These 3 greeted me with lots of crying early Sunday morning. It was not what I was expecting as I rushed to feed calves and go to bed after chaperoning our church lock-in. Digging them out of the calf hut and moving them inside, to a safer location, slowed me down a bit, but they are still living! It took Peanut a bit to settle down in her new home, our vet supply room, but she's adjusted now. We certainly don't need to add to our cat herd, but I feel bad just letting them die. Their chances may not be great, being born so early in the year, but at least now they have a chance.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Spring?
The first sign of spring on our farm is almost always kittens. Unfortunately, I think our cat, Peanut, jumped the gun a bit this year.
These 3 greeted me with lots of crying early Sunday morning. It was not what I was expecting as I rushed to feed calves and go to bed after chaperoning our church lock-in. Digging them out of the calf hut and moving them inside, to a safer location, slowed me down a bit, but they are still living! It took Peanut a bit to settle down in her new home, our vet supply room, but she's adjusted now. We certainly don't need to add to our cat herd, but I feel bad just letting them die. Their chances may not be great, being born so early in the year, but at least now they have a chance.
These 3 greeted me with lots of crying early Sunday morning. It was not what I was expecting as I rushed to feed calves and go to bed after chaperoning our church lock-in. Digging them out of the calf hut and moving them inside, to a safer location, slowed me down a bit, but they are still living! It took Peanut a bit to settle down in her new home, our vet supply room, but she's adjusted now. We certainly don't need to add to our cat herd, but I feel bad just letting them die. Their chances may not be great, being born so early in the year, but at least now they have a chance.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
My Beat Up Babe
After a trip down the stairs that ended with the train table, and discovering how hard a school cafeteria floor really is, this is how my baby fared.
Friday, February 18, 2011
What the HSUS Is Good At
A friend of mine recently forwarded this interview to me. If you don't have time to watch it, the article is most of what goes on. The interview itself is fine. The president of HSUS is very good at his job, which is to be a smooth talker. He really doesn't say anything of substance other than he wants to sit down with the agriculture community and talk. You see, that's worked really well for them in Ohio.
When I think Ohio and the agriculture community, my mind immediately goes to the Ohio dairy abuse video that perused the web last year. Now, the HSUS wasn't behind that video, but like-minded individuals were. I'm not about to sit down and have a calm conversation with anyone who treats their animals like that, or stands by and watches it. After negative media what choice do you have but to sit down with the most notorious group and try to redeem yourself? To me, it feels like blackmail.
There's been a big push for the agriculture community, particularly the dairy industry to fight back, promote ourselves, and assure consumers that our animals are well cared for, and our products are safe and healthy. That's easier said than done. We aren't just selling a product, we are selling ourselves. Our product is our life. It's what we do from sunup until sundown and beyond. We don't leave the office at 5 or take Sundays off. Most of us prefer to mind our own business and keep doing what we've been doing, but suddenly we are pushed into the lime light and have to answer to people who have no idea what a farm looks like, let alone the work it takes to run one. The industry hasn't had to defend itself before and isn't quite sure how to react. I'm not saying people don't have a right to question where their food comes from. Everyone has that right, and should question it, but you should also think for yourself.
I don't think we should have to sit down and have a conversation with the HSUS. If legislation on animal and food safety is going to be made, it should be made by the people who know what it takes on a daily basis. That process is happening. The CEO of our milk cooperative is currently sitting on a board in Washington, D.C., that is trying to figure out what is best for the dairy industry and our consumers.
So to the HSUS, we don't need to sit down with you because we don't answer to you. You are not the one who should decide what is best for our animals and our products. That is our job and I think we do it pretty well.
When I think Ohio and the agriculture community, my mind immediately goes to the Ohio dairy abuse video that perused the web last year. Now, the HSUS wasn't behind that video, but like-minded individuals were. I'm not about to sit down and have a calm conversation with anyone who treats their animals like that, or stands by and watches it. After negative media what choice do you have but to sit down with the most notorious group and try to redeem yourself? To me, it feels like blackmail.
There's been a big push for the agriculture community, particularly the dairy industry to fight back, promote ourselves, and assure consumers that our animals are well cared for, and our products are safe and healthy. That's easier said than done. We aren't just selling a product, we are selling ourselves. Our product is our life. It's what we do from sunup until sundown and beyond. We don't leave the office at 5 or take Sundays off. Most of us prefer to mind our own business and keep doing what we've been doing, but suddenly we are pushed into the lime light and have to answer to people who have no idea what a farm looks like, let alone the work it takes to run one. The industry hasn't had to defend itself before and isn't quite sure how to react. I'm not saying people don't have a right to question where their food comes from. Everyone has that right, and should question it, but you should also think for yourself.
I don't think we should have to sit down and have a conversation with the HSUS. If legislation on animal and food safety is going to be made, it should be made by the people who know what it takes on a daily basis. That process is happening. The CEO of our milk cooperative is currently sitting on a board in Washington, D.C., that is trying to figure out what is best for the dairy industry and our consumers.
So to the HSUS, we don't need to sit down with you because we don't answer to you. You are not the one who should decide what is best for our animals and our products. That is our job and I think we do it pretty well.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
A Letter to Your Legislature
So if you've read my blog at all, you know I feel very strongly about a few issues; organics, car seats, and breastfeeding. So today I will once again be standing on my breast feeding soap box. So Michelle Obama is trying to promote women to breast feed as part of her health initiative.
I have never had an issue with weight. I've never been past 34 weeks of pregnancy, so I never gained a ton of weight with either of my boys. What I can tell you is that my oldest child is now 4 1/2 and has been to the doctor for illness maybe 5 times. My youngest has been once, that I can recall. During their first year of life, while they were being breastfed, Cole went to the doctor once and Tate never went. I firmly believe that was because I breastfed them.
Michele Bachmann, who I'm ashamed to say is from the same state, thinks that providing support, and tax cuts for breast pumps to women who want to breastfeed, would create a nanny state. Wait, what? Heaven forbid breastfeeding become the norm. I mean, that wouldn't be fair to people who choose to formula feed. Only, isn't the government currently the largest buyer of infant formula? It's called the WIC program, Michele! Yes, they "try" to promote breastfeeding, but giving a voucher for cereal, juice, and carrots, isn't exactly the best promotion. Can our politicians get any dumber? Let's use just a wee bit of common sense before we open our mouth next time, ok?
I have never had an issue with weight. I've never been past 34 weeks of pregnancy, so I never gained a ton of weight with either of my boys. What I can tell you is that my oldest child is now 4 1/2 and has been to the doctor for illness maybe 5 times. My youngest has been once, that I can recall. During their first year of life, while they were being breastfed, Cole went to the doctor once and Tate never went. I firmly believe that was because I breastfed them.
Michele Bachmann, who I'm ashamed to say is from the same state, thinks that providing support, and tax cuts for breast pumps to women who want to breastfeed, would create a nanny state. Wait, what? Heaven forbid breastfeeding become the norm. I mean, that wouldn't be fair to people who choose to formula feed. Only, isn't the government currently the largest buyer of infant formula? It's called the WIC program, Michele! Yes, they "try" to promote breastfeeding, but giving a voucher for cereal, juice, and carrots, isn't exactly the best promotion. Can our politicians get any dumber? Let's use just a wee bit of common sense before we open our mouth next time, ok?
Sunday, February 13, 2011
A Little Taste of Spring
This weekend has been gorgeous! The temps topped off in the 40s. Long johns were shed, and coats were replaced with jackets. Of course, I've spent plenty of it catching up on my sleep. Today, about a dozen of our yearling heifers decided we had been inside long enough, so they decided to unhinge a gate and go wandering. I got a nice little jog around the yard out of the deal.
The boys took advantage of the temps to sport caps and jackets instead of their stocking hats and coats.
Even the mikhouse cow made an appearance. She has only been seen one other time this winter.
Granted, I wasn't the only one to take a nap today. King Tate also zonked out with his BK crown from yesterday.
The boys took advantage of the temps to sport caps and jackets instead of their stocking hats and coats.
Even the mikhouse cow made an appearance. She has only been seen one other time this winter.
Granted, I wasn't the only one to take a nap today. King Tate also zonked out with his BK crown from yesterday. 
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Losing Ground
I've been subtly pushing for a calf barn for the last few months. I almost had them convinced. We were to the point where we were picking out a spot for it to go and researching what type of barn we wanted.
So what happened?
Well, in the process of finding a spot for my barn (our farm yard is full of buildings, so anything new pretty much either goes in the yard of the house or in the field) the guys found a spot to build a sick pen and a bathroom. They decided they could move some of my existing calf pens and add on to the holding pen for the parlor. Their building needs take precedence over mine.
If that wasn't enough, they looked at my death loss and it's something like 1% and most of those were things I couldn't help. A couple of them were illnesses that I didn't catch in time, but the others tended to be things like clostridia, which has no treatment. So I'm losing out on my building because I do too good of a job. Go figure.
I'm still fighting. Our calf hutches are wearing out and some are in desperate need of repair, but at this point I'm fighting a losing battle. It's not a total loss though. They did decide to buy a milk mixer that I can haul on a golf cart instead of making numerous trips with pails in my wagon. I don't mind the wagon some times. We could all use the exercise, but for about 9 months out of the year, I'm hauling the wagon through mud or snow and that is tiring.
My hope was that a calf barn would make my life easier and be better for our calves. Our calves stay clean and dry in our hutches, but it's hard to see if they are in need of bedding, or if they are sick when it's dark out. In the winter, animals also drink more water, but it's hard for me to get them water. It means hauling water in pails through the snow and mud and then dealing with pails full of ice. That was my biggest hope for a calf barn, that I'd be able to give them water every day since I could fill the pails with a hose and it wouldn't be such a long haul to thaw out the pails later. For now I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. There's always next year!
So what happened?
Well, in the process of finding a spot for my barn (our farm yard is full of buildings, so anything new pretty much either goes in the yard of the house or in the field) the guys found a spot to build a sick pen and a bathroom. They decided they could move some of my existing calf pens and add on to the holding pen for the parlor. Their building needs take precedence over mine.
If that wasn't enough, they looked at my death loss and it's something like 1% and most of those were things I couldn't help. A couple of them were illnesses that I didn't catch in time, but the others tended to be things like clostridia, which has no treatment. So I'm losing out on my building because I do too good of a job. Go figure.
I'm still fighting. Our calf hutches are wearing out and some are in desperate need of repair, but at this point I'm fighting a losing battle. It's not a total loss though. They did decide to buy a milk mixer that I can haul on a golf cart instead of making numerous trips with pails in my wagon. I don't mind the wagon some times. We could all use the exercise, but for about 9 months out of the year, I'm hauling the wagon through mud or snow and that is tiring.
My hope was that a calf barn would make my life easier and be better for our calves. Our calves stay clean and dry in our hutches, but it's hard to see if they are in need of bedding, or if they are sick when it's dark out. In the winter, animals also drink more water, but it's hard for me to get them water. It means hauling water in pails through the snow and mud and then dealing with pails full of ice. That was my biggest hope for a calf barn, that I'd be able to give them water every day since I could fill the pails with a hose and it wouldn't be such a long haul to thaw out the pails later. For now I guess I'll just keep doing what I'm doing. There's always next year!
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Snow Day #2
I've been student teaching for 4 weeks now. We have yet to have a full week of school. Last week was close with only one late start. This week, we are on our second snow day, and it's only Tuesday. Next week, there is a chance for a full week and the weather, so far, is looking ok. We shall see. I'm perfectly fine with the shortened weeks, but it makes it really hard to go back.
At any rate, we've been enjoying our time off. I've been avoiding folding laundry like the plague but did manage to clean floors yesterday. It helps that we bought a new vacuum this weekend. Nothing like new stuff to make you want to clean occasionally.
The boys and I headed out early for chores yesterday afternoon so we could have some time to play. The idea was to go out after dinner yesterday and wear them out so they would take naps. Neither one of them ate so that ruined my plans. Cole has been complaining of a sore throat, so he actually wanted to take a nap. He's a weird kid.
The puppies also enjoyed the snow. Angus and Juno both love the cold and snow and love to play with each other. I think Yogi actually hates Angus. He's taken after him a few time and hauled off and bit him a couple of times. Not a nice playful bite either. It took him a while to warm up to Juno too, so I'm hoping by this spring Yogi won't hate Angus quite as much. At any rate, our playful snow dogs:
At any rate, we've been enjoying our time off. I've been avoiding folding laundry like the plague but did manage to clean floors yesterday. It helps that we bought a new vacuum this weekend. Nothing like new stuff to make you want to clean occasionally.
The boys and I headed out early for chores yesterday afternoon so we could have some time to play. The idea was to go out after dinner yesterday and wear them out so they would take naps. Neither one of them ate so that ruined my plans. Cole has been complaining of a sore throat, so he actually wanted to take a nap. He's a weird kid.
The puppies also enjoyed the snow. Angus and Juno both love the cold and snow and love to play with each other. I think Yogi actually hates Angus. He's taken after him a few time and hauled off and bit him a couple of times. Not a nice playful bite either. It took him a while to warm up to Juno too, so I'm hoping by this spring Yogi won't hate Angus quite as much. At any rate, our playful snow dogs:
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