI3M/UcuSE-rSM8I/AAAAAAAAJhg/H1eC3RWMNNY/s1600/6-26-2013a.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And found this one!</b> <i>I don’t even remember taking this photo</i>! HA!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I did not leave 1 single
drop behind.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne told me it wasn’t
even lunch time.</b> But I do remember some
men at a table next to us. Sounded like
they were having a brunch meeting – talking loud. I remember looking over at ‘em a couple
times. They were already looking at me –
while trying to talk to each other.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>They’re not accustomed to
seeing grown women drinking Margaritas before noon here –</b> in East
Tennessee. <i>Part of the Bible Belt</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne must have felt
pretty safe about dragging me around in public.</b>
I asked him if I ever got out of line during any
time of the day. He said, ‘ <i>no</i>. ’</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y39WkjQQZMc/UcuSlot9gBI/AAAAAAAAJho/QUsBvIz93LE/s1600/6-26-2013d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Y39WkjQQZMc/UcuSlot9gBI/AAAAAAAAJho/QUsBvIz93LE/s1600/6-26-2013d.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We even stopped off at Home Depot -</b> in Lenoir
City – and picked up a whole bunch of stuff for the yard. We enjoyed a conversation with the Cashier
while we were checking out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And I don’t remember any
of it.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7oCPKZHZI8k/UcuSyrx_hRI/AAAAAAAAJhw/_159w1rw-No/s1600/6-11-2013h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-7oCPKZHZI8k/UcuSyrx_hRI/AAAAAAAAJhw/_159w1rw-No/s1600/6-11-2013h.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">Won't be long before they're ready for making jelly.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I have been trying to do
all I can –</b> to cram getting as much as possible done around here before I have
to have the first surgery. Because I
have no idea what in Hell is gonna happen when I can’t handle things around
here for a few months.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nFMnWD7j1Xc/UcuVcx9paNI/AAAAAAAAJis/b5h9pz3eUKw/s1600/6-21-2013b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nFMnWD7j1Xc/UcuVcx9paNI/AAAAAAAAJis/b5h9pz3eUKw/s1600/6-21-2013b.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">( Left to Right ) Dodger and Stormie</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This crap’s gonna happen
right in the middle of weaning calves –</b> getting them halter and lead
trained. Hell – they haven’t even been
dehorned or banded yet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6b80EjvBoY/UcuTgV2MpeI/AAAAAAAAJiA/O5YodAt9Jvg/s1600/6-11-2013m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k6b80EjvBoY/UcuTgV2MpeI/AAAAAAAAJiA/O5YodAt9Jvg/s1600/6-11-2013m.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The garden is gonna start
spitting out stuff needing to be canned.</b>
I’ve got 22 chickens that are gonna start laying their eggs that will –
no doubt – be fertilized by the 2 Roos we got in the mess of chicks we bought.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DE_umBfBBs8/UcuTtwZ6JfI/AAAAAAAAJiI/hCeJGDKk8r0/s1600/6-11-2013n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DE_umBfBBs8/UcuTtwZ6JfI/AAAAAAAAJiI/hCeJGDKk8r0/s1600/6-11-2013n.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Killian and Patty are
going to Butcher come the end of July.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It’s all so overwhelming
that I have finally just given up.</b>
Whatever I can’t get done beforehand –<i> just won’t get done</i>. Dwayne has to work 12-hour shifts during the
night shift now. And he’s not gonna be
able to handle all that – <i>plus</i> – <i>all my stuff</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kP3uhu0H66I/UcuUEr5I_aI/AAAAAAAAJiQ/8iDdenl7A9s/s1600/6-21-2013k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kP3uhu0H66I/UcuUEr5I_aI/AAAAAAAAJiQ/8iDdenl7A9s/s1600/6-21-2013k.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="color: #073763;">SOME things ya' just can't get rid of...</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And I’m at the point right
now where –</b> <i>I have no doubt</i> – God is responsible for pulling some memories of
my past to the forefront.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“ <i><b>I’ll get Teresa ta’ do
it.</b></i> “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“ <b><i>Teresa, could you…</i></b> “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“ <b><i>Teresa, would you…</i></b> “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">“ <b><i>Teresa, I need…. Can
you…</i></b> “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKiyBWQcH7Y/UcuUhZ2BgxI/AAAAAAAAJic/gXB8zE704g4/s1600/6-21-2013a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IKiyBWQcH7Y/UcuUhZ2BgxI/AAAAAAAAJic/gXB8zE704g4/s1600/6-21-2013a.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Thank you, God.</b> At least I know YOU’RE watching. I know that YOU know everything. And I know that this is YOUR way of helping
me feel peace in my heart when I just… let go and hand it all over to you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>You make it so easy for me
to dump each one of ‘em that were never told – ‘ <i>no</i> ‘ - into your hands.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Being incapacitated and carrying my faith in
YOU while I walk through this mess will leave me with every opportunity to sit
back and just –</b> watch YOU do YOUR job at being THE FATHER that THEY can’t
hide or get away from.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iLOEKXPW18/UcuVRwf9vOI/AAAAAAAAJik/xvOr3RxegRQ/s1600/6-21-2013i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2iLOEKXPW18/UcuVRwf9vOI/AAAAAAAAJik/xvOr3RxegRQ/s1600/6-21-2013i.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Thank You, Lord.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Amen.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-47010386391353075672013-06-14T09:21:00.001-04:002013-06-14T17:21:43.887-04:00One by One... They Leave Us. RIP Rickey Bolin<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I sometimes consider my
life as having many puzzles that have been laid out and put together on card
tables –</b> one table beside another. Almost
feels like God goes back and forth – finding pieces here and there - and putting them into proper place. And my life comes together – sometimes in
ways that are so unexpected – although <i>accepted</i> because <i>only God knows.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Ever since my Dad ( <i>Marty</i>
) passed away in 1980 –</b> it’s felt as if God chose to take one of my most
favorite puzzles back to Heaven. And I’ve
watched as pieces were being added. This
week has carried a rather melancholy umbrella over me – in everything I do each
day. For another special piece was added
to that particular puzzle – on June 8, 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Skippy Bullard – Ronnie ‘R.L.’
Latimer – <i>and now</i> <a href="http://www.carnesfuneralhome.com/rickey-carleton-bolin" target="_blank">Rickey Bolin.</a></b> <i>If ever
there really were 3 Stooges…</i> oh, My God.
Does Heaven have its hands full now.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Rickey was the very first
one I called after finding out through the newspaper on Thanksgiving morning –</b>
1991 - about Skippy being run over and killed in the middle of the night. I don’t remember much about that phone call –
beyond sitting on a floor – holding the phone to my ear – falling apart. I can still feel my mouth working through all
the sobbing. But long gone is memory of
what was said.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I think the last time I
spoke to Rickey was around 1999.</b> Not
sure. So much has gone throughout my
life until today. The hike through Hell
on Earth has not been easy. Some of us
just dig deeper than others to put one foot in front of the other – with no
choice other than being stuck here to continue on. My life with Dwayne has been compensation
from God – for which I <i>never</i> go a day without feeling the <i>utmost</i> joy and gratitude.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve moved on –</b> <i>as they
always say you should</i>. I am happy. I didn’t think God could muster up what it
would take to come anywhere near all that I adored about Skip. But He did.
<i>Dwayne can even weld.</i> His first
major project was a goose-neck horse trailer that won FFA State Championship in
Texas during his high school years. Yet
- It is what it is. <i>Until the day I die</i>
there will always be that “ <i>if it had not happened…</i> “ thing that will exist.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Pipefitters and
Welders.</b> <i>Hell livin’ with ‘em. Can’t live without ‘em.</i> They are their own breed of Men. But one by one – that very special group of
Hellions in my life are meeting up with one another again – in Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The comfort and solace I find is
within the fact that they can all be together again.</b> But at the same time – <i>now they can all be
with every one of us</i> – no matter where we roam on this planet that’s losing its
mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>For today –</b> as the
celebration of Rickey’s life takes place down in Texas City – <i>I prefer to hold
this vision...</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>While everyone able to
attend the service sits together in the same room –</b> my Dad and all the other
guys are standing beside Rickey as their spirits join everyone as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>For every moment that we
think of either of them –</b> we should hold on to knowing that they’ve popped into
our mind because <i>they’re standing right there beside us</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’m not able to join all
the others for Rickey’s funeral service today. </b>
But we’re having a really wonderful cool and crisp morning that is
absolutely gorgeous! Dwayne has come
home from work and gone to bed. And I
think I will just grab me a cup of this freshly brewed coffee that I made with
our camp stove – go sit out on our back porch for a bit…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Spend time reflecting on good memories of Rickey and all those crazy times with them all -</b> while I watch our babies play!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I hope God lets my Dad
bring all those pipefitters to visit me here.</b>
I’d love for them to see how well my life has turned out! And without a doubt – they’ll all get to find
out all the truths and just how special they were in my life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Something special for all those wonderful puzzle pieces...</b></span><br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-85455890318148015032013-06-10T12:59:00.000-04:002013-06-10T12:59:01.838-04:00Some Things Just Aren't Worth Being on The Battle List<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We have been extremely
overwhelmed here at our place.</b> Kinda
funny. I overheard a young woman in the
grocery store this past Friday - complaining about her fingernail coming off. Another young woman advised her to go back to
the salon and make them put a new one on for her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The next thing I heard was
the cashier.</b> “ <i>Ma’am? Ma’am</i>. “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I guess I was just that
stunned.</b> I remember driving home wishing
I could be 21 years old again. I don’t
think I’d know how to handle life if all I had to worry about was a fingernail
coming off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This has been a month for
picking our battles.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Stormie managed to remove
his combo halter/lead rope.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Oh, well.</b> Cora’s got him for another couple
months. And then <i>I get him</i>. In the meantime - both the boys are loving their space that Hubs rigged up for 'em! Gotta feeling <i>it's the easiest and cheapest</i> Creep Feeder around!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’m procrastinating on
setting up the appointment for taking Killian to the Butcher.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I know Hubs hasn’t <i>quite
figured out how</i> he’s gonna get the little fart into the trailer.</b> That’s a fight I don’t feel like putting
up with. Hoping I can arrange to be in
Farragut that day.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I guess I'll know better next time.</b> A</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">ll the
seedlings need to be out of the portable greenhouse and planted or passed around before
the Wrens are ready to build their nests.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne had made
arrangements with a neighbor –</b> <i>back in March</i> – to cut and bale our hay field. We lost our entire field of hay. It was never cut. We were never called. No visit was paid to our home.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We chose not to go a 2<sup>nd</sup>
week without hay.</b> We <i>bought a load of
hay</i> this past Friday – in another county.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We have decided not to
bother trying to find anyone to cut our hay field anymore.</b> We’ve made other plans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Our Azaleas woke up and
gave us the <i>most beautiful</i> blanket of color.</b>
It was awesome!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I managed to get out
there and get photos on Friday morning.</b>
It was nice to see that little white one perk up and burst!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And then I went out there <i>the very next morning</i> and found this.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And this.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The entire pink salmon
Azalea went to hell –</b> <i>overnight</i>. About a
third of the white one went with it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The only thing we do know
is –</b> it rained overnight. I’ve never
seen rain do this to Azaleas. And Jen
said her rose bushes had done the same thing.
She and Josh live about 20 minutes from us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>But I guess I’ll just get
to prune them sooner and finish that area of the flowerbed.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>After all these years of
improvising with some pretty off-the-wall strategies for keeping raw eggs from
rolling off the counter when I’m cooking or baking –</b> I found a simple way that
had me laughing at myself.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqwLeJP-Zok/UbYBgIUMRuI/AAAAAAAAJeU/GIy1E1gBlgg/s1600/6-10-2013h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nqwLeJP-Zok/UbYBgIUMRuI/AAAAAAAAJeU/GIy1E1gBlgg/s1600/6-10-2013h.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Stops it right in its own
tracks!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vw45wZiMrQo/UbYBpGpPGLI/AAAAAAAAJec/g5x_oSxMXcM/s1600/6-10-2013i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vw45wZiMrQo/UbYBpGpPGLI/AAAAAAAAJec/g5x_oSxMXcM/s1600/6-10-2013i.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>If only something <i>equally
as easy</i> would help me get Patty to compromise over those babies!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>" <i>Yeah, well... you're fatter than me, Patty! And I can eat ice cream. YOU can only MAKE part of it!</i> "</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 18.399999618530273px;">~ snicker... ~</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">" <i><b>Mama always wins!</b></i> "</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-15401555539648056782013-05-31T07:36:00.000-04:002013-05-31T07:38:22.557-04:00Sometimes... Cookies Just Don't Matter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aP2MxUAPhNw/UaiFEgYuohI/AAAAAAAAJa0/fhTaUzmrCJ8/s1600/5-31-2013a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aP2MxUAPhNw/UaiFEgYuohI/AAAAAAAAJa0/fhTaUzmrCJ8/s1600/5-31-2013a.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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(<span style="color: #073763;"> <i>That Salmon-Pink Azalea finally woke up!</i> </span>)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Back in early March of
this year –</b> I reached that point of pain where I had to cave in to calling the
doctor. I’d already tried finding a
different doctor. But when I described
what was happening - nobody seemed to wanna touch the situation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Now I know why.</b> They all belong to large corporations that
won’t allow them to cut to the chase and go directly to the problem. Instead – they’re expected to jump through
all kinds of ignorant hoops – anarchy running the show based upon how much
something costs – rather than a cure. Or
– forcing patients to ride a bull that <i>they work very hard at</i> trying to milk.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>In other words – </b>Doctors
are not allowed to be real Doctors anymore.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7NEog0Z3nM/UaiGxsnBXWI/AAAAAAAAJbE/g3pssrC1KWg/s1600/5-31-2013b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M7NEog0Z3nM/UaiGxsnBXWI/AAAAAAAAJbE/g3pssrC1KWg/s1600/5-31-2013b.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(<span style="color: #073763;"> <i>I now have to use my MixMaster for Kneading Dough.</i></span> )</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The pain runs from my
shoulder joints to the tips of my fingers.</b>
The more I use my hands during each day – the more I lose the use of
them. Getting through washing a sink
full of dishes is becoming more and more difficult – depending on my eyes more
than touch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I can’t feel through my
fingertips.</b> My hands swell and it becomes more difficult to clinch a fist. I'm having to take lots of breaks while at the keyboard - which is an <i>absolute</i> pain in my ass.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Going for that damned
Nerve Conduction test on both arms has become no option.</b> A few weeks of Physical Therapy only showed
temporary relief – especially after sessions of electrical stimulation on my
neck.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne went to the doctor
with me.</b> There was a lot of discussion
about the surgery for Carpal Tunnel. <i>
They only do one hand at a time.</i>
Each surgery would require at least 6 weeks healing and recuperation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Two people running things
around here.</b> One of them with a full time
job on a schedule that is switching to graveyards – which always ends up
turning 4 days off into only 2 real days off.
And the other about to lose hands for 3 whole months – along with losing
time for even more Physical Therapy after the surgeries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Nobody else near us to
help.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRlI6TR0eS0/UaiHIHl3Y0I/AAAAAAAAJbM/-NQUBOIQtPk/s1600/5-31-2013c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qRlI6TR0eS0/UaiHIHl3Y0I/AAAAAAAAJbM/-NQUBOIQtPk/s1600/5-31-2013c.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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( <span style="color: #073763;"><i>Twice now - April has shown she <strike>is a twisted cow </strike>loves playing in the Sprinkler!</i> </span>)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I told my Doctor that if
this test proved conclusive in requiring the surgeries –</b> <i>I needed both of them done
before school begins next August.</i> I
explained that our only hope would be to contact our local 4-H Director.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="font-size: 14pt;">We
<i>might get lucky</i> if we invited them out to our place – </b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">and asked if they might
be able to hook us up with kids and their parents to line up help while the
kids are out for school break.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Most kids
around here only know of Angus and Dairy cattle.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Introduction to the Dexter Cattle could have
turned out to be quite a learning experience for the kids – as well as the
canning and freezing of all the fruits and vegetables from the garden and
trees.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>My Doctor thought it was a
great idea and agreed that it should be possible. </b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">I was sent home with
another prescription and told to wait for the lab to contact me for setting up
the appointment.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><b>Almost 2 weeks passed
before they even called me to set up the damned appointment.</b></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><i>And then…</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The soonest they could
even set me up with an appointment for the test was <i>June 24<sup>th</sup>.</i> </b> It could be Halloween before I manage to get
passed this friggin’ nightmare.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i><strike>Great Job </strike>Summit Medical Group!</i></b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And I’m supposed to
believe they’re trying to heal me.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We’re being forced into a
last <strike>option</strike> risk –</b> placing an ad to find someone with a job and their own
transportion interested in paying a low rent to live and work on a Hobby Farm
without all the outrageous mortgage and other bills. They wouldn’t even have to buy their own
groceries – unless there were other items that they would want.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne and I came up with
asking for $300.00 per month for a single working guy.</b> Or - $500.00 per month for a married couple
with no children – having their own transporation and - at least one of them
having a job. <i>We only have 1 spare bedroom.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq3y7N7PMKc/UaiH3K8hEaI/AAAAAAAAJbY/0JVy9gRj-rA/s1600/5-31-2013d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Rq3y7N7PMKc/UaiH3K8hEaI/AAAAAAAAJbY/0JVy9gRj-rA/s1600/5-31-2013d.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
( <i><span style="color: #073763;">Only because HE was the one that put the Sprinkler out for her! </span></i>)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It would be as if they’re
living on their own Hobby Farm and working an outside job –</b> same as
Dwayne. The only difference is they
would have the same help as we’re asking – minus all the financial
headaches. Well – at the same time - they
wouldn’t have the chores of cooking – cleaning – laundry and such - to handle
alone.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Everyone would chip in to
help with all the daily chores – </b>along with animal care and the seasonal chores
of canning and freezing food to put away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Granted.</b> <i>I would need extra help and be less
dependable for the 3 months I’m out of commission after the 2 surgeries.</i> But I would have use of 1 hand and arm that
could help with a few things. And I’d be
full benefit of help after the surgeries.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Given time – </b>this would
make it possible to get a lot of other things knocked off the list. It would make it possible for us to slip off
for a day of fishing – or a weekend of camping.
We’d be able to plan for the annual trips to the national meetings for
ADCA. We might be able to set up an area
for raising a hog to provide our own pork.
Goats could even enter the picture.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Who knows.</b> The opportunity to finish the basement could
even become a reality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yqi2zKdSZXw/UaiIXAn3ZyI/AAAAAAAAJbg/AvG-agjfp4s/s1600/5-31-2013e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Yqi2zKdSZXw/UaiIXAn3ZyI/AAAAAAAAJbg/AvG-agjfp4s/s1600/5-31-2013e.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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( <i><span style="color: #073763;">Ya' even give 'em cookies, but... </span></i>)</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>Anybody think this would
be a bad idea?</i></b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-66962160375276287052013-05-24T11:05:00.002-04:002013-05-24T11:05:16.157-04:00Color Popping Everywhere - Even on Feet!<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox0hqXxIHD8/UZ99MxjSpWI/AAAAAAAAJZU/oLOWkdsxDTM/s1600/IMAG0129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ox0hqXxIHD8/UZ99MxjSpWI/AAAAAAAAJZU/oLOWkdsxDTM/s1600/IMAG0129.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We are in the heated days
of Glory here. </b> It just doesn’t matter
how warm it gets – <i>you don’t mind one bit </i>– as long as that <i>wonderful </i>scent of
<b>Honeysuckle</b> is hanging around so heavily!
It’s enough to make you find <i>every reason you can think of</i> to keep your
butt outside!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kXlxJXBwgsM/UZ99VmmfFRI/AAAAAAAAJZc/HJTrIMGAIC8/s1600/5-23-2013f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kXlxJXBwgsM/UZ99VmmfFRI/AAAAAAAAJZc/HJTrIMGAIC8/s1600/5-23-2013f.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And we’re getting a triple
blessing this year.</b> The blooms are
everywhere. The <b>Wild Rose</b> and the <b>Wild
Privet</b> are blooming in sync with the <b>Honeysuckle</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>It just doesn't get any better in Spring!</i></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve been swamped with
mowing and spring cleaning in the house. </b>
We’re revamping the spare bedroom – making room for finding some help to
move in with us. Hubs is home for a
change-over. He’s switching over to
Graveyard shift for 4 months. So, we’re
trying to get more projects out of the way. ( <i>Future post about this. </i>)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pz_2rQT1jkQ/UZ99fSpYajI/AAAAAAAAJZk/E98xEPemEYc/s1600/5-23-2013h.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pz_2rQT1jkQ/UZ99fSpYajI/AAAAAAAAJZk/E98xEPemEYc/s1600/5-23-2013h.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We continued working on
the front driveway area of the yard yesterday.</b>
Got the border, landscaping fabric and mulch down before the afternoon
rampage of thunderstorms slammed us!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmJKS2JgHW0/UZ99lhlwY9I/AAAAAAAAJZs/crtn42d0q6w/s1600/5-23-2013g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jmJKS2JgHW0/UZ99lhlwY9I/AAAAAAAAJZs/crtn42d0q6w/s1600/5-23-2013g.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Hard to see in the photo
above, but this little beauty is planted at the right-side end of the bed.</b> I just love this little <b>Sweetheart Rose</b>! Works with the <b>Red Rose</b> so nicely! Starts out a bright orange color. Finishes out with this sweet blend that melds
into pink!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLE301UYboQ/UZ99tOmdTAI/AAAAAAAAJZ0/rv82Go0c16E/s1600/5-23-2013i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cLE301UYboQ/UZ99tOmdTAI/AAAAAAAAJZ0/rv82Go0c16E/s1600/5-23-2013i.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Waiting on the Salmon Pink
and White Azaleas to finish out their bloom is holding us up from finishing
with more garden soil –</b> landscape fabric and fresh mulch under the landing of
the staircase. I’ll be pruning their
undergrowth for ventilation and keeping varmints from any temptation to bed up
there during the hot days of Summer!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ll
be pruning the backside of the Salmon Pink Azalea to encourage new growth to
spread in the opposite direction –</b> toward the grass. It’s becoming a bit of a Hog with the space
and crowding out everything else under there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I just wish this White
Azalea would hurry up and wake up. </b> This
puppy seems to be in <i>no hurry</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>But these little babies
<i>are</i> in a hurry!</b> I love doing this. <i>Watch!</i>
They’ve gone from this…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>To this...</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xPF6WJzrmU/UZ9-P7LTTlI/AAAAAAAAJaU/-fIIygzNHKw/s1600/5-23-2013a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5xPF6WJzrmU/UZ9-P7LTTlI/AAAAAAAAJaU/-fIIygzNHKw/s1600/5-23-2013a.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And now <i>this</i>!</b> The one in the very front is the Dominating
<b>Americauna</b> Rooster. We seem to have 2 in
the whole bunch – both <b>Americaunas</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>They’ve been out in the
coop for several days now.</b> I had to go
in with my tiny garden rake and ramrod ‘em all out the little door to the
little yard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It was a challenge until I
put a 5 gallon bucket in front of the door inside the coop –</b> to buy me enough
time to get out to the little yard and shut the door!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>A couple times of going
back in and snagging up a few that got back inside.</b> Hanging their feed out there helped a
lot! And now they’ve all come to enjoy
being out there since then!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This is the 2<sup>nd</sup>
Roo.</b> He’s quite a bit smaller at this
time. But they both look like they’re
gonna put out some <i>really beautiful colors</i>!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve found the best way to
tell the difference between the Americaunas and the Rhode Island Reds.</b> The <b>RIRs</b> have yellow feet. The <b>Americaunas</b> have green feet. That’s what color they look to me
anyways. I mean – they don’t even look brown
or black. And they’re <i>far</i> from being white!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>They’re growing fast –
which is a good thing.</b> Won’t be long
before we’ll be able to turn ‘em out into the big yard. Considering how the clover in the little yard
disappeared in 1 day – we’re holding off on weedeating the Big yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i><b>We’ll just let them handle
that one!</b></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-84271570357566501192013-05-18T10:57:00.000-04:002013-05-18T10:57:41.857-04:00Scrambling With a Long List<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><i>Before I begin…</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Thanks to the bunch of you
that left me such wonderful wishes and comments on my last post!</b> Your kindness and encouragement were a
wonderful dose of strength I’ll need for the next few months to come. I only hope all of you were given the day to
feel special as well. And it doesn’t
matter if you have given birth to children of your own. <i>If you’re raising animals of any kind…</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>You’re a Mother!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne and I are cramming
all we can into the next couple rounds of days off.</b> Each round has been shortened by a day to
join in on some teamwork - covering for a co-worker that just lost his father. And reality has bitten me in the ass. It’s looking all too obvious. I will be going in for 2 surgeries – Carpal
Tunnel surgery on each hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We just keep putting one
foot in front of the other – without looking back.</b> But my quiet efforts with ‘ <i>picking my
battles</i> ‘ has come out of the closet. It’s
been a while. Dwayne is only now
beginning to see the obvious. And I
think the math is beginning to add up.
Much of my irritability and anxiety over the course of a year – or more
– has been due to fighting those chosen battles and being forced to face a few
I could not avoid – with all this pain in both hands and arms.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The soonest they were able
to schedule me for the nerve conduction test is the first week of June.</b> That screwed us out of the idea to contact
our local 4-H and have the Director come visit with us and see our place. We were hoping it might be a source of
parents with kids that might be willing to help out around our place during the
12 weeks I’m told that I will be out of commission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>It could have been a great
learning experience for summer projects.</b>
But with the way the medical profession around here tends to drag ass –
the kids will be back in school before they even manage to get around to doing
the first surgery. Even so - that
medical community will expect their money.
You can bet. <i>Wouldn’t it be nice
if we could charge them for mucking up our lives!</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>And again - We just keep
putting one foot in front of the other.</b>
Only <i>in this case</i> – I’ve decided to keep a particular vision in my mind
to help me get through all the mess. <i>Without
looking backward still</i> – is a vision of walking through the door to our house
after my very last PT session - post second surgery – my left hand bent behind
my back – using sign language.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>There.</b> Now you can all have fun with that same
vision. Sarcasm and Girl Power are no
match for Idjits without conscience in this friggin’ world!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>As I was saying – Dwayne
and I have been cramming all we can get done into those days off.</b> Not easy.
The more I do – the more I lose use of my hands. I have to pick my battles. I have to take a lot of breaks – just to wait
for my hands to wake back up. But the
pain never goes away. My hands are always
asleep – always ‘ <i>buzzing and vibrating.</i> ‘<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Despite wearing braces on
both hands during sleep at night -</b> stupid stuff is beginning to happen. I was washing dishes last evening. Dwayne was rinsing. Got all the way down the line to a 5 quart
pan – when without the least bit warning – a huge wave of dishwater came up out
of the sink. My blouse was totally
soaked. A cloud of suds over water
spread almost 4 feet across the floor – all the way to the refrigerator.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne finished the
dishes. </b> I am learning to appreciate that
little voice that – usually - comes to warn you, “ <i>You’re going to drop this!</i> “
– just before you drop anything so quickly and unexpected.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’m missing that.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>On Wednesday – </b>we managed
to go get 2 more scoops of garden mix from Out of Eden Garden Center in
Maryville - for the 2 tractor tires we’re using in the garden. We ended up with almost a whole scoop left
over. But you can bet – there’s not much
of that left!<i> We’ve always got a place
for dirt!</i> LOL<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>We also picked up some
landscaping fabric -</b> for the bed around the driveway – as well as some posts at
Lowe’s in Alcoa. We had filled the 2 tractor
tires with garden soil after we got back home.
Soaked the soil to get the dirt to settle before going in for supper.
Came back afterward and topped them off with more dirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne took on building a
shelter for Killian’s paddock on Thursday.</b>
It took a few minutes to help Killian understand that the truck was not
a toy and head butts were not allowed.
And Dwayne ran out of time. But
he got most of the job completed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I worked out in the garden
and around our Driveway.</b> After I packed more
dirt into the tires ( <i>those puppies hold a LOT of dirt!</i> ) - I got <b>Melons</b> planted
in 1 of the tractor tires – <b>Squash</b> in the other! Added peat moss and lime to the first box we
filled with topsoil from the first place we went to buy dirt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Bought several more tomato
supports and got those installed.</b> Got
several more seedlings of different varieties of Peppers planted – as well as
seeds for other goodies to pop up!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Completely overhauled my
strawberry pot!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I ended up with 13 extra
strawberry plants to share with others after all that re-planting!</b> Believe it or not – this all began with only
1 strawberry plant – only 2 years ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Dwayne helped me get our
new Azalea and Sweetheart Rose bushes planted after we finished filling up the
2 tractor tires with dirt on Wednesday.</b>
He scraped some of the weed layer off the top of the bed along the
driveway. I finished that up on Thursday
– before dumping garden soil over the top.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Some would say I
cheated.</b> Others would tell you that the
earth worms are gonna love me! And <i>I did</i>
find one heck of a mess of earth worms!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Anyway – the landscaping
fabric will be going over this.</b> I’ll be
measuring before going after edging to keep everything in place. And then we’ll be laying bark nugget over the
top to help keep the soil from drying too fast – and for protection in the
fight against weeds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>This spring season has
been so strange for us all.</b> One other
oddity I am seeing this year is happening with our Azaleas. They’re almost a whole month late in
blooming. The Salmon Pink Azalea is just
now beginning to pop its blossoms. And
the event is coming on slow as molasses pouring out of a jar. Not quite sure what to make of it. Massive greenery. Almost as if the greenery is coming before
the bloom – as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>At any rate – </b>I’ll wait
until both have finished blooming before I begin some serious pruning to get
them up off the ground. The pink azalea
will need pruning away from the white one – and away from under the landing of
the staircase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’m most anxious to see
the white Azalea finish its bloom.</b> I
noticed a small branch beginning to propagate from the ground on this beauty a
couple years ago. This year is safe
enough to separate the cutting from the main plant and get it to a home of its
own!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>I’ve reached a point where
all my extra seedlings ready for planting will be going to work with
Dwayne.</b> There’s always somebody who
knows somebody else – at the very least! But I did pot up a Yellow Bell Pepper plant and some Chives for Jen and Josh!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>As of yesterday evening –</b>
the last of our 15 Buff Orpington chickens was bid farewell. Dwayne had cleaned out the chicken coop and
revamped the perches – while I was grocery shopping and taking bills to be
mailed off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Today – I’ll be relocating
10 Rhode Island Red and 15 Americauna munchkins from our basement to their new
home.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Of course – </b>I’ll have to wait
for the break in the rain and get beyond feeding the cattle. But in the meantime – I’ve already begun
knocking out the laundry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>The next thing on the list
– </b>breaking out the FoodSaver and busting up meat.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><i>There’s always something
to do around here!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-33174853113825373872013-05-14T09:16:00.004-04:002013-05-14T09:27:05.158-04:00' Little Things ' on Mother's Day<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<i>For those that don't know about this - Cora had just stuck her nose into ' the stream ' while Storm was pissing a pond! Here she is - nose rolled up and 'sniffing' to make sure he is... healthy! LOL</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Apparently – </b>Dwayne and
our daughter – Jennifer – spent quite a bit of time sharing a rendezvous over
the telephone during these past couple of weeks. This year’s Mother’s Day holiday turned out
to be quite special for me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’ve ended up home alone
for most holidays –</b> over the past 12 years.
Dwayne ends up working. And he
worked during this Mother’s Day holiday as well.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>However –</b> he saw to it
that I did not wake up without finding this waiting for me! Absolutely beautiful – inside and out. <i>But I’ll leave the inside contents between
the 2 of us! </i><b>;)</b> I just love the
embroidery on the wool felt. Such a
unique concept for a greeting card. “
<i>Whouldda thunk – ya’ know?!</i> “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I love – love – LOVE getting
cards from my Husband!</b> He’s one of those
guys that goes looking for something with all the right words that he wants to
say to someone. And he always – just –
nails it – when it comes to telling me how much he loves me – especially when
he gives me a card! It just punches more
love for him out of me!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i>Round Red Glass Stone Magnets holding it up on our Refrigerator!</i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jennifer chose a really special
Mother’s Day Card project for all the kids in her Pre-School class at
Foothills. </b> <i>And she got right in the
middle of all the fun – </i>making a card to give to her own Mom… <i>Me!</i> There’s a real tea bag in the pocket – a special
gift of a cup of tea!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have a wool felt
Poinsettia cut out and made into a magnet that goes on our refrigerator for
Christmas every year.</b> Jen made that for
me when she was in Kindergarten. Hard to
believe <i>she turns 27 years old this year</i>!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Trust me.</b> Those ‘ <i>Little Things</i> ‘ that you hang on to
are so worth every moment somebody in the family jabs you in the rib over such
sweet sentiments. In between all the “
<i>Wow!</i> “ – I have flashes of her life revisiting my mind and heart. The cheeks on my face begin to hurt from the
smile that shows up on its own. And it
takes hardly a couple moments before the pride and joy bring on the tears.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>But then the 2 of them
collaborated on plans for a Mother’s Day surprise – Full Monte Style!</b> Jen and Josh came out to our place and made a
special Brunch. We had a Breakfast
Casserole that was really good! And then
they brought a beautiful gift from all three of them…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I have wanted a sterling
silver charm bracelet – forever!!!</b> And
the three of them got me started on a collection of charms that is to die
for! There is a <i>Teapot</i> – a <i>Grandfather
Clock</i> – a beautiful <i>Heart</i> with ‘ <i>Mother</i> ‘ written across – and <i>Cinderella’s
Pumpkin Coach</i>. And it’s more than
obvious – each one represents a very special message related to moments in my
life that they hold special as much as I!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>While Jen and Josh were
here at the house – </b>I gave them a tour of a few new ‘ <i>Little Things</i> ‘ going on
around our place. The first blooms are
beginning to pop on our little red ‘ grocery store rose bush. ‘ Yeah – I brought that with me when we moved
into our place. It was still potted in
its little 6” pot. Doubt it would fit
inside one today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">And the Salmon Pink color
Azalea is waking up! I’m so
excited! I love watching this girl
explode with her color!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We waited for “ <i>Moni’s
Kwanzan Cherry</i> “ to finish blooming before pruning for this year. </b> This beauty is beginning to take on really
great shape!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It’s beginning to look
like I just might get to enjoy making up some grape jelly this year.</b> The ‘ Kay Gray ‘ grapevines are absolutely
loaded with promise this year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Another surprise we’re
enjoying –</b> not 1 single peach has a blemish – nor have any fallen from the
tree. And the branches of this ‘ White Georgia
Belle ‘ are bound to end up weeping from all the weight that will come before
harvest!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The ‘ <i>Granny Smith</i> ‘ Apple
tree!</b> I’m so excited! I can hardly wait to taste those apples
coming from a jar!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And just look at these 2
gorgeous ladies!</b> The Hens took out a 3<sup>rd</sup>
– for which I may never forgive them.
But these 2 have spit in the eyes of those Bitties enough that they back
off!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>They take on several
different appearances as they unfold to the very peak of their final ascent
into blooming.</b> And each step is
something so beautiful to admire!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’ll be letting them
finish up with their beautiful display for this season –</b> before I dig them up
and move them to a much better suited home in the yard.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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them move in over here.</b> <i>And by the way –</i>
take another look at that tiny Eucalyptus - <i>*cough*</i> - herb.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yeah. I’m baffled.</b>
Come from a 2” pot in the Herb section at the garden nursery. And here it reigns – giving me a fit with a
defense of never having fed this thing!
I’m too afraid to trim on the bottom any further. Becoming top-heavy could cause a storm to bring
it down.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Instead – I’ll be topping
off the Blue Rose of Sharon to hedge nice and neatly underneath!</b> That should put it in sync with the ‘ Black
Knight ‘ Butterfly Bush on the opposite side!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9uNQza2FeoQ/UZI1vaUkNJI/AAAAAAAAJX8/_-H4ztgEekw/s1600/5-13-2013i.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9uNQza2FeoQ/UZI1vaUkNJI/AAAAAAAAJX8/_-H4ztgEekw/s1600/5-13-2013i.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And of course – Josh could
not leave without watching the new Babies for a bit!</b> Mother’s Day was the first time he’s had a
chance to see them since they were born.
I’m glad he got to see them before they begin growing like weeds!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>And I’m so happy that I was
blessed with such a wonderful Mother’s Day holiday full of love coming from all
three – Dwayne – Jen – and Josh!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-5127106498842469822013-05-06T12:10:00.003-04:002013-05-13T12:10:38.521-04:00Manic Monday and The Prodigal Sun...<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The rain. </b> Ya' love when it shows up after a drought. Ya' hate to say anything bad about it when ya' know too many folks suffered from its absence last year. But when it comes around and stays for almost 3 solid days without stopping for a few minutes...</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KP3a4ADUy9w/UYfTdmx3XHI/AAAAAAAAJNY/dzpap_Oj6gU/s1600/5-6-2013k.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KP3a4ADUy9w/UYfTdmx3XHI/AAAAAAAAJNY/dzpap_Oj6gU/s1600/5-6-2013k.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">THANK GOD !!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><i><b>Even the cattle were hollering about it.</b></i> I'm just glad we divided up the alley of the barn. It gave Patty and Cora open choices between 2 different stalls with easy access to their paddock.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLMX0JS5XhQ/UYfUvxIM0BI/AAAAAAAAJNk/qsvExe5LQto/s1600/4-30-2013Aprilb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLMX0JS5XhQ/UYfUvxIM0BI/AAAAAAAAJNk/qsvExe5LQto/s1600/4-30-2013Aprilb.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>The other side of the barn became Miss April's Condo!</b> And speaking of... this shot was taken before the storm arrived. She's been spending time outside her area - enjoying extra grass and clover! But continuance of that little adventure has been put on hold - as of this morning.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">She's gone into Heat. "<i> argh.......</i> "</span></b></div>
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<i><b><span style="font-size: large;">Jus' look at these babies!!</span></b></i></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Storm in front - Patty's boy in the back!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5tiE0o83PqA/UYfVyroG_DI/AAAAAAAAJN4/L9h1RmClMUk/s1600/5-6-2013b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5tiE0o83PqA/UYfVyroG_DI/AAAAAAAAJN4/L9h1RmClMUk/s1600/5-6-2013b.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Didn't see it until I finished shooting this one, but...</span></b></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Storm's pissin' a pond!</span></i></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Storm and Cora</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GzGiGZyC1t0/UYfWgq-FB3I/AAAAAAAAJOI/FNpnVqQBIHg/s1600/5-6-2013g.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GzGiGZyC1t0/UYfWgq-FB3I/AAAAAAAAJOI/FNpnVqQBIHg/s1600/5-6-2013g.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Patty's Boy - <i>eatin' Dirt!</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Hard to believe... one is a cousin and one is an uncle!</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYbvqZNToco/UYfXAAR1mpI/AAAAAAAAJOY/PhvCV-MzclM/s1600/5-6-2013f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gYbvqZNToco/UYfXAAR1mpI/AAAAAAAAJOY/PhvCV-MzclM/s1600/5-6-2013f.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Killian's even having trouble doing the math.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The little fart is <i>his uncle, too!</i></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Master Killian is lovin' his new paddock!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">He's almost finished losing all his winter coat!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Time to head to Co-Op for feed.</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Have a sunshine-filled Monday, Y'all!</span></i></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-11043743795073438882013-05-04T15:52:00.000-04:002013-05-04T15:53:24.903-04:00Springtime - Like Waiting in Line at the Post Office<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m4CX3seJnY4/UYVgNlYhrQI/AAAAAAAAJLk/qV4GzGOm808/s1600/5-4-2013f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m4CX3seJnY4/UYVgNlYhrQI/AAAAAAAAJLk/qV4GzGOm808/s1600/5-4-2013f.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>" <i>Miss Pissy</i> " and me are going round-n-round again this year -</b> like every year. She's gone Broody on me again. So she gets to spend the day in jail until she gives up!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>When we're not getting another weekend loaded
with solid rain showers - anyways.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>“ <i>Crap.</i> “</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We get a little bit done.</b> And it rains. We get a little more done. And it floods. We get a little bit further. It pours down for 3 out of 4 days. And we end up having to mow on #4 before we go back and hit it on #3!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’m just glad things have
settled enough that I can take care of the Domestic Front from the Inside.</b> God knows – there’s been plenty to catch up
on there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I’m gonna have to cave and
buy more rechargeable batteries for my regular digital camera.</b> I’m just not impressed – <i>at all</i> – with the video results from our Sprint HTC Evo 4G.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gxuNvfwHLo/UYVhQsyR2rI/AAAAAAAAJLw/HiZyV5corCQ/s1600/4-30-2013CoraPattyd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0gxuNvfwHLo/UYVhQsyR2rI/AAAAAAAAJLw/HiZyV5corCQ/s1600/4-30-2013CoraPattyd.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I <i>must</i> get some better video
of these babies!</b> It is <i>sooooo</i> much fun
watching them! We have 2 cows that are " <i>paying for their raisin'</i> " – without a doubt.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBsD1DbmVLk/UYVh1uhQeoI/AAAAAAAAJL4/5J9LpdF_8yY/s1600/4-30-2013Storma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vBsD1DbmVLk/UYVh1uhQeoI/AAAAAAAAJL4/5J9LpdF_8yY/s1600/4-30-2013Storma.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And poor Storm.</b> His “ <i>Moo</i>
“ makes me wonder – “ <i>just exactly WHAT
on 4 legs did she tangle with before she got here last October?</i> “<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>He sounds like a Goat!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>“ <i>Aagh!</i> “</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I am so glad to be past
the births of our 2 new calves.</b> That
first one was a rough ride for me. There’s
just something about the birth of a baby that tunnels your vision and your
thoughts. The fact that we were in the
middle of a storm all day long – just left my mind. My rain coat only worked well enough to flow
the water down my waders. So I dumped
that thing. Ended up changing clothes 4
times that day. But – rainwater is good
for your hair. And wet hair is why they
made blow dryers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>All I cared about was
getting that brand new calf and his Mama into a stall together – </b>safe – warm –
dry – fed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Storm is a whole week old
today!</b> And it appears as though the
Mamas have calmed down. Dwayne watched
while I had an experience with them yesterday evening – like never before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I had dished out their
evening rations in their bunker.</b> They’ve
been coming in to eat from the back of the paddock after we’ve gone back in the
house for supper. And they were still
hanging around afterwards – yesterday – when I decided to take cookies ( <i>Alfalfa
cubes</i> ) out to ‘em.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>It was a gift for not
giving me any crap when I invaded their space and loved on those babies –</b> just ‘cause
I wanted! I told ‘em what I was gonna do
– while I was doing it. I guess I shocked
‘em. They just stood there – watching.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Anyway –</b> both girls have
always kept distance whenever taking cookies from me. At most – Cora would come up close in the
barn alley – competing with Bruce – Killian and April. But when the cookies were gone – they had no
use for me – unless I wanted to go for more hay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Yesterday evening was
something totally different. </b> I still don’t
know why. But I had both girls standing
right beside me. I thought Patty was gonna
pull a ‘ <i>Brucey</i> ‘ on me and rest her head on my shoulder! Both girls just seemed to be very comfortable
being around me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>These babies look so much
alike that we can’t tell them apart –</b> unless they’re standing right next to
each other. Patty's calf has a nose that goes straight across the top. But Storm's nose is shaped like the top of a heart. ( <i>Okay, Dwayne says it reminds him of a set of boobs - go figure.</i> ) Anyway - I’m having to pick up
different colored Goat collars for ‘em when I pick up feed on Tuesday!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-19-w748GWwo/UYVjQksfHWI/AAAAAAAAJMI/5b86BJR4TYc/s1600/4-30-2013PattyzBullb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-19-w748GWwo/UYVjQksfHWI/AAAAAAAAJMI/5b86BJR4TYc/s1600/4-30-2013PattyzBullb.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We haven’t taken time to
figure up a name for Patty’s calf yet.</b> I
think it has to do with the fact that we had already decided he will be going
into the freezer. And we had named Cora’s
calf before we were visited by the breeders that sold Artist to us. We received some very sage advice that has
led to further discussion and other decisions.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXOxTerMnS0/UYVj5SXRCEI/AAAAAAAAJMU/beNjcjJ-IFU/s1600/4-18-2013chicks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XXOxTerMnS0/UYVj5SXRCEI/AAAAAAAAJMU/beNjcjJ-IFU/s1600/4-18-2013chicks.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Our 25 cute little chicks have hit that stage!</b> Each are currently playing their own Lead Role in the Production of “ <b><i>Downy Gone Downright Ugly.</i></b> “</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>But they’re still cute!</b> And they’ll stay that way - until the first one makes it with all those attempts at flying over the top edge of the Brooder.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>And then – they’ll be outta here!</b> I’m not chasing chicks all around a basement.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>There will be 25 against 4.</b> They can all Army Up and fight for the Chicken Coop!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Amazing what a short amount of time can do to a chicken!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4arE4Kr6-yw/UYVklNC-6II/AAAAAAAAJMc/Nwx5uxQ7u3M/s1600/4-19-2013c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4arE4Kr6-yw/UYVklNC-6II/AAAAAAAAJMc/Nwx5uxQ7u3M/s1600/4-19-2013c.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This little Cutie has gone from this…</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>To this!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">But I can tell she’s gonna be really pretty after all her feathers come out!</span></b></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4giWGzxitEw/UYVk8FVazqI/AAAAAAAAJMs/TczHmlv9EXU/s1600/5-4-2013d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4giWGzxitEw/UYVk8FVazqI/AAAAAAAAJMs/TczHmlv9EXU/s1600/5-4-2013d.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We got more work done on
our new garden area over this past round of days off.</b> Dwayne trimmed the 2 tractor tires before
rolling ‘em down to the garden area. We
got the fencing up. And I managed to get
a few things planted!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIsirvLx9Ew/UYVlFmrnkwI/AAAAAAAAJM0/9UrjHmgj6uo/s1600/5-4-2013e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TIsirvLx9Ew/UYVlFmrnkwI/AAAAAAAAJM0/9UrjHmgj6uo/s1600/5-4-2013e.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>We’ll be picking up a
stronger charger for the hotwire around the paddocks.</b> So the one we have now will be going around
the garden. We’re hoping it will help –
at least a little.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uPei_0wJVGk/UYVlNNtaniI/AAAAAAAAJM8/wscE07600z0/s1600/5-4-2013c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uPei_0wJVGk/UYVlNNtaniI/AAAAAAAAJM8/wscE07600z0/s1600/5-4-2013c.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>I could not resist picking
up this little beauty!</b> Beautiful red
Azalea! It’s being planted beside the
deep salmon pink Azalea. We have a white
one on the opposite side – with a shoot that rooted last year! I’ll be collecting that little gem to plant
on the opposite side of the Red Azalea after the white one finishes its bloom.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0GAb_G7pmw8/UYVlepP20uI/AAAAAAAAJNE/pBXEBUYuS88/s1600/IMAG1411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0GAb_G7pmw8/UYVlepP20uI/AAAAAAAAJNE/pBXEBUYuS88/s1600/IMAG1411.jpg" height="400" width="240" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>This corner of the yard
will be so pretty next spring with all the red – pink and white coming from the
Azaleas – our Bush Rose and Monica's Kwanzan Cherry tree!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>I can only imagine!</i></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2708579491474236756.post-14868222560250627542013-04-30T08:24:00.004-04:002013-04-30T08:24:46.975-04:00Two Days Apart!<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #660000; font-size: large;"><i>** </i><u>Warning</u><i>: Graphic Photos Below.</i></span><div>
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<img alt="4-23-2013b" class="aligncenter wp-image-642" data-mce-src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/4-23-2013b.jpg" src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/4-23-2013b.jpg" height="400" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0px auto 12px;" width="240" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">The weather was so gorgeous yesterday –</strong> after all that massive rain that stole 2 days from us.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">While Cora and Storm were content inside their stalls –</strong> Patty decided she’d had enough and wanted out! And she knows just how to get her way when she sets her mind for her wishes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">First thing I noticed when I walked inside the barn to set up rations –</strong> Patty had been quite busy – trying to untie all the ropes Dwayne crisscrossed over the top open area of her stall door. Her stall was completely destroyed and smelling downright rank!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">After feeding –</strong> the sun came up over the trees in our gulley. The paddocks had dried enough that you could no longer see puddles around. Life was just too alive to leave that big girl in that stinking stall. I can’t stand the idea of stalls not being cleaned EVERY day. The ‘ <em style="border: none; color: inherit;">layering</em> ‘ with hay option that some people use was – definitely – one I didn’t want on our list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">Dwayne got busy with hotwiring Killian’s paddock.</strong> The 2 of us had already witnessed ‘ <em style="border: none; color: inherit;">Master Killian</em> ‘ managing to get his head through the 5 lines of barbed wire. We didn’t need any accidents – especially with babies in the other paddock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">Patty had that ‘ <em style="border: none; color: inherit;">Psycho</em> ‘ look anytime I tried speaking to her –</strong> until I asked her, “ <em style="border: none; color: inherit;">You wanna go outside, Baby?</em> “ Like Linda Blair in ‘ <em style="border: none; color: inherit;">The Exercist</em> ‘ – she spun her head toward me – ears forward – pure sweetness in her eyes as if she were asking, “ <em style="border: none; color: inherit;">You mean it? Really? Can I? Can I?</em> “ She even stepped up to the door and began to sniff me! After seeking input from Dwayne – I took down all the ropes – cleared the alley – opened the door.</span></div>
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<strong style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;">And she stood there.</span></strong></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">Finally –</strong> she headed out to the paddock after a few minutes of prodding her. But within an hour – around 10:50am – we saw the tail coming up. She paced all over that paddock – moving every couple of minutes. Dwayne stopped working on the fence and we started keeping an eye on her.</span></div>
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<img alt="PattyCalf4-29-2013a" class="aligncenter wp-image-643" data-mce-src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pattycalf4-29-2013a.jpg" src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pattycalf4-29-2013a.jpg" height="400" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0px auto 12px;" width="239" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">At 1:15pm –</strong> she laid down for the 3<sup style="bottom: 1ex; height: 0px; line-height: 1; position: relative; vertical-align: baseline;">rd</sup> time and – Bingo!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">Unlike Cora –</strong> she got up quickly – and scared both of us. This girl began a major low-tone roar towards this calf – shoving that baby around like a beast – showing furious thrusting toward the calf. Dwayne was afraid she was trying to kill it. I just kept a distance and repeated, “ <em style="border: none; color: inherit;">Easy Baby. Good Girl, Patty. Gentle, Baby! Gentle.</em> “ Once the baby lifted its head – all that began to cease. Dwayne said she must have shoved that baby almost 20 feet to the fence.</span></div>
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<img alt="PattyCalf4-29-2013c" class="aligncenter wp-image-644" data-mce-src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pattycalf4-29-2013c.jpg?w=640" src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pattycalf4-29-2013c.jpg?w=640" height="239" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0px auto 12px;" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">All the drying off –</strong> cleaning – and encouragement to stand began. Eventually – the calf made its first effort!</span></div>
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<img alt="PattyCalf4-29-2013e" class="aligncenter wp-image-645" data-mce-src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pattycalf4-29-2013e.jpg?w=640" src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pattycalf4-29-2013e.jpg?w=640" height="239" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0px auto 12px;" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">After that first tumble –</strong> the next try was more successful!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">Patty and the baby ended up back at the gate for getting to Killian’s paddock.</strong> Dwayne was working there – digging the trench and burying the hotwire across the gate area. He was able to get a chance to check the sex.</span></div>
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<img alt="PattyCalf4-29-2013g" class="aligncenter wp-image-646" data-mce-src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pattycalf4-29-2013g.jpg?w=640" src="http://threecedarsfarm.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/pattycalf4-29-2013g.jpg?w=640" height="239" style="border: 0px; clear: both; display: block; margin: 0px auto 12px;" width="400" /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><strong style="color: black;">We have another little Bull Calf. </strong> And he’s even more tiny than Storm!</span></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12121820035844661657noreply@blogger.com2