Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

Friday morning. Been a couple of long days and I have just been plugging along.

We are getting some rain this morning. Soft, slow, drizzly kind... but it is sure welcome. We are in the southern edge of it, it seems to be going more north than east, and looks like WV is getting a fair amount more.. and some wet snow in the mountains north and west of here. There have been burn bans for a couple of weeks in a few counties, mine included, so this is sure welcome in any amount. It does look like we will be getting some sort of rain/drizzle through the early afternoon at least. It does not look like there will be much if any in @Mini Horses direction, but they got more rain than we did earlier so I think with it not being growing season she won't mind too much. This is not going to be a drought breaker, but might just help a little. Thing is, though, after this goes out, there is basically nothing else in the forecast for another week...

Went back to the 2x herd Thursday morning... then left about 10 or so, came home, got the grain and went to do the nurse cow. Put her in with the calves, she has been doing better with them, and gave her a bale of hay in the bunk along with her grain. I planned to leave her in there with them for the day and then let her out after I got home Thurs eve... Came home, got the samples packed and then had to leave for the afternoon herd.... they start at 1:45 so early afternoon... Remembered to take my computer for the owner sampler herd pick up and do "paperwork" AFTER testing... AT least for a change they had everything there that I needed and no missing information etc....
It was about 9 when I got to the nurse cow pasture and just let her back out. No grain last night to wait on her to eat. I was tired and aching from the long 18 hr day.. Made a cheese omelet for supper and took a shower and washed my hair from all the cow splatters and went to bed.

When I hauled a load of water on Wed to them again, I did fill one 20 gal tub and the smaller trough on that side that holds 40 gallons before I ran water into the other 2 , 100 gallon troughs for the cows. So she had water and hay all day. She seemed glad to go out... and the calves were laying in the pen and looked okay... I had been watching her with the new one after that first 2 days of "hating him"... and she had gotten pretty accepting. Think she decided he wasn't so bad once she quit being so over concerned about her own calf. That is partly my fault from not getting her in with the calf as soon as I saw her with it on Saturday. I am not unhappy that she is a good mother, but after all these years of being a nurse cow, she has become less accepting until I really get after her... Then it is like she resigns herself to it. I will keep these calves in the barn and bring her in to them for a couple weeks at least. Want them to be really really active and for her to realize they BOTH are hers, and for the bull calf to want to "stay with her and her calf", out in the pasture... I am not going to try to put a 3rd one on her going into the winter. I will make sure she continues to get grain in the barn so she comes in regularly and does not lose condition... and usually after a bit, the calves will learn to come in with her also...
I did look at the water troughs and the cows had drank 2/3 of both of them... but with this light misty rain, I will not haul water today. I expect I will be hauling more tomorrow though.

It is chilly compared to the last few days... was 58 at midnight or so when the recording thermometer resets, and down to 45... supposed to get down into the upper 30's tonight.

Of course I haven't seen or heard anything more from the guy that did the clearing on Monday... he texted me Tues and said he wasn't going to make it and thought he would get here Wed after he had to go to court... driving on a suspended license... he// he might be in jail.... think he is a habitual offender...she had been driving him around until she broke her foot and injured her knee.... thought maybe his GF would have sent me a text.... he had not been here by the time I left yesterday... and it was too dark to see anything last night. Guess I will see when I go out to let the chickens out in a few.

So, get the chores done I have to and then will come in and pack samples and do some inside work today... Needed this wet weather to make me do some inside stuff anyway. But I sure have liked the nicer sunny warmer days this past week...
I can understand why people in their "PRIME" move south in the winter... never thought I would get to the place of not wanting winter... but I think I have gotten there... A week of winter is enough ... . Of course, once it gets here, I will be okay and just get through it... and not "having to go out to work" anymore in it is a big plus. If it is bad weather... I don't go to work in it...

Another of my farms texted me and wants to test.. It has been 3 months... and got 2 more to contact... oh well, it will help get a few things paid off the cc , so there is no interest by not carrying a balance...one of the benefits of playing the game... use their money for 30 days for "free" by paying it off when the bill comes in the next month.

Need to find out what is going on with the Explorer too...

 

[farmerjan]

COLD RAW DAMP DAY....

It was 58 at midnight and has dropped off all day... 46 mid day, and down to 36 tonight... BRRRRR

BUT we got some moisture... Surprising, we got a 1/2 inch.... I was very glad.......

801 was ready to go in the barn this morning and was fine... I let her stay in for the day again, since it was crappy out... gave her some more hay to eat after she finished her grain. Looks like she is making a bit more milk with getting grained so that is good. The white holstein is looking a little more filled out.... seems content... They both went right on her... and he went on her from the side and her calf on the other side which was a first, and cow just kept on eating... she is a grain hog though. The holstein does go on the back alot too which is fine...

I was still tired this morning... long day yesterday...
Had to do some computer work for the owner sampler herd I picked up and printed out the papers they want, to drop off on the way to test another herd Monday..
Then talked to the tester that "retired" at the end of Sept... and she was asking me if I could maybe test one of "her" herds because they were getting very desperate... I had tested this one back when she had her hip replacement... and I told her that I would if the other girl wouldn't/couldn't since she has so many now...
Also found out that Lancaster DHIA that came down and did the 2700 cow herd with the rotary parlor, and the 500 cow herd near there, are not coming back to do them... don't know what that is all about... but I may wind up being asked to go help after all.... and I told Sandra that if she is willing to go help, that I would go also... so I don't know what is going to come about...
It is getting to be a real problem situation for some of these herds...

Have not done near as much as I should have in the house today... I did get the samples packed and had to take them down to the UPS store since the guy had already come to the vineyard early. Gave me an excuse to go in Walmart and just wander a bit... but I wasn't in a shopping mood so came on home and let the cow back out, and that was that.

Put the few groceries I picked up away...

I did check the water at the pasture. They had finished the 200 gallons in the 2 large troughs outside the barn, but the concrete water trough fed by the spring was nearly 1/2 full so it had had a chance to catch up a little bit. With the rain on the grass, it is not so "dry" so they will not be as thirsty either, so the spring fed water will be fine at least for a day or so.,... I still might try to haul water tomorrow... see how the weather is... not doing it if it is raining... The clouds looked like they were starting to break up some this evening around dusk.

I was going to watch a movie but think I am just going to read and go to bed. Maybe get caught up on my sleep. I have got to load the rest of the meters in the car, but need to change the brackets on the back for monday's herd... will have to leave house by 11:00... they are an hour away and set up takes a bit even though they help... and they start at 1:30 or a bit sooner... usually leave here by 10:30... In fact, I think I will try to leave early and go by the Goodwill with the jeans that have to go back... and I have to drop off those reports... guess Monday is shot...better make a list so I don't forget something.

I'm quitting for the night.

 

[farmerjan]

Cloudy cold wet looking out there. Have not been outside yet. down to 32 and there is white icy looking grass out there this morning... Maybe got more rain overnight?

Good reason to stay in the house after I go do the cow here in just a little bit. I will not leave her in today since I will be around later to let her in and then out after afternoon feeding. Less to clean up too. Monday she will get put in and left in when I go to the farm to test, so when I come home after 7-8 pm I can just turn her out.

A good part of the leaves are off the maple so after a day or 2 of drying out, I hope to rake a bunch and bag for the chicken shelter for the winter.

I am going to load the branches and stuff he cut from around the maple and the bush he sheared way back, on the truck and take over to the garden and pile on the burn pile for burning this winter. Guess I will spend some time one day next week cleaning up behind the shelter area a little more... then see about maybe turning it 90 degrees so I can access the doors on both ends... and then see about getting some help to get the cover on...maybe he will text me and come back to do some work next week???? Sure would like to get the scrub trees coming up along the holly tree cut out and the couple of vines growing up in it too... and that da%# huge forsythia bush cut way back.....(or bulldozed out even)...

Happy Veterans Day and thank you to all who have served this country in the past and are presently serving now. I just hope somewhere that someone gets the balls to get us back on the right path before we see our 250 years of hard work and growing pains, and belief in a better way of life, go down the drain with the mess that we are looking at. We need some moral clarity back, we need some pride in ourselves and our country... and the fact that like ANY other "youngster ", we have made mistakes and have learned from them and have made positive changes to reflect that we are more mature.... and to stop pandering to immature and childishness that we are seeing take over so much.
THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES FOR EVERY ACTION AT SOME POINT AND TIME... this immediate gratification with not having to answer for some of the destructive and selfish acts is going to destroy us.....

 

[Ridgetop]

Watched a reporter interview a couple of the students marching in the pro-Palestine marches and they did not even know what Hamas was! If you are supporting something you should at least find out what it is. I really think college students today are just stupid. most of the degrees are worthless. A good trade school will get them a better living than most of the "degrees" being handed out and at their parent's expense!

 

[SageHill]

A good trade school will get them a better living than most of the "degrees" being handed out and at their parent's expense!

Most certainly. Heck that's what Mike Rowe preaches and has the foundation to promote that. AND he's got the folks who have done that and are making better $$ and don't have those huge student loans. Oh wait isn't that what the student loan forgiveness pile of ____ is about??

 

[farmerjan]

Watched a reporter interview a couple of the students marching in the pro-Palestine marches and they did not even know what Hamas was! If you are supporting something you should at least find out what it is. I really think college students today are just stupid. most of the degrees are worthless. A good trade school will get them a better living than most of the "degrees" being handed out and at their parent's expense!

Talk about stupid.... and these are the clueless idiots that are going to be running this country.... God help us all because he sure isn't going to look too kindly on total stupidity.......I almost can't belive it except I do believe it because they are worse than the proverbial "lemmings" following the Pied Piper off the cliff....

 

[farmerjan]

Makes you sick... and wonder what in the HE// good a degree is if they cannot even figure out what is going on in the world... but "LET'S GET OUT AND PROTEST"

 

[Ridgetop]

The teachers in both college and high schools seem to be encouraging these protests. I heard about some teachers that gave extra credit for walking ut of class for a protest. If I was a teacher i would give the kids a fail for missing the class.

 

[farmerjan]

Had a decent day. It cleared off and the wet dried up on the surface some. Sun came out after a kinda chilly wet start. No more in the rain gauge but we will be thankful for the 1/2 inch.
Our county has been upgraded from Severe drought to Extreme Drought .... or is that downgraded...??? Anyway.. it has gone from BAD to "WORSER"..... so that 1/2 inch is welcome even if it is just a drop in the bucket.

I got the somewhat smaller 1/2 greenhouse thing I ordered ($50) to replace the bigger one that got messed up in the wind... The metal "rods" seems a tad bit heavier... and smaller....but got it up and against the house. It is definitely smaller and only has a zippered door on one end.... but I think it will do what I want for the winter... I put down some thick cardboard on the deck boards... and the 2 nice racks that I had ordered and put together in the other one barely fit... one across the end and it touches the plastic cover so I put a piece of cardboard so it won't wear through the plastic... and will have to keep an eye on it... might put a piece of gorilla tape on it to reinforce where the the edge meets the cover ... a little piece 6" long of tape isn't going to hurt anything... I am going to take and tie the metal frame off to the racks to help stabilize it/tie it down better... and it is tied down to the deck like the other one. It is 1 ft narrower, and 4 ft shorter... but the 2 racks will work okay... and maybe being a little narrower , so closer to the house on the deck, it might not catch as much wind? We will see.

Next is the big one... just as soon as I can get the stuff finished cleared behind it. Might just put it on where it is just to get it up if I can't get any help to move the frame... but might see if I can get it moved by myself... you know... a foot or 2 at a time.. then move the other side, and go back and do more ,... go back and forth... to get it spun around 90 degrees to be facing the other direction.... haven't looked at it to see if that is doable by myself. Deb won't be here until after Thanksgiving so can't even ask her to help which I know she would be glad to... and no fussing or acting like it is just too much trouble like DS does about things.
Hope to get out there tomorrow and get things cleaned up behind it and then take a good look at the possibility of moving it.

The hens have decided to go lay "SOMEWHERE".... not in the crates, where they have been laying all along. ..... Found an egg under the holly tree and had to climb in through the prickly branches... guess I will watch to see where they go tomorrow when I let them out...

Going to get the rest of the panels and all, out of the way in the garden tomorrow too...got the T-posts out... will finish getting the netting moved... I am going to just put some colored surveyor's tape on the section that is tore up from the deer for now and get it all together... then deal with it when I have some time to either fix or just cut that piece out and then have 2 smaller pieces...

Tomorrow have to get all the meters' brackets changed and the rest of the meters in the car and more of the medium long hoses for the herd Monday....and bottles too...

Got all the dishes done up since I try to wait for a "sink full" so that I am not wasting water...
I moved the boxes with the "cinnamon pickles" and counted and have 2 dozen or so jars... some 12 oz quilted crystal jelly jars and pints and a couple qts... still have one container in the fridge... the jar bottom "popped" when I put it in the canner... luckily I was able to empty the water out of the canner and grab the top with a pot holder and turn the whole canner upside down holding the qt jar , and only lost some of the juice out of it... and had extra from them... so could reprocess them in a couple other jars and put the extra in the fridge... That was 3 qt jars that I had the bottoms " pop" and come off .... and they were all canning jars, 2 Ball and 1 Kerr... none of the "odd ball jars" had any problem... so anyway... trying to get some things put away... doesn't feel like I am making much progress...

DS told me the other day that he has had to bring all the hay from the last field we did, up to the barn there, at the pasture...and brought back a couple of rolls when he was coming back....that he had put it along the one edge of the field and the bear(s) had 3 rolled out into the field, and one had the netting torn completely off.. and the hay scattered everywhere... turned 3 others around right there where they had been stacked in the long row tight against each other, end to end..."MADE A MESS" again... they seem to stay away from the barn up there... we try to feed that hay out there, and then being the cows home after it is all done... no sense to move it then move the cows when they can eat it there and stay there longer... PITA... I am going to go up and see if I can salvage any for the garden for next year since it is not sprayed or anything there. Fork it on the truck and bring it here to use as mulch next year... when I have a little spare time... and this owner does not allow hunting on the property.... ....

Time to quit for the night. It is down to 36.... I got a pretty good night's sleep last night so feel alot better today... Hope to get a bunch done tomorrow too... might load the brush out of the yard and move it out to the garden in the morning after I put the cow in with the calves.... going to keep the chickens in the crates longer so maybe they will lay before they go out... but I want to be out there to watch where they "disappear" to, and maybe find the nest.... Always something....

 

[Mini Horses]

Since no mention, I'm assuming you didn't get to the poultry show this weekend. I know you were considering it. But we have other things happen that messes up plans sometimes. . Chickens changing nests -- they can be so weird. A lot of my flock is molting! Hoping to get some penned into another area for the winter. I'm not liking their choice of roosts. But the few laying have made it convenient -- my back porch!