Good Fences #70

We are still enjoying the efficiency of the newish cattle pens.

And as you can see, J broke down and bought a real "farm use" tag for the trailer instead of continuing to use the piece of cardboard with magic marker.

For more Good Fences click HERE.

The Remuda

re·mu·da

rəˈmo͞odə/

noun

NORTH AMERICAN

1. a herd of horses that have been saddle-broken, from which ranch hands choose their mounts for the day.

This is part of our remuda.  V and her boyfriend Mike came here for the weekend and went on a ride around the farm Sunday.  I think this was Mike's second time on a horse.  Still, he was game for a long ride.

 Mike rode Hank, V was back on her 4-H mount Jessica, and J took Brother while I was on my favorite, Otoelene.

 Somehow, my camera got switched to "fish eye" lens sometime during the ride.  I really don't know what the point of this setting is other than to annoy me when I get back and see these wonky pictures.

 I was wondering why I was having trouble getting Otoelene's ears in the picture.

 When we got back to the barn V wanted me to take her picture with Mike.  It was then that I knew something was wrong.  Hank is really not shaped like that.

So I did manage to get a somewhat decent picture of them after correcting the camera setting. 

Then later, V took one for me.  The horses did great and I don't think Mike got sore at all.  Now if I could just figure out how to get some tourist in here and charge for a farm tour we'd have something.

In Bloom at the 4R's

We have been having a wonderful season here at the 4R's.  The flowers seem to have really been enjoying all the rain.  I have a variety of lilies in bloom.  

 Here is a Star Gazer Lily.

 There are several day lilies.

 And some tiger lilies that I got my first start from my grandmother shortly after moving here.

 I even have a volunteer sunflower even though I haven't planted any in several years.

 I planted the zinnias next to the houses this year instead of in the garden.  There were a few volunteers in the garden still but they aren't taking over like I've let them in the past.

 And the pink ones are always my favorite.

 I just love all of the pinks and purples in my border garden.

 I know this isn't a flower but it was so pretty I had to include it.

I just planted this little peach tree on the bank last fall and it managed to produce its first year.  I'll have to let you know how they turn out.  It is suppose to be a super sweet

Pinkeye in Cattle

We are currently in the middle of a pinkeye outbreak in the cattle here at the house. 

 Pinkeye in cattle is different than in people and can cause a temporary blindness or even loss of the eye.

 Otoelene, Emma and I went out the other day to check on the situation.

 It is a contagious bacterial infection that first starts as tearing,

and progresses to corneal ulceration and keratitis.  

 When both eyes are affected the calf is essentially blind.

 The bull was not immune to its effect,

  and the cows aren't  either.  When just a few are affected we get them up and treat with antibiotics, eye ointment or steroid injections but unfortunately these were on the part of the grazing  rotation without any working facilities and really too many to treat.   Most of the time once it heals there is only a small scar on the eye.

But until then, kind of creepy, isn't it?
Now for the lighter side of pinkeye here is a very funny Corner Gas Episode HERE.

Orientation

E had orientation for Virginia Tech Monday and Tuesday.  J and I split the duty and he took her and I picked her up.  Since both of us went to Tech and already sent V through, we didn't think both of us needed to be there for all of the sessions. 

E will be majoring in biology and was accepted into the honors program which looks like more work but gets her in a better dorm.

All I can say about orientation is that I'm glad that I had a full charge on my iPad and a book downloaded to read.

But it was a nice day and I enjoyed hanging out with my daughter.  Hope she enjoys college and gets everything out of the experience that she can.

Just Kit Sunday #90

Calendar Kit Kat was at it again.  Who can resist a cat that poses so nicely. 

Catching Up

Going on vacation, even a short one, can really put me behind.  E and I went to the beach for 5 days over the 4th and had a great time visiting family, eating sea food,  laying on the beach, jumping waves and looking for shark teeth.  Then I had to head back to work and today helped J wean the fall calves.  

 J is always great about having everything set so there is little extra that I have to do.

 I think this is the best group of fall calves I remember having.

 We sorted out the cows,

 turned them out,

 then picked out 6 replacement heifers.

Everything else got loaded up and brought to the house.  They were dewormed and left in the barn lot for the night.  Tomorrow J will turn them out in a larger field and start feeding them some grain in preparation for heading out to the feedlot in about 45 days.   Guess I can get back to my regular scheduled now.