Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

One of the best things about farm living is that we have

so many  moments  that fit the old phrase

 "a picture is worth a thousand words".

The sun has been more than welcome in helping to melt off

the two weeks of cold temperatures, ice and snow.

Last week we had cows calving in below zero temperatures and

today's baby arrived with a warm forty degrees.

Isn't is amazing what a difference the sunshine makes to our stress level?

In the very same day, I received a box of sunshine from my

dear friend that is working every day as a nurse during the 

pandemic of our lifetime.

In her very own words, "a little ray of healthy vitamin C and

sunshine". She's my hero!

I'm thankful for the sunshine gifts of life and love

that God sends us everyday! 

                                    

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

                             

                                      

    After carefully walking around on ice last week,  we were  extremely happy for the    snow that made it easier and safer for us and the cows to  gain a little bit of traction.   We prepared as best would could for what we consider normal  cold weather but nothing on the farm works when temperatures drop below zero and hover in the teens through out the day.

From the equipment in the milk barn to the water tanks, well houses,

 and ponds, everything has been frozen.  Every minute of each day 

has been busy with hauling water, breaking ice on the ponds,

  feeding the cows and repairing damaged equipment to get 

the milking done. 

If you want to see a farmer's determination to care for his animals,

come on  down to the dairy farm and I will show you  my family of farmers.

 

I'm thankful that my family and our employees have

been kept safe this week  as we worked together

down on the dairy farm.

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

Preparing for extreme cold weather is always a challenge on the dairy farm

but when you add a layer of ice it's a double whammy.

As we tried to bring the two expectant mamas into the maternity barn

to shelter for the night, the first cow slipped on the ice.

Luckily, she was able to get up and walk on to the barn.

After seeing the struggle of the cow getting up on the ice, 

it was decided the other cow would be  left in the pasture.

Cold weather doesn't create the same risk as the broken leg or hip injuries.

Several large hay bales were unrolled for the cows to rest on.

As luck would have it, the cow in the pasture calved and the cow in 

the maternity barn did not.

Cody brought this new baby into the maternity barn as soon as he found her

and put her in a hutch with a heat bulb. She looked pretty cozy when I 

went to check on her after calf feeding.

I thought about climbing into the hutch with her for 

a warm-up!

It's been a rough couple of days trying to stay warm

and upright walking on ice but I'm thankful for the 

fact that we have a healthy new baby and that 

no animals, employees or family have been injured

down on the dairy farm.

 

Dairy Farmer's Thankful Thursday

One of the greatest joys of family farm life is

sharing  everyday activities with our children and

grandchildren.  

Hearing the sweet little voice of Hattie was all it

took for me to abandon my farm bookkeeping task,

 throw on my coat and head to the calf 

hutches with Cody and Hattie.

The afternoon was perfect for the job of placing 

ear tags that we use to identify each heifer calf.

This identification number is used as a name and is

entered into a computer data base. The  information about

each heifer calf is used for the care  of each calf

 as they grow and mature and eventually become part

 of the milking herd.

Hattie's job was to entice the calf out of the hutch.

She obviously had the job she wanted!

I'm thankful for each moment we have together

and 

                                                and for  the memories we are creating

down on the dairy farm.