Monday.

A fresh start. It seems as though last week was the longest single day every.

Recap-Case 1:Bing Crosby

the calf born on Christmas Eve that we were having to bottle feed died. He got an infection early on and we treated-penicillin. Keep in mind the fact that we even had to use antibiotics bothered me. We try to keep things as natural as possible.

Anyways Bee had taught the calf to nurse on his mother and he seemed to be doing really well. Apparently her milk production had dropped and the calf wasn't getting enough milk. We had a necropsy performed since he died suddenly and hadn't shown any signs. This was last Monday. The infection the calf had gotten in the beginning had caused a whole in his brain. No one knew, he didn't act weird. The whole month that we cared for him and bottle fed him meant nothing, we wasn't going to make it anways.

Case 2: McJagger

Last sunday Anne finally had her calf all on her own, no delivery problems that we knew of at the time. Everything seemed okay, we took his measurements-another bull calf-and that was that. Did I mention that he showed symptoms of Albanism-as in one of his eyes was albino. You could see right through it I kid you not.

Come Tuesday he had fallen ill. Another vet visit, intensive care. At one point this calf was laying on a yoga mat covered with a blanket and straw in front of our fire place for 36 hours. He had no suck reflux so he wasn't receiving nutrition. In order to save him we had to place a tube down his throat and feed him that way. I know-I must be a cruel person. A truly cruel person would have left him to die right then and there. Turns out the mucous from being inside the womb had gotten into his airways and he was having trouble breathing.

Thursday morning he seemed miserable but he was starting to stand up and walk around the house a little. We decided that maybe he wanted the comfort of his mother so we put them together.

Because of his Albanism the vets could see behind his eye there was blood and swelling. There was nothing we could do, by midnight his nervous system was damaged and he didn't make. Part of that damage caused him to steer from his insticts and not nurse.

Case 3: Pansy-cow of case 1

Because her calf had passed and she was a first time mom she was very distressed. She balled for days at the fence, in the barn, it didn't matter where she was. A distressed cow is a dangerous cow-she'd lost her young. And who could blame her, she doesn't understand that he's gone and can't come back.

We decided to make a few phone calls and see if we could get her to adopt a little dairy calf. If all else failed she wouldn't and we'd have to bottle feed. His name is Miles Davis and is a Holstien bull calf-very cute. Miles belongs to Bee actually and he seems to enjoy himself.

It actually worked, she nurses him occasionally so we supplement with the bottle twice a day. I am very impressed and glad that Pansy feels better taking care of Miles than being alone.

All in all it's been a long grueling week. I helped Bee scrape 2500 lbs of 40 year old roofing tar off his grandparents' garage and I'm tired. What I want right now is for 2:00 to come so I can get some tea and sit for a few minutes with the love of my life.

Yesterday

was good. Woke up, fed the cows. Got Bing Crosby to nurse off his mother a little bit more so we're almost certain that we will no longer have to bottle feed him. Thank you Bee :) His help is very much appreciated, because let's face it I can be a bit of a wimp at times. Yeah I love farming, but when you're standing next to a 3/4 ton cow, holding her calf, and putting your body next to her udders where it doesn't belong I can't help but think about getting kicked. Anyways he latched on yesterday morning-progress! Then last night after we took hay to everyone he was nursing all on his own, no help needed. Same thing this morning, yay!

School was decent, although I couldn't help but fall asleep during Biology lecture. I felt a little bad since I normally don't sleep through classes, but I was just so tired. Which reminds me that I need to print off those lecture notes. Then I took a nap in the MU and studied a smidgen. Public Speaking is turning out to be a good course. I listened to 7 speeches from my peers and have to listen to another 13 the next two classes. Mine is due Friday. I'm supposed to address the campus wide budget cuts while specifically focusing on what will happen to transportation on/near campus. It should turn out fine I just need to write it out and look a little bit of information to reference.

Biology midterm is Monday night, Geography of the Non-Western World midterm is Tuesday in class. I can manage. I know I can. Btw I am starving. Gonna head to the gym here soon, just waiting.

For dinner last night I made breakfast! And it was damn good. Nothing is better than a meal made entirely from scratch. Home-made griddle cakes with blueberries inside came from my mom's old cookbook; I tested the recipe on Sunday for breakfast. I had my sister make some sausage patties from ground sausage, and I fried up some bacon. The coolest part was that the meat came from last springs pigs, and the eggs for the better came from our free-range chickens. I really enjoy making meals with the food that we have been able to provide for ourselves. It truly is rewarding.

Speaking of food, Trish picked up the beef from the butcher yesterday. Half was sold, and we split the other half with the fam. The unfortunate part is that the butcher is very old school in their basic cuts of meat. If you don't ask for brisket or london broil as a specialty item-2 great cuts of meat-then it is ground and you end up with 150 lbs of ground beef :/

-Goose

Sewage...

And not pertaining to the public system, our septic system.

Currently we are renters at this property and it is typically jaw-dropping in the summer. In the winter it becomes a money pit that sucks your soul dry and makes you want to live anywhere but the Williamette Valley.

First it was the pump to the well dying and needing replaced, this time there is something wrong with the septic system. I have a 2 year old niece, so you can guess where the problem started-that's right we are assuming that a toy down the toilet is the topping on the cake.

The least attractive thing about this property is that a there is an overflow from the Williamette river that lines the back of the property, it was stagnant this summer. Now that it has reached the equivalent of a Monsoon season, the water table is rising and therefore backing up into our leach field. Not good right?

Turns out that the septic tank hasn't been pumped out in 19 years. In order for the tank to be pumped they have to uncover the tank which is ~2ft down. Mom had the Roto Rooter guys out here earlier today and they were unable to find the tank after probing the ground for over half an hour. They are wondering if it is under our porch :( So it looks like I'll be pulling up boards here soon :/

-Goose

Biology Lab.

So far the least useful lab ever. We went over the scientific method until we beat  the dead horse.

Speaking of dead things...

On Wednesday we sent our steer to butcher. I have sent other animals to butcher, many times in fact, but it was never as hard as this. 

Before I continue, I want to let you know that I am not some vicious person who enjoys killing animals for my selfish life. Every animal that my family raises is loved, appreciated, and well cared for. Many of the animals we raise would never make it elsewhere. The steer we just butchered-we called him Junior-was born last April. April in Oregon last year was not kind, there were inches of mud, cold winds, and the ultimate weather to give a calf pneumonia. When Junior was born he didn't nurse off his mother very well so we had to teach him. Anyone who has stood next to the flank of a cow knows that it is not always the most comfortable place to be, but we did it anyways. This calf needed help or he might not make it. For a couple of weeks we thought that he had caught pneumonia. The property that we were renting at the time was beautiful pasture in the summer, but a bog from November to May. There was no place to get the calf out of the weather. All we could do was try. He ended up making it ok.

This is just one example of where we have helped a situation that would otherwise be fatal. 

If you ask how can I eat these animals that I care for, or how can I eat my pets the answer is not so simple. For starters, farm animals are not pets. That is not what they were domesticated for. My family's pets are the spoiled kittens who wait at the door everytime my sister leaves the house. I have a compassion for animals of all sorts, and I am never cruel. I was raised to eat meat so it is the norm for my family's diet, so I don't think twice about eating meat. But ever since we have started eating meat that we have raised I am so much more appreciative of the whole process. I am thankful to the animal for its carcass that will nourish my body and allow me to be strong and care for other animlas. And I know in my soul that the animal is thankful for a life free of abuse and full of adoration. 

To continue Wednesday's story I should tell you that it started at 5:43 am. I am not a morning person, whatsoever. We shooed the steer out of the barn and were going to start moving him through the different pastures, but he wouldn't leave the barn door area. He wanted his mother even though he was well past weaning age; he was 20 months old. (We don't put our animals through the traumatic experience of forced weaning, we allow them to wean themselves since it is the most natural process for both involved. It also happens to be the most cost effective, since the longer they drink milk the less hay supplementation they need.) He ended up charging at us, and I swear I have never hopped a fence so fast-THANK YOU ADRENALINE!  At least I know my fight or flight reflexes work :) 

After we finally got the bull to where he needed to be, a gun went off. It was incredibly loud, but quick and painless. He didn't feel a thing. It was slightly shocking since I had never been exposed to the butchering process so closely. The previous butchers we have used, you load up the animal on the trailer, truck them over, say goodbye, then go home. This was...very direct.

It hurt to hear it and to see what happened next, but I didn't cry. I said thank you, to Junior. He will nourish my family over the next year and I am incredibly grateful. Am I cold for not even shedding one tear? No, I don't think I am. I maintain my composure and continue my life, not as if it never happened though. I am truly affected, beyond belief. But I can't break down and cry, there are other animals to take care of and other chores to be done. 

Life is about accepting the good with the bad, without carrying it like baggage. So yes, I eat meat and I'm proud of the strength it takes to do so. Sorry if that offends some.

Goose

Finally!

I have been delaying this post for weeks now. But I'll make it worth your while.

You know how we got a cute little bull calf on December 3, well surprise there's two more! The entire week before Christmas we were decorating like mad and baking cookies well into the night. On the 23rd I stayed up pretty late putting up any last minute decorations for the festivities, and since my little sister had a friend over I slept out in the living room and let them have the room. Put on Julie & Julia, and got comfy. I finally fell asleep around 3. I slept like a log. I finally got woken up around 9 to go feed, but I lounged quite a bit getting some coffee on my way out.

Patricia, my sister and dedicated business partner, came running to the door shouting "There's a new calf!" I bundle up as quickly as possible. We were outside until noon trying to take his measurements, ensure that he has nursed off his mother, take his weights, and make sure there are no apparent health problems. His name is Frank Sinatra. Bear in mind it's Christmas eve, and we invited over the entire family plus my boyfriend for dinner.

We were supposed to have this amazing dinner and do some last minute cleaning; I had forgotten to mop the entryway, vacumn, etc. All those chores got started late and naturally dinner was late; about 9pm. Everything is ready for us to serve up dinner, pop in a movie, etc. Then I'm told that there was a big splash heard outside. That means another calf; F^@%!

After we get the cow in the barn so she doesn't deliver in the rain, we leave her to take care of business. We figured check on her in an hour, for a first timer it could take up to 2 hours after their water breaks for a calf to arrive. My boyfriend went out to check on her right before dinner was being served. And of course there were hooves sticking out of her rear end. Oy. The cow was pretty protective.

Christmas eve continued once we got inside, after 10. Brandon brought his alto and baritone saxiphones, so he played some songs. Everyone hung out, and all the little ones stayed at dad's house so we could do the whole presents under the tree thing. Btw, did I mention we had absolutely not a thing wrapped on Christmas eve. We were up until 4am, got everything wrapped, cleaned all the dishes, and it was great. I really enjoy spending Christmas eve at home with the family.

Christmas day we slept in a quite a bit to make up for our late night. We got up around 10 or 11, fed the animals and then everyone arrived to open gifts. We were finishing up around 1:30 or 2. And I got that much longed for red peacoat. I'm in love with the jacket and want to wear it everywhere. I was supposed to be at Brandon's house for a formal sitdown dinner with his family, but being a girl I didn't get there until 2:30. Oh well.

After gifts and dinner with his grandparents we went to his parents house to hang out for a bit and play some games. It was a bit odd not being home for Christmas since it's usually when everyone in my family gets together. I just didn't get to see everyone as much as I had hoped due to the series of previously mentioned events.

The day after Christmas my little sister gets sick so we take her to the ER. Turns out it was an internal abcess so they put her on antibiotics and held her for a few hours. Everything turned out ok, she's perfectly fine just a bit scary since it came on so fast.

On the 29th we made our way down to Ukiah to drop off my little sister at her mom's. Weather was total shit on I5; fresh snow in the passes had traffic at a standstill for hours the day before. To stay on the safe side we took I5 to Cottage Grove, then 38 to Reedsport, then 101 the rest of the way down. The best view ever. On the drive I started writing down some of the super amazing places that I would love to take some time and see. I'll talk about them some other time.

On New Year's I smoked cigars with Brandon and one of his coolest cousins. I even tried a Monte Cristo Habana Cuban. Very cool. Although it did make me through up :/But that's ok. The drive back home from California was...eventful.

I got up at 6:30, took a shower and had all my stuff packed and ready to go, but 'someone' did not. Then we had breakfast at the amazing The Original Pancake House, it was phenomenal. I got the strawberry waffle. I have never had a a waffle that tasted so good. We got on the road about 9 and then our trip back home really began, after we had to turn around because Brandon thought he forgot his headset but really he didn't. In a long round-a-bout way, that he suggests was my fault, we ended up driving right through San Francisco just before lunch hour. Although it was nice to see the city and I got to take some pictures of a few things as we were driving through. The drive home took forever.

I felt I would die if we didn't pull over so I could pee, and of course we were on the windy twisty roads of The Redwood Highway. We ended up stopping at a state park with campgrounds to use the restroom. But no, we weren't that lucky. We were blessed with the almighty B.I.F.F.Y., but it wasn't that bad. Overall it was an incredibly beautiful drive home and we finally made it safe.

Since then I have been scooping up cow shit in the barn, and demolishing an old run down barn and trying to repurpose the lumber. Oh, and how could I forget to mention the never ending battle with mud.

BTW-It's also the first day of classes!

To wrap it all up

The last ten days have been hell-FREEZING OVER. I'm utterly and completely serious, 40 degrees has never felt so amazing.

The ground got hard and cold, and the air was so frigid. Our hoses started freezing, since we didn't do any sort of freeze protection which meant we had to haul water to the back and front pasture. We had to haul water for 8 head of cattle, 4 goats, 2 turkeys, 5 rabbits, 2 geese, 21 laying hens, and 7 ducks. It was...interesting.

As the ground froze it got easier to navigate the previously mudded pastures, but the air became so hard to breathe. This past Wednesday I started feeling run down, my throat sore, congested, etc. This morning I woke up and it's hard to swallow food and water. LAME! I have been downing tea with lemon, ginger, and honey like you wouldn't believe.

We tried thawing out the hoses with space heaters, and letting water run so they wouldn't freeze. Well letting the water run should have worked, but then our well froze. I am not kidding. We had the well pump replaced about a month ago, but the company who did cut off all the insulation that had been there. We didn't realize that, so one of the many nights it got down to the teens our water froze. We called the company and they came out to thaw it. After that we re-insulated the pipes. Basically the water problem has just been one big fiasco.

At one point we were pulling water from the spicket inside the garage that the washer and dryer is hooked up to since it was the only spicket that didn't freeze.

So much for writing everyday huh? I'll try to get diligent about it.

On the upside:

We got lights on the tree inside, we got some icicile lights up in the windows, and will be making potato latkes this weeks. They are the best thing about our Christmas/Hannukah festivities. Actually food in general is. I love the holidays and cooking. When I retire someday, I might actually consider some avenue in which cooking is heavily involved.

To Do List:

• put ornaments on the inside tree
• make popocorn garland strand for the birds for outside. This is something we do every year. We string together fresh cranberries and plain popcorn on fishing line and then put up ornaments of pine cones/peanut butter/bird seed. I'm so excited since we have plenty of blue jays in the neighborhood.
  
• put lights up on the outside of the house
• begin the 2 day process of making tamales
• the intense cooking that goes on. This year will include tamales, homemade davinity, tons of cookies, homemade eggnogg, crown roast(lamb), and so much more.
  
• straighten up the house for a smallish family xmas party for this coming weekend=lights and the trees gotta be done by THURSDAY
• put together a scrapbook page for a gift
• loom knit at least 2 more scarves and a hat
• get unsick!

Oh and along the way I have made plans to spend New Year's eve in San Jose with some family. My dad is picking up my sister from her mom(in Ukiah, California) this Thursday but he's a pansy and doesn't want to drive her back down because of the weather. So me and my honey will take her back, I get to see my aunt and we'll spend new years with his coolest cousins.

Joy Continued...

Wednesday Morn:
I have class in an hour, its 8 am, and I absolutely can't be late. You see, my WR 214 prof. put this lovely little addition to the grading of our final presentations. If we are late, she will dock points from our individual grade for the presentation. LAME!

I quickly changed out of my pajamas and dress(see previous post for an idea of this outfit). I chuck some hay into the wheelbarrow and grab a 5olb sack of grain and head towards the pasture. Once inside I must trudge-not walk-through mud about 6 inches high after freezing almost entirely towards the trough/hay rack. It's a way to burn calories in the freezing cold, let me tell ya. While in the pasture I do my normal round of checking for mucous on rear ends, enlarged/elongated nipples, softening of the vulva(the area on the outside), and bagging of milk. Anne checked out ok, nothing out of the norm. Penny and Pansy; same thing.

Ebony however; entirely different story. Her nipples are swollen, she's walking incredibly slow, and holding her tail as if she is trying to prevent the calf from coming out. I HAVE CLASS IN LESS THAN AN HOUR NOW! The world is not always so nice to us. I deliver the news and delegate to amazing sisters. I hightail it to WR 214, half an hour late to a 50 min. lecture so I can turn in the papter I worked so hard on. Was it worth it? Iuno.

From what I was told the calf was born around noon on December 2 in the mud that was icy. After my sisters getting stuck in the mud three different times carrying, what they didn't know was an 8o lb bull, calf out of pasture. They are amazing I must say.

When I got home all I had to do was deliver some colostrum to the calf, and halter mom. She's a pasture cow and hasn't had a halter on in about a year. We managed to get here tied up to the side of the barn and calm, with feed, hay, water, and her healthy baby bull.

Despite the physical exhaustion, frustration, and cram studying for next week's finals all is well on the farm. It's days like the past two that put joy back into the hardwork of tilling a garden, driving t-posts into the grown, getting shocked my hotwire, and landing ass backwards in mud. I don't mind how crazy it all seems, because I am a little crazy and I'm really enjoying this. Till next time!

Btw: His name is Buddy Holly, after a rock legend!

-Goose

Joy On a Frosty Day

(Preface:I tried to post this last night but about halfway through typing my comp started acting crazy so this is it, well part of it. Hope you enjoy!)

For this post I am just going to recall the past 60 hours of my life.

Tuesday Night:
Its approximately 8 pm when my sister come in from smoking her cancer stick saying, "I need your help, the animals are freaking out!" Naturally, after 8 years of farm life I jump up and dress for the weather. Keep in mind that I put on a thermal, hoodie(that was so tastefully tucked into my sweatpants), one huge wool jacket that makes anyone look like a lumberjack, two pairs of sucks, and nasty cold muck boots that were left on the porch all in about 2 minutes. I banter out the door, grab the flashlight off the picnic table and head straight for the pasture gate.

After flashing the light, two bales of hay, and a few good loud whistles the cattle come bounding up from the back pasture. Cows, especially pregnant ones, when presented with food are generally happy unless in distress. Well they ate, A LOT! We thought that maybe there was a cow going into labor, not so much.

Just for good measure walked the pasture, in the dark(the beautiful full moon was covered by giant evergreens), with the smell of skunk in the air, our flashlight dying, up to 12 inches of mud in places, and potentially some wild animal terrorizing my livestock. Oh goody! There was no newly birthed calf laying on the ground and nothing we could see so we headed back inside after putting the goats in the barn.

Wednesday:
I woke up late. Had to type a 1.5 page paper for my 9am class, got done doing so around 8. After peering out my window it dawned on me that my sister had not fed the cows. (this about where my comp started acting up.)

To be continued...