Here we go again

  It was so nice we got about 4 days in the 40's and I was starting to feel a little cheerier. I would stay outside after chores a little longer and do a few extra things. I peeled back the layer of clothing from 5 or 6 layers to 3. I actually had one less load of laundry to do each day cause the guys wore less layers too, I was feeling hopeful! Nope - back to freezing again and snow and  below zero lows predicted again, YUCK!! How much more can we take before we all move south. I bet the cows agree with me and they would probably follow right along in hopes of sunshine and green grass.

  It looks like the beginning of March is going to be nasty. I just hope that in like a lion out like a lamb holds true, I will cross my fingers. Stay warm everyone!

A little daydreaming

                                                                                Then

                                                                              Now

  Just sitting here remembering when the grass was green and the garden was in. I just can't wait to garden and work outside in the yard again. It is going to be in the 40's again today so the snow is starting to melt and I can see spots of grass peeking out ( brown grass of course) but going back down after today. It is so windy today though. At least in the forecast the worst I see so far for lows is in the teens and not any negatives, so that means the glass is half full right? Just hoping and wishing for the time it is full!

Lineback Cows

 

 

  We know someone that cringes every time she comes to our farm and sees our lineback cows. She cannot understand why we would want to milk them, they are a beef breed she says ( they are actually a dual breed). Above is a few pictures of the udders of 3 of our first calf heifer lineback cows who freshened months ago, I think they look good and are very promising ( they could use the iodine washed off them before any more pictures). They also help with the components in our milk, we usually run about a 4.2 butterfat.  My husband fell in love with the first lineback cow we purchased so now with AI and now our own bull we have several of them and so far so good!

Some new calves

  We finally had some new calves, it has been months. The first cow, Boo Boo, had a bull calf and last night when it was below zero Brown Brown freshened. She had her calf just at the end of milking and when the girl who helps us(Alisha) checked on her she was sorta sitting on her calf and she killed it. Poor thing she was probably trying to keep it warm and unknown to us till the morning she had a twin and unfortunately he didn't make it either. It was so cold last night.

  It has been months since I had to milk a cow into the can or even bottle feed a calf. I took a picture of Boo Boo's calf that I was going to post but now when I try to upload my pictures they upload too big. I am not very good with computers so I am not sure what I can do to fix this, #1 son is the one who fixes my glitches and he lives almost an hour away and is busy right now. It really is frustrating me, I need to take a class. It is probably something simple too but like I said it is not my thing.

  Well I hope to be able to do pictures before too long, hope it is warming up for everyone. It is going to be in the forties here in a couple days, can't wait!!! Keep warm- Toodles!

Cow tails to the west?

  I know that everyone hates the weather and have been doing a lot of complaining, myself included but they changed our low tonight from -4 to -15, BLAH!!! I was reading in the farmers alamanac the old myths about the weather and the one said - cow tails pointing to the west the weather is best, cow tails pointing to the east weather is the least. So I was thinking I should get the cows in front of the barn and make them stand with their tails pointing to the west ( I might have to tie them up for that) so then we could have nice weather. What do you think, would it work?

Some homemade snacks

    

 

  I have been trying lately to make the things we like from scratch. That way we can eliminate some of the preservatives and dyes and such. Today I made wheat crackers ( not too bad), granola bars ( pretty good), and caramel corn ( who doesn't love that). I was going to do cheese crackers also but ran out of time.

 

  I had to put in some laundry, wash some eggs, and then it was afternoon calf chores ( I actually have milking off tonight). When I came in it was put together dinner and then I was pooped. I decided take a break and sit a little, relax and catch some of the Olympics until the guys come in for dinner. So off to the Olympics and the couch for me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 





Some of the girls

I felt that I shouldn't leave them out

 



Reba

 

 



Dog

(She is my favorite)

 

Suzi

(My son's favorite)

 

Nora

(Our Normande heifer)

 

Some of the little girls

 

(Another little one)

 

Miss Chicken

(She isn't with the others because they tried to peck her eye out)

 

Sadie

(Doesn't that look like a I wish it was spring look)