Spring Calving 2020

Our cows and heifers started calving over a week ago.  

 So far, so good.  J has been catching the calves and banding the bulls so that will be one less chore when we have to work them later.

 It looks like it might be an early spring, but things change pretty quickly day by day.

 At least we have permission from the Governor to go outside and take care of the animals.   Apparently, farming is essential, but so is the ABC store, go figure.

 I think this little guy just wanted some company.  Too much social distancing.

 But with good weather, comes some bad things too.  Zoom in to check out those flies.

Hope you have a chance to go out and enjoy Spring.

More Land, Maybe

We might have the opportunity to buy another piece of land.

 V and M went with us to check it out.

 There were some beautiful views,

 from several locations,

 including a 360 degree view from a high point.

 There were also some very steep wooded areas,

 which won't remain wooded because the timber has already been sold.  They have 2 years to cut it.

 There are pasture fields and a hay field too.

 The fences are all in good shape, and no junk or trash around.

 Plus, an interesting tree.

And my favorite, the working pens from Jurassic Park.  I didn't see any velociraptors, but that's what it looked like they were expecting with the construction of those pens.
It is all going to boil down to the cost.  It is not advertised, J just went to talk to them and feel out the situation.  They were very willing to consider selling so now we just have to see if we can get together on a price.  That will be the hard part.

Just Kit Sunday #153

Kit Kat treat two weeks in a row. 

 Today he was working on this claws.

 Hopefully, getting ready to go catch some vermin. 

 He doesn't look like someone you would want to mess with. 

What A Difference A Day Makes

I took pictures yesterday of the cherry trees but it was a little gloomy and they didn't show up too well. 

 I had to zoom in on this one when I downloaded it because I knew there wasn't a skunk in the yard when I took the picture.  Can you see what it is?  A bumble bee!

 Then this morning the sun was shining and the trees really popped.

 I just wish the blooms would last longer.

Brief but beautiful season.

Bad Horse For Sale Pictures #34

Looking for a little humor in this very trying time.  Found this gem on Facebook.

Are you so busy that you have to go out and take pictures by headlights?

Or are you just trying to disguise the missing eye.

Kit Kat Sunday #152

It has been awhile since I had a Kit Kat Sunday.  November 24 to be exact. 

 You were probably worried about his well being. 

 As you can see, he his his fat, fluffy, happy self.  (with a little In Bloom in the background)

Photo shoot - over.

3 Ways To Make Your Veterinarian Remember You

And all 3 happened in one day.

1- Come in for booster shots for your Bichon and announce that your groomer recommends you not get kennel cough and rabies at the same time.  Have your vet explain that your dog, in 9 years has never had an issue with any of the vaccines, the body can respond to 10,000 antigens a one time, with the Lyme vaccine and DHLPP, that were also due, that's only 8 things. And lastly, be told that our kennel cough vaccine is oral, and I have never seen an adverse reaction to it.  The Rabies, Lyme and DHLPP are all much more likely to trigger a mild reaction.  After all of that say, "don't do the kennel cough today, I want to keep my groomer happy."  Really, 8 years of school, 30 years experience, yearly continuing education, and numerous informational meeting with drug reps, but let's listen to the groomer.

2- Bring dog in for lameness, barely toe touching on right rear.  After vet examines the obvious leg because that is the one being held up in the air by the dog, say "would you check the other leg because in horses a lameness can sometime look like a different leg."  Yes, I do horses too, sometimes a subtle rear leg lameness can seem like a front leg.  But even a horse will be lame on the one it is holding up in the air. 

3- Bring in a feral cat to be spayed and demand that only gas anesthesia be used.  Complain that all the other times when you pick your cats back up they are wobbly and need to be kept quite in a crate for a couple of days.  When asked what will you do with this feral cat when you get it home say, "it's not use to the other cats so I will keep it in a crate for a couple of days."  Then spend 10 more minutes listening to all the other anesthetic protocols that are more appropriate for a feral cat and say, "well, I was told that gas was the best."

I do have trouble remembering people.  And most are nice, normal people that care about their pets.  It's just these crazy ones that stand out.  And yes, I do remember these three.

Sisters, Sisters

"Sisters, Sisters, There were never such devoted Sisters."  (song from White Christmas for those of you that didn't know)

I think Draper likes to copy her older sister.

Could they be any more alike?

Pick Up Sticks

Remember last August when we had some new fence built?

There were several dead trees that we had cut so they wouldn't fall on the fence later.  That made for a lot of wood and 

 lots of leftover branches.  J had finished sawing up the big stuff and was tired of seeing all the sticks left laying around.  So on a calm wet day, I went and started a little fire.  J and I picked up sticks all afternoon.  I had a pretty good sized bon fire at times.  That was Saturday.  Monday, I went back to work on picking up more sticks.  The coals were still hot and only took a little stirring to get the fire started back up again.  Another afternoon spent picking up sticks.  I think this is a new Farercising routine, lots of bending, stretching, lifting, stepping over things and going up and down hill, all while being respiratory compromised with the smoke. 

 Then today, J finished the project while I went for a ride.  Too bad we were social distancing and couldn't have a good ol brush burning party. 

 Now we just have a big pile of wood to deal with.

Coupon Saturday #41

Couponing has been pretty good lately. 

Last month there was another clearance event, additional 50% off clearance items.  Combining that with coupons and Saturday $5 off $25, I think I paid around $5 for everything.

 Then last week, I did my usual, try to get what I want cheaper.  So the Swiss Miss and grape juice together was $5.

Success,  $4.70, everything else free.

 Then same this week.  Vegetables were on sale for 50 cents, and more Swiss Miss and grape juice.  Aiming for under $9.

 Winning again at $7.05 with more free stuff. 

 And I will admit that I too got caught up in the toilet paper hysteria.  I really wasn't going to get any, but the Degree deal was too good to pass up and it expired today.  So I made a second trip and got some toilet paper.  TP is never free, so I usually only get it when I am running low or if there is a really good deal.  This didn't quite meet my criteria but you do what you have to in a crisis. 

$4.55, so less than the tp by itself.  It was either that or more cheese puffs.  I think I made the right call.  Pretty sure our DG was sold out of tp by closing.  The bigger town we are near was already sold out yesterday.  Hope everyone else is set. 

In Bloom at the 4Rs

Despite the world falling apart over the Wuhan virus, things are still going along as usual here.

 My teeny tiny daffodils are multiplying and blooming.  They started out as a small pot with about 4 or 5 blooms.   A couple of years ago instead of a chocolate bunny for Easter, my boss gave out these flowers.

Cute enough to make me smile every time I see them.

Equine Challenge Day 10

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 10/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

My last day of the challenge....skipping ahead a few years.  Now with a husband that also grew up riding too, and two beautiful daughters that allowed me to share my passion with them.  I now need an updated family photo that includes M.  It's hard enough to get the 5 of us together for one picture, will I ever be able to do it with 5 horses too?  Living the dream here at the 4Rs....

Equine Challenge Day 9

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 9/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

No horse in this picture but it was taken at a horse show at our county fairgrounds.  My father took me to just about every horse event that I went to, driving me and my horse in a 1972 stock truck.  He even took me 5 hours away to watch a polo match so I could complete my 4-H Horse Masters project book.   I am pretty sure he had no interest in horses, but he had a lot of interest in me and making me happy and successful.   At most shows, he could be found re webbing lawn chairs, or taking a nap in the front seat of the truck.  That is until I was in a class, then he was there giving me a leg up, standing at the rail and taking pictures.  He never told me I couldn't do something, and always told me how good I did, never a criticism.   My older sister L (yellow shirt)  took care of that.  She was at the rail giving me instructions.  I rode endless circles around her as she instructed me on my equitation, "heels down, toes in, grip, grip grip..."  She was my harshest critic and biggest cheerleader.  My mother didn't go to all my shows but she did go to some that were close by and of course the big one in Richmond, the State Fair.  But once again, she never told me no, if it was something I wanted to do.  I really don't know how I didn't turn out to be more of a spoiled brat than I am.  And I am sorry if I ever felt embarrassed about my parents, I mean, what 12 year old would be embarrassed about those hats.

Equine Challenge Day 8

I was nominated for the ten-day equestrian challenge. This is 8/10

Everyday I select an image from a day in the life of horses that have had an impact on me and post it without a single explanation and nominate one other person to take the challenge.

That’s ten days,
10 equestrian photos
and 0 explanations.

My grandparents are the main reason we were able to have horses.  They had a farm 6 miles from the town I grew up in and for some reason allowed us to have pretty much as many horses as we wanted.   I would ride the bus there after school, go riding, then someone would come pick me up to go back home.  On her 80th birthday, my grandmother said she had been wanting to go riding.  She rode the work horses as a child, but never one of our horses.  So, on her birthday, I caught Hot Toddy and saddled him up.  Grandma climbed into the back of the pickup truck and we lead Todd over to her.  He stood like a champ while she got on.  Grandma rode around the driveway a little bit and posed for some pictures.  She said someday she wanted to go on a real ride around the farm, but that never happened.  If you want to do something, go do it.