Hot and Humid Again

 Can you find Jared in here?  (Like, Where's Waldo?!)  There were 1,500 guys that all jumped the same day, more or less at the same time in June, then they were out in the Field for a week.
Talk about Organized Chaos!!  :)

I'm behind--I was sick the first of the month, then Patrick "caught" it.  I think being sick in the summer is worse than in the winter, only because I have more things to do/take care of!

Our July 3rd Celebration here was totally awesome, lasted an hour--that's ALOT of fireworks!  Patrick and I were not doing so well on the 4th-so stayed home.  We did swing by the annual Flea Market in the morning when it was cool(er) before I went to work, but came home empty handed.

Kyle and his GF came down for a couple of days and enjoyed the Independence Day festivities.  He is at Ft. Campbell (KY) for training now, and he doesn't get cell service.  So we message him on FB! ;)

Chandra celebrated her birthday yesterday, I guess they went to Cracker Barrel to eat, and Danielle (their neighbor-she's family!) made her a cake.  Glad her day was special since we couldn't be there!

The tomatoes are starting to ripen, and the biggest peach tree is laden with peaches, the branches are low.  Already the water bill is high, but I'll pay it to keep my food growing! 
The drought is creeping back, there are chances for rain the next week, but it keeps skirting us when it actually does rain.

I can not believe how fast the turkeys are growing!  Or Fillet the calf!  That is good!  Here I was worried about her not nursing on her own--um, yeah.  She snacks when she can, not just when it's feeding/milking time!  Amazing how much milk a calf will guzzle down, it's okay, it makes for some mighty fine tasting beef!

Nessa is making an udder--small, but it's growing.  She is due December 11, but I say "between Thanksgiving and Christmas"; because with heifers one never knows when they'll actually calve!  She has some looong legs on her, she's my tallest 'girl'.  We've been working on 'cow etiquette' for her, and now doesn't freak out when I fly-spray her.  She is slowly settling down, but does have her moments!

I heard the Cicadas July 3--so hopefully we won't have a frost until October 3.  Due to the cold Spring weather; and things were planted extra late this year, I'll take any delay of colder weather I can get!

Blessed Rain and a Cool Down

Just something different for the upcoming Holiday! 

 

 

 

We got .20 hundredths of rain Sunday morning, and then another .80 hundredths yesterday--it was a wicked looking storm coming in, but just wind and rain here.  It made the cow lot area a muddy mess, but I'll deal with that to get the moisture!

And a cool-down, finally!  I know it will be short lived, but no one (especially the critters) is complaining!

 

We have 4 ripe tomatoes; we've eaten two thus far.  BLT's and in a salad.  Ummm ummm good!  I have lots of green ones.....with the cooler temps and rain(s) the garden will explode (along with the weeds, I'm sure!) 

 

Got the bull calf Red banded the other day.  I shouldn't have waited so long--had to stuff his nads around the band to get it high enough (but not too high--nor too low!).  Pat actually 'did the deed' because I didn't want to 'stuff' things!  I was afraid the band rolled up.....and worried about the brat all night. 

First light, I go trucking out there, expecting a distressed calf and a blown-up nether-region. 

Nope--he moo's and comes bouncing over to me, so much for my fretting!  I did give him some Banamine on one side of his neck, and Tetanus Anti-toxin on the other side at 'banding time'.  So that could of helped with his pain.

 

All is well with the critters, except Daisy is limping.  She is definitely a "Dolly Jr."--I couldn't of asked for a better replacement for Dolly! :-) I knew something was up (red flags going off in my head)  when she didn't want to get up Thursday morning.  (She is a very agreeable sweet cow and usually I just have to wave or call her name and she comes).  

 

As she was laying down cudding, (easier for her and me!); I cleaned out her back hooves, and poked, prodded, tapped and tugged, felt her hooves, checked her dew claws, checked in between her toes, felt all up her legs to her hips (while she was laying down and standing), and no flinching, swelling or any obvious injury. 

I'm thinking she slipped in the mud and pulled a muscle.  She is walking much better today than yesterday.  (If not, I was going to call the vet to come look at her).  So I'm taking the wait-and-see approach.

 

I managed to take a very ungraceful fall crossing the fence--of course right in front of Pat.  My foot caught on the electric (unplugged) and I had Red's medicines in my hands.  I knew if I went backwards, I'd impale my backside on a post, so down I went.  I saved the medicines, but managed to pull muscles in my arm--the 'bad' one.  I'm still sore, but not as bad as it was.  So I guess Daisy and I will 'heal' at the same time!

 

Kyle got home OK from his training at Ft Riley; and Jared is out in the Field for training--he'll be home today.  I bet it rained every day (plus hot and humid) he was out--I'm sure he had a lovely time--NOT!  As he says:  "My life sucks week". 

I don't think people realize the situations they go through for training--they get the worst-case-scenario tossed at them to make the best of it.  Not like a bunch of complaining is going to do them any good anyhow.

So I grit my teeth when everyday people complain about petty things that are nothing more than annoyances simply because they are spoiled. 

Most of those folks don't know REAL hardship anyway...they just think they do.  And that's my 2 cents for today!   ;-)