Feeding the Livestock and Other Spring Happenings!

OH GOLLY!   IT'S SPRING TIME!!   The grass and trees have completed their spring dance two-stepping it from brown to green in a blink of an eye.  Well almost.  Some days I thought spring would never arrive and the next day I realized that it had!  Oh Happy Day!!  Now there's lots of work to be done on the farm and lots of puddles and overflowing creeks to cross!!

About two weeks ago, just as the grass was beginning to turn green, JR, the Little Cowboy - otherwise known today as "Batman" - and myself, set out in the "Bat Mobile" to check on the cows, feed the donkeys and give Big A's two heifers an extra dose of feed. (Notice! I have been demoted to the backseat even when the Little Cowboy isn't driving - life just isn't fair!)

Once we crossed the worst of the creeks, it was "Batman's"  turn to drive across the pastures while looking for the "bad guys"!

We finally found a few "bad guys" on the North Pasture. 

(I just love the imagination of this three-year-old - soon to be  four-year-old!)

These guys and gals thought they might get a bite of corn.

But Pluto, Gypsy, Snowball and baby Rascal were quick to gobble it all up!

It takes a pitcher's arm to get the corn where it needs to go.

Then there's a few, like Snowball, who prefer to be hand fed!

Baby Rascal is not sure what to make of this delicacy.

But as for the other three......

.....they just keep begging for more!

Moving on, we found Big A's two heifers across the meadow.  Now it was their turn to gobble up the feed!

As you can see, most of the dirt paths were very, very muddy as we traveled from one pasture to the next.

FUN! FUN! FUN!

MUD EVERYWHERE!

I always feel blessed when we emerge from the south woods and see this church standing majestically across the meadow.  This has to be the PRETTIEST place in the whole south!  

Even the cows "give thanks" when grazing this field!

After dropping "Batman" back home and chatting awhile, Meme T noticed Missy had made herself at home on top of the canvas roof of the Mule.  Smart kitty cat!!

ADDITIONAL  VERY IMPORTANT SPRING HAPPENINGS:

Big A (with the gray tux and bright blue bow tie) and his date for the Prom (in the bright blue dress).

How in the world did Big A get an invitation to the Prom at the tender age of ten????

(I have a big case of denial!)

Plus ---- Pooh is graduating with a Cosmetology Degree.  But that can't be right either because I just bought her a new Barbie Doll.  Didn't I???

Then there is "Batman" who protects our neighborhood and brings the "bad guys" to justice!!  But this "Batman" was born yesterday so how can he be racing through the neighborhood??

Listen up little calves!  Don't you grow up to fast on your Mama's!! .....or your Grand-mama's......or your Great-G's!!

And little Rascal......you just stay this size for a long, long time and make your Mama happy!!


HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!
Dee Dee

A Few New Cows and a Baby Donkey!

December was one exciting month even without all the hustle and bustle of Christmas.  JR noticed that there was a replacement heifer sale in Tennessee so he, Stack, Big A and Papa G headed out at 6:00 AM one Saturday morning to attend the 10:00 AM sale. The idea was to replace two of Big A's smaller cows with two of this larger breed.  Since it was close to a three hour drive, they wanted to make sure they had time to pick up breakfast and to look over the cows that were going on the auction block.  Big A was attending his first sale where he would actually be doing the bidding!!  Unfortunately, the men folk did not think to take pictures of this happy occasion.  How can you participate in an event of a lifetime and not photograph it????   That aside, from what the guys said they had a great time.  Every time JR would nudge Big A he would raise that arm and bid!!  By the end of the sale, Big A had acquired two new heifers!! The guys arrived home just before sunset giving them time to unload, make the cows comfortable, and clean up the equipment.

Here they come!

Opening the holding pen and backing up the trailer.

It's quite an art to get that long trailer lined up to the perfect spot for unloading.

Papa G and Stack double checking that all gates leading to "freedom" are closed.  

Big A filling the trough with feed.

Two buckets of feed to start with should do nicely.

Big A backing up the Mule.....

....and moving it into position to block an opening at the gate.  

We don't want any spooked cows making a run for it!

Papa G unlocking the the middle pen.

First comes that cute, fuzzy head.....

....then the hind portion.

These two feel right a home as they dig into the feed trough.  Gluttons they are!!!

Once the cows are unloaded, the truck and trailer gets a good hosing down.  No way will there be a speck of manure, dirt, grass, etc. left on JR's farm equipment!

Big A does a great job of cleaning up the mess.....

....while the other three cowboys, in typical cowboy fashion, recant their day.

THE FOLLOWING AFTERNOON.......

Once the new cows calm down and become acclimated to their new home, the gates are opened and they are free to join the rest of the herd.

  "Hello girls!  Where are you from? What's your name?"

After making sure that the two newcomers transitioned safely to the herd, JR and I headed home.

WAIT!  STOP!

 There!  Up in the woods!  Snowball with a brand new donkey colt!!

A Christmas Donkey!

Snowball was not to happy about us infringing on her "mama territory".

Much better to let Snowball do the "mothering" while we go home and do some cooking!  Did I say "we"?  Oops, I mean  "me".   Sometimes I wonder what would happen if I became allergic to the kitchen.  Now that's a thought to ponder on a cold, winter's night!!

Dee Dee

Corn Picking Time!

Several weeks ago, after the farmers in the area had picked all their corn, JR and I spent several afternoon scouting the fields and picking up the corn that was left to store for "winter treats" for the donkeys.  On one such afternoon, we decided to take the Little Cowboy with us.  It's always a good thing to have an extra pair of hands along to pick and pile!  And the Little Cowboy couldn't wait to plow through the corn stalks. And the sun was shinning and the warm breeze was blowing just calling our name.  And just because it was the perfect, late autumn day!

 Riding along the back trails on the way to a corn field.

 The outer edges and corners of the corn fields have the most corn left by the corn picker.  (Whew! Try saying that 3 times real fast!)

 We came upon one field that had a small corner left intact.  Corn picking heaven!

 "Pull hard Little Cowboy!"

 "Whoa Man, its a jungle out here!"

 "This is one tough dude to pick."

 "Help!  The corn stalks are attacking me!"

 "That's much better!"

The Little Cowboy's job was to pick up all the corn that fell short of the wagon and toss it into the bucket.  I'm t5hinking........A baseball pitcher in the making!

Time out for exploring and discovery,,,,,,,

.......for climbing on the Mule......

 .....and off the Mule!  Again and again!

 Helping JR carry a handful of corn to the wagon.

Ahhhh!  The fruits of labor - enjoying a corn wagon ride to the edge of the field.

Watching Pluto Too, Snowball, and Gypsy, as they discover the corn.  They were not quite sure if they should eat the stuff or play Toss Across with it.  So they did a little of both!

 Eat up little donkeys before the cows discover what you are nibbling on!

The sun was setting as we crossed the pasture on our way to take the Little Cowboy home.

I'll have to say that having an extra pair of hands sure did make the work go faster!

Thanks, Little Cowboy!


FAST FORWARD SEVERAL DAYS TO FEEDING TIME.....

Gypsy looks on as the Little Cowboy shucks the corn.

"Here you are Gypsy....take a big bite!"

Those donkeys sure do love their winter treats!

Love,
Dee Dee