Peak into the Past

When I was searching for pictures of my horse Babe...I got to see a bunch of pictures I hadn't seen in a few years. Some are really funny, or cute, interesting or just us...thought I'd share them with you! Enjoy!The boxer above was my dog Cain...I didn't get him in the divorce...That was terrible to leave him, Cain was an excellent dog! People think boxers are either mean or out of control and bouncing off the wall all the time...Nope just the opposite..very good dogs!Just us!

If you notice in this picture, the bottom left hand corner...that was my Koi Pond I made by myself...I miss it! Some bird pictures...I love birds! The two bottom left are a male hummingbird and a female to the right sitting in my wisteria bush...they got to where they didn't mind me at all and would often land very close!Molly, Buck, Georgia, and the little pony the little boy is with is Chigger...a great and gentle smart little girl! She belongs to my friend Johnny.Pics of some of the cats in my life, Bo when he was little, and a few of my cat Gracie's kittens..who were always in trouble, but as you can see..Like to read and fish!

Today was a really beautiful day! A high of 72f and sunny! We had a storm roll in tonight, but nothing big...tons of rain though! I'm curious to see how many inches we get in all tonight!

Guess What? Nope, Guess again? Nope...I GOT MY HAIR ALL CUT OFF! WOO HOO I love it! I used to wear my hair this way for a long time, I'll get a picture and post it in the next day or two! It feels sooooooo good! I dont look so frumpy anymore! I asked Sarah (my hair dresser) to make me look thin, well that didn't work! LOL Actually my face does look thinner with a shorter cut. I'm happy!

Today was house cleaning day, and I didn't get finished because our friends Donnie and Michele called and asked us to go out with them to dinner (Texas Roadhouse - which we spent WAY too much money just to eat there!). She had stopped on the way home from work to get some scratch off lottery tickets and won $40.00 and didn't want to cook, so we went with them. They are pretty fun to be around. Douglas is spending the night at their house with Neil (his best friend). I'm really excited about tomorrow! I pick Leah up from school and she'll be home for half of her spring break! Saturday we have plans with Mari to go to the Japanese Restaurant and then to a movie! I cant wait, I havent been to eat Japanese or a movie in a long time!

I plan on cleaning the barn this weekend, mucking stalls and such. Neil and Doug are working on the shed I'm turning into a chicken coop and possibly Goat Shed.....Its plenty big enough and will keep the goats here by the house to make milking easy. I'm wanting to till up where I want my flower garden to be, but we have a huge pile of limbs the ice storm brought down, to burn first. *sigh* Its time to plant!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm making the garden with paths and a small area smack dab in the center for a wrought iron bench and 2 matching chairs we have! Bird feeders, plants for the birds (humming birds too), and butterflies! I cant wait to get what I have in my mind on the ground!

I know I keep saying this, but I really will email you back, who have emailed me. Kacy I need to re-read yours again before I respond....I dont want any of you to think I'm pushing you to the side. It's just been busy this week! Well...gonna run!

Catch up later!

Friday Farm Report - Earth Hour - Etsy Sale, etc.

Rain is forcasted again for today...I'm not complaining, farmers always need rain...but it does nothing for my motivation or mood! Yesterday was one of those days - got absolutely NOTHING accomplished at all. I'm going to try to make today a much better day. This rain has put a "damper" on my photo challenge this week too. Kinda hard to get a really nice landscape photo. (which is our challenge this week)

Weaver had a wonderful post yesterday listing the things she was grateful for. It really spoke to me, because when I first started my blog long ago I used to do an "Attitude of Gratitude" once a week to list things that I was grateful for that happened during the week. She has inspired me to revisit my thankful heart. I'm not going to do that today..but on Sundays when the week is completely over. I look forward to doing that again! I need to keep myself in check and take the time to thank God for the wonderful blessings in my life. So thanks Weaver for watering that seed I planted LONG long ago! I think its great to remind ourselves of what we are thankful for and it lets people into your world a little more!

My sweet friend Libby makes handmade soaps, clothing and laundry powder and sells on Artfire and Etsy like I do. She is having a MAJOR sale in her Artfire shop on all of her products. EVERYTHING is 40% off! So take a look at what she's got to offer! She makes all Vegan products, her soap is to die for! I've ordered from her since hers is so different than mine. Goat Milk soap is more of a light creamy lather...hers is super bubbly! LOL great benefits from both kinds! My good friend Mari also buys her laundry soap from her and claims its totally AWESOME! I've been wanting to get some myself (I'm still perfecting mine...argh! My soap is softer so it doesnt come out right...more work in that area, guess I'll have to harden my soaps for the laundry powder) So check her out! And let your friends know too! Click HERE to visit her store! Click HERE to check out her blog - she just posted pictures of the most adorable little girl I've ever seen (her sweetie Maylee)- next to my own of course! LOL

My toe - well it has really hurt the last couple of days...probably the rain. I'm disgusted that the doctor said nothing can be done..he barely only looked at it and is one of those who rushes in and rushes out in 20 seconds. I'm wanting to get a second opinion. I think if my joint can be lined up it would heal better. As it is..the top joint is pushed way to the right side of my toe...I cant (and probably will never be able to bend it) but who knows if I dont get a second opinion. My whole foot hurts, not just the toe...the stupid doctor didnt even want an X-ray even though i asked him about it. I'm not going back there ever again. The same office misdiagnosed Douglas 2x with his Whooping Cough and the doc he saw didnt even want to test him for it!!! As highly contagious as that is, the school HAS to know if he is positive! Its a requirement when exposed to it! The Health Department who handles infectious diseases was pretty put out and said they were going to due a phone call to the doctor and his office for not following protocol.

So I'm actually trying not to whine too much...though this past week thats about ALL I've wanted to do. I've gotten NOTHING accomplished, I have NO motivation or desire to do ANYTHING! I HATE DAYS LIKE THIS!

I'd really like to take a fun motivating vacation..like visiting out west....New Zealand...New Mexico....visit my horse-loving friends and ride all day! Camping...ANYTHING! I got the itch. I want someone around SO badly who I could ride with every day it makes me sick. I do have a wonderful friend Susan who said I can come ride when I want....after I get a helmet (which I'm looking for now) I'm gonna take her up on her offer and try to ride as much as I can each week, if she'll have me.

Fridays Farm Report

Horses

King is doing very well...I'm only barley seeing a limp! YEA! Now if only the heifers would finish calving in the pasture here behind the house I can put the boys back into that field and out of the more wet one they are in now. I want to keep those abscesses away. Kacy and I were talking and why it never occurred to me I dont know, but King's hooves are all white...which means they are softer than the dark hooves. And since his lot is wet right now...its probably the cause of his abscess!! DUH! Why didn't I think of that sooner! I havent worked with my boys, groomed, nothing, for a few days...so today I'm hoping I'll get some things done here in the house (since I did NOTHING all day yesterday) and can get out and do some grooming and work with Jack. Everyone else is the same...Bella and Buck are the lovebirds of the bunch so much so, when they were here at the house with King we had to send Bella over to the other pasture with Molly and Georgia because she wouldnt let us get our hands on him!!!! She was a pill and very soured. Well darn it..they have connected again!.grrrrr. Thats okay! They are going to be in for a surprise when they get taken back to 1st grade and get some of the kinks out of them. Bella's worse problem is how barn sour she is. Of course its really not her fault. When we got her last year we also purchased the gelding that she has ALWAYS been with, never rode without. He of course wasnt happy with the change and threw Norm into a pond as soon as he got on him. He went back needless to say..which was a shame he was a beautiful gelding and had such a nice gait. So really Bella doesnt know any better....but she'll learn!!! LOL She is so bad, she bolts back to the barn as soon as she is out of sight...cant have that happen someone will get hurt.

Molly - just good old even tempered Molly! The only trouble she gives us is when she's being shod. I'm still really hoping I can get a round pen built...I need one so badly, its not a want - it is a need so that i can exercise these guys and get ground work done with them, teaching them manners and respect. They are horses, they need to work.

Cattle

Giant is doing well, growing fast, and a fast eater..thinking maybe he may need more to eat in a day than little Torro. I'm going to start giving him an extra bottle in the middle of the day and see how he does. Both him and Torro are going to be started on calf feed today (Norm in case I forget we are out I think of the good calf feed!) and hay too. Giant will learn to eat with Torro showing him. You wanna hear something funny! In order to teach Oliver and Annie (my first two bottle fed calves - RIP my Oliver :-( ) Leah and I had to mimic a cow eating hay. Lord it must have been the funniest thing to see...but they viewed us as momma, and calves learn by mimicry. It only took us a few times (cause those calves were just awesome little bovines!) getting down on all fours with a pile of hay in front of us and pretending to eat.....didn't take them long at all and they were eating hay and calf feed like the big boys (and girls). It was the only way they would get it figured out, we tried all we could think of before we played "cow". Hey - you do what you got when your all they got! As I told you after Oliver died..We learned A LOT from him.

Kacy - you wanted to know about the "Fart Tax" as Liz, Amy and I refer to it as? Go HERE to my blog posting to read more. I read in Farm World that now those who have been crying "TAX" is back pedaling. They are reporting that this isn't what has been proposed. Farmers all over the US have been in an uproar and speaking out against any kind of taxing like this. the Fart Tax would put MANY MANY farmers out of business. Using us as an example..if the tax went through it would cost us (with a herd of 150) $10,000 dollars a year just to have cattle! There is no way to recoup that loss.

Calf Count

As of yesterday we have 82 little bundles of joy running and romping around! Since I broke my toe I havent been out and about on the farm...I do miss seeing them! Baby animals of any kind just give me the warm fuzzies!

Cropping

Norm laid the first bit of fertilizer down in the field across the street from the house. He still has many acres to fertilize and the time will come soon to plant in end of April, first of May - trying to be finished the 1st of June.

The garden this year will be done in two places. The veggies that need steady water, like bell peppers, tomatoes, watermelons, etc. are going to be planted here at the house along side the flower garden I intend to do this year. We have a humongous piles of branches that the Ice storm brought down to burn first. I need to get everything outlined soon though so I know what and where I want to plant.

Chickens

The plan this year is to get anywhere from 10 - 20 chickens. The outbuilding we have here by the house is what we are turning into a coop. The floor is a mess, its full of junk, and needs an overhaul. The worse part of it will be cleaning it all out. For that Norm is getting our "adopted son" Neil and the real McCoy - Douglas to clean it out. Wont take them but a couple hours to get it ready for us to lay the new flooring and walls. We are covering the old floor thats full of holes from the raccoons with plywood, and the walls with plywood and some white roofing metal. It wont take much to get it in order, its just the matter of starting on it! I really hope that next week, since my toe is feeling a bit better we can begin. I'm planning on getting Chickens just ready to lay, and a few chicks as well.

Goats

Well....I dont know really how thats coming along. Norm said he is trying to figure out where we are going to keep them. I now have the Goat Registry, and a new goat sale has begun about 45 minutes away the 4th Thursday of every month. I'm intent though on purchasing them from a farmer/breeder though to ensure a good quality milker. HOWEVER where we live..there just are not any!!! I'm so disgusted about that, so we may have to resort to the goat sale.

I do know what to look for as far as health and conformation, etc, so maybe we will get lucky if we have to use the sale.

That's all for now! I'll visit you later after I get some house cleaning done! Have a great day all!

"Poverty cannot deprive us of many consolations. It cannot rob us of the affection we have for each other, or degrade us in our own opinion, of in that of any person, whose opinion we ought to value."-Ann Radcliffe

Can Horses Eat Bananas?

Seriously! Can horses eat banaynays? (not a spelling error Ba-nay-nay's) What can horses NOT eat? Finding this info on the web really turned into a chore that saw no end in sight, so therefor asking my horse lovin friends! HELP!

No farm picture today, too cold and I just didn't feel like getting out, well I did - we fed this morning and saw about 50 turkey and had an excellent photo op, but didn't have my camera...figures. So you get my boy, Levi. He is a doll, finally learned to stay ( he's a year and half) slow learner, course that is the hardest for a dog to learn. Bo (my maine coon cat) knows what it means and keeps telling me the dog is just stupid....sometimes I tend to agree. You know its been a long time since I've posted anything about Bo...hmmm lets see...for having a stroke about 5 or 6 months ago...he is doing exceptional! He is about 98% his old self! I didn't think I'd see this day. I havent weighed him to see if he has gained any more weight, he feels like it and I can no longer feel his spine...will do that tonight and see if he has progressed since his last weigh in.

Jack update....I've been working with the little bugger a lot, he now lifts his front hooves and lets them be cleaned, he now tolerates his belly being rubbed and even patted! He is not spooking at movement or touch any longer, and loves me when he see's his food bucket, for a moment I am his best friend!

Pepper is mad at me today because I didnt let her out of the coop, with bad weather coming in i didnt want to have to find her, or end up with frozen chicken.

King....improving every day, I'm loving watching his 'awakening' to this world!

Cows are ready to pop! Bags are swelling and we'll have calves any time..watch..tonight or tomorrow we'll have them begin to come - worst weather of the year!

Norm is improving but is pretty achy at the end of the day. He has been fixing the silage wagon, that needed to be fixed 5 weeks ago, but the fella that was going to come out to fix it ( and talk to me about selling me some goats) has not shown, and we are at a critical time and need to feed the silage. Hay supply is short this year, and cows are not looking as good as they should.

Douglas made a 95% on his Science test! Which is something he should have been doing all along and then wouldnt have gotten his two bad grades on his report card.

Here is what we are expecting weather wise-

DAY ONE...TONIGHT.A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT OVERNIGHT FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS. AT THIS TIME...EXPECT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS OF3 TO 6 INCHES ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA TUESDAY MORNING. EXPECT 3 TO 6INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY. ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS REGION...2 TO 4 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET IS EXPECTED.FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY...SNOW AND SLEET TOTAL AROUND 1 TO 3 INCHES WITH UP TO A QUARTER INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION FROM FREEZING RAIN.THIS WINTRY WEATHER WILL MAKE TRAVEL TREACHEROUS OVERNIGHT A SUN TREATED ROADWAYS WILL BECOME SNOW AND ICE COVERED. SLICK SPOTS MAY DEVELOP ON TREATED ROADWAYS TOO AS HIGH PRECIPITATION RATES WILL INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACCUMULATIONS ON ROAD SURFACES. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...USE EXTREME CAUTION AND ALLOW LOTS OF EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION. A WINTER WEATHER KIT CONTAINING EXTRA FOOD...BLANKETS AND OTHER SAFETY ITEMS SHOULD BE TAKEN ALONG IF YOU MUST TRAVEL. LET OTHERS KNOW WHAT YOUR PLANNED ROUTE WILL BE..DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY.A WINTER STORM WARNING WILL STILL BE IN EFFECT...WHERE SNOW WILL BE ONGOING ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA...AND A SNOW AND SLEET MIX WILL BE ONGOING ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND THE NORTHERN BLUEGRASS REGION TUESDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL WARM TUESDAY AFTERNOON...AND A WINTRY MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW IS LIKELY ACROSS INDIANA...WITH MAINLY A SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN MIXTURE OVER NORTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY. OVERALL...SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS THE NORTH ON TUESDAY WILL RANGE FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES...WITH ICE ACCUMULATIONS ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND THE NORTHERN BLUEGRASS UP TO A QUARTER OF AN INCH.A WINTRY MIX TUESDAY EVENING WILL TRANSITION TO ALL SNOW OVERNIGHT AND CONTINUE INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING BEFORE TAPERING OFF AROUND MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE...ON THE ORDER OF 1 TO 3 INCHES.CONDITIONS WILL BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND TRAVEL IS NOT RECOMMENDED. STAY TUNED TO THE LATEST FORECASTS AND OUTLOOKS ON THIS WINTER STORM..SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE AMOUNTS TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.

...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM EST /9 PM CST/ THIS EVENING TO 1 AM EST /MIDNIGHT CST/ WEDNESDAY...ACROSS SOUTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY...THE BEST CHANCE FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. ACCUMULATIONS OF 3 TO 6 INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH UP TO AN ADDITIONAL 4 INCHES OF SNOW BY TUESDAY EVENING.ACROSS THE BLUEGRASS REGION...2 TO 5 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATION ARE EXPECTED BY TUESDAY MORNING WITH ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET POSSIBLE ON TUESDAY EVENING.FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS CENTRAL KENTUCKY...MAINLY A SNOW AND SLEET MIXTURE IS ANTICIPATED. SNOW AND SLEET ACCUMULATIONS OF 1 TO3 INCHES ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT TONIGHT WITH AN ADDITIONAL 1 TO 2 INCHES ACCUMULATION ON TUESDAY EVENING.UP TO A QUARTER INCH OF ICE WILL BE POSSIBLE MAINLY OVER THE BLUEGRASS REGION AND CENTRAL KENTUCKY TUESDAY EVENING.USE EXTREME CAUTION IF TRAVELING THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT AS UNTREATED ROADS WILL BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLICK.BRIDGES AND OVERPASSES WILL ALSO DEVELOP SLICK SPOTS AND TRAVEL MAY BECOME TREACHEROUS.A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...SLEET...AND ICE ARE EXPECTED. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE

I know you dont want to read all that, but there it is anyway!

LOL

And to boot...we need to go to the grocery cause we have been putting it off for a couple weeks...so now I'm forced to go. I hate going to the grocery.

I want a few of my blogger buddies to know that I'm praying for them and their families...you know who you are and your needs, not gonna place your business here, but just want you to know that your on my prayer list!

I'm so far behind on everything to do with soap! I have so many soaps to list and my etsy shop has been ignored for weeks now....hopefully the weather wont be too bad tomorrow so I can go to Mari's and list my products in my shops.

Crossing my fingers Mari!

I know there was a lot more I wanted to talk about...however...due to getting older, my mind cannot recall what it was that I wanted to blab about.....fact of life, and one I'm fighting every day...I will not grow old without a fight!

So until I remember what it was I wanted to blog about...I reckon I'll go!

Wishing you all good weather over the next few days!

Luv

~*~Rae~*~

A barn possible for Goat and horse use....need some opinions here my peeps!

My post are updating!!!!! YEA! Fixed FINALLY!

Okay take a look at these barn pictures...need some for real opinions:

This 1st picture is the back side of the barn

Okay, here is the deal....this barn is located on the property...not so easy to get to without a 4-wheeler, 4-wheel drive in the summer only, and surrounded by cattle, the way there in Spring is flooded mostly, have to go into corn field to get there-can be done tho. Or you can go through the pastures (a few hundred acres or more maybe) on 4-wheeler to get there. SOOOO its not convienent at all.

BUT it is large, and roomy, not used really except for the few pieces you see in there, which can be located elsewhere....so it is perfect, with lots of work, for the horses and goats......

What are your opinions on this idea....how would you turn it around into something I can use??

This MAY be my winter/spring project....just dont know if its worth taking on or not.

Wilmoth Farm's Sunday Reading - *photos of Doug's duck hunting adventure not for the faint of heart**

Today was a really good day for Douglas! He went duck hunting for the first time with Donnie and Neil (neighbors and friends) and got a beautiful Male Mallard!!! Yea Douglas!! Below are some pictures of his first duck. We have him saved back and frozen until I can gather the money to take him to the taxidermist. He was so beautiful....still made me sad to see such a gorgeous dead animal! I loved this next one...TOOOOOOO funny!

Here you can see the beautiful colors of his feathers!

LOVE the next one too!

I havent written much about Georgia who is going to be a mommy soon. In our herds hierarchy she is last...well now poor Bella is with that bunch. We had a mare, a lovely tenn walking mare who foaled about 2 years ago. He baby was the one that kicked Douglas and severed the tip of his middle finger. Momma and baby got sold back in Feb. She wouldnt let Buck who at the time was a stud anywhere near another mare. Right after we sold her, both he and Georgia took a trip to the Amish to be broken. When they came back he was gelded. (The most gentle horse you will find even as a stud...he is only 4 years old.) Well in that month and half that he was able to mate....he got Georgia (who is about 5 or 6 yrs)!! So now we are looking at a baby due the end of this month to middle of Feb. We dont know the exact date since we dont know when she was bred. Anyhoo....now to decide what we are going to do, we have thought the last year about selling her, she is a very hot horse and I hate handling her at all, and she don't seem to like me either unless there is a fence between us. I'll let you know as we go...I wish I could have gotten better pictures to show her large barreled belly, but she wouldnt cooperate with the camera.

This is a pretty cool home made duck blind that some acquaintances have made to hunt over on part of our farm. So I took a picture of it.

My little guys are slowly getting bigger! I turned my camera off too soon, they ALL began jumping and kicking in the hay that Norm spun off the bail....too cute! Of course...I missed the shot. You can see how wet its been by how deep the mud is on their legs....N-A-S-T-Y! Is anyone besides me ready for those hot days of summer? Geez this winter seems so long! And we haven't even gotten into the coldest or snowy days yet! As of today we have 69 days until spring!!!!!! I am praying that these 69 days move along quickly!

We had a good weekend, as always with Leah home. Douglas was very sad tonight to see her go and cried most of the way home...my heart breaks a little more each time too. I wish I had some wise words of wisdom for him, but I'm trying to handle it gracefully myself.

The cattle are getting more hungry as calving time approaches. We will begin feeding silage very soon. They are in need of it, seems that this year pasture kinda disappeared sooner than usual. Its mud everywhere.

Typical Kentucky Winter.

The Bulls are getting along well, there are only 5 in a nice big paddock. They are lazy and fat. Except Amos, who was napping in the bail ring.

He appears a little thin. Of course he is the youngest Bull and as far as his rank in the bunch, he is last in line to the throne! We will need to begin feeding them some feed again along with their hay. The hard part is figuring out how to get it over there without going back and forth from the grain bin here at the house back across the street to them. It'll be somewhat of a hassle carrying 2 or 3 buckets of feed over every day. But guess if thats what we have to do...then we do it.

Leah changed Jacks halter today, he didn't appreciate the pretty new blue halter coming at him, so she cleverly placed the halter open across his feed and he placed his nose right through! She said he gave her no problem at all as she pulled it in place and buckled him up. I'll be working the next few days with taking the halter off and on getting him used to it.

King has a new halter too, a pretty maroon that will look nice with his red roan coat. He knows he is tall and thinks its quite funny to hold his head high these days when he is haltered or bridled. But once its on his nose (and thats a good reach for me! lol) he lowers his head right down....little bugger! He is really feeling good and looking so healthy! Its taken us since spring when I acquired him back to get his weight up to where it should be, and get his coat to begin to shine again. His eyes are no longer depressed and "beaten" looking and he has a beautiful sparkle back in them! He used to not care for attention one way or the other...he was indifferent, but lately he is really taking a turn! He appreciates the daily contact, and is seeking affection!!!! I love my old man and I'm so pleased in his turn around!

Pepper and Carrot are living quite happily in the same pen. I see the two of them often sitting out together. They both need some company so this works for now. The temps are falling into single digits this week, so I'll be moving them both back to the barn until it passes. Luckily neither of them care if they are moved back and forth...as long as fruit and cookies and veggies are given daily! The do miss each others company when they are in the barn, there is no good place to have them together while in there.

Levi is FINALLY (knock on wood) learning to stop chasing my car when I leave! That darned dog has driven me crazy about this. He absolutely hates to be tied out and pouts like none other when he is, so since he hates it so much, he has figured out to stop chasing me! YEA!

Leah and I checked out one of our barns thats not really used at all except for storage of tobacco sticks and a few pieces of equipment to see if we can turn it into a horse/goat barn...I'll post on that later tho. This is already long.

Norm is feeling good but achy. Being off the pain killers has helped him tremendously.

We are both back to feeding the farm by ourselves.

Before you can be old and wise, you must be young and stupid! - Nite, Rachel

Thursdays Farm Report

Good Evening! I hope this post finds you all well and getting the New Year off to a good start!

Yesterday we picked up the beef from the slaughter house. I dont have the info on all the calves and how much beef there was and how much the cost was for each of them. Norm gave the individual tickets to the people who we reserved them for.

I do know that the cost to dress a calf was $25.00 - pretty low really!

The slaughter house was not what I expected. I expected to see a large facility all white with several men in white coats welding large butcher knives! LOL

It was a small building that looked like a barn....my first thought was.."uuugggghhh - where in the H$&* are we???" and "He expects me to eat meat butchered here???"

However when I went inside, it was a very clean, neatly organized facility. Nothing like the first impression I got! Norm told me that there are many that arent clean like this one, which is why we drive the hour or more to have them slaughter our beef.

So I was okay with that.

We had the trailer loaded, and I mean LOADED, with many coolers, tubs, and even laundry baskets to bring the meat back!

Norm was pot op day 7 yesterday - and felt good all day. He was clear headed, not much pain if any, and able to get around well. The best day he has had yet.

In fact he even fed yesterday evening in the tractor with Neil to get the gates for him!

So see Lisa...there is light at the end of your tunnel! ;-D

It snowed all day yesterday and was very windy.

Today was the same but without the snow! The wind has been bitterly cold, the kind that bites far into your bones and wont leave you unless your 12 inches from a roaring fire! My feet have not warmed up since I took Douglas to school this morning!

Even the horses were reluctant to get outside today. Levi didn't help matters, he was over exuberant and jumping up and running around, getting Jack a little worked up. They kept staying right in the doorway or turning around back to me with a look on their face as to say "Get that darned dog away from me, and please dont make me go out there in the cold!". But they both needed the exercise for a few hours.

I fed their first feeding today outside rather than indoors. I gave them their feed, beet pulp, mixed with some syrup, carrots, and raisins for a treat...both were VERY happy. I was pleased to see King and Jack share the same trough...this is the first time they have fed together. King is very patient with this little guy. Today when putting them out, Jack gave King an affectionate nibble with his lips! They seem to be bonding!

This evening, King was 1st in his stall, as usual. He has become accustom to his feeding when being put in and is never any trouble going to his stall now, his routine is fixed. Jack has had trouble finding out how to get back in! The little bugger goes into the side shed of the barn and watches me feed their buckets and get them hay and water into their stalls, he can see me clearly, though he cannot get to that part of the barn. We have been having to walk him from the side of the barn, all the way around and into the door and into his stall. This evening he figured it out- finally! He came running up and I had to block the door to stop him from running in full speed! He was pushy while I held him and made him stand and wait for me to put him in his stall like a good boy should do. He is still learning to lead well and his manners. He still has the mentality that I will protect him when he stands in my bubble...resting his head around my neck and on my shoulder! Fortunately he is too big to get under me, that would be a sight!

I've been cleaning the farm house, mopping floors and straightening up...one room at a time this week.

I also have been reading my new books (I posted them in yesterdays post). The horse training book is already coming in super helpful for me! I now know what to start, and how to start Jacks training. I have learned SO much!

I began the Raising Dairy Goat book and I'm TOTALLY over whelmed! Gee there is a lot of info in that one little book...a whole chapter on how their stomach works and the rations of each of their needs for food! What???? I dont think I comprehended much of anything in that chapter at all! Except they love dandelions and they are good for them! LOL And oak leaves are toxic as well as Cherry (which we dont have due to the horses)

whew....have I got a lot to learn, I had no idea this much would be involved. Everyone who doesnt have goats assumes its putting up a pen and feeding once a day.....well at least that was the gist of what I knew, or thought I knew.

Douglas has his first Basket Ball game tomorrow!!!

Leah is coming home again this weekend, so she will be able to see his first game! Yea!

Good Luck Douglas!

Norm began PT today, they didn't do anything but measure his leg and put the GAME Ready on him....I waited an hour and half in the truck for that??? I really expected he had a big session! I got a chance to read so I didnt mind! He is achy today and hobbling around a little more than yesterday!

I'm in a funk....have been for over a month. I've gotten aggravated, had my feelings hurt a few times and in no mood to even talk to anyone today.

I've been no kind of company I'm sure.

Sometimes I just need my space.

Today was definitely one of those days!

LOL I'm hoping tomorrow will be better! Its supposed to be a high of 45 degrees and a little more sunny than today, so I'm going to work outside with BOTH horses and maybe even take Levi for a walk. That should improve my mood!

Hope all is well...Peggy I'm counting on Diva feeling my thoughts and having her kids on the date and time I chose! LOL You always seem to make your blog tons of fun to read...thanks!

Here are the latest grain and beef reports for our area:

Louisville, KY Thursday January 8, 2009 USDA-KY Dept of Ag Market NewsKentucky Daily Grain Elevators Opening Bids:Opening bids for January 9, 2009 by elevators/mills to farmers: US No. 2 US No. 2 US No. 1 US No. 2 Soft Yellow White Yellow Red Winter Corn Corn Soybeans Wheat Trend: dn 10 dn 10 stdy-up 4 stdy-dn 1 Louisville 4.01 10.00 5.02 Pennyrile 4.02 4.52 9.75-9.85 4.98 (Milling Quality) 5.07 Purchase 3.96 9.89 ---- Central Bluegrass 3.33-3.94 8.85-9.64 4.60-5.12 Cumberland Lake 3.46 8.95 ----Mammoth Cave 3.96-4.12 9.64-9.79 4.82-4.83 Lincoln Trail 4.00 9.55 US No. 2 US No. 2 Oats Feed Extra Heavy BarleyTrend: stdy stdy Mammoth Cave 2.50 3.50 ________________________________________________________________________Opening Contract Prices for New Crop Delivery: US No. 2 US No. 1 US No. 2 Soft Yellow Yellow Red Winter Corn Soybeans Wheat Louisville 3.99 9.24 5.38 Pennyrile 4.15-4.25 9.16-9.46 5.21-5.48 (Milling Quality) 5.56 Purchase 4.18 9.51 5.26 Central Bluegrass 4.00 9.27 5.37 Mammoth Cave 4.14-4.40 9.11-9.21 5.06-5.26 US. No 2 US. No 2 White Corn Feed BarleyPennyrile 4.85 Mammoth Cave 3.50 Source: USDA-Kentucky Dept of Ag Market News Louisville, Kentucky Email: Jack.Colley@usda.gov Phone: 502-582-5287 www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/SV_GR110.txt lh/mr 3:25pm

Louisville, KY Tuesday January 6, 2009 USDA-KY Dept of Ag Market NewsMid-KY Livestock Market, Upton Auction (Cattle weighed at time of arrival) Receipts: 891 Compared to last sale: No comparison available due to the holidays. Feeder Steers: Medium and Large 1-2: 200-300 lbs 90.00-100.00; 400-500 lbs 101.00-110.25; 500-600 lbs 94.25-101.50; 600-700 lbs 87.00-92.25; 700-800 lbs 82.00-86.25.Holsteins: Large 3: 600-700 lbs 58.00.Feeder Bulls: Medium and Large 1: 500-600 lbs 101.00.Medium and Large 1-2: 300-400 lbs 100.00-113.75; 400-500 lbs 98.75-103.00; 500-600 lbs 82.50-86.75; 600-700 lbs 80.00-83.25; 700-800 lbs 76.50.Groups of 20 head or more: 20 head 401 lbs 103.00 mixed; 24 head 521 lbs 82.50 mixed; 20 head 566 lbs 86.75 blk; 20 head 626 lbs 83.25 mixed; 32 head 712 lbs 76.50 mixed.Medium and Large 2: 300-400 lbs 89.00; 400-500 lbs 84.25; 600-700 lbs 67.00-71.25.Feeder Heifers: Medium and Large 1-2: 200-300 lbs 86.00-95.00; 300-400 lbs 91.00-93.00; 400-500 90.50-92.00; 500-600 lbs 80.25-85.00; 600-700 lbs 73.00-81.75; 700-800 lbs 73.50. Groups of 20 head or more: 23 head 420 lbs 91.50 blk; 20 head 520 lbs 85.00 blk; 32 head 555 lbs 80.25 blk.Medium and Large 2: 500-600 lbs 68.00-75.00.Slaughter Cows: Percent Lean Weight Avg-Dress Hi-Dress Lo-DressBreaker 75-80 1300-1524 44.00-49.00 Boner 80-85 1079-1251 36.50-42.50 Lean 85-90 820-1100 29.50-34.50 Slaughter Bulls: Y.G. Weights Carcass Boning Percent Avg-Dress Hi-Dress1-2 1350-1915 78-80 51.50-54.50 2-3 1400-1700 74-76 49.50-50.50Stock Cows: Medium and Large 1-2: Cows 6-10 years old and 4-8 months bred 530.00-760.00 per head.Stock Cows and Calves: Medium 1-2: Cows 6-10 years old with 150 lbs calves at side 635.00-790.00 per pair.Stock Bulls: 700.00-740.00 per head.Calves: Baby Beef 55.00-150.00 per head. Weaned 150.00-215.00 per head.Source: Bobby Smith (Market Specialist) Kentucky Dept of Ag-USDA Market News, Louisville, KY Jack.Colley@USDA.gov Phone 502-582-5287 www.ams.usda.gov/mnreports/sv_ls173.txt8:45 lh