I LOVE my Mornings lately

Monday at the fair.

5am Alarm goes off.

5:20 downstairs, coffee in travel mugs (large ones) for me and the man, lunches in boxes, work boots on.

5:30 I'm out the door to the farm and he is off to hop in a rig for the day.

6am pull up the house driveway at the farm shut off truck. Most mornings lately there has been a dusting or so of fresh powder snow. As if Mama Nature took a bag of powdered sugar and sifted it out over the land.

The walk to the barn in the dark only takes a few minutes. But already signs of life scatter out across the path and the lawn.

Little mouse and rabbit tracks dot the white shadowed earth near the now retired CornPro stock trailer.

A cat crossed the bridge atop the ravine that connects the two tracks of land. Quick glance ahead shows its Chainsaw, sitting waiting watching as I trudge out to flick on lights and wake the girls up.

Coffee cup and flashlight into the old microwave. Walk down Mom's line of milkers to check Magic, a small black and hugely pregnant cow that is defintiely close. No calf today. Maybe tomorrow. Blitz and Mandy are hanging their heads over their stall front watching, thinking perhaps I have a bale of hay in my pocket because as far as they are concerned a round bale apiece twice aday would not be enough food

Back out to the milk house. Flick the switch to run the last cycle on the pipeline washer. Calves get water or milk as per age group.

By the time I feed the last baby, Carolina a sweet little split face heifer who greets me like a long lost friend every time I walk down the alley behind her stall, the pipeline is done and I can set up and get started.

I really love my hour or two alone in the barn every morning. Not that I like setting up its a pain in the rump but for that little bit its still so peaceful. The sun isnt even up out of bed yet. Generally just as I am milking Sugar, the calf Licorice, a sturdy mid-sized black cow, is carrying is starting its morning lets irritate mommy ritual. I usually get a solid bump from it as it stretches out in her belly when I bend over to attach Sug's machine. By the time I am done adjusting the hoses Licorice is rocking back and forth as the calf does a two step against her stomach. I think she is more than ready to have the calf get born and stop kicking her all the time.

I milk Dad's set of cows last. They are probably the easiest batch. No young two year olds, mostly second plus lactation cows with decent tempers. Old girls like Balsam and Heather who like to be scratched and patted. Or just calm critters like Syracuse and Lucky who you barely notice.

Mom Dad and Becky are out milking her line and the bucket cows now. It gives me a chance to sit and enjoy the last of my coffee before I head out onto the road to work for NFO and inspect my farms or run water samples or whatever else the day requires. Speaking of which...I think I better get moving and shower and grab some breakfast...Or I will be quite hungry tonight!

Mandy Has Calved

Yesterday during morning milking, Mandy decided it was time to have her baby. Right on time I might add. First time EVER in 5 calvings that she has not been at least a week overdue. But anyhow...
By the time I got done milking my last cow, Mandy had little white hooves sticking out of her butt. This for me is a happy thing. I have been up all night with her for over a week keeping watch. She is one of my most beloved cows, and was bred to Roylane Jordan. I already have one Roy calf on the ground, out of Mandy's 3 year old Blitz daughter, and I was hoping for another.


Within a half hour of finishing chores Mandy had her little one out to the ears, and my sister and I helped her finish getting it out. It was unfortunately a bull. However, Mandy was happy with him. I was happy with him because while I was lifting him up in front of her he tried to stand up. Any calf that can be trying to get up within a minute of birth is A okay with me.

And my major benefit from him being a bull...I get to KEEP HIM! I am thrilled to say the least. Mandy is a darned good cow in her own right. Champion both years as a calf and yearling at the Altamont show. She throws big stylish calves that go on and do spectacularly. As a 2 year old Blitz out did every cow in the herd by more than 8 thousand pounds. Plus Mandy is a real, for today's standards at least, not necessarily our own, long lived cow; she will be 7 in less than 3 weeks. Not to mention, little man's sire is Roylane Jordan. Roy is the sire of Harvue Roy Frosty, who was the World Dairy Expo's 2009 Supreme Champion cow.

So he gets to stay.If all goes well he will be a future herd sire so to speak. We'll raise him, and send him out to Dependabull to be collected. Then I will start looking for a big sale to put him in. Or perhaps sell him privately. I'm not sure which. Hopefully I can take him to the OHM show next year. 2 years ago they reopened the under 1 year bull classes at the request of several of their prominent exhibitors. Mandy's son will be in the fall bull calf class if I can/do show him.

Oh and his name? Maqua-Kil Tumbleweed Town. Tumble for short...He does take some serious tumbles....

Reasons Why...

I really love my job...

Sugar volunteers for adorable photos.

Gracie and Medina Dreamin' always say hellooo

Hillbilly chews on shoes like a puppy...
I just wish she would do it when I wasn't in them!

All of my girls would rather come with me than stay on the hill and eat.

And they aren't afraid to show me so!

Sunday Stills....Nuts

The best nuts I could find...

And my most beloved and best 3 year old, Maqua-Kil Blitz Mendocino AKA Blitz.
Who is driving ME NUTS..while waiting for her to have her Roylane Jordan baby...
Any day now...

For more stills click HERE.

Name the Calf...

This time around it is the daughter of Frieland Dixies Lakota. Lakota is the last daughter of Frieland LV Dixie. She was out of Trixe, a cow bought by my father for my mother. Mom gave me Dixie to show, and the rest is history.

The new baby is in desperate need of a name. Her sire is Havencrest Kingdom-RED, so she is a carrier for the red factor gene. Personally I like that fact. But anyways. Her name has to fit in with Maqua-Kil Dixies *insert name*. We do have a bit of an Irish theme going this year, with a Shamrock and a Dublin, but that is just an idea.

Happy naming. I'll draw a name, time allowing, either Friday or Saturday!

Would You All Please Make Welcome...

...Maqua-Kil LF Dublin...Sister to Maqua-Kil LF Dalkeith, a Name the Calf baby from last spring. Daughter to Frieland BC Detroit, the only Board Chairman daughter I have left. To the Holstein breeders, yes I bred several, yes I know he is an old bull, and if I had more units I would happily breed more!


Back to Dublin. She is a real doll baby. Totally cute and sweet, gives the most loving baby calf kisses (more like randomly placed licks but she does her best)...and has got the loudest bawling moo this side of the river for a week old calf. You can hear her from the milk house when she gets going. Which is usually about the time I open the outer door to start feeding the other stock...and lasts until her bottle gets stuck in front of her slick little nose.


Needless to say I am totally in love with her. She is already rather spoiled.

Be sure and come back Monday, to meet Frieland Dixies Lakota's daughter...who will be a "Name the Calf" baby...because I can't come up with anything. And I think it will be fun!

Fence Walking Photos from Last Week

Really po'ed Momma squirrel. Apparently disrupting offspring is a bad idea!

Magma and Dixon, half sisters by the Andre-Red bull. They were in the next pasture over from the dry cows that I was checking.

Hillbilly Delux and Moments. Also sisters, cousins etc. Long story.

Pretty purple flowers. I got a shot of the white variety too, but it wasn't as clear a picture.

McBride to Play the Opry

The PBR recently announced that multi-World Champion Justin McBride, who retired last season, will be playing the Grand Ole Opry on August 14th. Were I rich I can tell you where I would be that night. Anyways I am thrilled to see that a man with some actual talent will take the stage in that halloed hall.

On another note, we're calving cows still. Its insane! I am feeding so many calves right now I feel like am going nuts. Sedona was almost a week late. Had a simply stellar bull calf. Naturally. She isnt a cow to keep a bull calf off of as a herd sire. Still he is a handsome little guy. White with the most numerous speckles and splotches. 156 Consequences (had I realized how appropriate that would be a name for her I would have named her something less dangerous), had a heifer calf the same day as Sedona. The calf is sired by the same bull and is also white with speckles. Bigger ones though so she looks a little more proportionate.

Hard to say who will calve next. Baja, Pecan, Licorice and Detroit are all due before too much longer. As is 116 Char. Not the nicest cow in the world. I'm hoping we get a few more heifer calves. I know insane but I'd rather feed heifers than bulls. And since calf prices are so low it is often impractical to take a single calf to the sale, I end up feeding them for at least a week most of the time. On top of the cow list is my well rather bad tempered and not as good looking as her siblings Neon Moon. She's Mandy's second Blitz daughter. She's due the 14th. Cross your fingers for a heifer!

Best Graduation Present EVER!!

So on Friday I technically graduated from SUNY Cobleskill. I was the top graduate for the Ag and Natural Resources division. Which was awesome. Oh, and I say technically because I didn't go to graduation. Several hours of sitting listening to speakers just to walk across the Auditorium stage did not appeal to me. So I stayed home and did chores and saw to the cows.


And this is where my graduation present comes in. Mom and Dad gave me an awesome one. She's a couple weeks old and so darned cute. Her name is Frieland E November. I adore her and she is such a sweetheart.

Where Did All the Years Go?

How has it been five years (more since I am writing this a day late) since Mandy was born? She turned five yesterday, November 2nd. I love my big black cow, but it is hard to believe she has already nearly reached the aged cow class. She is still just my big, over sized, super gentle, and sweet baby. Now her oldest daughter is coming up on two, and her youngest is just a little baby herself. It amazes me how fast time really can fly.

Becky was nice and baked a cake, which I decorated, so that Mandy has a pretty one for her b-day. Granted she really can't eat it, but to me it is the sentiment that counts.

Crazy Couple of Days: And a "Name That Darn Calf"

It's been a crazy week here. Becky and I had Monday and Tuesday off extra from school for fall break. Alan got last Friday and this Monday off. Loads of work was done by all. And Wednesday afternoon, my crazy, mean, snake of a cow Soir dropped her calf...in the very bottom of the ravine in the cow pasture. No one could get her or the calf out. She started attacking the banks the second Dad started down (which his going down was a bad plan anyways what with his broken shoulder and all). So we left her and baby out there figuring she is a smart enough cow, she'd get the two of them up and out. Which she did.

However, that didn't mean the two of them got into the barn. She wouldn't come down, and Dad couldn't get her Thursday morning, what with it is blacker than black out when we start up. And Thursday night was the Montgomery County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. I was taking Brandon to that with us so I had to go back to school during milking to get him, so I didn't go out at all. Total side note, but I was elected to the board of directors for our county. I am so excited.

But anyhow. This morning she didn't come down either. And as Brandon spent the night, I had to get him back over to school. So I left her on pasture. Then tonight who should walk into the barn but good ole Soir (I'm being sarcastic about the 'good')...yet no baby. So as Becky Dad and I were the only ones in the barn, Beck and I headed up to see if we could find it. After about 20 minutes with no luck, we went back down cause we did have to milk. Only to discover that Soir baby cousin and my darling two year old show heifer, Spruce, was also missing. Spruce was due the 20th of this month. Panic mode time, as neither of us had seen her up there and she was WAY ready to calve. So Becky and Alan went back up to find both the cow, her possible calf, and hopefully Soir's little bipper.

Which they did. Both calves are girls. I am so thrilled. Counting the calf I bought this spring that makes six heifers for me in over a year. The one calf (Spruce's) is by a calving ease sire, as with first timers it is best to err on the side of caution. I'm gonna call her 'Syracuse'. We love their basket ball team, and I think it really fits her.

The other one I haven't decided on a name. Which is were all you come in. Anyone who wants to put a "S" name in for consideration can do so. If she's dried up enough in the morning I'll snag some pictures of both of them. That way everybody can see what they look like and pick from there. So put in the names. I need the help. I've got three different 'S' families, and they are all real prolific breeders, so there are a WHOLE LOT of them!!

Frieland Chilt Blink

The movie should say it all.

Maqua-Kil Blitz Neon Moon

Oh Man!

Finally.

Blink. I was in the process of getting her topline up.

We're home.

Mandy. She was about half bagged at this point.

It was a long week. But fun. I tied with some great people. Got half frozen Saturday when a cold front moved through. And just generally exhausted myself over the week of my 'vacation'. Hope everybody's week was as fun filled as mine!!!

Mandy again. Side view.

Over Head...

Dad, Alan, Becky and I went over today to get my straw and hay into the fair, set up the stall signs, and do up the beds for the cows. It only took about an hour to get everything in and set up. We made up some good long beds, so that the cows will have plenty of room this year. And if I do say so myself the over heads for the cows look pretty nice. If I had known I would have so much space this year I would have made up a second set of lattice for over top, but not knowing there was no way I could. Oh well. Next year.

The whole stall top.

Me, trying to figure out which signs still need to be straightened.

The farm sign Mom painted many years ago. Sorry, it was kind of glary in the barn, so it didn't come out so good.

An example of my animal's individual signs.

Oh Man, Is It Really Time Already?

Unfortunatly, I can say, with a fair amount of certainty, that yes, it is that time again...

Show time that is. I have my decorations for above the cows all set up and ready to go. We (Alan and I) just need to take them over and put them up against our stall fronts. This year we are going to be tied with some very long time friends, and totally awesome people, so we should, from that perspective at any rate, have some fun. Then Sunday we are taking the straw hay and feed (some of which, the beet pulp, I am going to get as soon as Daddy dearest returns with my pickup) in the morning, with the two heifers, Blink and Blitz, as a second run in the afternoon. Then Monday morning, as soon as milking is done and we've all eaten our breakfast, Mandy and Lemonade, will head over. Then Tuesday morning the fair officially opens to the public. I am excited, and yet at the same time am totally dreading the whole thing. If they give us the grief they have the last few years it will be awful, specially since I really don't like fighting with people.

Anyways, I will probably not be on for most of the next 7-10 days. I'll be kind of busy. I generally head over around 4 am, and head back home around 9, 9:30 pm, so most of the day is spent sitting by my cows, this year probably mostly with my feet propped up on a hay or straw bale. I promise to give updates on the goings on over there, and I will catch up with everybody afterwards.

BYE!

Just For Matt...

This is just a little something Becky and I started doing a few years ago at the fairs with Mandy...making her into a walking advertisement. Unfortunately, due to the nature of the substances used, the sign only lasts for about a minute or so. We initially started up doing signs for our favorite NY METS ball players, Mike Piazza, David Wright, Paul LoDuca, and several others. Today, since Mandy was getting her pre-clip job bath, I decided to do one for Matt Owen and Company over at US Rodeo Supply. So here yah go Matt, your very own cow poster!!

Mandolin Rain...She's A Silly Lady

Oh The Irony

For the last several months, I have been trying very desperatly to get semen on Semex proven stud Silky Cousteau. I wanted five units and my parents decided after I had ordered that they would also like five. See this bull kind of makes udders that are just that, SILKY, they tuck right up under the cow, so I want to use him on Mandy.

I then proceeded to attempt to contact the company. I sent multiple emails, all in an attempt to get the semen delivered to our farm. Some cows I wanted to use it on have already been serviced and are hopefully carrying calves, but to other bulls. My first email went out on April the 26th. I got a reply May 21st. Not a very good turn around time. I heard from our so called 'representative' the 22nd, and despite replying with all the information, to this day I have not heard back from him. I was to say the least getting very frustrated. One of the main cows I want to use this bull on is rapidly reaching the end of her voluntary waiting period.

So, as with me with frustration comes desperation, I was considering canceling the order altogether (I am not patient when it comes to handing my hard earned money to other people, they want it they better earn it!) and ordering it from a guy down in Pennsylvania who is like a semen broker and pulls in semen from all over the world to sell at below company prices very often.

Then, our feed rep brought a new man to the feed company through. He (the new fellow) told me an old family friend of ours, who quit over at the college as a result of certain individuals in the dairy barn, names to not be mentioned, was a new Semex guy, and could probably be made our rep if we wanted. Well HECK YES!! He will at least get us the semen. So on the 17th I sent them another email requesting that they put him on as our representative, cause dang it I want that semen. This very afternoon he pulled in to our driveway to check and make sure he was putting the order together right, drop me off some new stud books, and just check in and see how everything was going.

But here is the part with the irony. No it isn't that it only took three months just to get ten blasted units of semen. It is that in April when I originally ordered it, a single unit was $20.00. Not bad compared to the Blitz I have been using, he is valued around $30.00 or so the last time I looked. The irony is they never billed me because they never shipped it out.

WELL... Cousteau is now only $14.00, so we ended up saving, oh, say, $60.00 on a bull we were gonna buy no matter what. And though I kind of hate to say it, Semex is notorious for this. Wonder how much in sales they have lost over the years as a result...bet it is a pretty nice chunk of change. At least I should have my semen the first week of August. Whoo Hoo! Now I am excited. Ahh the possibilities.

Did I Mention...

That we finally named Hooter's daughter? She's gonna be Maqua-Kil Hillbilly Delux. I think it fits in pretty swell with her sister's name, Hicktown. What do you think?