Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

Thank you to everyone that expressed sympathy for my losing my nurse cow... it sure was not expected nor what I wanted... I really figured that she might not breed back again and would get sold as a cull next year...
Things never go according to what you think they might do......

 

[farmerjan]

Friday. Decent 37 to start and up to 57. High clouds and some sun peeking through a little... more like Hazy sun I guess. No wind to speak of.
Calves were better... holstein came to me after a minute and drank it right down. Black one went in the barn and then stood there and came to me and sniffed, then took nipple. Drank good too. I put them on the side that locked them in stall area so DS could get into lot for cow. He came sometime after I was home and got her out, so that is done and over. I went up a bit ago, and put them back on "their side" and opened the door for the bigger calves coming in the creep gate, so they can dome back in to eat grain in the bunk in the barn; after he came by the house and said he had gone up and gotten her....... jim brought him up to get the other truck and the wagon he had the cultipacker on and take it back to the barn.

James was here and got the few little things I wanted done... used the walk behind weed eater and cleaned up all around where the frame is getting moved to and got all the uprights un-attached from the 2x6's and all along the bottom so it can be moved. It is too hard for 2 people to try to move it... need 1 on each corner to do it easier... Also cut down some of the grey birches that I wanted out... a couple of crooked small ones coming up and a bunch of brushy stuff. So, for now I am sorta done with getting him to do stuff except for getting the frame moved and the cover on. That is tentatively planned for Sunday... I will talk to Deb and see what will work for her, and talk to DS and see what works for him. Get it coordinated and get it moved around and the cover on it. ... that it fits this frame.. I need to get a few more of the pipe insulation tubes to cover all the pieces of the frame... so that is on the list for later. Need some more of the heavy "line" for the weed eater... will take an old one with me to make sure I get what I need.

Hung the clothes I washed, so they will dry. Put another 1/2 load of just socks in to soak...
Sorted through some more papers while I was eating some of the chicken I baked yesterday... got a pile of newspapers together for next years mulch in the garden too. Would like to get some of the old style paper bags we got groceries in as a stack of newspapers fit in them just right; maybe find some cardboard boxes that they would fit in to store. If I can get the LR finished straightening and then vacuumed that would be a good start. Then the kitchen is next to get things moved around and get the table, and chairs in there. Then can see about getting the lower cabinets painted inside. Get that done so I can eventually get the cabinets organized. I have pretty much decided on how I want the sink to be in there... and then in the first of the year, get that stupid corner thing with the little sinks OUT, and get a new one in so I can actually use it. I do want a "professional" carpenter to do it so it is done nicely though. Plus, want to reuse part/all of the piece of cabinet they take out next to the stove... at least the door and the drawer if possible... and I have to decide on a counter top for around the sink and all that... Not going to use the "cutting board" around the sink part.... I still like it on the top of the other cabinet... but want something that the water can't affect near the sink. Maybe have to see if they make something looking like it. Maybe find someone who could do the deck into a sunroom/greenhouse type thing too.... at least get some ideas...
And debate on asking James about doing the upstairs ceilings... I think I am going to see if he wants to/ or can take them down....

It is nice out so am going to go out and cut the dead snowball stems off so they can go in the garden to break down and/or get burned with the rest of the stuff. Then take the meters and hoses out of the car and get them put into the storage box in the carport. Do this while it is not so cold.

 

[farmerjan]

Done and back home... I didn't get the snowball stems and dead flowers cut, I spent a little time out at the shelter frame looking etc... to make sure I was going to do what I was thinking about doing... and yes, am still going to turn it 90 degrees.... Set it about 20-25 ft off the fence along the road and about the same off the pine trees... lots of room for stretching the fence down along there....
Then wound up hanging the socks on the line so they could dry, the sun was out and still "warmish".... brought all the shirts in from the other load and the underwear will be completely dry tomorrow... socks too I hope. Seems I am getting down in socks... I have put quite a few in the rag bag the last couple months... they only last so long... worn out in the heels and such.... might have to invest in another dozen pair....

Then I went up and did the calves. The holstein came right to the gate and then as soon as he was sucking the bottle, the black one came up and a little tentatively tasted the nipple and then went to sucking also... .
So I guess they are pretty set now to realize I am the "new mommy".... Actually they switched over alot easier than I thought they would....
Came back and washed the bottles out and it was about dark, so I decided to go ahead and make the trip to Lowes to get the pipe insulation tubes, and do some looking for "Black Friday" specials. Treated myself to 2 pointsettas; a red and a white..... 2/$3.00 really??? nice ones too...not too big but still very nice; and another Christmas cactus that is about halfway done blooming but it was the "apricot/salmon color" and it was only $3.98. Walked around looking at other stuff... did not see anything in the kitchen counter dept that was like "faux butcher block"... did see several butcher block ones that are real wood... the guy was helping some other people so I didn't bother him. Time for that some other day. BUT, I did see a guy with one of those big carts with some nice squares of stone and some grout and stuff and made the comment that he had a job looking at him but that I liked the stone... and he said that these people moved here from Calf.... and wanted this bathroom redone ... BY the 28th...of NOV...... like in 4 DAYS..... I looked at him and said really, and he said yeah, and I said I hope you are getting paid good to do that, and he said, yeah, the boss will make money on this as he priced it right for the rush job... I just said WOW... I said I want to do something with the bathroom in my house, it has the old one piece shower tub thing and 21" doors and they must have built the room around the shower/tub thing... he laughed and said yes, some of them did that.. and then he gave me a card and they do all sorts of home repair and remodeling... and property maintenance... so, I might give them a call and at least get a person to give me some ideas and estimates.... something to think on... They might be WAY out of my price range too... never know...

Then I went next door to Walmart to look at the insanity for Black Friday... but it was surprisingly quiet in there... picked up a couple of groceries and came home...

So, here I am, going to get a shower and putter some more in the LR I think... kinda on a roll here... then go to bed and get up and start all over again, with bottle feeding, and go from there. The Christmas tree farm will be open tomorrow and Sunday and it will be crazy... there were dozens of people that stopped today but they only had family in there getting trees today.... I bet there were 20 vehicles that slowed down, then wound up going past or turning around in the entrance due to the gates being closed. They will sell out all they want to sell in the 2 days again I am sure....

Been looking at the lot and where they put up the posts to keep people from driving over towards me because it is wetter there... not usable to them. He told me that they had tried to grow some trees there but it was too wet and they would die...the couple of white pines there along the garden side are the only ones that survived and they are on the higher side of it nearer to the road.... can't park cars there when it is wet... I am thinking that after the first of the year I might approach them about maybe trying to buy another acre or so... since they can't utilize it... and it would give me another "section" to fence off.... and then it would be good for maybe a couple more calves or a few sheep... Just a thought as I was looking at it today when he put the posts in... Would definitely add to the value of this place... and give me more options... just one of those things as you look at something and say hummmm....might come to nothing... but if I could get the house worked on and all, then a little more land... little more privacy buffer... not that the Christmas tree farm is a bad neighbor.... they definitely are the best kind to have.... but options....

 

[Baymule]

Definitely call the remodeling crew. Even if it is high, it would be worth it to get your house finished. You can’t even utilize the upstairs. If you wait around for a lower price, that may never happen. Sometimes we just have to jump in the deep end, and hope we can learn to swim. Maybe even take a signature note for it, it would be so nice to have your house all fixed up.

I like the idea of buying the low acre from your neighbors. But-house first!!

 

[farmerjan]

COLD start to the day..... BRRRRR.... 25 this morning. We had 1 colder morning a couple weeks ago, it was 22 but warmed up pretty quick into the 50's. Today is going to be in the mid 40's. Glad we got the stuff done yesterday that we did.
Sun is out so at least it "looks warmer"
Some breakfast, and then up to the calves to feed.

 

[CLSranch]

Just been swinging in the coffee house lately (weeks) and just caught up on the last few pages here. Sorry about the nurse cow. To me having bottle calves without a nurse cow is not an option. They can save a LOT of work.

 

[farmerjan]

Having these 2 on bottles sure had been a PITA... but at least they are coming to the gate and drinking the bottles without having to back them in a corner or fight them. The actually learned pretty quick... and at 3 weeks are drinking good too. Going to try to get them to start eating some grain here in a few days... wanted to get them well established on the bottles before I make them do something they don't want. Normally they would have been sticking their head into the bunk when she was eating after a couple weeks.. learning to eat grain that way...

Got up to 50 today, chilly night again... upper 20's again. Tomorrow is supposed to be more sun to start but then a slight chance of a little rain/showers... Only saying mod 40's tomorrow.

Deb didn't come out this weekend after all... has a bad migraine and sounded really rough on the phone... Will have to see about maybe laying the frame over on it's side... getting the foam pieces on it that way... then might be able to slide it around easier... and have been thinking that maybe it might be easier to get the new cover laid over the top and then stand it back up... I may not be getting too much help with it... except that maybe James will come next week... DS has been out of communication today.....

Have to go up and plug in the little heater in Deb's tack room to prevent the water from freezing... not usually a problem with a couple of odd nights below freezing... but next week is talking down in the low 20's....So, I will go up there tomorrow after I do the calves in the morning.

They were busy as all get out at the Christmas tree farm today... they will be open a 1/2 day tomorrow after church... then will have sold out of all they want to sell this year... I stopped and talked to them a few minutes after doing the calves this afternoon... out of the blue talking about planting more trees and they're thinking ahead and maybe not planting more trees ...takes 6-8 years to get to 6 ft.... they are 70 like me... no one to take it over either... said they will not be able to keep it all up forever... so buying another acre or 2 might be very possible down the road... shame to stop it.... I'd try to find someone to work into it... even just work for them , if not to take it over and buy from their estate or something down the road...

Clothes in the house to fold... worked a little more in the house this evening... then read for a bit... can't seem to get into watching a movie or anything... I deboned the chicken off the carcass and got it in a pot; making soup/broth.... ate some for chicken for supper and some stuffing and cranberry sauce...

About ready to go to bed.

 

[Baymule]

Kinda sad that your neighbors are not planting any more. There is a farm in Tyler that has Christmas trees and blueberries. They take people out in trailers with hay bale seats, pulled by tractors, to cut their own trees. Then they pick people and their trees up, they go in the “store” to pay for their tree, buy hot chocolate and warm up. It is already a second generation farm.

 

[farmerjan]

Up to 26 out but already up to 32.... Sun is mostly out, said some clouds but the front affecting @Mini Horses on the coast is staying along the coast and the front coming in from the west is going to stay pretty much north of here. So no wet weather, just CHILLY....

Ate bacon and eggs for breakfast, getting ready to make the bottles and go feed the calves. Then go by Deb's and see about getting the heater turned on in the tack room before it gets too cold in there and freezes the pipes. This week they are calling for low 20's some nights...

Going to send out a couple of texts for testing. Already mentioned to DS about the 500 cow farm... but I am going to talk to the one guy, who works there, to see if his daughter is really interested in helping. I just cannot depend on DS to do it as he is always "too busy"..... need to see if he has any more days off work, he said we could have done it Friday... well, why not mention to me that he was going to be off and I might have been able to make it work... They usually are off, but sometimes they aren't .... I used to know what was going on with him just for general info...
Oh well... I sure miss Geneva.....

Time to go see about feeding calves.

 

[farmerjan]

Calves fed no problems. Went to Deb's, flipped heater on and water in sink is running okay so no problems there. I will go back by later and check it.
Good sized buck 4 or 6 points, chasing around a doe and another doe closeby there.. Also saw a red fox at the top of her driveway and it had a real scrawney tail... mange perhaps????
It isn't too bad out. No wind so doesn't feel as cold as the thermometer says.

The cars are already piling into the Christmas tree lot next door... Cannot believe how many....

Went out to shelter frame and think that tipping it over and putting the foam on would work easier than trying to do it up high... and slide it around easier to change the direction... 2 of us can flip it over and do it. Since it is sorta A framed... the side would be on the ground and only a little bit of the lower side of the "top" would be on the ground and it can be picked up to slide the foam on... and the other side and down the "ridge line pipe" would be easy from the ground also... I don't want to flip it by myself so I don't wrack or bend it, and sliding it around would be better with 2 to not get it "out of square" so to speak... but I could do all the foam pieces by myself... Already cut off most of the sides and all that were coming off, so not much left but the one end to take off now... since it was pretty much intact, though I would leave it until we were ready to put on the new cover, to "hold it's shape together " better.

Guess I will text DS and see what he is doing... since I haven't heard from him since Friday. Or go by James's place, they do not have a phone right now. Maybe just get him to help do it and pay him for a couple hours.