We used our new baler and got the second hay crop done- the baler and new rake worked great!  So nice to have things work without problems!  Now we are hoping we can get a 3rd crop by the end of September.  We have had alot of rain this summer, so we are hopeful.  The cows are looking great this summer and with all that rain, the paddocks are staying green and lush.  We are also working on landscaping at the new house- trying to get the lawn in.  We’ve had some equipment breakdowns, but finally got most of it finished a couple weeks ago.  Still some finishing work that may have to wait til Spring.  This weekend we will be working on the 3 sided shed again, hoping to get the steel on the roof at least, before winter.  And, we have to set up the cattle handler before the end of this month when the bull goes home.  Never-ending projects!  Wish I could clone Craig!!

It has been a very hot and humid summer!  We are lucky that we have a shaded area for the cows.  They like to hang out by the shed where the water is.  There’s a nice tree there and the shade from the big hill moves over them by mid afternoon.  We got the bull here on July 23rd.  He came from Mary’s farm, but it’s a different bull from the one last year.  He’s a little bigger… and meaner looking!  And, I guess that’s fine as long as we stay out of the pasture!  Now we hope he can do his job and give us 6 or 7 calves for next Spring.  We have been working on our landscape for our new house and it should be ready for grass seed and planting shrubs soon.  The heat has slowed things down a bit.  Our next big project is to finish the 3 sided shed- need to get the steel on it before Fall.  And, we have several other projects in the works.  Soon we will be cutting second crop of hay.  We bought a “new” John Deere Baler and are hoping that haying goes smooth for us this time. Fingers crossed!

We look forward to enjoying the summer in our new home!  Gathering family for dinner and enjoying the deck on a warm summer night is what it’s all about!   But, let’s not forget about the farm work.  A few weeks ago we went to a local country music festival and it happened to be time to bale hay.  Since our baler wasn’t working the best, we decided to hire out the raking and baling.  We got 25 large round bales for first crop.  Very nice hay!  And it was wonderful to come home and find it all done!  That was worth it!  Still waiting for one more calf, but think that maybe she’s not pregnant after-all.  We will be getting the bull next week.  The herd looks really nice now- guess that green grass really makes a difference!  They are mowing down the paddocks and we are so glad that we fenced another section this Spring.  Our son Dusty took down the old shed that was beside the new one last week.  Mowed it down with the tractor and loader.  It’s quite a mess to clean up, but we’ll be able to drive around the pole shed instead of having to move things and drive through it.   And the summer projects continue!

It was a year ago, June 21, 2015 that we lost everything in a house fire.  It’s still hard to believe that happened!  We spent the next 8 months dealing with insurance and rebuilding the home we loved.  It was finished in February 2016 and we are getting our lives back in order.  The house turned out beautiful and is very similar to the first one.  Looking back a year later, we are amazed at how much we went through and how it changed our outlook on life.  Take one day at a time and enjoy it!  Lives can change in an instant.

While we were fencing over Memorial Day weekend, we got a baby heifer calf on Sunday, May 29th!  She was standing up within a half hour of birth!  We didn’t realize how fast they get their strength.  It was pretty amazing!  We got the last pasture finished but are waiting a week before moving them to finish off the pasture they are currently in.

On June 2nd we had a traumatic experience losing a baby bull calf.  The cow was a first time mother and had trouble birthing.  We called the vet who saved the mom, but it was too late for the calf.  So sad, and it was hard not to feel guilty, or feel that we should have been able to help somehow.  Part of farming is letting go of these experiences, but it is very hard.  Good news is that the cow is doing well so we are thankful for that.  We have had mostly good experiences with our cows so far- so we need to concentrate on all the good things we have done, and how well the cattle are doing.  We started out with 8 head, and now we have 13!  The herd is growing every year, and we are looking forward to getting 7 or 8 bred for calves next summer.  Our friend and mentor, Mary C Anderson, who is a grazing specialist, has helped us out by leasing us a bull again this summer.  We plan to get him in July.  And, life on the farm goes on…

Seems like that’s all we do!  Last weekend we started fencing the last large paddock for the cows.  And, this weekend we plan to finish it.  Next Craig has to get the baler and rake ready because it won’t be long til haying time!  Our cows are looking great!  Still waiting for more calves- should be any day now!  We lined up a bull to be leased from July – September and hope we can get through our list of projects by summer’s end.  We are still working on the landscape for our house also.  But, on Monday we stop to appreciate Memorial Day!  So lucky to live here and be free to work and enjoy our farm!  Attached are a couple cool photos of the pasture after a storm with fog rolling in.  Pretty cool on the farm!

As we get settled in our new house, our thoughts now turn to projects on the farm.  The first “project” was a new baby bull calf born on April 16th!  Another Saturday calf!  So far, all our calves have been born on Saturdays!  What a cutie- all white face since he’s the grandshild of Brownie, our hereford cow.  Exciting time waiting for the calves.  We think there will be 3 or 4 more coming.  Craig did some frost seeding in the pastures and we are hoping that worked.  And, as soon as we can we plan to fertilize the pastures and hayfields.  Spring is a busy time on the farm!

We bought a new cattle shoot this Spring.  We want to be safe when handling the cattle and the one we purchased should do the trick.  Now to get it set up with coral in the pasture…

Yes, it’s been awhile since the last post!  We’ve been busy since moving into our new house February 12th!  It is beautiful- R.Tews Construction did an amazing job.  It took a little longer than we wanted, but worth the wait.  Here are a few photos!

The cows are doing well.  We decided to tarp the 3 sided shed when some very cold weather was coming.  That worked pretty slick!  It’s out of the wind so we hope it will last til Spring.  We are making plans for projects this Spring/Summer.  Have to finish that shed and see our pastures and hayfields.  A farmer’s work is never done… never thought I’d say that!! 🙂

After the tragedy of 2015, we are soooo looking forward to 2016!  Our new house should be ready to move in at the end of January!  They are doing interior finishing and still need to get the siding on.  Alot of work left, but they have been working every day.  Can’t wait to see the finished home!  Meanwhile we have been purchasing furniture and items for the house.  Although we can’t do much because we don’t have anywhere to store it.  Most items are waiting for delivery at the end of the month.  Our stay in the camper has went pretty well.  And, the weather has been pretty warm so far.  Counting the days til move in.

The cows are doing well.  We got the 3sided shed framed up.  Since we heard there’s some cold air on the way next week, we decided to place some hay bales around the structure to act as a wind break- with some tarp between the bales and the frame, and an electric fence on the other side of the bales.  Pretty good idea, huh?  We may have time to put a few steel panels on the roof before the cold sets in, too.  Sound like some 20-30 below wind chills next week.  Brrrrr!

The holidays are fast approaching and we are starting to feel good about getting into our new house by the end of January.  The inside walls have been sheetrocked, and should be ready for paint by next week.  We met with RTews Designer the other day and picked out paint colors- that was fun!  I think we picked some nice colors.  The porch and posts are up on the house and they are working on the rest of the deck.  Because it got too cold to stain outside, they picked up the house siding to be stained at the shop.  AND, we have heat!  So nice to walk in and feel the warmth!  Speaking of, we hope to be able to enjoy the fireplace by Christmas Eve. Things are coming together despite the unusually rainy December.  We are having Christmas at our kid’s house- lucky they are nearby.  We are still toughing it out in the camper… only 6 more weeks or so!

And, the cows are doing well- even Brownie is putting on weight!  Craig set the posts for the 3 sided shed so we can get that built over the next couple weeks.  They’ll be happy when they get that.  But, since it’s been so warm, they haven’t had it too bad!

 

Merry Christmas to all!

Craig, Sandy, Cody and Dusty