Some project and Garden Updates

The last couple weeks have been very busy, we have been fencing, we got two more calves, the flowers have been blooming, we are busy writing grants for the Fire Department etc. We also had the first time we have had to hit the storm shelter when a supposed huge storm with tornadic winds hit us...since I am now a certified storm watcher I was uo checking it out and it hit us with a vengance with winds, rain, and hail...13 seconds later it was over thankfully. Literally, it came and it went that fast.

Spring is definitely here and we had to turn on the AC for some 90 degree weather then back to heat for about 32 º temps. Now we are back to AC but this weekend...cooler weather again. Glad we had a greenhouse. The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming and to our friends in Alaska, Canada, Europe, Scandanavia and my Mongolian friends I enjoyed serving with...sorry.

We have always enjoyed foraging and take advantage of the many opportunities presented to us in Missouri. These wild onions are so much better than what you get at the store.

Some old barn wood became an asparagas bed.

Getting ready to plant the row crops...just have to wait because of the lingering frosts.

We  were out during a windstorm a couple weeks ago and heard a banging sound. Turns out the builder of this woodshed didnt fasten the rafters...I mean they were not even nailed to the header. A few hurricane ties solved the problem.

Yet another variety of Narcisus (white with orange bell).

The day lillie bed we planted last year survived and is coming on strong.

Rhubarb progress...

Judy's cat whiskers..what a cool guy.

Maybelle getting fed by Holly..she sure is a cutie (and the calf isnt too bad either).

How can you even think about veal...seriously!!!

Our two other Angus calves Thelma and Louise in our back pasture and woodlot. About 500 pounds of fiestiness each. They have tried every part of our fence line so far but have now calmed down and seem to like the great pasture.

We wanted a big old corregated feed bin to sit outside the barn but this one was far cheaper and made more sense. We still cruise Craigslist though...maybe someday.

Thelma and Louise at the feed trough by Judy's mobile home....they come down in the morning and evenings.

Judy starting the asparagas bed.

Mother and daughter planting asparagas...good to see them working (I just ducked)...

Looks more like an octopus to me but maybe in two or three years we will have asparagas.

Some grape hyacynth in bloom in the yard (its all over).

Tulips blooming..

More tulips of a different color...

Something else blloming that I dont know....

BooBoo the superior one..

We have blue birds besting everywhere

Gardening and fencing builds good muscles

An Unexpected Calf

We were in the middle of repairing our perimeter fence for the two weaned calves we have coming at the end of the week when we got a call from a farmer Judy knows who wanted to know if we wanted a free Simmental 3 day old calf that had been orphaned. WE got the weaned calves because we didnt want to mess with bottle babies but its hard to turn down "free" and its hard to face Judy's sad face.

So we hurridly re-directed our energies and prepped the barnyard corral, built a stall in the barn, layed in some hay, bought 50lbs of milk replacer and a couple of 2 quart bottles, a water trough and then went to pick her up. Once we caught her we hogtied her and Judy rode with her back to our farm in the back of the pickup. So we now have a Simmental and two Angus calves...all heifers. We dont know if the Simmental will be able to breed because she was an orphaned twin but she is red and the other twin is black so we are hoping she is not a freemartin.

Just a couple of pics for now. She took a bottle and nestled in the hay for the night.

She has scours but we gave her a Scours Bolus and we will check her again in a couple days and give her another one if needed.

last time I did this I was in High School.

She is very friendly and once she got over the trauma of getting caught, transported, hogtied etc. she calmed down and seems to be fine.

She is a good looking claf and well porportioned. I didnt find any issues with her joints.

We have her in the barn because after a week of 70 and 80 degree temps we had snow last night and expect more in the next two days. Then back to the 70s for the weeked. We also have a lot of coyotes around right now.

It took a bit of effort but she finally took to the bottle.