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Is she or isn't she????

While almost everything has been quiet on the farm this fall...one thing has been growing. The thing is our lead cow #71. She has gotten big, not just a little big; big as in blown up by an air hose big. We are not sure if she is just really fat or really pregnant.

What I know about cow ob-gyn is not one thing. Someone said there was a way to tell call sleveing??? I am not 100% sure what that is, but I am 100% sure it is not on my bucket list.

What time will tell:

1) if we can save this farm

2) if Jake will be any help delivering a calf

3) is there is a calf to be delivered

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Fall Chores

Hay has been gathered. Fences checked. (almost a daily chore) The pastures have been over seeded for winter grazing. The girl calves are getting hugh. I thought they were big five months ago, I was wrong. A couple of them are topping 800 pounds. Babies' Daddy is getting to be a stud. (at least he thinks so) His voice is changing and he sounds like a preteen boy.

At this point in time I am ready for a slower pace of life. So I am just going to let the calves grow, the pasture grow, and me rest. I am putting selling calves off until after New Years. This gives us a chance to enjoy the holidays. (I think they start with Halloween and go until January 2) It also gives us a chance to reflect on the past months and determine what works and what doesn't.

Reason to slow down:

1) you can't figure out what works best if you are always working

2) Jake seems stressed

3) I seem stressed

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Okay, I know I complained about the hot weather, but tonight we are under a frost warning. (really??) This is Georgia and our weather is a little fickle. The saying is if you don't like the weather just wait thirty minutes and it will change. Tuesday we were working in shorts and T shirts, Wednesday we needed a jacket, today we needed a fire.

I had three new calves in the calf pen, they looked so cold and lonely I turned them out with the herd. When we opened the gate to let them out my lead cow and several of the older girls came running into the calf pen. They tested the water, licked the salt block, ate the hay, and even checked the food trough just in case some food had been left. It was like a Chinese fire drill, we were trying to get calves out and cows were coming in. After thirty minutes of chasing animals in the cold we finally succeeded in getting everyone out...

Things everyone (or every cow) wants to know:

1) what do others eat

2) what do they have to drink

3) what does their house look like

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So we have a routine....we feed the cows, we count the cows, we check the water, we check the fences, we feed the cows, we count the cows......

Yes, we have settled into normal (at least normal for us). I would say we know what we are doing; but that would just cause something to go wrong. (never brag, it will bite you) Even the cows seem to know what to do. They come when they are called, mostly. They are all growing and even the sick one from last week is doing very well.

For now I am pleased with our progress. No money has been made, but we are getting by with Bob supplementing the sale of calves. I am now at the point of selling three buying four. I know when the number grows to buying six or seven the work load will increase. For now I am enjoying the peace of knowing what to expect.

Things I know will happen (or least pretty sure they will happen)

1) I will oversleep

2) Jake will let me oversleep

3) the cows will let me know I have overslept

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Maybe it will get easier...

I'm still crying about selling my cows. The steer with the warts is gone...and you would think that would be a good thing. The problem is I named him (Warty) and I spent a lot, lot of time working with him. One day Bob asked what I was going to call him when the warts were cured..I flipantly told him "Gone".

I am hoping that when I do this enough I will grow thicker skin. If I do I will let you know; until then pass the kleenex. Buying and selling calves is a lot harder than I ever imagined..

Things I would do if I had thicker skin:

1) not take everything so seriously

2) not cry on Jake's shoulders

3) not worry about things I have no control over (yeah, right)

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A Good Day..

Today was one of those days where everything went well. (you know the really rare ones) Today is our older son's birthday. (he is 37 and I don't know how that happened) The cow which we had to give antibiotics seems a lot, lot better.

Monday is quilting morning with friends. (we solve all the world's problems...only no one ever asks our opinions) It also rained today...we have an eight inch deficit in Georgia so far this year; so a rainy Monday was a good thing.

Why quiet days are welcomed:

1) too much drama is too much

2) Jake is much better behaved when everyone else is

3) they give you a chance to appreciate what you have

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Well, I will spare you the picture, but I have a sick cow. Everyone kept telling me when you have a sick cow you should do...... I didn't think I would have one, so I really didn't listen. (that will teach me not to pay attention)

The sick fellow has a bad sore on his lip. It seems this is not unusual. What is unusual is I have to doctor it. (I have no clue...) What Bob, my brother, and I have done so far is clean the sore and give him an antibiotic shot. (yes, dummies can purchase that at a feed store)

Some more things I didn't know:

1) sick cows are like babies, they can not tell you what hurts

2) Jake has been no help at all in dealing with this

3) I feel as if I have been no help at all in dealing with this