Yes, we are still here!
I am only one kid and a ton of other farm stuff behind on my posts. I read other people's blogs and so admire their writing & photography. Let's just say writing & photography don't make the top of my talents list - so here goes. Or at least the really short version of the last 7 (are you sure?) months!
We shall start with our Miss Nia. She joined us on March 1st; weighing in at 9 lbs. 5 oz. She hasn't slowed down on the growth curve or desire to keep up the the three crazies ahead of her. Jeff & I have an over under bet as to if she walks (takes two steps on her own) in 2013 or 2014. She is a sweetie that takes life as number 4 in stride. Now if she would only sleep through the night!Many of you met her at her first cattle sale - you know when she was 15 days old.
Miss Molly is a 2nd grader! She is off and running at school once again. Here she is with her pig at the Spokane Interstate Fair. Molly was the Grand Champion Pee-Wee Showman. Slightly proud parents. A testament to perseverance; she outlasted the pig's desire to run and managed to keep track of the judge as well or better than the other 5-8 year olds.
Trevor & Lila are on the go 4 year olds. Trevor is a little cowboy who is more than happy to go with Jeff at any time. Even if to catch a nap in the swather. Poor guy can't make it a single pass! Lila is our animal & sports lover. Always tracking down the cats, jumping in the pig pens, brushing the bottle calves and dribbling a basketball. Not many dull moments on the home front!
Of course September means fall calves! Jeff is letting Nia grab one. I think the calf was more bothered by Nia's two-handed grab than getting weighed & tagged! So far so good on calving, we do have two bottle calves (one twin & one from a not-so-good first calf heifer). Jeff has had to put on his CPS (calf protective services) hat. But those cows have had a date with Mr. Schaffer at Cows-R-Us! Sure is nice to see spunky black calves enjoying the green grass of fall!
On the farming side, haying has been going pretty well. Weather has been pretty good, prices are hanging in there and most everything is spoken for if not gone. Nothing to interesting to report until one week ago!
We Northwesterner's aren't used to crazy weather that included warnings of tornadoes! The top picture is just a sampling of the tree limbs down in our yard. Luckily only minor damage to our garage roof. Getting down all the broken pieces resulted in just as much tree pieces on our lawn. The bottom pictures are the field that fared the worst. The orchard grass probably would have been raked Monday morning (after the storm). Notice most of the field looks raked, baled & stacked. Not so much - how about blown into the neighbor's yard, onto the circle, into the next neighbor's yard - everywhere but where it should be! Sid & Matt have had the pleasure of trying to deal with the huge knotted, piles of hay. There may have been more alcohol consumed her this week than normal.
Of course we weren't the only one to loose crops. 20 hours without power sure makes you appreciate it. It is also absolutely crazy how one messed up day leads to a entire messed up week. I think those of us at home managed to eat lunch at the average of about 1:30 this week. The 4 year olds are great troopers!
As Fall arrives we are trying to finish hay (more rain today :( ). More calves are on the way, we are preparing for the Evergreen Sale and the Red, White & Black FRIDAY Sale and just trying to stay ahead of everything.
Hope this finds you well & ready to enjoy a beautiful fall!
