Greener Pastures

After we fixed the fence yesterday it was time to move the cattle to that field. 

 J went to "swook"  them.  There they are, really far away.

 But they know J's voice and are use to getting better grass if they come.

 They don't get too far through the gate before their heads go down and they start eating.

There is something to be said for greener pastures.

Still Cleaning Up

J is still working on down fences from the wind storm 4 weeks ago.  

 He has been working on the fences in order of where the cows are rotating to next.  This is the section that was next on the list.

 This sycamore completely uprooted and landed on a large section of already old and previously patched fence.

 J had some old flat metal post that the post driver wouldn't fit over.  When I asked where he got them he said, "I don't remember, I just find things."

 Because he couldn't use the post driver he had to use a sledge hammer which was a little more challenging.

 Then he rigged up a piece of old american wire to the existing fence and attached it to the new posts.

And voila, ready for the cows.

Flowers

I haven't shown off my flowers for awhile.  

 The sunflowers were doing great until that windstorm a couple of weeks ago.  They just don't have a good root system and they are mostly laying on the ground now.

  My zinnias have been beautiful.  

 I still love the pink ones best.

 But the orange ones are very striking.

The ever blooming hydranga is living up to it's name and has been putting out new blooms all summer.

And the black eyed Susans are always a summer standby no matter how hot.
Hope you enjoy the flowers as much as I do.

On V and E

V had orientation at Virginia Tech this week.  There was an overnight stay in one of the dorms.  V said it was pretty basic.    She is very excited about starting college and leaving home.  

 They messed up her schedule and gave her 2 classes at the same time.  Now most of the classes she can replace one with are all full.  I don't know what she has decided to take.  She has enough credits from Governor's School to be a Sophomore and she won't have to take any more math, english or science.

 While V as at orenitation, E was at the mall getting her hair cut and ears pierced.

She looked like she was in a little pain after the first ear.  I asked if it hurt and she said, "everyone that says it doesn't hurt at all or it just feels like a pin prick is WRONG.   It felt lite someone was stabbing a metal post through my ear."  What girls do to be pretty.

Latecomer

We had one more baby goat a couple of days ago.  The rest finished kidding in April.  

 This is E's first pet bottle goat Squeaky. She is now 9 years old.  She didn't kid last year and took her own sweet time with it year.  We have one of her daughter's in the herd too.  Her name is Squeaker.

This year's is a boy.  He's a whopper for just 2 days old.  We may keep him for a buck for next year.

Horse Vaulting

We had for us, a very successful 4-H meeting.  I had borrowed a vaulting surcingle and had practice with Hank and was ready for the 4-Her's. 

My reinforced saddle rack worked well as a vaulting dummy.

Everyone took a turn practicing the compulsory moves on it before we tried it on the real thing.

No one quite got the hang of mounting a moving horse but Katelyn did manage to do it once.

I'm not sure what move V is doing but I know we didn't practice it that way.

She did do a very nice flag move.

E took her turn,

and Cory turned out to be a natural.

Jordyn finally made it to a meeting and had a great time.

I think Katelyn is too tall for this move.

Jordyn stayed after and rode Hank (who truly is The Wonder Horse) some more, with a real saddle.  The barn worked out great too.  We had a thunderstorm in the middle or riding (0.35 inches this time)  but we never had to stop.   I think the club might be interested it buying it's own vaulting saddle now.

Another Driver

E got her learner's permit last month but do to some vacationing she hasn't been practicing much.  She has been driving on the dirt roads near our house. 

 Yesterday was her first time on the hardtop. She drove the 10 miles home from the Farm Bureau picnic at the fair grounds.   J didn't yell too loud and only tried to grab the wheel once when she was drifting off the road on a straight a way.  E said that section was getting boring and she was starting to think about other things.

Are we really ready for this?

Friday Fences #42

I thought this was a nice touch at this horse show back in June.  They had little flags around the rail.  I was a little afraid they might spook the horses at first but Hank the Wonder Horse took it all in stride. 

For more Friday Fences click here.

The Coming Storm

We've been getting just enough rain to get by for which we are very thankful.  But the grass literally is greener on the other side of the fence.  The town just 10 miles away got over 5 inches of rain in the last week while we got 1.3 inches (usually 1 to 3 tenths at a time).  Of course, if we had gotten the 5 inches I would have to be complaining about the driveway washing out.  It's hard to ever be satisfied.  My grandparents use to always complain that it would rain all around them but never on their farm.  We would joke that they must live in a donut hole.  But their farm always seemed to provide enough for their needs.  Again, we are thankful for what we have. 

 This evening the clouds started to roll in.

And the rain came again, 1 tenth this time.

Getting Ready

It seems like we are always getting ready for something.  V is getting ready to go to college next month and we have been doing some shopping for dorm stuff.  I told her I would get all matching things for her room if she wanted and she wouldn't have to take leftovers from home.  J and I are getting ready for a endurance ride next month also. (V may even join us).  Sunday we rode an 8 mile trail in 1 1/4 hours and the horse's pulses were right at 60 when we stopped. (60 is good).  And this coming Sunday we are having a 4-H horse meeting here at the barn. 

 This is an old saddle rack J's grandfather had made.

I'm doing some reinforcements on it to use for a special project at the meeting.  I hope to have a good turnout and get some good pictures for the blog.
I am also getting the blog ready for a contest.  J's Aunt entered it in a Country Living Magazine contest.  There is a reader's choice division so I hope everyone can vote.  I'll look up the info and have a link later for that.   Any suggestions on what you want to see more of?
What are you getting ready for?

Switzerland Return

 V and E are home from 16 days in Switzerland.  They had a blast but I think were ready to come home.  They went with my 3 sisters.

 This is the front of the house or villa they stayed in but they were in the basement.

And this is the view from the back of the villa.  That is Lake Geneva.  Shania Twain has a villa 2 down from this one. 

 They also went into France and Germany and may have crossed into Italy but weren't sure.

 V saw this field of cows and thought about J.  It looks very peaceful but just as hilly and steep as here.

 They went to lots museums and gardens, the zoo and a chocolate factory and cheese factory.

There were a lot of castles to tour and medieval towns.  They rode public transportation everywhere, trains, trolleys and boats.  They also went to the Matterhorn.  I think the trip was very educational but 2 years of high school French is apparently not enough to be of much use.  E doesn't know where she whats to go next but V would like an all inclusive resort where it is warm.
Thank you three sisters for taking care of everything.

Friday's Fences #41

It's been awhile since I joined up with Friday's Fences but this week I had the opportunity to take a few fence pictures. 

 Nothing beats an old wooden fence for character but a new wooded fence is more useful.

 I love the purple flower with the black cow.  Ignore the fact that it is a thistle.

It looks like this tree couldn't decide which way to fall.  Luck the whole thing didn't fall on the fence.
For more Friday's Fences click here

Seasons

It seems like time passes here based not only on the season but on the cow life cycle.  

 Today, we weaned the calves from the fall calving cows.

 It would be nice to make permanent fixes to things but there never is enough time.  The corral panels get a continual workout.

 J's got crowding them onto the trailer down to an art.

 He used to opportunity to squirt some dewormer on them.

 It was a short ride over to the house but they were glad to get back out of the trailer.

 Sissy watched the process with great interest.

They made a bee line for the shade but at least today was a good 10 degrees cooler than yesterday.  We hauled all 3 loads before lunch.  Now we will be serenaded for the next few nights.