Sat-30-Jan-2010 - The Long Weekend (and calf pics)
It's been a loooooong weekend, folks.
I'm a bit tired, and a bit on the irratable side, I reckon. Did I mention it was a long weekend?
Let me start at the beginning.
On Friday morning, I noticed this little guy, laying on his side out by the haybale.
By Friday evening, he was dead. I cried. It was a very stressful day.
What??? You thought "country people" were more stoic about death? You think we don't have as many nerve endings or what? LOL
*************************************************************************************************
So then, on Saturday .... we sat down to supper and I spotted a coyote. Then it started chasing our dog. If our dog was much smaller, he might have been coyote supper by now.
Anyway, Jay grabbed my 30-30 and shot it. His first kill ... I am so proud of him!!!!!!! ~smile~ I'm pretty sure I've seen this coyote in the daylight hours, too. It's been a hard winter, and she was hungry. I think the noise of my 48* chickens had a strong attraction for her. He got a very clean shot ... but she still ran a ways before she died. Jay tracked her in the snow and found her.
[*we used to have 49, one flew into the water tank for the large animals and drowned.]
I skinned out the coyote for him. Our Aussie, Jericho, was hiding in the dog house for most of this exchange. I'll be glad to get my Akbash/Anatolian pup soon, which will be a threat to the coyotes when it's grown......
Then, on Sunday morning, we went outside to find this:
Well, almost that. The calf was actually laying in the snow, we moved it to the hay. And white on her is snow, which was frozen to her face. She was shivering quite badly.
I got my heifer! ~smile~ She is adorable! However, she was big and was cold and weak. I don't know how long she had been on the ground, but she was pretty tired. The mama wanted to move her down to the creek, not seeming to understand how weak her calf was.
So we brought her inside, and milked Della. (More on Della in a second.)
So, to my horror, when we milked out Della, we discovered that she has a pretty wicked case of mastitis in one half of her udder. *sigh* Massaging that part of her udder is like rubbing on a block of wood and about as effective in breaking up the conjestion inside ... I'd like a vet, but honestly we live in the middle of beef country and we will probably manage just as well with advice from fellow owners of dairy cattle. You don't need a perscription to get antibiotics for animals, so we'll get some of those in her today as well as looking for a few other things that come highly recomended.
It's just tough to be milking a cow that isn't certain she wants to be milked, and dealing with mastitis at the same time. It's very worrisome, indeed!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Over the weekend, I think I came to a conclusion about the main difference between country people and city people.
The fundamental difference is in how we deal with blood, mud and manure.
I pondered the fact that some city people work very hard. They know how to sweat. Some put in far more effort running around or in various ways staying skinny - working much, much harder than I!
So it's not that country people "work harder" than city people. It's how we work hard. It's how put ourselves in a postion to eventually have to deal with the blood, mud, and manure that occasionally happens.
City people certainly appreciate beauty. A sunset, a mountain, the perfectness of a newborn calf. Cupping a baby chick in their hands. The taste of a home-grown tomato.
But you see, as I skinned that coyote ... but it was not something I leapt for joy to do. It was actually sickening, frankly, when I stopped to think about it. And it hurt my back to stoop over so much, and it's just ... yuck.
But I did it anyway.
Because in order for my Jay to have a tanned coyote hide, it had to be done. And as much as I don't really "enjoy" things like that, I have the know-how and the nerve. And the love for my husband that helped me put it all into action! So I did it and got it over with and I didn't dwell on it and life moved on.
As I washed just about every towel in my house, from dealing with my dead goat to newborn calf poo, it was really, really gross.
But I did it anyway.
Just like there is this misconception that brave people aren't ever scared, there is this crazy notion that country people enjoy the tough parts of farm life. And the city people seem to have this notion that "I couldn't enjoy any of that, so I could never ever live like you." (Like we country people "enjoy" everything we know how to do! Ha!)
Brave people are scared people that do the right thing anyway.
Country people are people that face blood, mud and manure, and don't enjoy it but deal with it anyway.
And the rewards ...
... are probably greater than city people can ever know.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay, sorry for the mini lecture. Hope everyone enjoyed the pictures! LOL
Wearily,
~Ashley~
• 10 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Wed-27-Jan-2010 - August, 2010 ....
.... since it kinda came out last night, I'm free to openly blog about it now!!!!
Kudos to the two (Sara & Holly) that caught my sneakily-placed ticker waaaaaay down on the bottom of the blog! Jay suggested I put it up, and see how long it took folks to notice. I think it was up 3 days before Holly spotted it, and Sara was right behind her. ~smile~
So ... I'm nearly 12 weeks pregnant.
It has been my easiest (1st trimester) pregnancy so far ... wish I knew what I did differnt, but I think it's just a undeserved God-given blessing. So I'm enjoying it, and thanking Him often.
I am so very, very excited. It was dreadful to resist blogging about it as long as I did! But at the same time, it is so nice to keep the secret close, this precious, wonderful secret within our family.
The curiousity has been building since we found out; boy or girl? Either sounds so wonderful! I am so excited to see who the summer holds for our family.
I have previously always spent much of my 1st trimester worried in some fashion. What did people think? How was I going to manage? What if? How would?
This is really the first time I haven't cared so much about what others think, and I've just been blisffully happy. I haven't worried about the timing one iota. I figure I have three little ones, what is another? And I trust that of course, things will shift and compress and adjust ... but I've done it before (three times) and by God's strength - I can do it again.
I really don't do it all. There are things that I'm sure would horrify others about my life ... things that have gone by the wayside simply because I can't do it all. The frequency of how often the linens are washed or the hand towels are changed or even the frequency of how often I shower....
But I have to believe that these little souls are more important than the many, many "standards" we give ourselves.
Someone commented that I sound like a joyful mama. I really appreciate that! It is not something that always comes easily. ~smile~ I sometimes drop-kick my joy outside for a while and wallow in self-pity (generally when sleep deprived).
But ultimatly, I believe that I am where God wants me. I don't believe this is a situation of my own making; simply because we are so foolish as to not to use birthcontrol in any way, shape or form.
You see, there are two ways to look at where I am. One is, that I did this to myself. E.v.e.r.y.o.n.e. knows how to prevent this ... I really don't have an excuse!
The other is, that we refused to "throw a kink" -or the resist- the natural design of things, and God's plan for our family is unfolding ... person by person .... and it is this incredible adventure that I am a part of.
So I look at it a bit differently, I guess. I didn't choose this, God chose it for me. And, as much as I love God, it's really, really hard to be irked about His plan for my life. And it makes my children very, very precious to me. By my own choice, this might very well be the first baby I am 100% willingly pregnant with.
And in the paraphrased words of Anne of Green Gables ....
"...oh, how very much I would miss!"
I'm so glad my life hasn't gone according to "my" plans. Go back and look at the pictures I posted yesterday of my little Eden that is going to be ONE year old tomorrow .... she is my youngest little one to ever call me "Mama" and J "Daddy". Not Da-da - she already has "Dadeee!" down! Yesterday we were in the bedroom, and she walked to the closet where her Daddy's shirts were hanging and started tugging on the sleeves saying "Daddy! Daddy!" and it was just so sweet!
She is going to make a terrific big sister! ~smile~
~Ashley~
• 15 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Tue-26-Jan-2010 - Sewing and Eden (pics) (added link to apron pattern)
I have been sewing, instead of blogging lately ....
But here are some pics!
Here is an Edwardian apron I made ...
I looks like I only applied bias tape to certain areas, but that's just because it's turned under. Really!
Speaking of my girlie ... she is 1yo on Thursday!!! Where has the time gone?
I took these pictures just a few moments ago ... her brothers are sleeping. How precious the time is that I get with my little girlie-shadow! She chatters and walks about ... I love her! I didn't realize how much I was missing not having an Eden until - here she is!
The camera lens didn't open all the way, but this is such a good photo of her! She sits at my feet often when I'm on the computer!
My thumb-sucker .... :)
And here you can see her beautiful, crinkle-nosed smile AND her two bottom teeth! :)
My precious Eden ... the first trimester of your pregnancy was so difficult. The end wasn't very easy, either ... I spent a lot of time worried you would be born early, like your big brother.
You arrived, just when you were supposed to. After a pretty remarkable labor.
You have been indescribably worth every bit of effort. How I love you!
Your Mommy,
~Ashley~
P.s. wanted to add a link to where I found my apron pattern ... which I sat on for a year because I found it SO INTIMADATING!! And then finally made it after reading the instructions no less than 50 times. ;) Look in the Edwardian section for the apron pattern. ~smile~
• 6 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Fri-22-Jan-2010 - Who wants a picture update??? :)
No, Della hasn't calved yet. Stubborn, onrey cow. *sigh*
How long can she keep me in suspense? Who knows! She is getting a lot of practice at eating in our milking parlor and being handled. That is a bonus!
I can't believe it's been a week since I posted. *sigh* What a dissapointment.
So here are some pictures to show what I've been doing. We lost a hive of bees, they froze to death in the historically bitter cold spell we had. 
My soon to be 4 year old. A cat he really likes, and Jericho. He would be devistated to have to return to the city! He's been infected by the Country Bug. LOL
A recognizable picture Samuel drew!!! We were so excited!!!
Siblings ...
My oldest, and thus far yougest ... My brown-eyed duo!
My girlie!
How Daddy watches Youtube videos, such as this one: CLICK HERE
A few of the dresses I've made recently ...
I have a new dress pattern in the works for my girlie, but I need to finish the Edwardian Apron I'm making first!
What J added to my kitchen this week:
And, finally ... a meal I was particularly proud of and took a photo of. Notice the pull-apart bread?
Yeah, when I put it on the table, Samuel said "What is that?" NOT becuase it was funny looking, but because up until now I make bread about every 6 months. Lord willing, that is changing. I'm not much of a bread person ... but my family is. ~smile~
Until next week,
~Ashley~
• 6 Comments • Post A Comment! • Permanent Link
Thu-14-Jan-2010 - Sundry Updates...
This has been a week were real life was too riveting to blog.
So, here is an update. I’ll try to keep it brief:
Around the farm:
- I’m watching Della, our Dexter cow, for a calf. It could be another week or two, but I expect it too be sometime soon. I am VERY excited. I want a heifer soooooo badly. LOL
- I was doing chores, and noticed as I walked by the hen house, it sounded several times like a chicken was … being strangled. And then it dawned on me that it’s my fledgling roosters trying to crow. They sound truly dreadful, but it tickles me. I want about 6 weeks more before any of them start moving into the freezer. J and I are already discussing keepers vrs suppers, we have about every color of rooster imaginable!
- The snow is about, oh, 3/4ths melted? Our Artic wasteland is now a swamp. I imagine it’s something like Alaskan Tundra now. LOL
In the garden:
- I’m just in the planning stages, but ordering a few seeds and planning and plotting. Peas, spinach and lettuce go into the ground early next month if the weather is like it is now.
- I think my 50 garlic plants made it through our negative temps. That would be a wonderful blessing!
In the house:
- I now have two-tone cabinets. We were given some white cabinetry and I AM SO HAPPY for the extra space! Yippee! Sorry, I don’t have a Matchy-matchy gene, I got two copies of my dad’s Practicality gene and none of my mom’s style. Ooops, at least I have places to put my stuff, and for free.
- I also have another stove to clean up, a long with a washer/dryer to replace my set that can’t decide to run or die. It’s wishy-washy … like the pun?
In regards to the children:
- I am having a blast with Samuel. We talk about all kinds of stuff! One thing I am working on, is not explaining everything I ask him to do. It was a pattern for about the last year, and was really sucking the joy out of our relationship to be constantly questioned. Now that this is becoming something of a lesser issue …. Daily life is just so much less stressful. I love this boy! The third year I have had him in my life has been wonderful. I can’t wait to see what our 4th year together holds. He continues to just grow and learn … and astonish us!
- I’ve been working with Elijah more as well as Samuel … my blue-eyed boy just melts me. He has decided he likes mama right now … and wants me to hold him. He calls for me when he is hurt, I just love it that he has decided he needs me!
Anyway, that’s about it around here. I can’t believe how the week has flown by, but I do appreciate it. Some weeks need to go by that fast. LOL I am already so impatient for warmer weather and green grass ….
Later!
~Ashley~
• 5 Comments
• Post A
Comment!
• Permanent Link
Page
Wedding Countdown at WiddlyTinks.com
1 of 132
Last Page | Next Page