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It was time to move the cattle back to the house from the rented land across the road before calving starts. 

Fortunately, Mike was there to help which meant I did next to nothing.  A little line of non-electrified electric fence was set up to keep the cows out of the yard as we headed them out to the road. 

There was a little sorting because Joe wanted some at the house and some up the road at the other farm.  

I drove ahead to turn them into the field at our farm while Mike brought up the rear. 

Then Joe was there to turn them again up to a different field. That all worked fine. 

And the next group worked just as well.  After the cows calve this Spring we will move another group back to the rented land. 

Birdfy

The Bird Buddy birdfeeder and camera we had gotten our mother for Christmas didn't work out.  The only thing we ever saw were cardinals and squirrels.  Then, when I was in Walmart the other day, I saw a Birdfy camera on clearance.  Since it was a tenth of the cost of the Bird Buddy I decided to give it a try. 

I ended up having to dig out an old router for the computer for the wifi to work with the camera. Once I got that all sorted out I set the camera under the bird feeder to see how it would work.   

After 3 days I had 176 videos to look through.  I was really hoping to find a new bird to add to my list.  There is also a live feed I can check on my phone if I am out somewhere and bored.  However, I was disappointed to not be able to identify any new birds.  But I have plenty of old ones, 

Mourning dove    

house finch

blue jay 

chickadee, 

dark-eyed junco,

gold finch, 

white crowned sparrow, 

fox sparrow,  

 and house sparrow.  I am sure Keiran or Emily can correct any errors.  

Since the Birdfy is working out well on the ground, my next step is to use the mounting hardware and direct it toward the feeder.  Maybe I will catch something new up there. 

Seeing Everything

Sadie and Allie came for a visit Saturday.  We had lots of fun.  When I was Allie's nap time, Sadie asked to go outside to walk around so she could, "See everything." 

We started with petting the horses.  

But then Molly and Maggie needed some attention.  

Draper got a gentle pat, 

as did Pep.                                                                                                                                           

Jessica got some attention also.                                                                                                                     

After all of that, Sadie wanted to walk up the hill in front of the house.  It is steep and according to Emily's fitness app, 13 stories high.  But she went the whole way without any help. 

Once we had made it to the top, Sadie looked around and said she could see everything. 

Next, she wanted to walk to the tiny house.  

It is a hunting cabin Joe let a neighbor build.  In return, he shoots all the coyotes he sees.  I am going to have to get a key because Sadie would really like to see the inside and so would I.  

And a trip to see everything isn't complete without seeing the goats. 

Then Sadie wanted to take some pictures herself.  I even consented to pose. 

I thought she took a very nice landscape photo.  

Then she ended with a selfie.  
 

Three-Plus or Minus

I am try to not get too excited. Many things can still go wrong. 

But with three months or less to go it is looking promising. 

That is not a fat belly it is a baby belly. So far so good. In a few more weeks I will need to take her off pasture and just feed hay hoping to avoid fescue toxicity.  Then if all goes well I need to decide whether or not to breed her again and if so to what stallion. Lots of things to consider. 

 

Frozen

We have been having a very long stretch of cold weather.  It was 1 degree this morning, 4 degrees yesterday and it is not getting out of the 20’s during the day. 

It doesn't seem to be bothering Hugo, he is fat and fuzzy.  He even let me walk up at pat his nose.  I think he knows I can't make him work right now.  

 The cold has been a bother about Hugo's water buckets, they stay frozen.  Joe has to take jugs of hot water down to the barn twice a day to thaw them.  Maybe one of these days we should just put him out with the other horses, or just wait for it to warm up again.  Whatever. 

New Idea

I had a new idea for what to do with the base of my previously stunning bird bath. 

I thought it might make a beautiful gazing ball stand.

The problem is that it will be glass on glass.  I am considering using some flexible caulk to join the two parts.  It is still a work in progress. 
 

Is This Really Me

For some reason I have been receiving emails about auctions in the state of Virginia.  I hope the top picks for me are just randomly generated.  Otherwise, I need to change something about my internet surfing behavior.  

I hope that I am not portraying myself as someone interested in crowbars 

and old lamp shades.  Or do they know me better than I know myself. 

 

Later Than Usual

Sometimes life happens and work gets put on hold.  We usually have the calves weaned by now but bad weather and difficult family matters delayed the process. 

But today’s weather was better, Joe had everything lined up and Mike was able to help.

We thought it would be easy for the cows to just follow the tractor and hay to the barn lot.  

But the cows had another idea.  They wanted to make an extra lap around the field before doing what they were supposed to.

We put groups of cows and calves in the barn.  Joe dewormed the cows and Mike helped sort them out of the barn.  Then they went into a different lot.  Next, the calves were dewormed and sent in a different direction.

My job was to monitor the gate holding the cows back.

There was lots of bawling as expected. After finishing up the forth group, it was time to move the cows out to a different field where they would have fence line contact with the calves.  This is supposed to make weaning less stressful. 

My next job was to babysit Jessica to keep her from getting in the way.  At 25 she has mellowed a lot and didn’t cause any trouble. 

Job done a few days late.

 

From The Kitchen Window

When Sadie and I were having another tea party Tuesday, I looked out the window and saw this…

A beautiful red tailed hawk was sitting on a yard fence post.

I see it in the driveway almost daily, but this was the first time I caught it this close to the house. 

Then this morning when I looked out there was the most spectacular sunrise. 

The sky was amazing.

Lastly, one more glance out of the window to check the sunrise and I had to grab the binoculars to make sure this wasn’t a coyote.  No coyote, just a big red fox.