A Cow Round-Up!

Whilst the boys were out chasing cows on four-wheelers with their Dad and their Uncle Don, "Miss I can't get dirty in the barn" wanted her picture taken.  She was lacking some attention while the other two sides of her triangle was chasing the cows that got out. 

Here she is ... and here's the story:

Like always, a trip to the barn is in order on our way home.  The climax of their day is to hit the barn and check out the happenings while they were gone.  You never know if a new baby has been born, or if they'll be the star of a rodeo when they get there.  Just so happens, the star of the day was a sick cow, and the boys jumped right in to help treat her. 

They were all hands on handing in the pills and syringe that housed a giant sized needle.  The pills weren't anything to ignore either.  They looked liked giant sweet-tarts and they used a medicine tube to get them in her.  The medical aspect of this farm still amazes me.  I've been a people nurse way too long and just can't grasp this end of things.

They also get to ride home with their Dad from the barn to the house ... and that is when it happened.

It was Round Up Time!  One of the pastures of cows had escaped and the boys helped round them up.  Just in the eight years I've been here, times have changed.  Von used to chase them on foot or else drive his old black pickup truck through the pasture.  These days .... it's a race on 4-wheelers and a big whooping it up because the cows don't like the noise.  If I was a cow, I definitely wouldn't want to be playing chicken with a wild man and a loud kid on a four wheeler!  Don and Jay on one ... and Von and Sam on the other. 

So I stood outside to try to get a few pictures of the round up ... and instead had a little mini shoot with the Princess!  She didn't realize it, but while she was standing there posing and complaining, she was surrounded by clumps of cow poop.  You see, we were standing in the gravel right in front of the barn gate, and if you can imagine before Photoshop .... that little brown clump by her left ear was a pretty big chunk of fresh poop!

Gonna Ride a Cow!

As always, yesterday evening we ran by the farm to visit the cows and their babies.  We have a special few that my boys ride every chance they get, and yesterday was no exception. 

It's pretty awesome to watch your little bitty four year babies ride a bucking calf.  It kinda makes your heart stick in your throat, and kind of makes you a little bit sick at your stomach.  Of course, they love it.  There is nothing like a bucking heifer in a small pen that doesn't want you on its back.

When I was growing up, I had never heard of riding a cow.  I thought you only rode horses ... but then again, I'd never lived on a cow farm, and I'd never even seen a cow up close.  I led a sheltered life I guess.  Then I moved here and found out what all I had missed in my life.

There is nothing in the world like walking through a muddy barn lot after a fresh rain.  Nothing like slopping through the run off of cow manure in your new boots!  Nope nothing like it ... just ask my boys!

I think I'll just vest my money in Rural King until these little guys grow up and pay their own way.  Four pairs of boots = $175.00.  Two happy little boys = Priceless!

Quiet Little Guy

Not that this is the Sam show .... but yesterday evening, Sam came to me and said, "Ahhhhh .... he sure is a quiet little guy!"

Yep Sam, that's a mouse .... and he's dead!  Feet in the air dead!  It's disgusting ... don't pick up dead animals!  Ewwwww!

Sam, along with his brother Jay has been taught by the higher order of the farm to go outside and pee at the end of the sidewalk!  That higher order forgot to tell them to leave the dead mouse outside!

This is farm country and yes, there are country mice!  Nice little fat ones ... that need to remember to live in the barn!

On Top of the World

Finally ... they turned around, and stood there, together, long enough for me to snap a picture of them! Then .... they were off! Off to play on the farm. Off to "walk" a calf, but instead the calf "walked" them. Off to play in the fresh silage. Off to dance on top of the world!
We're smack in the middle of harvest here. Harvest comes earlier than normal when you're a dairy farmer, and instead of the corn being combined for grain, we chop it. Well ... it's not really "WE" ... it's HE. But, since I'm the other half of him ... I'm taking credit. So, we chop the entire stalk while it's still green. There's a fine line there and a rush to "get-r-done." You have to make sure that the ear is full and juicy, but it's not too dry. ... and with little or no rain it dries faster than normal.

Our cows eat Silage as their main diet along with other things that have been added by their Nutritionist. Yes, they have their own Dietitian that tells us what to feed them. Isn't that like having your own personal barnyard chef?

My kiddo's are standing on top of the Silo and dancing and twirling and throwing the stuff into the air. They look as if they're almost even with the tops of the trees in the background. ... and they are! Geesh, I hope they don't fall off while I'm standing there taking their pictures. It's all about having a priority you know!

But it's okay ... they won't fall far because our silo is a "trench silo." It's all underground ... and really they're standing on a hill but still almost ground level. The silo is so full and heaped up right now, they can play on top of it until their Dad and Uncle catch them, and then boy, will they be in big trouble. ... and do you think I'm going to tell that I pushed them up there ... no way Jose!
These kid's are happy when they're visiting over at the main farm. Even though we have barns and cows practically right outside our back door ... it's not the same as when they visit the "milk cows" and "baby cows" or where all the tractors are parked, and where their Dad spends most of his working time.

This is Jay ... and his dazed "what the heck happened" look! This is what he looks like when he dances too close to the open end of the silo. This what he looked like when he slid about fifteen feet down the slope of the open end of the silo, and landed smack dab in the middle of the old silage.



Did I tell you that silage ferments and gets all slick and slimy ... and it stinks? It stinks R.E.A.L.L.Y bad!!!

Speaking of fermenting silage ... I wonder if the cows get a little bit tipsy when they eat it? Gonna have to ask MM about that, and I'll bet you $2,587,398.19 that he just grunts at me. He thinks I ask way too may farm questions!

Of course this is Megan ... and this picture doesn't have a darn thing to do with stinking Jay and the fermented silage ... it's just a picture of her sitting here looking cute and picking beans out of some flower pods we found!

Be Blessed Everyone!

Farm Boys

Jay. It was a cold Spring day, but he wanted to go outside with his Daddy. Amazingly, these kids are three and a half years old now ... no longer babies, no diapers, and the time has come that the boys want to be with their Dad. Of course, I gently push the issue. I quietly whisper little things like, "Hey boys, Daddy is leaving. Wanna go with him?" Then I yell out .... "Hey Von, they're crying and want to go with you. Can they go for a bit?" (hehehehehe, he's not sneaking out and leaving me with three kids ... no sirree!) Then it's a mad rush to get boots and jackets on, and herd them out the door before he changes his mind. Whew! That's hard work!
Sam. Dirt streaked face and the best little helper on earth. He too wanted to go outside and help his Daddy. Yes! I love it when he wants to do that .... of course, I love spending time with my kids. Really I do. I only have a few moments of guilt when I boot them out the door.

But they're farm boys, and I have to remember that .... and farm boys are supposed to go outside with their Daddy and learn stuff. They're supposed to learn cow and farm stuff, and all about tractors and things like that. It's their job. It's their roots! Their destiny! So I know deep in my heart I did the right thing by shoving them outside in the cold.

Well, it really wasn't that cold. I'm just overprotective and probably over-dressed them, and I even took the lining out of their coat. It's a Mom thing! You can't kick your kids out without a coat .... would look bad you know! The neighborhood would talk .... sigh.

Farm Boys I tell you! Jay was yelling for Sam to run fast. There's work to do!

Not that I would trade in my kids or anything, but I used to feel a little bit sorry for Meg being the only little girl here. No play mates for her. She's so prissy she won't go outside with the boys ... I'd really be pushing it with Marlboro Man if I sent all three outside to work on the farm.

I knew God knew what he was doing when he gave us two boys and one girl! Me and that prissy little girl get to stay in where it's warm and talk about shopping and lipstick!

Be Blessed Everyone!

~ Cowabunga Boots ~

Cow Boots! Just perfect for a Cow Farm! They got these boots for their birthday last month and would not wear them. Would not put them on .... not one time! They didn't like 'em, and all it takes is for one of them to "not like something" and everyone "doesn't like something." It's a triplet thing!
They were bored today and picking at each other and fighting, so Marlboro Man nonchalantly said, "I think I'll put on my cow boots and go outside and pick up that wood pile." Instantly, all three of these little curtain climbing yard-apes ran and got their "cow boots" and their Carhartt coats. Instant love affair with the new boots! Why didn't he say that a month ago .... ha ~

They helped push the wheelbarrow to the wood pile and proceeded to work like little slaves! I don't know if I ever told you all that we assigned farm chores for them when they started walking about two years ago! Next year the boys are going to start milking the cows. You believe that?

They huffed and puffed and worked like crazy and filled the entire wheelbarrow! Three pieces at a time. Everything happens in three's around here! Three times the fun.
Then they pushed it all the way back to the house! These "cow boot wearing farmer kids" are hard workers. I'm going to have to think of more jobs for them.

By the time they got everything situatated and back in the house, lunch was ready and on the table and they all told me how hard they worked and how they picked up the wood and how they got cold and it was warm in the house, and they "like" their new cow boots! They each brought in a small piece of wood to help MM put on the fire!

Moral to the story: work 'em hard .... nap 'em good! More blogging time for Mom!

Be Blessed Everyone! ~