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Monday all day long...

Never been a big Monday fan...and I guess I never will be. I think it may be a mental thing. I don't seem to accomplish much and if something can go wrong it will. Today was going fine...up early, cooked breakfast (miracles never cease), and quilted with friends. After that things took a turn for the Monday. We drove to the cow sale and found nothing but some really sad looking cows. Finally it thundered for several hours and we got several drops of rain. What we needed was several hours of rain.

The level of our pond has really begun to drop. Bob even began watering our grass today. I wish the fields could be watered, but an irrigation system isn't in our budget this week......maybe next Monday.

Monday things:

1) it comes every 7 days

2) Jake doesn't care about what day of the week it is

3) is it only me????

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Next....

Spent the morning cleaning up the feed lot (aka holding pen) for the next group of calves. It is not easy to clean an area used by 24 cows. They are not house broken, potty trained or even discreet. I shoveled, swept and washed down the area I will be keeping the new purchases. I scrubbed the water trough and filled it up ready to go. Now... we have to go shopping again. Luckily Bob is able to go to the sale barn with me tomorrow during his lunch hour.

We are planning on getting four new calves weighing between 250 and 300 pounds. They will all need to be boys. When I started this I didn't know anything about what size and sex brings the most money when you try to "flip cows" (my friends and I decided instead of flipping houses I am flipping cows). Now I know they all bring about the same at 300 pounds, but above 650 pounds the boys bring about 30 cents a pound more. So...boys it is.

Shopping points:

1) bring your checkbook

2) Jake is a boy

3) checking cow privates is still embarrassing

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Merry Christmas to me!

...I really didn't know I wanted a 5 foot mower for Christmas until now. But after 38 Christmases it gets harder to be creative. So, I think Bob did a great job of choosing something I have never gotten before; and he presented it early enough to get a lot of good out of it. Also, and this is a biggy, tractor driving lessons are included. (right now I have no clue as to how to turn on a tractor)

I knew starting a farm would open up a lot of opportunities to add skills to my resume. I just had no clue how quickly the list would grow. I can already add shot giving, ear tagging, cattle buying and selling. Soon, tractor driving and bush hogging (really?) will be new additions. I know the neighbors, family and cows can hardly wait for the show to begin.

Things I am refusing to do:

1) wear a cowboy hat

2) tie a red bandanna around Jake's neck except at Christmas proper

3) wear overalls (I do still have some pride)

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Not a good look for you....

When Jake came from his morning walk he was sporting a new do. He had spiked green hair.... I am too old to think spiked green hair looks good on anyone. I am way too old to think it looks good on Jake...mainly because I know what his styling product is. The joy of having a dog and cows. For some ungodly reason dogs think if they roll in cow poop they look good. (they are lying to themselves)

I didn't know whether to laugh or cry at his complete confidence in sporting his new look. I thought about bathing him, but I decided to put him out and let him swim in the pond. (he made this mess and I think he should clean it up) After the cleansing swim Jake and I had the talk about "appropriate behavior".... I really, really hope it took.

Things that don't make sense to me:

1) the attraction to nasty things by dogs

2) rolling in nasty things makes dogs happy

3) dogs thinking you should be happy about them rolling in nasty things

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Heat Advisory

We are under a heat advisory. It was issued for today and is in place until tomorrow night. I absolutely believe it when the weather person says you should avoid working in the heat. So, I avoided work today like the plague. I got up early to let the cows into their new pasture, and called it a day. I know, I know, you shouldn't call it a day at 7:00 am, but the weather person said to avoid getting over heated. (I am taking no chances)

I had a sandwich for lunch and a salad for dinner. (cooking can cause over heating) I read a book I bought months ago. Jake and I slept a lot in front of the fan. We enjoyed a lot of ice water. It is not every day you can blame your lack of accomplishment on someone else; so when the opportunity presents itself you have to seize chance.

Weather excuses:

1) heat advisories call for a day off

2) Jake takes every day off I do (and then some)

3) can't wait for snow (in GA one flake is a reason for a day off)

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New grazing

brown top millet is ready!

This morning the cows got the surprise of their lives. (so far) They were allowed to go into the new pasture we purchased. We planted brown top millet in it and in the field next door. We are using this pasture for grazing and the neighboring field for bailing. We have been rotating them between just two pastures and they had done a fine job of eating up all the grass. When I led them into the new area this morning they were very happy cows. (I can just tell)

We really hope the green millet turns into lots of pounds on cows. The more the cows weigh the more money we will make. (fingers and toes are crossed) So happy eating!

Green facts:

1) cows love green grazing

2) Jake loves to play in the millet field chasing crickets

3) I love seeing the animals enjoying the green field

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The Fun Just Never Ends






Just when you think you can sit down and watch "House Hunters International" you find out some fences need mending. Never mind it's 8 o'clock at night. Chores obviously can't tell time. They will come up 24/7. This morning we were up by 6:30 doing housework getting ready for my friends to come quilt. (yeah, I know not many people belong to quilting group, but I do) Then errands had to be run. After my nap the cows needed to be feed and checked.

I really thought after dinner we could call it a day. But, noooo, our new grazing is ready and the fence was in need of repairs. We need to let the cows eat and gain as much weight as possible. So, we mended fences by headlight. (not the most fun thing we have ever done by headlight)
Tomorrow is another day, at least it will be a day of new grazing.

Chore facts:

1) no one is going to break in and do them for you

2) Jake isn't going to do them either

3) Bob and I seem to be getting the short end of this chore thing