Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

@Mini Horses yeah, that would be great if we could trade sons because then they would probably get the work done... like you said... "not my mom" so might actually be willing to just do the job.... The only problem is my son has 10 times too much to do in the amount of time he allots, due to having to kowtow to the GF all the time. I have said several times is there anything else you want me to do and he says no... and then find out that he has GF come and do some things, but there is always some sort of restriction or time limit and then she only gets part done and he has to leave to go with her to do x y or z.... he made the comment today when he brought the tedder up to the field that he had sooo much to get done and there aren't enough hours in the day. You would have been proud of me because I zipped my lips and made no comment... NONE.... not going to get into it again.

I went and got the tractor and rake from out in the back where I had raked the orchard grass yesterday... he did not bale it yesterday like I thought he was going to... then took the tractor up the hill ( a mile or less) and raked the other hay he had mowed on wednesday. Then he said he could probably come and get me and take me down to get the tedder and get my car so I would have something to drive, with me up there... it was getting close to when he was supposed to get off, so I told him to just wait til he was off work and not cause any big deal with work. He came up the road, got me, we went down to get the tedder with the truck; and I got my car.

Came back up to the tractor... I had already unhooked the rake and all before he got there. Hooked up the tedder and I told him to go... He wanted to go to the concrete plant to get 4 more of the "blocks" which are making up the sides of the silage pit... where he is going to pour the floor. They weigh like 1800 lbs a piece...at least 6 ft long I guess... would remind you of the concrete barriers that you see on the highways... but wider and heavier built... they are for retaining walls and things like that... Had to get there by 4 and it was already 3. So then I went on and tedded out the other 4 lots that he had mowed on Thursday afternoon. This is in the sub division that used to be a farm and then got sold and split up into 4-20 acre lots....most of what he had mowed were the 4-5 acre lots, that have not yet been sold. Free hay but we cannot fertilize because we never know if we are going to have them from spring to fall kind of thing. He usually will put a little fertilizer on in the spring but not this past year with the costs and all.
They were drying decent but the skies were not the bright sun and blue skies this afternoon. Alot of high white clouds like they said. It negates the heat and some of the drying and all this hay has got to be baled tomorrow as the forecast is for 60% on Sunday... and they will be hauling the cattle back from WV anyway...also there is a week forecast of more of the "showers & storms" like they keep calling for and this mixed grass hay is nice even with the weeds in it... So, by tedding it, it ought to have dried some more this afternoon and should be ready to rake by 11 or so tomorrow. The sun did come out more later this afternoon after I got it done so that was good.

I assume after he got the concrete blocks he was going to sq bale the og hay in the back. I don't know if he is going to try to sq bale any of this grass hay... he will sometimes go through and sq bale a bunch .... weave in and out on rows, where there are no weeds and junk, then go back and just roll the rest for the cows to pick through and utilize in the winter. So, I will do my part tomorrow, rake the rest... and that is it for now.

Just remembered I need to bring the jeans in off the line I washed too.... before they get rerinsed!!!!!

Monday is a holiday from work for him so I assume they are going to work on the area for the concrete slab... he has had her helping him line up the blocks when he is unloading them off the trailer with the backhoe and all... so I am staying out of it.

While waiting for DS to get me to go get the tedder... we are trying to save trips on the roads with the tractor as it wears the tires out so much faster.... (and I would have barely have gotten back up there by the time he got off work anyway....) I called a couple of farms and got 2 set up for testing. One Thurs a.m. the 500+ cow herd with Geneva helping... didn't even ask DS because he is just too busy with this getting ready to pour concrete... and another for that Sat the 9th that I usually do on the farmer's weekend to milk. He is going to let me know if they want morning or evening... I said either is fine with me.
The 500 cow herd technically should be an evening, and this is "august test" technically... but Geneva can't do any evenings the next week or so and not asking DS with the push to get this concrete slab poured...I think they are scheduled to do it the end of this coming week. It will have to cure for at least 2-3 weeks and the corn will be ready to chop by the first of Oct by the looks of it.... and he still has to get the sides built higher... with the blocks... so he will be busy... and next week they go back to 7-3:30 at work so it is going to be a push to get to the plant to get the blocks after work... and he needs about 60-70 more I think... can only haul 4 (or maybe 6 at most) on the trailer due to the weight....nearly a ton each and total "dead weight".... the pad is going to be 30x100. So alot of the blocks...

So that is about it for me. I came in and made a tuna fish sandwich about 5 since I didn't get any lunch but I ate 2 pieces of toast around 9:30 this morning so wasn't hungry when I went to the tractor... Then I went up and did the cow and calves at the nurse cow field. Done for the night I guess.

 

[Mini Horses]

zipped my lips and made no comment... NONE.... not going to get into it again.

Herculean effort!!! . Hope face didn't squinch up a lot.

 

[farmerjan]

Nice morning. 64 for a low and already 76. Sun is out mostly although I do see some clouds around. Looks like the rain will hold off today, dropped the percent chance but tomorrow it is high and looks like rain chances all week.
I ran a load of shirts and "delicates" through the wash and will hang them. They will only take a couple hours to dry at most. Will bring them all in later after I get all the hay raked since it doesn't look like they will accidentally get wet this afternoon. That's good.
Went and got feed yesterday for the nurse cow and the calves I am feeding in the barn. All 9 came in with no calling/coaxing from me last evening. Might be because they did not get fed Thurs eve when I was gone ???? I have skipped an occasional night when I have been tied up, this is supposed to be supplemental feeding anyway... and to teach them to come in which they are doing good now.
The 2 new calves up there, on the lame cow and her first calf daughter that just calved, are doing good. But the lame cow has the 2 front teats that it will not nurse and they were so big this time around. She will not get bred back, and will go when this calf gets weaned off. Hate it in a way as she is a very quiet calm cow, and the lameness is less this past year or so... but better to get a decent price out of her while she is in good flesh, than to bury her or have her get worse if the bull were to breed her and come down wrong on her. It has been a surprise and even a small miracle that she has had 4 calves when we only planned to keep her for the one and ship her. Her daughter, the first calf heifer, had a little calf but it is quite active. Looks good.
It is funny that you don't think the calves are growing very fast, and then you get them up next to a "new one" and you realize that they are growing pretty good.

I did catch the nurse cow's calf go on her the other evening, and the other 2 that I put on her saw and they ran right over and got right on her from the back. She is not as accepting this time as she has been in the past years with the calves, but they are smart enough to make sure they get on her when her calf is nursing. That's all I need. They are all growing pretty good. She is not as quiet and calm in the barn as she has been in the past. Don't know what her problem is but as long as she feeds them I will just let it be. Next time around I will be sure to get her calf right off her and more calves grafted on her right away instead of her calf being 1-2 days old like this time, when I found it.
There are worse problems.

Time to go out and feed the 2 chickens, and get the clothes hung... I want the hay to have all the dew dried off before I go up to the field to rake.
Got feed yesterday for them at the nurse cow field so am good to go for a few days. I have to see about finding someone to fix the slide on the bottom of the feed bin... this buying by the bag is stupid... but I have asked DS several times for over a year to make a new slide thing and he just never can "get to it". Not asking anymore. Might just take it to a machine shop in town that charges through the nose... and get them to make one... it is double thickness plates so that it can withstand the pressure of all the feed pushing down on the bottom... maybe go to one of the places that sells them in north of here and see if I can get one the same size???? Out of the way, but might not cost so much either...

I need a HANDYMAN like @Baymule has in Chris... he sounds like a treasure... I would keep one busy for at least 1 day a week for the next several months....or several days a week for the next several months....

Found the card for the guy who does on site lawn mower repair and stuff. Calling him on Tuesday... done asking DS.... been over a month since I flipped it over....he stopped and took the plug out and said he turned it over several times to get it dried out as there was gas that had flooded it ... I just want it to run... or start looking for another one.

 

[Ridgetop]

It is funny that you don't think the calves are growing very fast, and then you get them up next to a "new one" and you realize that they are growing pretty good.

So true! Even just the difference in newborn lambs and 2 week olds is amazing!

 

[Baymule]

Yep, take the old slide and go get another one. Stop wasting your time waiting on someone who isn’t going to get it done. Get it fixed and make sure you let him know.

Get the mower fixed. It’s grinding on your guts, the things you ask DS to do and he doesn’t.

Too bad about the lame cow, but you have her heifer. Maybe the heifer will have her mom’s personality.

 

[Mini Horses]

Yep! Agree...just do both. I introduced self to a neighbor who is a diesel mech and he's going to get my tractor back into working order. military guy whom I'd love to adopt!! Yep, I'm older than his mom. . He welds, fabricates parts, plus all things Navy trained. Couple tours in war zones and building bases. PLUS he's a trained firearms "mech" (whatever they're called) and is gonna fix my pistol, clean my rifle and shotgun! Last two haven't even been shot in at least 25 yr or more! Oh. In cases and inside but .... Tell me they're ok. I'm in love! . Such well trained talent. Right here.

Talk about "make my day", it did. There's three other retired/retiring military fams along there and I'm gonna work to belong in their group of sharing. Already know two of them casually.

So hopefully, I'll be able to bush hog by next week. . You know the feeling!

 

[farmerjan]

Yep! Agree...just do both. I introduced self to a neighbor who is a diesel mech and he's going to get my tractor back into working order. military guy whom I'd love to adopt!! Yep, I'm older than his mom. . He welds, fabricates parts, plus all things Navy trained. Couple tours in war zones and building bases. PLUS he's a trained firearms "mech" (whatever they're called) and is gonna fix my pistol, clean my rifle and shotgun! Last two haven't even been shot in at least 25 yr or more! Oh. In cases and inside but .... Tell me they're ok. I'm in love! . Such well trained talent. Right here.

Talk about "make my day", it did. There's three other retired/retiring military fams along there and I'm gonna work to belong in their group of sharing. Already know two of them casually.

So hopefully, I'll be able to bush hog by next week. . You know the feeling!

YAY.....

Maybe I need to come meet him and see if he wants to travel for work on occasion ????. He is a great "FIND" for you. That's the kind I want to adopt too !!!!!!! I am so glad that you can find someone close like that.

They're called gunsmiths the last I knew....
The other people are the ones that were talking about killing chickens weren't they???? I am going to have to find a new place as the guy that has been doing mine quit and they were selling the stuff. Need to call him and find out if they sold the equipment and if the person who bought it was going to kill. He said there were 2 different people looking at it. Hoping that i can find someone as I am NOT going to start raising the "left behinds from the other place down near me if I have no way to get them killed. Not wanting or capable of doing 20-50 at a stretch... You "get it", I am sure.....

Actually brought the slide home from the feed bin this evening when I got a bucket of feed from the other bin, to have here for these 2 chickens.
Will call the mechanic for the lawn mower on Tuesday.

Stopped to see about the explorer and they are going to just order the parts and get it done. I told him that I am tired of waiting and that I may as well drive it occasionally since I have to have the tags and ins on it. And they are going to come get the little ranger 4x4; that still needs to figure out why it won't start... Didn't have it all last winter... they have the new distributor and something else that DS has just not found the time to pick up, and bring here and work on it.... It is one I just run around here for feeding and stuff.... no title but it has heat and is a great little truck for bad roads and stuff doing chores and things.

Had a flat on the rake when just starting out earlier... had about 1/2 the first section raked and looked back and it was flat. DS brought up the air tank and it did blow back up. It has a tube in it... probably a pin hole... The tire is OLD and they put the tube in it awhile ago... Inconvenience but not a disaster... then I went on and raked all the rest of the "lots"... there are 4 that were cut in this section that I had tedded out yesterday, and the 2 lots I raked yesterday.... each is 4-6 acres I guess. Not alot of hay but still.. has to be cut twice and better than just bush hogging it... so I got done and then went by the barn to see if he needed anything else...
DS broke a tension pin, and so one of the spinners on the manure truck wouldn't work... he was trying to get it spread to get the rye in the ground that should have been done a month ago... planting it where the wheat came off....so I ran and got one for him at the co-op... and he got it fixed ( take apart the gear box for the 2 spinners that throws the manure out the back) and he had GF doing the seeding with the no-till drill on the tractor....which is fine...but I would have done it if he had asked....
So he went up the hill to start baling and I had come home. Got the laundry in the house and he called and said, can I bother you again... and I said what and he said can you go get me some more 16,000 baling twine out of the storage trailer... I forgot it and will run out in a little bit... So I said I would get my cow grain and go get the baling twine and then I would just go feed after that. So I did... had to climb 2 steps on the ladder to get it off the top shelf and they are heavy... 2 rolls in a "bale" ..... took it to him and he was going to work on getting the hay all baled... had the sq baler there and I told him that he ought to just roll all this as he still had to change a couple tires on the cattle trailer for tomorrow. He never got the brakes done on the truck hooked to the cattle trailer so is going to switch and take the other truck since the brakes and all are good on it.... at least he is not being stupid to try to take that truck out there with the hills and all...
Then he asked if I wanted to go... doc wants them out there EARLY... like dawn... since DS said he could not get out there this evening....
He has another buddy that is going out to get some too... they need 3 trailers for the 35 coming back.... I don't think I am going to go since he will be leaving here like at 4 a.m. but he said he would call me later and let me know where to meet him if I want to go... he will leave from GF house and go out that way... meet the friend about an hour west of here... on the way actually....
I thought GF was going but it seems she is not.... not asking why not.....if he really wants someone to ride with him, I will go. Might be a good time to talk a little.... We'll see.
Looks like rain coming in out there tomorrow so they want to get them out before it gets too slick to get in there... we are on the list now for 15-20% tomorrow... scattered spotty showers, but 60 % Monday... and showers all week.
I'm tired, spent 4-5 hours on the tractor and all with the flat tire holdup.... need a shower and something cold to drink again.... and the bed.....

 

[farmerjan]

DS called and is not leaving until 4:45... said he could meet me just down the road at 5:10-5:15 a.m. His buddy's gf is going with him, so I said I would go so he has someone to ride with.... We ought to be back by noon-2p.m. if all goes well... and then he said he will try to get the rest of the manure (poultry litter) spread on the rest and get the rest of the other field planted... I think GF has her daughter tomorrow now... her ex has not been taking her for the full weekend when he is supposed to since they have been very busy with their farming work... they farm full time and have a litter spreading business and this time of year it gets real busy with the farms getting the crops off the fields and wanting to get the litter spread and cover crops planted.... That's a guess, but DS said her ex has not had the daughter for the last 3 weekends on "his days"... NOT going there either....
So I am getting in the shower and will get up and go... let's hope we don't get "into it" as it is a LONGGGGG walk home

 

[Mini Horses]

Maybe I need to come meet him and see if he wants to travel for work on occasion ????. He is a great "FIND" for you. That's the kind I want to adopt too !!!!!!! I am so glad that you can find someone close like that.
They're called gunsmiths the last I knew....
The other ones are the ones that were talking about killing chickens weren't they????


Travel is probably out, wife, kids and all that....but I am thrilled to be close! He was telling me things about that tractor like we were standing right by it. . He takes care of a couple others in area. Yes, gunsmith. He has a tattoo on his arm of a tactical gun. Said he carried it for a couple yrs and now it's always with him. . Has a dog named Sniper.

Yeah, the chicken harvesters. I'm not looking for 20-50 alone either! Like you...but a few together in a couple sessions and it's doable. Especially with equipment. I'd need some discussion before -- numbers and all that. Not committed but, it might be an option out there. I mean, we have to eat!

 

[Baymule]

I hope you have some good quality time with your son. Enjoy the trip!