The Last Cow Count—Sunday, March 5, 2017

Posted on March 5, 2017 by Dayphoto

There are over half now, of little babies on the ground. At least 50 (fifty) visible calves on Friday, more on Saturday—around 60 on last count.

So many it’s hard to keep tabs on who has been counted and who hasn’t!

Our fields, hills, dales, and farm roads are full of cavorting new little ones.

It is now time for the herd to gather up and move down the hill from us. Farming starts tomorrow! Mr. Davis and his daughters and his wife will all arrive on horses and a horse trailer. The trailer is for the brand new little ones who can’t walk far.

Momma cows are very smart and will know exactly where their baby is. Once everyone arrives at the next pasture the momma cows will immediately find their calf and trot off with it. (One way is the Mom keep mooing and hollering the whole time, so the little one knows her voice and where to find her. The calf also answers, so the Mom is well aware of where her child is.)

Although, they won’t go very far, not even half-a-mile— brand new little ones must have time to develop strength in their legs to walk for great distances.

Calf season is quickly drawing to a close. What joy they bring me to brighten the long days of late winter.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Two More Weeks—Wednesday, February 22, 2017

Posted on February 22, 2017 by Dayphoto

Two more weeks the cows will be here.

(They love the grass at the Upper End)

And hanging out on Sage Brush Hill (where the pack of wild dogs were living, but are gone now.)
Then it will be time to start the tractor work. Until that time I hope you don’t get tired of my photos of darling little calves and Momma’s.

Our place is the nursery for the first year momma’s, the second time momma’s, and sometimes a third year Momma. After that I’m not sure which field they go too. We can see some of his cows from our farm, but how he sorts them I don’t know.

The weather people say a cold front is heading into our area tonight with possibility of snow again. I guess we will see.

Yesterday was just beautiful!

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

Cow and Calf Run—-Tuesday, February 20, 2017

Posted on February 21, 2017 by Dayphoto

We are seeing more and more of those darling little calves

There are 100 cows

So by the time farming starts

(First black baby)
There should be 100 calves.

That’s provided there are no problems along the way

So far there are no twins, or situations, where the calf becomes a bottle baby

It seems like everyone is a good mother…which is a very good thing. That means they are attentive to their calf; make sure the calf is fed and close by.

And, if it must be, there is always one or two cows who adore the calves. We call these cows the babysitter cows—you see, if you just must run to the water hole, or go hang out with the girls at the Upper End, you can always leave your calf with …. the babysitter. She adores all calves and takes very good care of yours and hers.

Your friend on a western Colorado farm,

Linda

It’s That Time of Year—Monday, February 20, 2017

Posted on February 20, 2017 by Dayphoto

It seems like the migration of the Sandhill Cranes and the Canada Geese has begun. The fields are always in rotation; the skies full of huge flying wedges of big birds. The bird book (for our region) says the Sand Hill Cranes and the Canada Geese start migration the last week of February and goes through the first week or so of April.

Eckert, Colorado’s Crane Days will start in March. March 10^th, plus or minus a couple of days.

Spring…it’s coming to us anytime now.

Your friend on western Colorado farm,

Linda

A Ride Through the Cows February 18, 2014

Posted on February 18, 2014 by Dayphoto

Terry is planning on laying more transmission pipe this spring. He wanted to lay it last fall but we were too wet. The whole winter was wet until just now. So off he went to hand-dig up the culvert under the farm road, then back to get the tractor with the loader on it.

Boomer and I walked up later to see how he was doing….”Finished!” he replied.

We followed him back to the yard and asked if he would like to go with us (meaning myself, Boomer and Fuzzy) to go look at the cows!

In just seconds we were on our way–

There is one cow with outstanding markings–she is all black except for her long whitetail….she is behind the two white cows, she is the one with the horns

We saw lots of cows looking just like this 🙂

Terry checked out a new Momma cow–he wanted to see where she had her calf hid.

Hiding a new calf in the marsh land isn’t a good idea. So if he could stir up the calf, the mom would take it on to higher and dryer ground.

I didn’t get a good photo of the calf and mom moving off.

We saw two more calves. These two are a few days older than the other one. The mom’s are getting tired of the (self imposed) nursery so are starting to take the kids out and about more.

The herd is looking good. I’m sure Mr. Davis and his daughter, Teresa, are pleased with the results so far.

Tomorrow I’ll show you the other creatures we saw along the way. Today the air and the sun feels just like yesterday–Spring has arrived. I even heard a flock of Red-Winged Black Birds while we were up there. Delightful birds.

They say another rain/snow storm is supposed to come in Wednesday and our temperatures to drop way down. Still…no matter what…we are on the other side of winter now.

My heart goes out to all of you still trapped in the huge massive snow and freezing temperatures back east. To have a warm up would be a delightful gift to all of you winter weary souls! Magic Thoughts for Spring to find you soon!

Your friend,

Linda

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Dayphoto

Today I go to the museum. I have found that I am guarding my time jealously for my ‘volunteer job’ at the museum. It is something I enjoy that much. I should finish up the journals of Mr. Ash today and get to start on some other absorbing project.

Terry is now plowing. All spring work is right on time…we always start the second week in March. This year is normal.

We still don’t know the water situation, but everyone is getting ready anyway. Although, only 60% of the ground every farmer farms is only what is getting ready. (Did that make sense?)

If the water situation improves then everyone can plant more…we have until the middle of May to plant… until then we move forward with just the 60%.

The soil is turning good, just the right amount of moisture.

Old corn ground must be either burned off-then disked, then plowed, or grazed down/disked up/ and then plowed. We are NOT fans of burning….we believe in turning the plants over to improve the soil…manure is another great way improve soil (We are still of the old school 🙂 )

This weekend Mr. Davis will remove the cows. Then I will be cow-less again for another year.

So another day begins…our night got down to about 22* but today we are predicted to head up into the 60s.

Spring is finally here!

Linda