Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

Chilly day today... was 26 to start... Hit 56 in the sun but the wind picked up so was BREEZY... not a little breeze. It was just "real chilly"....
Did not go pull any staples or anything. Too chilling. Didn't do a whole lot... I was kinda in a funk today. Did some reading and other odds and ends.
Went up and fed the bottle this evening... Betsy came in and the 3 calves came in the other side... the black one that got banded was moving a little slower, but he did eat grain.
No new calves up there which is fine with the chilling weather...
Tomorrow I am driving DS to a dr appt in Blacksburg... leave about 6 a.m. appt at 8... then go by Rural King for feed since it will be another month before he has to go that way... I am feeding less feed with the cow and bigger calf out of there... but still will need some for the rest.
Calling for rain so glad to be taking the Explorer...guess it is a good thing I never sold it... It has come in handy for all the trips down there. Still not my favorite to drive though. But it means I don't have to unload all the meters out of the outback and stuff... and it is more comfortable for DS with his height to ride in....

Got 2 herds set up for next week.... another texted back and said the cows are way off in milk... so wants to put it off for a bit... works for me... waiting to hear back from another one...

Going to bed, got to get up early.

 

[Ridgetop]

He got some real relief after the shots they did in the C-2 to C-7 vertebrae... so this is hitting him harder all of a sudden, after some relief. BUT.... he cannot seem to remember to do things and things get put off all the time again...

Could thehead trauma which is causing the headaches be causing the forgetfuness? Or is it just involvement with her?

 

[farmerjan]

I think the head damage is causing alot of the forgetfulness since he also stutters some now and never did before... Stress with her on "not so good days" does not help either... and being so concentrated on things that the kids are doing, causes him to forget other things as they are "not as important".....

 

[farmerjan]

Thursday... left at 6:15 for the dr appt... he got in on time, and out by 9:30.... Stopped at the lawyer that is representing him in the workman's comp stuff... and has to get a few other things for them... for the meeting in early May.... Then went to Rural King... got feed, red salt blocks, more fluids for the tractors while on sale... dropped another $600+ .... next month he is going to take the truck and get at least a pallet of red salt blocks... and anything else that we need...
Almost came home with some chicks, but I resisted. They have a limit of 20 chicks per purchase/person... but they had about 100-150 cornish cross, a couple kinds of brown egg layers, some "easter eggers" , white egg layers. $4-6 a piece...
It was sprinkling by 11... we stopped and filled up with gas and ate lunch at a small "local" type diner/restaurant.... Got home by 2 or so... It was still misty/light rain so the stuff is in the car. Will unload some tomorrow and I will unload the feed when it is going to be dry for a bit, so I can switch it to the truck and take it to the barn. Will take the salt blocks, jugs of fluids etc.... to the barn except for a couple blocks to go to the barn at snyder's with the feed, to have there.

It's been wet most of the afternoon... I didn't put the rain gauges out earlier, so don't know what we got... Looks like rain off and on for the next 2-3 days.

Going up to the barn to feed the bottle calf, and grain in just a few minutes. It is only 48 out now so chilly and damp.

 

[farmerjan]

Chilly, damp morning. 40 overnight and we had some rain/showers kind of stuff. Supposed to be cloudy and not very warm all day.

Went to WV to a feeder calf sale yesterday eve.... DS and a couple other cattle guys... not many cattle there and lots of buyers... Last year a friend of DS's... works for VDOT that has cattle and one of few that DS trusts... he's a really nice guy... he goes and buys at this sale some and last year they had some good prices on heifers... wish we had been there and bought a couple trailer loads... anyway, decided to go out to see what the sale was like...
There were not many cattle there... most out that way have already sold due to the high prices this spring.... but the prices were as high as anything here more local. So, spent the fuel money... but had a good time with the guys and got to look at some cattle...

Today I will go up to the farm and try to pull staples out of some fence DS has to take down for them to start driving posts again on Monday... they are going to replace some of these old fences and some posts are broken and all that... DS asked if I could help do some and I said I would go up there and see about doing some. These fences are part of the barn lots so haven't taken them down yet since we still have cattle up against them. Might get the next few posts out of the "tangle" of fence he pulled apart the other day. It has been cold, windy and some rain and I haven't done them yet. Today is going to be cold and damp for awhile, but supposed to be clearing off and tomorrow is supposed to be nicer. Monday may hit mid 70's then temps back to mid 60's which is more seasonal...

Another farm got back to me... they do their own samples so I will take bottles up and drop them off, and then pick up and do the computer work when I am back that way mid week. Save at least one trip. Got to see about the 500 cow herd to get scheduled... morning this month...

Guess I will see about heading down to the farm here in a little bit.

 

[farmerjan]

Been a raw chilly day. Just plain raw.... Cloudy all day until about 6 pm then saw some sun coming through... but by then it was too late to do anything except keep feeling cold. Thermometer was up to 56, but that did not take into account the chilly feel. I wore my regular sweatshirt ... plus, a light weight hooded one on top of that to keep the chill off the back of my neck...

I pulled staples out of about 10 posts... that's about 80 ft... and we are talking 8-10 staples per post. I ache. That finished that section... except for one post that has some autumn olive junk growing right up through it that DS said to not try to wade through it... he will take the chain saw and cut that crap down... to get to the post there. I guess tomorrow I will go up and start "nailing off" the other stretch of fence that is up... and see how much I can get done. It is supposed to be sunny and in the 60's which would be real nice.
My problem is that my arm and hand get so tired because of the hand damage from the accident years ago... I do not have full use of the right hand with the pinky tendon that had been severed...they tied it into the ring finger, pretty much full functional use.... but there is muscle that is missing and all so that side of the hand is weak... and it gets tired more easily...
It's almost funny when I start nailing off the wire... because as the muscles and all in the forearm and the "front side" of the arm work to compensate, and they get tired... I can't "aim" the hammer and I hit everything BUT the staples........ and of course, that is the side of my hand that has been "tingley numb" on top of it so I don't fully feel it... and it does not do what I tell it to do when it gets tired...

Well, DS just called to say thank you again, for the staple pulling... it is freeing up his time to be able to get more brace posts in, and can much more easily go through and get the few staples I couldn't get out... a couple of bottom wire staples, and that one post.... and get some of this wire rolled up as some is in very good shape where the cattle were not "riding it" or pushing against it. And to see if I was going to come there tomorrow... that he wants to get to work on pulling the staples in the back field so they can drive those posts also...There are some broken posts, the wire has been stretched out from cattle "riding it", over the years.. and DS is adding some divider fences to make some of these lots smaller, so we can move cattle over and around when we are sorting and such... so I will be doing that instead of nailing off any of the other stretch of fence... That section is up, stretched, and nailed on the ends and a couple staples in most of the posts to keep it in place... these calves are not "testing" the fence so it can get done later... He said that even if I only got 3 posts done, that was 3 less than he had to do... so I will work on it until the arm quits listening to what I want it to do... and I want to get the ones he "unwound" from the mess, get those staples pulled too... we will use several / many of those posts here at the house...
So, tomorrow should be nice to work out there, and see how much can get done...Good exercise for me... especially since I am soooo out of shape lately...
Took some tylenol to take the edge off... will go get a good hot shower and go to bed.

On top of all this... DS wants to get the vet to preg check the heifers at snyder's... and get the heifers bangs vacc as one guy wants 5 heifers to go out in the lower field there at his place... says the grass is ready for them.... GRRRR ......we get it for free, and he does everything, checks on them and all that...they are retired so lots of time..... so you gotta work with them somewhat.. plus NO BULLS near them so we put heifers up there to grow and then when they come home, they will go with the bull in Nov at snyder's to get bred... Vet had some openings on Wed.... I am supposed to test but think I can change it to Thursday... ALWAYS... everyone wants the same week to do everything...
This working/testing is getting in the way all the time anymore... .
Only saving grace, is if we get the heifers preg checked and moved out to grass somewhere, he can bring the ones from the barn in those lots we are trying to get done, to snyders and get them out of the way and then whenever we can move the bull in up there, or move them out to another pasture somewhere with the bull....
Still no new babies from the other 2 heifers at snyder's... or Jess the longhorn... ought to be pretty soon... he did have one other calf today... we are about 75% done I guess.

 

[fuzzi]

Been a raw chilly day. Just plain raw.... Cloudy all day until about 6 pm then saw some sun coming through... but by then it was too late to do anything except keep feeling cold. Thermometer was up to 56, but that did not take into account the chilly feel. I wore my regular sweatshirt ... plus, a light weight hooded one on top of that to keep the chill off the back of my neck...

I pulled staples out of about 10 posts... that's about 80 ft... and we are talking 8-10 staples per post. I ache. That finished that section... except for one post that has some autumn olive junk growing right up through it that DS said to not try to wade through it... he will take the chain saw and cut that crap down... to get to the post there. I guess tomorrow I will go up and start "nailing off" the other stretch of fence that is up... and see how much I can get done. It is supposed to be sunny and in the 60's which would be real nice.
My problem is that my arm and hand get so tired because of the hand damage from the accident years ago... I do not have full use of the right hand with the pinky tendon that had been severed...they tied it into the ring finger, pretty much full functional use.... but there is muscle that is missing and all so that side of the hand is weak... and it gets tired more easily...
It's almost funny when I start nailing off the wire... because as the muscles and all in the forearm and the "front side" of the arm work to compensate, and they get tired... I can't "aim" the hammer and I hit everything BUT the staples........ and of course, that is the side of my hand that has been "tingley numb" on top of it so I don't fully feel it... and it does not do what I tell it to do when it gets tired...

Well, DS just called to say thank you again, for the staple pulling... it is freeing up his time to be able to get more brace posts in, and can much more easily go through and get the few staples I couldn't get out... a couple of bottom wire staples, and that one post.... and get some of this wire rolled up as some is in very good shape where the cattle were not "riding it" or pushing against it. And to see if I was going to come there tomorrow... that he wants to get to work on pulling the staples in the back field so they can drive those posts also...There are some broken posts, the wire has been stretched out from cattle "riding it", over the years.. and DS is adding some divider fences to make some of these lots smaller, so we can move cattle over and around when we are sorting and such... so I will be doing that instead of nailing off any of the other stretch of fence... That section is up, stretched, and nailed on the ends and a couple staples in most of the posts to keep it in place... these calves are not "testing" the fence so it can get done later... He said that even if I only got 3 posts done, that was 3 less than he had to do... so I will work on it until the arm quits listening to what I want it to do... and I want to get the ones he "unwound" from the mess, get those staples pulled too... we will use several / many of those posts here at the house...
So, tomorrow should be nice to work out there, and see how much can get done...Good exercise for me... especially since I am soooo out of shape lately...
Took some tylenol to take the edge off... will go get a good hot shower and go to bed.

On top of all this... DS wants to get the vet to preg check the heifers at snyder's... and get the heifers bangs vacc as one guy wants 5 heifers to go out in the lower field there at his place... says the grass is ready for them.... GRRRR ......we get it for free, and he does everything, checks on them and all that...they are retired so lots of time..... so you gotta work with them somewhat.. plus NO BULLS near them so we put heifers up there to grow and then when they come home, they will go with the bull in Nov at snyder's to get bred... Vet had some openings on Wed.... I am supposed to test but think I can change it to Thursday... ALWAYS... everyone wants the same week to do everything...
This working/testing is getting in the way all the time anymore... .
Only saving grace, is if we get the heifers preg checked and moved out to grass somewhere, he can bring the ones from the barn in those lots we are trying to get done, to snyders and get them out of the way and then whenever we can move the bull in up there, or move them out to another pasture somewhere with the bull....
Still no new babies from the other 2 heifers at snyder's... or Jess the longhorn... ought to be pretty soon... he did have one other calf today... we are about 75% done I guess.

It was raw here as well yesterday, temperature hit 58° but the wind and damp made it feel a lot colder.

 

[Baymule]

Hard work, but satisfying to see what you have done. Nice of your son to call and say thank you, I know your hard work is helping what he’s doing go faster and he appreciates it.

Sore muscles, rub Arnicare on the soreness. It takes the soreness away, lasts about 4 hours and you can sleep better because you aren’t aching. Sometimes I add a small glass of wine to that and trudge off to bed. LOL My box of wine is almost empty, I guess it’s about time for my extravagant yearly purchase.

 

[SageHill]

Yeah, what is it about everything happening on the same day thing? Had 6 things yesterday (and needed to do a few things here as well) but only managed three. Feast or famine syndrome.

 

[farmerjan]

Up and moving. It was 30 last night and DS said the ground looked like snow earlier.. I was NOT up that early to see.
It is already up to 60.. Sun is out and I am going to put out a gallon of water to make tea later today. Going to head to pasture to check for calves and then head to the barn and see how many fence posts I can manage to pull staples out of...

I'm a little achey but not bad... that hot shower went a long way to relaxing all the soreness out. May as well go get the muscles loosened up. I think this evening I will do some laundry to hang tomorrow..