A week of cattle dealings

Happy Saturday Gentle Readers

I had hoped to post more this week, but it's been a week of cattle dealings and resulting tiredness.

We now have 6 babies playing in the lot. I love that sign of Spring. :o)
The bull and his companion are still in the south pen, enjoying their little stay-cation until late May.

Early Friday, at day-break, we were greeted with our little first-time heifer mommy in labor. I am so thankful Farmer-dear was still home. We watched and the poor thing did her best but it was soon obvious she needed some help. Unfortunately she did not realize we were that help. Off she went down the hillside to the edge of the pond. Poor thing.
Farmer went off for the pulling chains and I called the vet. We were able to get the calf out to the hips and that was it. The vet with his education and "know-how" was able to finish the job.
The calf was still-born. It was a B.I.G. calf for such a little mama. Why do heifers always have such big calves???
The vet gave her a shot of cortisone and left with the parting words, "Most guys have an inside place for calving." WHAT??!!
He had told me when I called to get her in a pen. Yeah, right. At that point we were lucky she was laying down where she was. It wasn't as if we wanted to have her outside in the cold, on the ice, having this calf. As Farmer said, if we had put her in when we thought she was first "close to labor", she would have been in the barn for 2 weeks. You cannot always tell with heifers and we don't have exact dates of conception, so we can't say for sure when they are going to go.

I felt that was a very rude thing to say. These are CATTLE, not pets, nor babied rare animals. God made them to bear their young Outside. I don't believe having her in the barn would have made one bit of difference to the outcome. The calf would have still been too big and we would have still had to pull it and it would have still been still-born.
The only difference is the vet wouldn't have had to walk from the house to the lot (twice) and wouldn't have had to work on her on the cold ground.
Yes, this was something that got under my skin and just reemphasized my lack of respect for most medical doctors (people or animal.) Someone needs to tell them, "It's NOT all about YOU!"

But then that's MY hang-up and not yours, dear Readers.

On a much happier note, I attempted to shoot some video of the new calves on Thursday when it was sunny and warmer. I will try to stitch it all together and will post it this weekend. I had a scene of my Farmer crossing the fence and talking but will have to delete that as he utters some wooden swearing that is just a little too colorful. Goofy man.

Now we're off to the chiropractor to ease our backs. Pulling calves is hard work for everyone involved.
And stay tuned for a new episode of "Kay, The Fainting Goat Diaper Cover-Maker." Everyone needs a calling. I guess this is mine.

Hugs!
Kay

** "Be yourself. Everybody else is already taken."
-- Oscar Wilde.

Update on the quiche and new calves

In January we experienced some Sundogs, which predict colder weather. We got that too.
Sundogs are mini-rainbow effects on either side of the setting or rising sun
and are created by sunlight reflecting off ice crystals in the atmosphere.

I wrote a few days ago, " Found a recipe for Quiche HERE and it sounds soooo good. Zoomie's posts almost always make me hungry! lol I need something quick for breakfasts as I've been doing with a protein bar and a piece of cheese lately. So since Blue-eyed One will enjoy his French toast, I think I'll see what I can find to make individual quiches in muffin tins. I know I have some asparagus in the fridge, some garlic cheese curds and bacon. I don't need crust, unless I'd line the cups with some olive oil brushed tortillas? I'll let you know..."

I took Zoomie's basic recipe but since I was making a 2 small pyrex dishes instead of a 9" pie plate, I decreased her amounts by 1/3 (4 eggs instead of 6, etc...). Also, I didn't make or use anything for a crust. It was fine without it.

Her recipe called for Parmesan and Swiss or Gruyére cheese. I had the Parmesan and some locally-made garlic cheese curds. Those I crumbled using my Handi-chopper.

Instead of her half-n-half, I used 1% milk and instead of kefir, I used regular sour cream.

For the filling ingredients, she used onion, mushrooms, Swiss chard, salami. I used onion, some rehydrated mushroom, some jarred roasted red peppers, a few chopped "good" ripe olives and mini pepperoni. I had some asparagus, but I just roasted those and ate it alongside.
I also added some of my homegrown dried basil and a tiny pinch of red pepper flakes.

I sauted the onions, added the mushrooms and their soaking liquid and let it all reduce down to very syrupy. I sprayed the 2 pyrex (about 1.5 c capacity). Put the cheeses in the bottom, added the filling ingredients. Mixed the eggs, milk and sour cream together with the basil & poured it over the filling.

I baked these on a small rimmed baking sheet at 350° for 30 mins, until they tested done with a butter knife.

One of the quiches along with the asparagus and some rye toast and OJ made a wonderful dinner. I had the second one for breakfast today. It was good but a bit high-flavored for me for breakfast. It would be great for brunch as I'm a boring breakfast person. I don't really like early breakfast, but prefer it about 10 a.m.

Anyway... go on over to Zoomie's blog and try her recipe. A+


And now updating the calf count here on the Prairie Farm....

In the past 2 days we've had 5 new calves. 3 singles and another set of twins born again this afternoon. Why do twins come when the weather is frigid?? The singles are all doing super fine, but one of the twins is not doing so well. A bit limp and weak. We got some colostrum from the nearby dairy and irrigated her. She raised her head after that. We think Mama may have lost count of who she all had or this one got away from her being tipsy after birth and she thought the other one was this one.... who knows....

It was a crazy afternoon. Helping the Blue-eyed Farmer as he tried to figure out the bad wiring on the cattle trailer and ending up taking that into our auto repair shop in town. I had to go get him since he left the pickup there so they could change out the connection plug.

Home to find the twin calf emergency and dealing with getting them up to the barn, feeding, getting hay for everyone else and regular chores.

By the time we got in the house, it was 7:30 and I was chilled to the bone. Supper tonight was whatever we could find in the fridge. It ended up being leftover bacon, toast, salad and chips.

Tomorrow if the trailer is fixed, we'll be taking 3 older cows to the sale barn. And checking on the new family every 3-4 hours. Probably more feedings. B-E F is taking tomorrow off from the factory to take care of all these extra responsibilities since I'll be going to work.

I'll be thrilled if the sun shines and the temperature is suppose to warm up starting tomorrow! And there is that Flea Market to look forward to this weekend!

And now I'm heading for the shower and my warm bed. Night All!

Hugs!
Kay~

** I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

The best laid plans of women and quilters...

well, you know the song and dance I live by now....

I had plans for today, with my sewing machines and fabric and thread.

I told the Farmer of my plans. He agreed to my plans and told me to go enjoy myself.

And then my better nature & wifely guilt took over.... and I ended up going along to look at and buy 6 preggo cows from one of his co-workers; the one with the Bohemian accent that reminds me of my childhood days.

We got home and unloaded them and he said after I recorded their numbers and we let the baby and cow out of the barn, I could go sew. But first he needed to tag and band the little guy. And could I watch so the mother didn't go too nuts on him. Ok.... **sigh**

Then we notice a red cow up on the knoll in the lot had just had her calf. (Storms coming in will bring along babies.) Good job Mama Cow! All was well up there and so I went in, started the laundry, and got the ingredients out for the Cold-Oven Pound Cake I was going to make for Sunday School tomorrow. And then I was going to go down to the sewing room for an hour.

But I happened to glance out the window to see how Blue-eyed Farmer was coming along with his revamping some fencing for bedding areas and feeding areas.
Only he wasn't making fence, instead he was carrying the new calf towards the barns. So off I trotted to change back into a chore coat & boots & help him get this calf & it's mother into the barn.

And since it was starting to snow, he wanted to get a hay bale and more bedding for the herd and it would be a big help if I watched the gates and directed him as he put the feed bales in the right spots.

After a good hour of all that, I was getting too cold to be outside anymore. I had hurried out without a hat or scarf and my toes were numb. Plus I had that cake to finish up and we had had plans to go out for supper with friends & we needed to be ready to leave before 6 p.m. I hurried in and made that pound cake (which did not turn out) and was just getting ready to go out, when our friends called and said they were having calving issues at their place and needed to postpone.

With that change in plans, we settled in for a quiet evening at home. We found a quick supper for ourselves here and I did the laundry that I didn't get done earlier today and mixed up a second/different cake which just finished baking.

It is now 9:30 p.m. and not a single stitch was sewn today.

But we have a another new calf and its mother safe and warm in the barn; warm bedding down for the rest of the herd; 6 new cows to replace several we need to cull out later this spring.
We're fed, warm and have clean clothes for this coming week and we'll have cake to eat tomorrow.

Life is still good, even if I my plans did go all ca-flooey today.

Did your day go according to plan?

Hugs!
Kay~

** "There is never enough time to do everything,
but there is always enough time to do the most important thing."
~Brian Tracy~

More thrifting

Sorry, no photos. It was a a busy afternoon when I finally got home at 4 p.m. with the Blue-eyed Farmer on my heels. Enough time to put the groceries away before he called from the lot with the news of a preggo cow ready to calf.

Fast-forward past the scenes of said cow cross-eyed in labor pains, ignoring the open barndoor and taking a tour around the house, back to the hay bunk and back to the lot. She and new bairn are snuggled together in a cedar tree thicket, getting to know one another better. When it starts snowing after midnight, she might wish she had taken us up on our offer of that warm barn.

(not to worry, gentle souls... Mama cows are very equipped to keep new calves warm and comfy. A warm tongue bath and plenty of hot body-temp fluids do a body good. They'll be fine.)

Anyway, all that kept me busy until it was past time to make supper (Crusty cheeseburgers made in my cast iron skillet, oven fries, tomato-avocado salad and frosted cinnamon rolls for dessert.)

But just in case you were still wondering what I got for under $30 at my Favorite Thrift Store, here's the list:

2 pairs of slacks for the grand-girlies
1 very cute vest for same girlies

1 red Asian looking blouse-cami set for me

A selection of birthday and note cards

A Bible verse set to music, memorization CD

A large Tupperware cereal keeper ($1!)

A ziplock bag of 5-inch fabric squares, look like all quilt fabric -cotton & current

6-yds of micro-suede like cloth in a mossy green to donate to church for Easter pageant
1-yd of fleece (it was 50¢)
2 other yardages suitable for head-dresses
1-yd of green "silk", very Asian material, that I may keep for something. Purse/bag maybe?

I know, not very exciting without photos. You'll just have to take my word on it. It was a great time. :oD

Of course it could just be that it's been so long since I've had a really exciting time, my standards have lowered....

Off to the showers.... Sleep Sweet Everyone!
K~

** "We either make ourselves happy or miserable. The amount of work is the same."
~Carlos Castaneda~

Making Excuses .... I mean, a Menu

Banking a Prairie Farm with Sod for the Winter in Dakota Territory, 1880s

Today it looks like this.

I know... I said I was taking a break from blogging and I am... but I've been procrastinating* ... catching up on favorite blogs while eating lunch.

Tammy, my fellow Neb. blogger, and my dear PennyAnne Poundwise, both posted their menus for the week.

(Gee thanks Tammy, for reminding me about the change in the weather. I think I'd rather dodge the stray tornado & hail stones if the temps would stay in the 60s-70s. I'm not liking this 40s and cloudy and cold and rain, snow in the forecast and lows in the 20s! [Hellooooo... we just moved back to our UNHEATED bedroom! I don't want to move back down to the HEATED basement guest room. My back just got used to the change in mattresses.])

Anyway.... they posted their menus and ok, I wanted to keep procrastinating *.... participate in menu-sharing too.

Here's my menu for the Week of March 23-28th

Monday: Sloppy Joes on whole wheat buns, Cole slaw, Chips, various found things for dessert - Farmer-Dear; Leftover Spicy Catfish fingers, Jalapeno Mac & Cheese, Corn muffin from Sunday's dinner at Famous Dave's®, no dessert - me.

Tuesday: Breakfast for Dinner (B4D) Night- Ham and Cheese or Tomato and Avocado Omelets, Hash browns, Whole wheat toast, Cinnamon Apples - both of us (and should be that way most of the rest of the week, unless "someone" decides He doesn't want what I'm having.)

Wednesday: ("warm" day of the week) Chef or Chopped Salad with variety of cheeses, smoked turkey breast &/or ham, Butter sticks (quick bread), Almond pound cake with berries

Thursday: Dining Alone Night** Eggplant Parmesan, chopped salad and pesto ww angel hair pasta for me; Schwan's battered Fish, fries and canned veggies for F-d

Friday: (We're babysitting in the evening for a super-cute little neighbor boy, so it'll be an easy,make-ahead supper.) Soup and sandwiches. Haven't decided on the soup yet. I've found some new recipes but F-d may want to stay with the TnT (chili, baked potato or tomato). Sandwiches will be either tuna, egg salad, grilled cheese or just corn bread.

Saturday: (I'd like a Date Night, but not sure of the weekend schedule yet.)
Individual meat loaves, Baked regular & sweet potatoes, Roasted broccoli for me & something canned for F-d (hey! He likes canned veggies.), Homemade dinner rolls, a yet-to-be-decided Cake or Dessert from scratch.
(PS Found my Cake recipe! Lemon Ricotta Cake with Strawberry Sauce ala Storybook Woods )

Sunday is Cook's Day Off, unless she wants to cook. Next week will be a little nutty with our church's Easter Pageant 4 days. I'll be eating at church this day (Sunday) I think, because of full dress rehearsal and then every day of the performances. So next week might be alot of "find what you can" meals for Farmer-dear. Good thing the Schawn truck comes this week.

I continued to procrastinate *... puttered in the kitchen and cleaned off my prep/coffee area. (I have a very small amount of countertop, so this corner does it all.) Slowly starting some Spring Cleaning.

While I was wiping down and de-crumbing (and killing awakening Lady Bugs Grrrrr!); I nuked what was left of the 99¢ package of turkey bacon and it is now jarred & in the freezer to use as Bakon Bits on salads.

I also processed 4 slices of Buffalo Jerky into "gravel." (it's not "dust" and too big for "crumbs", so "gravel" it is.) But what do I do with it? The flavor doesn't impress me. It's not a strong smoked or spicy jerky, just a bland-kind of beefiness. And obviously, being jerky, it will need to be used in something with moisture or cooked in liquid. Or not?? I'd appreciate any suggestions on uses for this. It's in a jar in the freezer too.


I hope to have photos of the newest calves soon. We had a new one, yesterday in the midst of the storms, but he and Mama are doing fine. We let the twins & their mama out of the barn. It was a bit of a muddle, all these new black babies and 2 black mamas. Plus the black/white face Aunties have "certain body parts" that look the same as Mom's to the calves. The Aunties were not amused at the extra attention. (giggle)

OK, I guess that's enough procrastinating *.... Blogging for now.

I'll be back when I as soon as I can.

Hugs!
Kay~

* I should be making a diaper cover for a goat right now. I'll let you mull on that one for a while. lol

** Click on the link for her blog. I have to cook & dine alone alot too. Farmer-dear is not very adventurous in the food area, as you know.

A short break

Just a note to let you all know, I'm not leaving blog-land forever, but need to take a short break. You probably won't even miss me. So maybe this is just permission to myself that it is "OK" to take a break and not feel guilty. :o)

Our church's annual Easter Pageant is coming up soon and I'm helping in the costume department this year. Since I'm new there, I feel slightly lost all the time. I'm so glad everyone has patience with me.
I've been stitching and sewing and tacking costumes and getting to know some of the older ladies of the congregation. Plus both ways. :oD
This week I have to make 6 cowls/head-dresses and.... a diaper cover for a Fainting Goat! Yes, you read correctly.... a diaper cover for a goat! lol Out of fake fur. LMHO! I think I'll need a liner and then the fake fur over the top of that. Not sure how this will work out. I'll let you know & hopefully will remember to take photos of the finished product on the goat.

And we will be babysitting for a neighbor's sweet 9-month old boy this Friday evening. I've been in the 1-year old room at church for the past few Sundays and they are fun. (Once you get past the tantrums & screamings.) But the diaper changes are worse than the infant nursery. OY~

And Easter itself is coming and we have a houseful coming. So I'll be cleaning and cooking after the Pageant is over. (Pageant is Palm Sunday weekend for local readers. If you want more info, email or message me or leave a comment here.)

And I really need to get to Spring Cleaning. REALLY! The number of dead flies in my bedroom is too embarrassing to count, but it's bad! They winter-over in the walls and find their way out into the windows. And then die if it is still cold. All I know is, it's gross and embarrassing and I need to clean up there ASAP!

And... our newest cows are close to calving. Matter of fact, Mama 331 had TWINS yesterday. Both heifers and are black. Such cute little things! I couldn't get a photo last evening as it was too dark by the time I got home to see them. But I'll get one soon. Farmer-dear put Mama and babies in the barn this morning as we are in for some nasty weather over the next 24 hours and falling temps. Typical, ugly March weather.
The other 3 mamas should be having their calves soon. So we may be making other barn arrangements as the weather worsens.

So, as you can see.... it's just a little busy here on the Prairie Farm. When I start to feel really stressed about life, it's time to let go of some of the inessential activities for a little while.
But no worries, I'll be back with more of my random chattiness in a few weeks.

Until then,
Hugs!
Kay~

** "March arrives to martial music; it's a warrior month; the winds are trumpets, the bright banners of the sky are unfurled, and the pennants of the clouds flutter. Now and again drums roll in an unseasonable thunderstorm, or the snow comes galloping in like white horses."
~~Faith Baldwin, Evening Star(1964)

Life in late winter, In the Prairie Kitchen and more Frugality

"Life" on the Prairie-Farm

The "girls"

Mama & Baby #292

She really was not happy with me at all.
This was taken from about 100 feet away and she still was glaring at me.

First Baby of 2009

Go ahead and say it, "Awwwwwwwww~~"
Isn't she just the cutest thing?

"Thistle"

There is beauty, even in the "dead of winter."

---

In the Prairie Kitchen:

We're baking again in the Prairie Kitchen. I made a full batch of THIS BREAD on Sunday, 2 loaves. One in the freezer for possible gifting and one almost gone now. (what is it, Tuesday? How can it be almost gone? Oh yeah, I've had about 7 slices. )
Anyway.... I am mixing up The New Bread (No Knead Dutch Oven Bread) this afternoon. The Olive, Rosemary, Parmesan variation has me very intrigued. This bread calls for 12oz of lager. It was a bit embarrassing to remember I had a 6-pack of beer in my cart yesterday when I ran into an old neighbor who has no idea why I'd be buying beer except to drink it. Which I don't. And I didn't even think about it or that I should have explained. oh well.... maybe it added to their dinner conversation.
I thinking the regular version of the bread with Fluffy Orange Butter sounds wonderful.

I have been using the French Vanilla Creamer in my morning oatmeal. I only need a little bit, cut with much more milk, or it's wayyyyyy tooooo sweet for me. The French Onion Dip has been tossed. It just wasn't working it's way into any of our meals.

Farmer-dear has been making his favorite 1000 Island Dressing. We had all the ingredients so, Another savings! I will be digging out my dressing recipes for Dorothy Lynch (it's a Nebraska thing!) and Raspberry Vinegrette. I have some Splenda I need to use up (don't like it as a normal sweetner) and I think it will work in this.

This is tonight's supper:

Carolyn's Bacon Tater Crockpot Breakfast
1 pound pkg. frozen tater tot potatoes
1/2 lb. Canadian bacon
2 onions, chopped
1 and 1/2 cups shredded Cheddar Cheese
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
6 eggs
1/2 cup whole milk (I used skim... no difference)
2 TBSP flour
salt and pepper to taste.

In crockpot, layer ingredients in order... one third of the tater tots, bacon, onions, and cheeses. Repeat layers two more times, ending with the cheeses.
In a mixing bowl, beat eggs, milk and flour until combined... season with salt and pepper if desired. Pour mixture over layers in crockpot. Cover, cook on low for 7 or 8 hours.
Will serve 6 - 8.

I used dried onions as I wasn't in the mood to chop up onions at 8 a.m. And I think using the sandwich sized Canadian Bacon would be better than the pizza size that I used. I'll give you a review later on it.


More Frugality

1. Still trying to be frugal but not doing as well as I'd like. I bought a few inexpensive things for the girlies for Valentine's Day. We went out to eat twice over the weekend. It was breakfast both times so at least that was cheaper than a dinner meal out.

I did take a trip to the grocery store for Olives (Feta-stuffed, Garlic-stuffed and Kalamata, they are my guilty pleasure right now....6 sliced up on my salad / dinner meal.); and a few ingredients for the recipe above. We've been eating just salads for dinner lately. Bagged salad is on sale through Tuesday (99¢!) and I want to get more of those 38¢lb bananas. They were really GREEN yesterday.
We're trying to get our 7-9 servings of fruits and veggies in every day. Farmer-dear takes some kind of fruit in his lunch and I've been putting dried cranberries in my oatmeal, baby carrots with my lunch or for afternoon snack and fruit later too.

2. Remember I told you about Playlist.com for free music. I found another site.
http://www.pandora.com/
You can put in a name of an artist, song, types of music and it finds songs that meet the criteria. You can approve songs or disapprove. You can add more than one "station." So far I'm liking the variety. I have some pretty obscure intrumental music likes and it's found plenty to play. Seamless playing without having to rebuffer all the time. (one of my biggest pet peeves with iTunes radio) NAYY, just sharing what I've found.

3. I'm drying pineapple again. When fresh pineapple drops below $3 each, we buy 2 or 3 and I dry it in 2-3" slices for Farmer-dear. It's a healthy (and less expensive) treat for him in the evenings. I use the "ugly" bits & pieces in my evening fruit & yogurt dessert.
We'll continue to do this until the price goes back up. Out of the 2 fruit we got on Sunday, I had a large Tupperware mixing bowl full of slices. Easily 4 large cans worth. A can of pineapple here is close to $3 so I'm definitely saving money.

4. I did start my Cash for Christmas savings. I emptied Farmer's change container (except for the quarters that he uses everyday) and my change plus my loose dollar bills into gallon ziplock bags and have it tucked away so I can add to it every week. When the bag of coins gets full, I'll take it in and get bills. Not sure if I'll open a savings account with it or just put it away here. We'll see...


That's the latest news from the Prairie Farm. I'm off to find some lunch (leftover pizza) and then OMG! SEWING!!! After all, dinner is taken care of and doing laundry is sooooo boring.

Hugs!
Kay~

**"The most wasted of all days is one without laughter."
~e.e. cummings~

A new additions to the farm

(Come back for photos to illustrate this post-- I'm having trouble getting them to load this morning. sigh~)

Announcing the start of the 2009 calving season-- Miss JS291! A lovely dark red and white heifer. White markings over her back and on her back legs and front feet and the tip of her tail.
Mother is a dark all-red Angus cross. Father is a pure red Angus.

And so it begins. Checking backsides every chore time, keeping the bedding areas clean & dry, watching for skitterish loners, the joy of each new birth and hopefully no sadness for any who fail to thrive.


The other new addition is Farmer-dear's new front-end loader with the grapple. He loves it. No more wrenching his back to up-end bale feeders and I can't wait to be able to say, "I want some dirt/mulch/compost right HERE." and it will be dumped right THERE.


Speaking of Mulch... The new power lines will be going in south of our farm, along the line fence. The PPD needed to cut some trees on our side, in our pasture. BIG, old cedars. I am now the recipient of 3 truck loads of cedar mulch. No more smelly grass clipping mulch this summer! And quite possibly some well mixed compost. Oh the possibilities!

My dear Farmer even covered the mulch pile with a tarp to keep it clean & dry and hopefully cat-potty free. I love that man!

(btw-- anyone have a Tried N True way to keep cats from pottying outside my back door!!!!!! Seriously! They have 80+ acres to use and they have to poop right outside my back door? I got some spray at W-m and it works until it rains or snows. Which is usually hours after I spray everything down back there.)

That's the newest news on the farm. Keep watching. I'll have a few new photos of the twins. Not as many as I would like but it was more fun to play along & I kept forgetting to take photos.
Also more on the Infrared Heater and how it's working out. My new office furniture. And the "Brenda's Anniversary Roses" quilt is ready for piecing.
We have our income tax appointment this week so if I go AWOL again, don't worry. I'll be back after that.

Have a great week!
Hugs
Kay~

** "Come now the wild dark days of February when the house
seems a lovely warm little island with winter billowing outside."
~Gladys Taber, Stillmeadow Seasons~

Being born is hard work!

First off-- if you are a bit squeamish or have little ones looking on, I must tell you the following photos are of a cow giving birth. I tried to edit it, but there are just some things you can't hide. Giving birth is not pretty.

So to give you time to get the little ones occupied with something else, here is a photo of my Farmer.

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day with thunder-boomers in the forecast. Weather systems coming through usually means we need to keep a closer eye on the pregnant mamas in the lot. When we did chores in the afternoon we found one of the new cows (#36) by herself, looking very uncomfortable and lowing in that "I'm in pain" voice.

Even though she's an older cow, she is new to us and we decided we should keep an eye on her for a few moments.
And probably 10 minutes later, she was to this stage:

After that, things went pretty fast. A lot of pacing, lowing, laying down and getting up and some good pushes and we were to this:

One more big push and "plop!"

Some warm licks from Mama and alot of head shaking and then it's time to try to get up.

I think you've got it!!

Welcome to the World, Baby!

We didn't want to get Mama any more agitated, so we don't know what Baby is yet. She is a very protective mama.
I'll try to get some photos today of him/her today, all dried off and clean looking.

(Addition later on March 22: Baby is a "He", or rather _was_. It's a steer now. Both baby and mama are doing fine.)

The poor barn cats were not happy; they had to wait for their dinner.


Happy Spring Everyone!!

Hugs!

Kay~

** "To be alive, to be able to see, to walk,...it's all a miracle."
~~Arthur Rubinstein (1887-1982) Polish Pianist

Thrift Store Goodies and an Organized Laundry

It's been a long week for me and I'm definitely ready for the weekend. Although from the sounds of it, it may not be as restful as I'd like. We have several errands in the city that must be done this weekend. I can still hope for a relaxing Sunday afternoon.

One nice thought is the warmer temperatures that are in the forecast for the next week. Maybe some of the mud will dry up. I'd like to start cleaning up the yard and garden but it's been to chilly yet.

I wrote about some recent thrift store finds and tonight I took photos of my goodies.

The vintage romper (notice the handwork. Aren't the rabbits cute?)


The vintage doll quilt



The vintage apron (so very sweet!)


Scarves & sashes to use to embellish some spring-time fabric post cards.



I haven't had a chance to take those photos of the cattle yet, but I will. This morning as I was doing chores I noticed the baby of our older "new" mama was lying very still in the straw pile and she was worried and sniffing and shuffling around him. I suspected he had died in the night and Rick found that to be true this evening.

We had a frugal dinner tonight. I went "shopping" in my freezers. There I found turkey breast medallions (Schwanns), au gratin potatoes and green bean casserole (both of these came with the honey-roast ham I got from my bosses at Christmas). I heated the veggies in the oven as the package directed and grilled the turkey on the GFGrill (it was cooked, just needed heating also.) We also had homemade bread and chocolate cake for dessert.   I thought it was all pretty good for a processed freezer meal.

I organized my laundry room today. (It is actually more closet size, than a room.) I bought a narrow, wheeled cart with a hanging canvas bag and three wire shelves at W-mart. Rick grumbled and moaned about "cheap crap" until I told him I couldn't afford to go to Crate and Barrel or Linen & Things, etc for a similar cart, but if he insisted I would. That shut him up.*wink*  And it works just fine.
The canvas laundry bag holds our good clothes until I have a load-full and I have a shelf for my seldom-used liquid bleach, one for my kitchen towels (again, for when I have enough for a load) and the top holds my Oxyclean and Dye-catchers. Now the only things on my dryer are the dryer sheets, a basket for my "found" money and my big jug of Era. Much, MUCH better than piles of clothes on the floor and all that stuff on top of the dryer.

Here are 2 photos of the laundry room, dirty clothes and all! (OH MY!)




I am using my dehydrator again today. Some dear friends gave us some grapefruit from Texas. They are nice and juicy but we just don't eat grapefruit as a fruit. I considered juicing them, but there are more than I would want to juice w/ a hand juicer. The orange and lemon I was drying were finally done after several repeat trips through the heat. I powdered them today in the blender. What an awesome smell! I decided to try to dry half of the grapefruit. I sliced them and seeded them. I did leave out the pieces that were mostly rind. It seemed the orange and lemon rinds didn't power up as easily. I have about 6 grapefruit to eat fresh or I'll section them and freeze them for fruit salad this summer.
The powdered citrus will be nice in lemonade or iced tea this summer also. Or in my fluffy yogurt pie. MMMMMmmm

And so with the thought of summer in mind, I'm heading off to bed.

Kay
** Other women have shoe addictions;
I wear cheap sandals and buy books.
--Jenna Glatzer