Curley or Houdini ? ! ?

Yesterday, Wednesday, I was really busy and nervous about the newest addition to the farm.  We had a calf born yesterday.  And why should I have been nervous about this? Well, Steve has been at the MN State Fair at the open class swine show (he left on Sunday and got home today, Thursday afternoon.  We knew this calf was going to be born at any time, and I hate being home alone when these things happen; as I don't usually do chores, (I do fill the water tank occassionally) so the cows aren't used to me being around them.  When I got up Wednesday morning the cows were both laying down, and they're not usually doing that, so I was kind of wondering if something was happening.  But should I go out in the field to check?  I didn't want to disturb her if she was starting to have this calf, so I thought the best thing would be to stay away and let nature take it's course.  I had to take Odda  to the groomer around 8 am, and also went into town (14 miles) to get a few things, and by the time I got home around 10 am, I checked the pasture, and (we have 2 cows) one of the cows was licking her new baby clean.  So I walked toward them but still on the outside of the fence.  They're used to seeing me there as I mow that area.  Here's the first pictures of our new little Curley!

Hooch had to check everything out.  He did listen to me when I called him back.  The other cow is also going to have a calf in a couple of weeks, and she was also guarding the new momma and baby!

Every once in awhile I'd check on the calf from our kitchen window with the binoculars and later in the afternoon both cows were standing by the farthest corner of the pasture looking outside of the fence and making a little noise; so I got on the riding lawnmower (no 4 wheeler here) and rode it out there.  I tried lifting on the calf to scoot him under the fence and got a little done, but he wasn't having much to do with my lifting his front end and dragging him, so I decided to get on the lawnmower and see if the noise would encourage him to move  - and by golly, that worked!!!!!!!!  His head was under the fence by then, so when he got up he got inside the fence.  It was a good thing that I'd unplugged the electric fencer before going out there.  So not thinking much of it, I went back to the house and kept watching to check on him every now and then.  Momma cleaned and was eating the afterbirth, so all was going normal.  This was this cows first calf, and it sure is something how nature takes over and they know what to do - all on their own.  No Dr. Spock books to read - No TV shows or Mom's telling them what to do! 

Then - this morning comes, and all okey.  After I'd gotten home from visiting with a neighbor lady that recently had surgery I noticed that baby Curly OR should his name be changed to Houdini - was outside the fence again!  Little escape artist!  I just left him this time - Steve was coming home soon (in a couple of hours) and he could deal with it.  Well, it was about 3 hours before he got home, and baby Curly / Houdini was still laying outside the fence and momma and auntie were both there waiting, and waiting; and once in awhile look toward me when I was outside.  All I did was turn off the electric fencer again to make his re-entry easier - if he decided to do so.  But he waited until Steve got home and helped him.  The cows don't mind Steve being there, so there was no nervous bellering when he was with them.

Picture of him sleeping before I helped him get back inside the fence.  So cute and soft and curley.

Here's wobbly little Curley after he was safely inside the fence.  Momma is happy!  Now tomorrow he'll be so much better on his feet that we'll probably not be able to catch him.  Our pasture has so many little areas where he can lay down and the grass just hides him; but it won't be long and he'll be growing fast and not sleeping as much.  Calves are so much fun to watch - but then aren't most babies fun to watch! 

Oh - momma cat moved her kittens again - can't find them.  She must not have liked when Hooch was yipping and barking - wanting to visit them in the pen where she had them.  Bet she has them in the big barn somewhere that the dogs don't go.  

Lost is now found!

We knew Sophie had hidden her newborn kittens, but we had been unable to find them.  Well, now today, she has brought them back to her box that is in an empty pen in the barn with the piggies.  Steve had a box for Sophie and Sophia when they were new to the farm, and now Sophie has brought her four babies to that box for their new nest.  Their eyes must have just opened up.  This morning when Steve did chores, there was only one in the box, but now there are four.  Will there be more later?  I don't think so, as Sophie is a small cat, and I just couldn't believe she had any more than four.  Three are yellow and one grey.  One little yellow one is so friendly, and already crawling out of the box.  Hooch wanted to get into the pen so badly, but we wouldn't let him.  He will get more acquainted with the kittens soon enough.  They are really little, but oh so cute.

Watermellon Boy!

We were at the Minnesota State Fair yesterday - watched granddaughter Amanda show her pig and other kids from our local 4-H Club.  A long day, as we had driven the 4 hour drive on Thursday evening, getting to Sister-In-Law's home about 10:30 pm, and then up early to go to the fair.  Had to get up at 4:30 am, to be there before 7 am.  Watched the swine show, and ate lunch (a big cinnamon roll!) and walked around with daughter Leah and Amanda.  I have always bought the kids some clothing from Farm Boy/Girl booth, as they have loved their apparel and it's my treat to get them something they can wear to school. 

Here is Watermellon Boy!   Amanda was wishing he was there for real!  So many people were looking at him, (older people too).  Amanda kind of wanted her picture taken, but didn't want to do it in front of anyone, but we finally got a picture!  I kept telling her to get closer - but she wasn't having any of that.  But after we got done, she said she was going to post her pic with Watermellon Boy on her facebook page!

Note, the old boots she is wearing - with shorts.  She changed out of her show clothes, but left her boots on!  A true farm girl!

We laughed at this couple.  We couldn't hear what they were talking about, but they were having a good discussion about Watermellon Boy!  Maybe they really knew him!

You can't see it good, but Amanda fed her pig a marshmellow after they got done showing.  In fact, her pig got two marshmellows!  I just didn't get a good picture.  He sure liked his treat!

Amanda showing her pig.  Competition was very tough.  She did just fine, but didn't get into the top pens.

After our walking around and working our way to see the things we wanted too, we headed back to the barns.  We left the fairgrounds at 2:30 and got home about 7 pm.  We didn't have anyone to do evening chores, so had to get home to get them done.  A long day.

This crowd was on Friday afternoon.  Today on Saturday, it will be even worse.  Glad I'm now home where it's nice and quiet!

Mother-Daughter Pic

 A beautiful picture of our oldest daughter and her daughter Amanda. 

Taken when her other graduation photos were done.  I've been waiting for Leah to show this picture, but she hasn't done it yet, so proud grandma is posting it.  I just love this picture!  I know that Amanda hasn't picked out all her pictures yet, but I'm going to need to get a big one of this on my wall.  There's something about Mother-Daughter pictures that warms your heart.

Day trip with Friends

My day trip today with two friends started out at a place where Connie "Far Side" and I have talked about going, and haven't gotten there yet.  I met my two friends at the "Living Legacy Gardens" at Staples MN.

The gardens are beautiful, but most of the flowers are done or on the down side of pretty.  Next year Connie and I will have to make that road trip and go just a little earlier in the year.  The grounds are still beautiful tho.

There were some hostas still flowering, but most of them were done.  I think I have at least one of each of the hosta plants that was there.There were names for most of the plants on stakes in front of the plants, but there was one without a sign that we didn't know what it was.  A close up picture and then picture of the whole plant.  It kind of looked like sedum, but not sure.  I have never seen this plant before.  It was taller than we were.

 

There were several areas for sitting and there were some volunteers there building a couple more arbors.

Wish my garden looked as nice.  Sure takes a lot of work to keep this garden so nice.

 

Then before we got through the whole garden my batteries died in my camera!!!!!!!!!!  And I'd left all my new extra batteries home.  Couldn't believe I did that.  So my good intentions of taking pictures of the 4 quilt shops we went to today died too!  I was kind of mad at myself!  But, I did get some new quilting kits, but haven't taken them out of the bag yet.  Will show you as I make things up.  I have a LOT of sewing to do!  We ate lunch out today at "Up North" in Brainerd, and celebrated Jackie's birthday with the 3 of us sharing a triple chocolate piece of cake.  It was quite big, so divided it 3 ways it was still a generous piece to eat.  We all got our chocolate fix! Now to get some other book work done before "hitting the hay"  (going to bed!).  More later, jo

Pea Pickin is done!

This is the storage shed that was built to hold the peas that were combined this afternoon, just before the rain came again.  Look at the dust in the air.  Combining and working the fields is a dusty job.

This is Steve's first pea crop, and he's glad to now have it in storage before another rain came.  It's been hard to have cut hay / grain / or these peas laying on the ground trying to dry out because we've had so many days of humid  weather, with rain showers every couple of days.  The black specks is some of the weeds that were broke up and went through the combine too.  Now next year Steve knows that he'll need to do something about the weeds.

Here the combine is unloading peas. 

Just to the west of us, it was getting real hazy and getting heavy and darker.  It wasn't 20 mintues after unloading all the peas that it started to sprinkle and it rained good for about 2 hours.  Now as I'm sitting here writing this, I hear the crickets and frogs outside.  They must be happy for the moisture!!!!!!!!

Spose I'll need to mow the yard again here by Wednesday.

Tomorrow I'm spending the day with friends that I used to work with that live about 2 hours from me.  We are meeting in the morning and going quilt shop hopping and out for lunch!  Should be fun.

Another Accuquilt GO giveaway at Sweet P Quilting

Oh you need to stop over at "Sweet P Quilting and Creations" on Sunday, Aug 22 post date and sign up for her Accuquilt GO fabric cutting machine.  That blog makes me really want to be a winner and if I don't win, I know that is something I'd like for Christmas.

This is going to be for quilters what the Cricut is for scrapbookers!

This giveaway ends Aug 31.  Go register!

Have a great Sunday.