Springtime on the Home Place

I’m sitting in my kitchen counter. The windows are open and a cool breeze makes the sheer curtains flutter like butterfly wings.

I can hear the bulls calling after their lady loves in separate pastures.  A glance out the window and I can see the bulls lined up along the fence and across the road cows flirting right back.  They lull and call back and forth.  It’s a peaceful sound and one that takes me back to my mom and dad’s house.  How many times did I sit on the porch steps and listen to our bull call to back and forth to the cows. 

The horses are happy and sleek.  They enjoy their larger pasture munching on the green grass. They whinny and sigh in contentment.

A meadowlark – one of my favorite birds – is sitting on a fencepost calling his happy little melody.  Redwing black birds flutter on and off power lines.  Somewhere in the pasture something has disturbed a Killdeer and her bleating call adds to the symphony.  A wren has made a home in a birdhouse in a tree and we are greeted by her little song as well.

This evening I am surprised to hear the throaty call of a bullfrog from the pond.

We live in a beautiful place. The hills are green and lush. 

 

Gather



 

 

 

The cows are gone. The only bovines left around our homestead are the herd bulls. 

Wade used Rio - the new horse for this gather. Rio has never pushed cattle nor been roped from. By the end of the day that couldn't be said.  He pushed, chased, roped and dragged calves all day.

 

 

 

The wind was blowing really hard and this particular set of cattle are very flighty anyhow - so it wasn't a huge surprise that it took several attempts to drive them into the corrals. Several head broke out of the herd several times - I caught this photo of Wade on Rio trying to flank and turn them back. 

 

Down in the corrals sorting began. The guys took turns running the gate and working on horseback.  We had to cut the calves from the cows as we were shipping them in separate trailers.

 

Just a close up of one the other cowhands gear.  Loved the chinks.

May is Beef Month

 

Checking the herd

 

May is National Beef month!!! It’s also the last month of calving for us. Yep folks we are done. We are now surrounded by happy first time mama cows.  I hope that people realize that the majority of cattle in the U.S. are born on pasture and realize how much work and care goes into bringing them beef from pasture to plate.

The herd we take care of are spring calvers.  They began calving in February and the final calf was born this past week.  We calved over 135 heifers.  Heifers are young female cattle of breeding age that have not had their first calf.  

This group of bovines can be tricky.  This is their first time calving – it’s all new to them and on occasion will need help giving birth.  While most have maternal instincts some need extra help to feel motherly.    

Taking care of our herd meant 2 hour shifts during cold snowy nights. Each night we would make our rounds and look for heifers getting ready to calve.  On really bad nights that meant herding her (most are not corporative) into a calving barn.  These barns had straw and heat. 

Some nights we would find little calves in the snow.  We would spend those nights trying to warm the baby up and making sure they had their first meal.  Other times we would find the calves newly born and the mother nowhere around.  It was our job to find her and coax her to be a good mom.   This means we put her in a special head chute that has flip sides to allow the calf access to his/her dinner. Not all of our efforts ended successfully.  Sometimes we found the calf too late - too far gone.  Others got stepped on in the mud. But we must take the good and the bad.  

Now that winter is behind us our days now consist of fence repair, barn repair and checking the herd.  We ride through them once a day and check them in the morning.  We monitor for any sign of disease or poor health.  After a full night of sleep we are greeted by little black calves on green grass.  It’s nice to watch them. They play just like little kids bucking and playing in the fields. 

We are getting ready to gather the herd and move them to a new farm 20 miles from our farm.  All that will be left around our farm for the summer will be the herd bulls and horses.

 I hope that sheds a little bit of light on just part of the journey from pasture to plate.

 

 

Weekend Wonders

Deep Breath ----- I have made it!!!  After months of crafting and planning and changes due to pinterest fails and success our bridal shower weekend is over!!!

That's been my life for the last couple of weeks - and cows. Can't forget the cows around here...

Today was my baby sissie's bridal shower. It went well. 

Yesterday we had a baby shower for my oldest cousin and that evening we went the local KofC hall and celebrated my great aunt's 90th birthday.  She was in fine form and really enjoyed herself.

Wade left early Saturday morning and headed to the rodeo.  We were going to gather pairs and truck to a new grass farm but the boss decided against it the last minute.  So Wade who already told the stock contractor that he would be busy the first day of the rodeo was not able to pick up.  So he pulled gates all weekend. Which is a bummer cause I know he really wanted to pick up.  Oh well such is life!


I hope everyone is having a nice spring!!!

 

Beau and I checking calves on a nice spring night....

Friday Finds - New Names on My Current Playlist.

Since I got the new car I also have had the delight to have a sirius radio trial subscription. I have really enjoyed it. I got hooked on the "Outlaw" station. What can I say. I am a sucker for Emmylou Harris. I have also have started messing the Pandora again.    Not sure why I stopped.

So I wanted to share some artists that are "new" to me.  Give them a listen and let me know whatcha think!

*Click on the name and a link will take you to a youtube video. Enjoy!

- Brandi Carlile.
- Caitlin Rose
- Lindi Ortega - current favorite right now.
- The Black Lillies - really liking them too!!!
- Ashley Monroe


I also like this new song "Redneck Crazy" by Tyler Farr and "One more Year" by Kasey Chambers. 

Are you listening to anything new?  New favorite songs?

10 Lessons Learned from Calving

The final countdown is upon us – 40 heifers and the rest of April stand between us and the sweet freedom of a night of restful sleep.

Here are some life lessons I have learned from this first season of calving as a couple.

1) The ones you work the hardest to save are the ones you lose. Truth. Anyone who has worked with livestock will attest to that.

2) Being surrounded by life and baby animals – don’t be surprised if the subject of little ones comes up. If it does – do not be offended if your spouse relates everything back to cattle terminology and crack jokes about first time heifers and mothering up.  

3) Pick your battles. Calving is stressful. The nights are long and the spouses get grumpy. They are not mad at you – just frustrated.

4) The laundry will pile up and your house will smell like a barn. In times like these I find solace in scented candles and scrubbing bubbles  

5) You will get a call from the barn from your spouse in a huff demanding you to come out RIGHT NOW to help him. I learned the hard way not to wear gym shorts in January. Lesson – dress as if you may have to go outside in a pinch no matter the weather. 

6) Coveralls don’t make bad Christmas gifts and it’s hard to beat a solid pair of boots.

7) Alone time can prevent many a fight.

8) Mud and mean cows will always be your enemy.

 9) Working together and praying together will make your relationship stronger.

 10) Don’t forget to make time for each other. Have a special supper, rent a movie, and make breakfast together.

Happy Trails and Happy Calving!

 

 

 

 

I am not an alcoholic. I just like the bottles booze comes in.

I'm not much of a coordinator when it comes to home decor.  I've got way too much going on. Random is the theme of my house. I LOVE color. I LOVE antiques. I LOVE odd things. I LOVE photos! 

 

However, I am proud of this little part of my house.  This is in the kitchen/dining area of our house.  The red boots are mine from college - don't judge. The art work is something the husband and I picked out together from Hobby Lobby with a card we got as a wedding gift.  Same story with the barn star.  The bottles....

 

Well...I also collect bottles. Not plain bottles - interesting bottles. Bottles with meaning from fun times.  I am not an alcoholic.  I am not!

 

 

 

The wine bottles are from nights in with a certain girlfriend.  Memories!  The whiskey from cool nights with the husband.  The beer bottles from summer gatherings at our little apt. 

 

I'm mean how can you throw away a bottle that is called "Totally Naked"? 

 

What is your favorite "decorating item"?  Does your home have a theme or is it as random as mine?

 

Till next time!