Thursday, March 12, 2009

In Awe....Farm Update




I am in awe! I never imagined so many people would follow our journey with Radish! I am in awe that so many people were rooting for him, and encouraging me along the way.


How wonderful that his story reached so many people all over the world! He did have a purpose, if not only to teach me so much, but to maybe help others in the same situation...and to bring new friends to me.


I never imagined when I began this blog the awesome people I have met would come into my life! I am blessed in so many ways. My Farmer, My Children, Our Farm, Our Furry Friends we share our lives with each and every day, The Beauty of God's Nature that surrounds me, and now Your Beautiful Hearts - all to bless My Life.


What can I say?


Thank You will have to do, because I know no other words except for those.


Getting back to normal every day that was put on hold for 3 days has been hard for me. I always take situations like ours seriously. I weep for those animals we have lost. I know I invest too much in them, which in the end, causes me heartache. I wish so much that my daughter would have had the chance to meet and care for him with me. He was to be her foal. Cleaning up the living room in the wee hours of the morning was so sad...all traces of Radish have now been removed from our home. But never in my heart. This has been an experience that I will always remember. And the compassion of others will also be remembered.


Radish was laid to rest with Oliver, my pet steer that I handraised, whom I lost unexpectedly a few weeks ago.


I wont go on and on with post about either of them, it's time to lay it to rest with them as well. I think I have expressed to each of you my heart in this journey.


Back to the farm.


Today the calf count is up to 61...half way through calving season....approx. 60 more to go.


We have sold our 2 white bulls. Chicken Nugget and his son Amos. Both bulls are Marchigiana's, a big and beautiful breed of cattle stemming from Italy. The market here in our end of the world is for black cattle. Both bulls throw white, champagne, and muddy white calves, where there is no market for. I hate seeing Nugget leave us, he was a 5 year old big baby and as Norm says...gentle enough to go out into the field and slap him on the rear! That is true of him, of all the bulls, I feared him the least. We will be leasing 3 bulls, all Angus this summer, along with the 2 Angus Bulls - Sir Loin and T-Bone, and 1 huge black Marchigiana Bull named Zeus that we already have.


My beautiful Maine Coon cat, Bo, has been mad at me since we brought Radish into the house. It was so strange that the only time he came around any of us the last 3 days, was the moment that Radish suffered the seizure and he stared into the temporary corral that we had built for the little foal!!!! Today he has forgiven me and is up to his usual antics of falling out of chairs because he sleeps so soundly and rolls and then with a thud ends up in the floor. There is never a day without Bo making a mess of something, such as knocking over our drinking glasses. If its a liquid, he feels the need to deliberately knock it over...he does this on purpose. It is something you would have to see to believe...Norm is his favorite target. He will perch himself upon a TV tray where Norm has his glass, stare smugly at Norm, and then knock the glass off the table! Sometimes he runs knowing that Norm will be angry..other times he just continues to stare smugly. I swear I can hear him laugh!


Little Torro is doing well. He eats like a little monster and is a bundle of energy. He is now two weeks old and actually has been the easiest calf we've had to raise since I've been here on the farm. Actually, after loosing my Oliver, I hope he will be the only bottle fed calf we have this year.


Pepper is Queen of the barn still, and mad at me that in this colder weather I have kept her in her coop in the barn. Still laying eggs 5 - 6 times a week. I cannot wait to get her some of her kind to keep her flustered.


News on the stud muffin named Douglas ( aka my son): I'm mortified to hear that he "asked" a girl to "go out". Douglas is ten years old. Douglas is in the 4th grade. Douglas cannot drive. So tell me how in the world will Douglas and his girlfriend.."Go out"??? Douglas actually had one of his best friends "ask her for him"....okay for some reason, even if we discount his age and lack of a vehicle, tells me he doesn't need to "go out" with anyone.


"go out", this is a term I've always really hated in young people who cannot drive. Where are they gonna go? Those of you who know Douglas....PLEASE don't mention this to him that you know..he will literally kill me and never tell me anything again! Which would be awful since I would no longer have an inside track, and I then couldn't tell of the humors of a young boy growing up. Oh did I mention that he shaves too?


My, oh, my.


I cringe from what I have to look forward too.


We unwrapped Kings hoof today (he had an abscess that the Vet doctored a week ago). His hoof looks to be in good shape. Tomorrow I'm going to inspect him a little further, the light was leaving us tonight.


Jack....Jack oh Jack...we have reached the "terrible two's" stage in this colts life. Yesterday as I went to feed he disrespected my space and about knocked me down as he walked practically on top of me. I elbowed him as soon as he got into my space, as hard as I could...which only made him run, jump, and kick, only missing me by a foot or so. Yes he is feeling his "cheerios" and I guess thought I was playing...ummm..NO. Again at the feed trough he crowded me and got a repeat of the elbow...again same reaction and almost missed me by a foot again. He has never tried my authority until yesterday. Now I've got to work at keeping my rank as his herd leader, which I hope that bluffing a 14 hh, 6 month old,colt is something I'll be able to continue. I am really in need of a round pen to do more ground work in to keep that respect. And probably a good book on correcting unwanted behavior. The little turd.


Most of you know my grandma has not been doing well the last several months. She is 91 years old! I cant believe that myself....she was going strong until 5 years ago. She had to be made to stop mowing her lawn with a push mower at 86 years young!


Douglas has decided not to see her, he doesn't want that visit to be the one he remembers first when he thinks of her. His last visit was a good one, full of hugs and kisses from his favorite "Great" as he called her. (Great Grandma)


I look back at all I've written and I realize that lately we have had a lot of bumps in our roads huh? Well each bump makes us stronger as we trudge along in life. I just really hope that we don't encounter another bump for awhile.


I'm pretty shot, thinking I'm gonna head for bed and get a full nights rest for the first time in a few days.


Goodnight....

10 comments:

  1. Oh Rae..you astound me with your large and impressive heart.

    Okay...please get that Coon cat on film knocking over glasses or falling out of chairs! I laugheds so hard with the thought of that! And Chicken nugat!
    Too much fun coming here..I have tears and laughs and knowlege of thinkgs I did not even think I wanted to know about (cows)I am gettinmg to like them because of you.

    You take care and I am praying for GM!
    Kac

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  2. Sleep well my friend. You earned it.

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  3. Rae-
    I'm very sorry to hear about your loss. Radish was obviously treasured in his short time with you. Don't beat yourself up too badly- we all have to learn and it's a lesson you'll never forget. I pray your experience will help others and give his short life even more meaning.
    God bless you and your family.
    Caprice

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  4. awww, I'm so sorry about Radish! I'm new, Lisa at LaughingOrcaRanch told me about your misfortune. When was the mare due? Did you ever find out what was wrong with him? I know of a dummy colt that lived and grew up but he's only a pet, like Forrest Gump, basically, unusable for riding. I know it doesn't help your sadness but it's probably all for the best. At least you got to know him for a few blessed days.

    My mare is due in June...

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  5. Rachel, I could not get onto your blog all day (on a different computer) and I was so frustrated because I couldn't find out what happened to Radish, but I had a feeling from the title it wasn't good news. I am so sorry his little heart gave up, but everything happens for a reason and this little guy was meant to be an angel pony a little earlier than some. Know that you did everything you could, nobody would ever question that- as Blue Eyed Tango commented in the last post, you did more than most people would! Also, allow yourself to have the full range of emotions about this. I have been in similar situations with animals and you can beat yourself up for a long time....I think the guilt is worse when it comes to pets because somehow we know they are totally dependent on us and that makes us feel worse if we feel we let them down. It's part of the healing process. It sounds like it's "back to farm life" at your place and things keep on tickin'. Hang in there and have a relaxing weekend!! ;)

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  6. Well I'm sniffling here after reading about Radish. But life does go on and I agree that Radish had a purpose. You certainly will never forget him and how he spent his short life in the house with you.

    I'm happy to hear that King's hoof is mending. I'm sure he's very relieved (and you too)!

    And about Douglas...well you certainly have your hands full with that Romeo! My son didn't really express much interest in girls until he reached 13 and he has yet to "go out" with anyone. Although, he does ask questions about girls and he seems to be taking a rather cerebral approach to them!

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  7. I was saddened this morning to wake up and find out about Radish. {{Hugs}}

    You are beautiful, loving, wonderful woman!! Oh why, oh why does an ocean seperate us??

    Thanks for visiting my blog and being there for me. Yeah those anon. posts are annoying but it does show ppl's true colours - don't you think and not being able to put a name behind what they have written makes it meaningless for me!!

    Sleeptight....

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  8. forgot about the giggle for the day. One of the girl's in Josh's nursery school is having a birthday today. Here is telling us how he is going to kiss her happy birthday, oh, and he wants to kiss his best friend Meg too. Remember he is only 4 yo. Here's me having mild heart failure - going on that kissing girls is YUCK!! then berating myself because I'm going about it all wrong....LOL Which way is the best way to handle these sort of situations. {{smile}} That lil guy keeps me on my toes!!

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  9. Hi Rachel,
    I just got caught up on the story of Radish. I hope everything works out okay and I hope Bo doesn't stay mad at you too long. I'll try to read more on your blog tomorrow and get caught up a little better than I am right now.
    Love
    Sharon

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  10. Kacey - oh the stories I could tell on Bo..that cat is a total nut! I did a post a long time ago called Dingleberry....LOL I'll have to tell his silly story again!
    Thanks for helping me out so much..it's such a joy to talk to you...now I gotta make it out your way and go on some trail rides on the new place!
    Caprice - i wanted to thank you for stopping over and for your comment..I too hope his story helps someone else in the same situation. It was sad but I also learned a lot. Unfortunatly it did not teach me not to get attached!
    Hi Fantastyk - again, thanks for stopping over to my little spot in cyber world. We didn't know the exact date he was due, she got bred without our knowledge when we took her and my Rocky Mt horse to get some training...he wasnt gelded at the time...She had major infection in her womb..so who knows a number of reasons, he did come early, that infection in the womb probably caused some kind of retardation in growth, and who knows....its really cool about the dummy colt...I'd have been happy with that if he had only survived!
    Hi there Pony Girl...thanks to you too for your kind words. I've just wanted to crawl under the covers for a few days, but farm life doesnt permit that! Today has been better though.
    Hi Amy! Didn't mean to make you cry! I did enough of that for everyone! LOL I thought King's hoof was healing he looked really good this morning and then this afternoon he was limping again! AARRGGHH! Yes Doug has been girl crazy for too long..he got into trouble in first grade on the first day for kissing ALL the girls...my daughter never showed any interest in boys until this year.
    Shelly-like you i wish their wern't so many miles between my friends...wouldnt it be so neat to be able to meet all of our buddies!
    About your Ann comments and that email...dont sweat it, I know thats easy to say, cause I would sweat it anyway...but I do know it will pass! Funny story on your son! How do we handle these situations??? I think an answer to that that works is worth its weight in gold!
    Hi Sharon! Missed you! I think Bo is over it, he's been in my face all day! I hope your well!
    Thanks all!
    Rae

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Thanks for visiting the farm! We love comments and hope to hear from you! ~ Rachel, Norm, Kiddos, and all our furry friends!