Weekend Ride And Then Some

Well, the title is technically true, it was a weekend just last week.  We had  too much other stuff going on this weekend to ride much.

 So last Sunday J took off on Brother and I rode Otoelene around our 3 mile loop.

 Emma went with us and about 1/2 a  mile into the ride she digs under a fence and pulls out a squirrel.  (already dead)

 She was very pleased with her find and carried it for a mile before leaving it at the gate to our farm.  I don't know if she ever went back for it or not.

 Brother was a little uppity about half way through so J did some weaving in and out of the trees.

 It wasn't long before Brother decided to start listening again

  and bending nicely through the turns.

 Otoelene just stood and waited patiently for her brother to start behaving.

As we finished our ride we saw a cow starting to calve.  After a little while J checked it again and saw she was not making any progress.

So off she went to the barn to get checked.  The calf was coming forward but it was upside down with its head off to the side.  It was just a matter of putting the chains on, crossing them over and lifting and pushing on the head while J pulled on the crossed chains to get the calf flipped up and into the right position.  

A little more pulling and he was out.

There is always something to do around here.

Kid count - 13

Off to a Bad Start

Last year was pretty trouble free for kidding season.  But we have gotten off to a bad start this year.  We were waiting to get the bought heifers hauled to our rented pasture before we put the goats in the kidding field but they decided to start kidding before we got them rounded up.  One nanny had a set of twins on one end of  the farm and another had a set of triplets at the other end.  It was dusk when I got home and J and E already had the other nannies in the field but we ended up just leaving the 2 that had kidded out because it was too far to try to move them.

Last night Bea was with the twins but this morning she was with the triplets, well one of them anyway.  Looks like the mother abandoned it and Bea was laying with it against this tree.   What a good dog.

 We picked it up and put it with the others but the nanny butted it away.

 She just wouldn't have anything to do with it.

And the little baby wasn't at all happy about the situation.  We brought it back to the house and went to check on the twins.  Even though they were in a large lot and away from the fence, the nanny still managed to lay on one and kill it.  J caught her so I could milk her for some colostrum  for the triplet.  So for the time being it looks like we have our first bottle goat of the season.

Good Fences #55 or

Three Water Gaps and Dry Land...

 Since the grass is staring to green up and part of the cows are done calving,  it's time to move some of them across the creek.  That always means we have to go check the water gaps.  The only trouble J had at the first one was getting his shirt caught on the barb wire.

 The second one was up and no problem.

 The third and deepest one was of course broken but J fixed it in no time.  I love the knots of tree roots on the bank.

Then it was off to dry land.  These fences are definitely easier to check.

For more Good Fences click HERE.

Happy 21 V!!!!

V is officially 21 years old today.

She came home from Tech for the weekend and we celebrated her birthday on Easter.

 She said this picture looked like a magazine family.

 V also went riding with me on Monday.

 She rode Hank and I rode Otoelene.  We cantered all through the bottom and rode around the farm.

 It was a lovely day with a special daughter.  Happy 21!

Just Kit Sunday #85

Kit Kat is joined today by V.  You'll have to wait for Kit Kat's pictures at the end.

 But first, here is V with her new (to her) car.  It is a 2010 Nissan Rouge SL with 69,000 miles, a heater that works, leather heated seats and a sun roof.  A friend of ours was selling it and it was just what V had been looking for to start out on her own with since she will be graduating from college in another month.

 She will gladly hand the rav down to E.  We are hoping it will last through E's college although it is a 1998 model with 230,000 miles on it.  I don't think J would mind having it for a farm vehicle.

And who knows what will happen to the 1989 crown vic now.  V is really glad those days are gone.  Poor E, one more week before V takes ownership of her car for good.

Now it just has to pass inspection.   

 Kit Kat's inspection that is. 

I think he likes the licence plates!

Happy Easter everyone. 

Yard Ornament

Looks like there is a new yard ornament around here. 

 I see him almost every day.

He fits right in, doesn't he?  That is until I catch him in my garden.

Good Fences #54

Otoelene

 Sleepy Horse 

Pretty Horse. 

For more good fences click HERE.