Farmerjan's journal - Weather

Today was productive. Temps 58 up to 75; mostly cloudy and comfortable. Supposed to rain/showers and we got a 10 drop sprinkle. Got really dark a time or 2, but it looks on the radar to be staying mostly just west. And the funny thing it is moving almost directly north rather than the normal west to east patterns we see.
We moved some more of the pregnant cows with the calves on them to pasture for the next 6-8 weeks. Then the calves will come off and the cows will get a 60-90 day rest before they start calving again. The grass there is real high and they will put some weight on and the calves too. Moved a couple to another pasture and got the bull in there with them. The ones left in this group I have never gotten all the calves matched to the cows, just cannot seem to catch them nursing to tell who belongs to whom. So we moved these ones left in this group back out, all together, and stuck another bull in there in case there are any open ( I think there were 3 that he said were open) and they are going out to the back pasture there at the farm for now. This way, there are no worries that someone got mismatched and the calf loses weight since we don't want to wean them yet. They will also get weaned off in 6-8 weeks, the cows checked again, and then decisions made. There are a couple that will get sold as bred cows if they keep acting like jerks too. Wanting to run out the gate acting like the world was coming to the end because they were in the lot and the barn being sorted and such. 2 of them he was going to sell, and remembered after he had run them across the driveway, up the lane and out into the pasture. So they will get another chance. Since they should have been about 4 months bred now, they might get sold as bred cows late this fall instead of us wintering them over.
Had 5 calves in the barn at the nurse cow pasture this morning, only all of them have already been tagged. Got to try to catch the 4 or 5 that are not tagged, in the barn to get them done. But with it being cooler, they aren't going in the barn like they do when it is real hot.

801, the recently fresh nurse cow, is not liking the 2nd calf I got and grafted on her. And it went on her the first day which usually makes them more likely to take a grafted on calf. She doesn't fuss when she is eating her grain or when her own calf is nursing. But she doesn't like the calf to go on her on her own. Might not be able to turn her out loose with them as she might not allow the "grafted" calf to nurse out in the pasture. What I need to do is start letting her in to feed them and then turn her out an hour later, and do the same at night..... the calf will be able to get all she wants during the 2 "grain" feedings . The house I am planning to buy is right across the road kitty corner to this pasture; so real easy and not much travel time to and from. It will make doing the nurse cows much less of a chore than it is with me living 5 miles and 15 minutes travel away. I am also going to see if I can get some small bales of alfalfa so she gets more "feed" that way instead of as much grain . 2nd cutting of alfalfa is getting ready to be made here and that would be great. I haven't had any in the barn for 2 years because I didn't do the nurse cows last fall with knowing I was going in for the ankle surgery. They got time off and not bred back because of my tentative plans for the ankle surgery. They take time and work and my son didn't have time for that..... not withstanding that he broke his hip/femur, and it just was a good thing I hadn't planned anyone to calve that was a nurse cow last fall. I do have a couple of heifers that will be calving this fall that I will try to get at least 1 more calf on so they raise 2 each.... I need to get them pregnancy checked as the bull went in with them in January.... so I am thinking Oct/Nov. If I get each to take a 2nd calf, they ought to be situated by Jan if I get my knees done.... We'll see; I need to get them preg checked so I know where things stand. There are a couple of other ones that need to get bred.... but I am waiting for July/Aug to breed them so they don't calve til at least May. If I have the knees done then I ought to be in pretty good shape by then as they say the recovery is shorter timewise than the ankle and the PT guys say I ought to be able to get back in shape pretty fast if all is routine..... This ankle has gone well considering the hold up from the c virus stuff, putting me behind in the therapy and such. Plus, I have to be back functional to get on the tractor to do hay by mid-end of May...

Got to get going as I have to be at the PT appt at 8:15 in the morning. I will put the cow in after my appt on my way home, then come home and pack this afternoons' milk samples, and get things ready for the farm tomorrow afternoon. Have to set up meters there, so have to get everything loaded on the truck, and go early as it still takes me time to get set up with the "moving slower". It's a 200 cow herd. Then another 150 cow herd on Tuesday aft..... I will be aching by Tuesday night.
Making a list of phone calls to make tomorrow, first the chicken processing guy to see what his schedule is, so I can get on the list. There was someone else.... I need to make a list as I have already forgotten what I was supposed to remember.... :old:idunno Oh yeah, I have to call 2 farms about testing also..... but there was someone else I told myself I was going to call. Hope it comes back to me in the morning....
 
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farmerjan said:
There was someone else.... I need to make a list as I have already forgotten what I was supposed to remember.... :old:idunno
Click to expand...

:lol: And once you remember -- THEN you have to put the list where you won't lose it. I often make a list of things that I must do before I go to work (which has it's own computer generated list!) and I put it on the front of my computer screen...........it's he// to get old. ;)

I've even resorted to taping a note to the door -- so I see it as I go out! Even on the coffee pot. Well, a lot is going on all the time, little things -- like is the setting hens eggs hatching -- get gas in truck -- who knows?

What I often miss is my land line phone -- it was best way to find where I'd put my cell by just calling myself. :hide
 
Well, we finally are seeing a little moisture... it has been raining very lightly, but nice and slow is good!!! Started at 61 , went up to 67 and cloudy all day. I did PT, knees today and they ache. Ankle is doing pretty good. I need to try standing a little more on it, on one foot at a time, to get the balancing a little stronger. Problem is the knees make it hurt and I guess this damp isn't helping that at all.
So I dropped off the samples I had packed from the Sunday eve test, then went by the chickens. HOORAY:yesss::thumbsup:weee:weee:celebrate:highfive::highfive::highfive: The crew was there to start clearing for the road in through the property for the cell tower.....
They cleared and ground up all the trashy stuff, and cleared around the back side of the pen so I can move the chicken pen and then they can use the area where it is and clean up around it too. I can get in and walk around without all the underbrush... ought to really upset the fox so that is good too. I won't be letting them out loose, but might be able to put the hog panels around and let them have more room during the day.
Sort of like what @Baymule had done with the guys that cleaned up all the trashy brush and trees and all.... it looks nice already here. All chipped/mulched and they are going to chip all the tops of the trees they take down, leave the trees cut in long lengths as some is cherry that a friend is interested in for making furniture, and there will be plenty for firewood too. Son said he can sell it. Since I am thinking about an outside wood furnace, since I have baseboard hot water heat that is perfect..... so might just buy the wood from him. That was on the list for next year.... just might have to get the wood sooner... There are a couple of chimneys, but they aren't lined or anything, so an inside wood stove is not practical right now.... but the outside one would also heat my hot water for use in the house..... several friends have these outside wood furnaces and really love them. I'd keep the oil furnace so that if I was gone or something, it would automatically kick on... We are always cleaning trees and limbs away from the edges of the hayfields.... there are always trees that come down here & there that I could get wood, and I can still buy it if necessary. Yes, oil is cheap now, but who knows in the future what might happen with the "green new deal" nutcases and fossil fuels.....

Best thing is now that they started the "work" they start making payments to my son. Finally..... and it will be well on it's way up and all by the time we wind up having to go back to court with the witch next door in July.

More progress on the house deal. Owners got a "standard contract" from the lawyer, and the 3 sisters all signed it this weekend... He is going to talk to the lady at the bank, as there are all sorts of things in the standard contract that we are not going to do... because it is an "as is" sale..... so we are all going to go to the mtg dept, office, probably Wed aft or Thursday, so that we can go through it all together, to void some of the things like requiring a termite insp., since they did one some years ago, to address that there needs to be work done that is why it is an "as is" sale, and whatever she feels we need to make it "legal" for the loan to go through. Like I told them, I have nothing to hide, and they don't seem to either, so we are wanting it to be straightforward and we can "delete" things in it by agreeing and initialing it. This will make it palatable to the lenders, and still keep me from getting ripped off, while not holding them responsible for stuff that might have been required if it was sold in a standard real estate agent buyer/seller deal.
I asked if they had him put in the contract about the right to first refusal if I decide to sell, and he said no, that it requires another whole type of agreement and would have complicated it. I told them that we can do a simple agreement between us if they want.... that if I decide to do anything, I would do just what they did, get someone in to appraise it and give them the right of first refusal with what the fair value of it was at that time.
Also we are going to use the same lawyer since it is a private sale and that even the lawyer said if there was ever a conflict in the future, he would advise them to get a different lawyer.... but that it was a simple deal and wasn't going to need all the inspections and stuff that a normal "sale" would because of the "as is" stipulation. If there is anything I am uncomfortable with, them I sure don't have to sign it.
But these are people we have rented from for years, they have a reputation of being decent and fair.... they keep telling me of anything they can think of that I might need to know..... and it is going through a standard "lender" , and they have no reason to not be forthright. If we didn't know them or anything else, I would be more leery..... they keep doing extra stuff there, like cleaning up around the porch that the ins lady mentioned, cutting back the forsythia so the line of sight down the road is better.... they took all the vines/growth off the back of the house, mowed between the house and boxwoods and cleaned all that up..... took out some saplings that had started growing in the "flower bed of irises and daylillies so it looked better.... little stuff that has made it look better for when the bank sends their "appraiser". I think they really want me to get it, and I know if I have questions they will answer. They live right across the road. Not like they are going anywhere. Plus, it is a better thing than to let the house fall into rack and ruin.... they don't want to see their childhood home just deteriorate.
 
Decided to post that in case I did something dumb like accidentally erase it.

So he will let me know tomorrow if Wed aft will work. I have a PT appt at 12 so can meet them after 1:30 or most anytime on Thursday.
Like I said, if I don't feel comfortable then I can NOT sign it.
The closing has to be a minimum of 30 days after a signed contract.... I told David that we could just set if for sometime the week of the 20th.... that I was not pushing it but that I will be working around Glen's working schedule.... and he is a farmer too and so hay making too..... I will be here at this house until at least Oct 1st... that's a little over 2 months... from the closing.....maybe have to keep it until the first of Nov. since I am on a month to month. But as soon as it is "mine" I will start getting the house cleaned and painted and start moving that sort of stuff, and then work with him on his time frame with the bathroom, and the plumbing for upstairs. The ceilings aren't as life or death since I am not going to be using either of those 2 rooms as my bedroom. It will depend on what type of loan she decides to do. And I might see if we can get the ceilings down, while the windows can be opened and a fan to draw the dust out, and then he can put up the new, like in the late fall or winter when he gets a little slower....
This way I can get someone in to clean and service the furnace. Make sure the septic is working and I think that I will get some of the "anaerobic bacteria" stuff to put down it to get it "working" again since it has sat for so long. Got to measure my refridge to see if it will fit. It is an older one, that "green" that was so popular, but it runs. I want it to be the "extra fridge" but may have to use it for now.... Or maybe set it in the "mud room" where the washer/dryer goes..... use it out there until I find one that fits, or one that I like for the kitchen.

I am seriously thinking that I will have to get one of the "amish type" buildings for the freezers..... and it might be the smartest too. Need to stop and look at a few different ones as it will have to be wired for electric; not just a storage type for say your lawnmower and other lawn equipment. There is a small little outbuilding, like a mini garage, that the mower and stuff can go into. Could also use the "freezer" building for moving other stuff up there until the rooms are ready.... try to utilize my trips up the hill better.
I want to do all the painting and cleaning first, and get the kitchen organized. There are a few little things that need to be fixed on the cupboards......and get the sink in the "laundry room" hooked up. The drain pipe leaks underneath so needs new drainpipe.
And get the mulch hay up there for the late potatoes.... the good thing is they are in the cool porch here so are growing spindly, but not too fast. Ought to be able to get some out of it and get the grass killed under the mulch if it is thick enough.

Never did get to get any more strawberries this year. Guess I will try to add to my "food pantry" with more store bought canned goods for this year. I won't really have much time to do any canning and such with trying to get into the house. That's okay.... I am not against buying for this year. I have all the chicken I want or need, and there is some beef in the freezers and other stuff. Be a good year to eat out of them and get them emptied and combined so that next year I can "start over" with refilling them. I can probably get one emptied so that it can be moved, then transfer stuff as I go. Give me a chance to sort out some stuff that is probably getting old. And re-organize stuff into new boxes so I can find it better. I want to start cooking more/better again. Will be nice if the kitchen isn't so cold in the winter.... and to have a gas stove again.... I HATE this electric.

Guess that's all for now. Going to pack this afternoons' samples in the morning, have to do the cow of course. Need to haul a load of water up to her too since the water I hauled last week is gone. It isn't going to rain enough to get any amount off the roof.... I have to test again in the afternoon and again have to set up meters so will go up an hour early so after I get set up I can sit and take a break before I am collecting samples.

Oh and I have to see about getting the chicken pen moved.
Called about getting them processed. They have room for them next week. or after the 10th of July. The daughter is getting married on the 10th. I was thinking after the 10th, but I might just get the 8-10 bigger ones done next week when I am going to be up that way.... Need to see how many he thinks might be left in the houses going out around the 20-22..... he can tell if there are alot that are smaller..... since there is room, I could just wait and do a bunch after the 10th, then do some more about 3 weeks after that.... the farm I have always gotten them from should have some going out again the end of July..... I am thinking about how all of you can the chicken.... and I do want some done into parts this time so I can package like a thigh/leg combo for me to cook..... instead of always having to roast a chicken. Although that is good for the winter time and heating the house with the heat from the stove/oven. But I like chicken salad and so doing a whole chicken makes it easy to take any pieces of meat off the carcass and make chicken salad with it. and then make soup stock from the carcass..... But they sure take up alot of room. I could parts and break them all down, freeze them in packages that would fit better, and then cook the backs and bones and all for soup and chicken salad pieces.
 
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Packaging the chicken in parts sure makes it easier to store in the freezer and easier to cook. Boneless skinless breast is a quick meal. Since I grow mine out so big, I put a half breast in each package. I vacuum seal it all. I use all the bones and trimmings for broth and I cook a lot with the broth. I almost never freeze a whole chicken for myself. I scald and peel the feet and make broth from them too. CCX feet are big and full of cartilage, and make a nutrient rich broth. In cold weather, heat up some broth with fresh garlic and ginger grated in it for a warming hot cup. That’s good for colds and sniffles too.

I am excited for you, finally your own home. This is such a good move for you. You can make it your own and do what the heck you want.

I ordered 30 more CCX chicks for August 12. My hay guy wants to raise 6, just to try them. That means I’ll spend a Saturday helping him slaughter and package them. A lamb customer ordered 4 chickens, another lady ordered 10 chickens, all at $6 a pound. This is proving to be lucrative. Intensive work, but lucrative. Hmmm... maybe I need to build a meat processing room with water, electric and an air conditioner!! LOL
 
Gosh, Miss @farmerjan!

It seems that things are moving right along. Once you are able to buy your house and get it fixed up to your liking, and once you get your knees worked on and healed up, and once you are able to finally have victory over the cell phone tower opponent, things will finally be so much easier for you. Life will be so boring after that! ;)

Senile Texas Aggie
 
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