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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Oct 22 2018 :  07:17:02 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Good morning! How's everyone's squirrel activities? We're busy as bees, here and there everywhere with our winter preparations but enjoying every minute; the weather has been so intoxicating.



Cindy, glad to hear that even Bea is willing to give you a hand. That's awesome you're still getting 1 1/2 gallons. I would LOVE a long weekend with you and your girls. We'd roll out the red carpet! If it weren't for school, this time next year would be fabulous. We could simply eat our way around the farm. We're awash in fruits and vegetables of every kind--even watermelons we're still eating. Last night I made a huge pot of chili for everyone using farm ingredients.

We've decided on a smallish, quiet Thanksgiving also.

I settled in to enjoy Anne with an e but quit after the first flashback scene. It seemed totally unnecessary and I thought at the time, Some one with children is going to be in for a surprise. My goodness, that's why Anne is so dearly loved--it's a break from all that. I noticed there's a new version on PBS right now or perhaps a replay. That flashback scene was jarring and I'm an adult.

Enjoy your day. Our girls are scrambling to get ready for another school week. Stella was elected prez of the school earlier this fall so last night around the campfire she was describing how she accomplished her first endeavor--getting a drinking fountain put in the lunchroom so that kids who prefer water over all else can get a glass of water instead. Within a couple of days, there was a fountain installed.

Today we're starting on fall hoof trims. We'll do Miss Daisy first and get her hooves done before winter.

MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~

maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Oct 23 2018 :  06:22:13 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Darla, we have another leaving-for-the-south-of-France girl. When Ester Lily got a fencing staple stuck in her foot, look what method she employed for pain control.




MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Oct 23 2018 :  06:57:32 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Good morning all,

Yes the weather has been glorious here! Makes early morning milking still a joy! Here was my view this morning:



And then I get to watch the butte light up with the rising sun:



A peaceful way to start the day. I’m milking Betsy and Clover once a day and getting five plus gallons a day! It’s so good. And I need the extra milk to feed our newest addition:



I now have five alpacas! Two mamas and their babies and one little bottle baby. Busy times!

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Oct 23 2018 :  12:36:48 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Hi Charlene! I love early morning hues--steel-blue-gray sky and black silhouette trees/hills. Someday I want to paint a house those colors.

Integration success! I now have all five cows (and one steer) back together and no nursing (Miss Daisy is over by the fence and hard to see). Both Buttercup and O'Mally (O'Mally more so that Buttercup) tried to suckle for an entire afternoon but the adults in the room kicked them off every time and the kiddos have since given up. I still have to separate the calves during meal time (the big girls bully them away from the feeder), but it'll be nice going into winter to have them all in one spot. Calves are almost seven months old. They've been apart for 2 1/2 months. I'll have to pay strict attention to my calendar to make sure Miss Daisy and Buttercup are pulled out during their heat cycles. I intend to get them both pregnant next July for April babies. Miss Daisy would have missed one pregnancy cycle entirely by then. Maggie, Maybelle, and Lizzy are all due the first part of April.



And the handsome guy responsible for all of it, Ian.




MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Oct 23 2018 :  6:44:58 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
More winter prep today. Sanded and "Super-Decked" outside wood.



Covered outside tables and sinks.



Oiled furniture and moved it into our new pavilion.



Sinks and bathtubs are getting cleaned and gravel hauled in preparation for a patio of rustic red brick pavers.





Wished the bubbsy twins goodnight after feeding them dinner.



And one moment before it got totally dark, UPS showed up bringing a box of the next issue of the mag. It's a photo I took at my neighbor's house. She'd made the wreath and hung it on a pair of skis her father-in-law used to get around the farm many years ago.



Sleep well! I think I hear some rain. We do need some rain.

MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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Boots&Flipflops

499 Posts
Darla

Posted - Oct 24 2018 :  5:34:29 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Good Afternoonish Everyone.

The last two days have been a drag. Mid-term yesterday, that made me think "what in the shout" am I doing in school? I love it, but do I really need self induced stress? Then today was fix a water trough first thing this morning. Went out to feed and found a hose busted off of the auto filler. Cows or sheep? No one fessed up!! Then it was back to painting, which I despise with a passion.

Poor little Ester Lilly!! Made me sad to see her standing that way, MaryJane. I am a "B" with everyone when we are putting fencing staples in. If I hear one fly it best be found!!!

MaryJane I am envious of your Autumn weather. We are in the mid 70's right now and mid 80's this coming weekend. Bummer!! I said heck with this weather the other day and made a huge pot of stew. Yes, your Chili sounded good so that's in the plan.

Cindy it's good to hear things are starting to find some normalcy around home. It has been a long hard road, but oh the reward!!! I still bless you and Patrick daily.

Charlene, those babies of yours are just to cute. I don't know if I would ever come in the house with those around. I would want to be snuggling and hugging all day.

Janet I hope your attic project is starting to come to a close. You've been on that one for quite a spell.

My neck is killing me from painting ceilings so it's leftovers tonight, but I do have to go take care of the 4 legged members of the family, so my day is not over yet....

Blessings to all and Sweet Dreams
P.S. Do Not, I repeat Do Not paint in one of your favorite shirts!!!

To Succeed In This Life You Need Three Things: A Backbone, A Wish Bone and a Funny Bone. As quoted by Reba McEntire

Edited by - Boots&Flipflops on Oct 24 2018 5:36:40 PM
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NellieBelle

11214 Posts


Posted - Oct 25 2018 :  04:29:02 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Good morning all! Love seeing all the activities going on and animals. Thankful Ester Lily's hoof healed quickly. You surely have your hands full Charlene with all your animals. I'm guessing Owen is loving the Alpacas. Things have slowed up here a bit. Beautiful autumn colors greet us daily with the sunshine. Hoping for some more pleasant autumn days before winter returns. Yes, the attic project is taking quite a while but because of certain circumstances. Our carpenter and electrician work when they don't have other pressing jobs and that's fine with Joe and I. The carpenter has concrete work he wants done so he has jobs to work on this winter. Would I like it done? Yes, all in good time. I had to send my electrician away his last visit as I was unable to tell him where I wanted what due to not feeling well. And a few other hiccups in life that one doesn't expect, but will manage to get through. Enjoy the wonderful autumn days while they last. Nellie, Darla and Millie are all doing well. And it's fun watching the young steers grow up.

To laugh is human but to moo is bovine. Author Unknown
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CloversMum

3486 Posts


Posted - Oct 25 2018 :  7:35:11 PM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote




Progress made on the barn today and more concrete will be poured in the morning! I’m so excited! There is still a chance my cows will be inside this winter! Milking will be so much easier!

And my sweet Betsy was AI-‘d yesterday! With heifer-sexed Guernsey semen! If it takes, we are sure hoping for a Guernsey heifer next August! The bull looks just like Betsy so maybe we could get a beautiful spotted calf! Here Betsy is being a good!



Next week week we find out if BlueBelle is pregnant or not! No signs of heat as of yet. Here’s hoping!

Loving life and family on our Idaho farm, Meadowlark Heritage Farm; A few Jersey cows; a few alpacas; a few more goats, and even more ducks and chickens
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Oct 26 2018 :  06:15:39 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Darla, I will have to be more of a "B" (queen?) when it comes to metal. What does it take? Count the staples before, count those placed, count how many return? Geez. If Nick and I are fencing and anything at all drops/flies and can't be found, we get our metal detector out that was purchased for one purpose only--cow safety.

Charlene, ain't nothing as hopeful as concrete and the abolishment of mud. Lookin' good! Hopeful your girls are pregnant.

Well, just when you think your cow critters will behave this or that way, they surprise and delight.

It's only been a few days since I put my two 7-month-old calves back in with their mommas. I was pleased their mommas didn't let them nurse, but had convinced myself I'd have to pull them out to feed them every a.m. and p.m. But last night when I was getting the big girls served up, both calves put their heads in and low and behold, no pushing or shoving occurred. I couldn't believe my eyes. (Notice how much bigger Maybelle is--just like her momma Anna.)



Mind you, Miss Daisy is locked up separately because she's in heat. She's my dominate cow so maybe that will change when she's part of the mix again.


MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Oct 26 2018 :  07:30:25 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Nick and I have been enjoying large handfuls of raspberries still, Oct. 26!



No sooner did I mention momma cows and their babies ...

than a duo moose pair showed up in our raspberry patch this morning.






MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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txbikergirl

3197 Posts


Posted - Oct 27 2018 :  11:23:46 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
happy saturday ladies! glad to see everyone around and so busy, the activity looks good.

i managed to catch lover boy's cold that he brought home from new york a week ago, i am still up and running but had two bad nights thursday and friday... not sure if i am on the upswing today or just settling in. i did think twice about your pneumonia last year mary jane so i am making sure i dont let it go too long and try to baby muself... but work is so behind its hard to just take a day or two off to do nothing... everyone here can relate to that!

charlene your barn work is exciting! its been such a long hard project and it is nice to see it come to fruition.

the middle child was a nightmare this week. she came home from school each afternoon enraged, ENRAGED! it started last thursday, then she was fine over the weekend, then again all week long. i was at my wits end - no one can put this house under siege like she can... we are all captive to her anger. we didn't know if it was school, the bus, personal, who knows... the school didn't find her behaviour any different but she did tell me about her friend so i dont know if it was friend issues or not. she is just not talking about it. but yesterday she was all sweetness coming home and its back to being delightful... that is part of the problem. last year was so difficult with her, and after working so hard we have her stable and she is so much delight... that you take it for granted and forget how hard you worked for the peace until it is shattered! so hoping for a better week this week, we have some thoughts to destress her upon return from school each afternoon and we'll see how that works.

maryjane, glad to her about prez stella - so adorable! love the water fountain project. priceless.

lover boy is out with eldest today shopping. he needed to pickup the seed for the farm so we can plant clover and grasses, and i hadn't gotten her to the western wear shop this week as planned so he took her shopping. she is 12, and with her height and long skinny legs she is into a ladies 2 already. trying to explain to them that a girls 16 and a junior/ladies 0/2 is the same size was a bit difficult as they didn't understand two different numbers. but i got a text and they found her a blingy country girl shirt along with a new cowgirl hat so she is ecstatic. she is going to be a "country girl" for halloween, which is pretty easy given we have nice boots and jeans already ;> and that new shirt and hat can be worn to church so no waste there.

i forgot to mention that we are now attending the "cowboy church" in our town. we really like that. everyone comes as they are, no worries about being judged about clothing. all the hymns are countrified and they have a live band performing them along with a women that sometimes contributes the washboard and spoons (no joke!). a couple of kids attend that go to our girls schools, so we are mingling with more people in the neighborhood and enjoying that. they also have regular roping events and family events, all free and very family friendly. its a nice respite each sunday morning to attend and just let the kids be normal kids and engage in the community.

i better be off. i have two youngest at home while hubby is still out with eldest so need to check on them. take care everyone and enjoy some rest this weekend.

Firefly Hollow Farm , our little farmstead. Farmgirl living in the green piney woods of East Texas on 23 acres with a few jerseys, too many chickens, a pair of pugs and my Texan hubby (aka "lover boy")
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maryjane

7072 Posts


Posted - Oct 28 2018 :  05:15:26 AM  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
For sure, take it slow Cindy. More hot baths than normal???? Your little country cowboy church sounds lovely. And so does your little country cowgirl in her new hat and bling-y shirt. Precious memories being made. Once your kids are raised and you head into your 60s and beyond, memories of the hard stuff fades or disappears. Memories are wonderfully selective like that.

Here's what the lazy-cow scene looked like yesterday while Lucas pruned the orchard and I attended to my bees. I was tempted to join them.




MaryJane Butters, author of Milk Cow Kitchen ~ striving for the stoicism of a cow standing in the rain ~
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