Breeding Season...continues

Jazz was first AIed back in June. I think we may have missed one or two heat cycles to start off with in May, so I was thankful to have caught it in June so we'd at least have a March calf. She has since had 2 more cycles and has been AIed twice more. Last night and this morning she took two straws to try and get the timing down as she hasn't been taking. Last night's straw was Waukaru Gold Mine 2109, a Shorthorn bull, the tech's last straw of his meager Shorthorn bull options. This morning we used a club calf bull, Dual Focus, a black SimAngus son of Angus bull, In Focus {since we were double breeding, I wanted to breed to something black so that we could tell for sure who the sire is at calving}. So, we could have a purebred calf or a club calf if she takes this time. We left it interesting. Unfortunately, we are now looking at calving not being until the first days of May.
We have now dropped $120 into breeding expenses for one cow! I feel the timing of breeding has been too late as we were catching her in heat in the evening but the tech wasn't able to come out until 11 am both times before. This time she was in heat in the morning and we bred her at 8 pm and 9:30 am, so hopefully this time we covered it.

country living

Here's a look at some little details that show how our family's love of cattle, farm life and country living has influenced our style choices for home decor and fashion accessories. I like to surround myself, in and around the home, with items that inspire and reflect this country lifestyle.

Vintage cow creamer on shelf near kitchen sink {Day to Day Co. sale}

Vintage-style framed Shorthorn cow herd art {Pickleweed Hill, Willamette District, West Linn, OR}

On the couch for now, sits a burlap bag 'feed sack' {Simply Sandy's, Joseph, OR} for holding whatever inevitably ends up left on the couch.



Coffee table reading stored in a vintage-style wooden tool box {Day to Day Co sale}. The current contents include a well-rounded collection: the Bible, children's books, devotionals, Shepherding a Child's Heart, The Husband Project-21 Days to Loving Your Man on Purpose and with a Plan, Storey's Guide to Raising Beef Cattle, and the recent issue of Shorthorn Country.




It might say something about us, that Shorthorn Country is the only magazine we currently subscribe to.



Above the sofa in the living room hang black-and-white livestock prints, which are pages from an early American dictionary bought at a garage sale for 25 cents. 



The pages are antique drawings representing different breeds of cattle, horses, sheep, swine, and poultry. Each drawing is numbered and the names of the breeds listed at the bottom of the page.

Garden pail {Simply Sandy's, Joseph, OR} for bringing in fresh vegetables to wash up at the island sink. Last night, this pail was filled with green onions, yellow zucchini, romaine and red leaf lettuce, and red, yellow and white swiss chard.

Above the kitchen cabinets are country/vintage-inspired pottery, baskets, star, clock, roosters and pail.

While shopping on our recent vacation in cattle country, I found this western-style cowprint leather handbag {Mad Mary & Company, Joseph, OR} and knew right away that it belonged with me. Yes, I know what you're thinking...shopping, vacation and cattle country aren't words that typically go together in a sentence, but that is what I love about our trips to Wallowa county; many of the things I love all in one place.



what country kids do for fun 2

I could also call this 'what country kids do for fun {when mother makes them}', as this is not what they would have done by their own accord this sunny, summer morning. But, I do believe they DID HAVE FUN after all! Weeding the garden {after being on vacation when the weather final heats up and then weeds suddenly pack the garden} isn't my idea of fun either, I have to admit. I remember how my brother and I spent hours weeding the garden when our mom made us. It is somehow strangely cathartic to now be able to inflict the same pain onto my own dear children. But, look closely at these photos, and you tell me, do they look like they are in pain? Stay tuned for 'what country kids do for fun 3'. It's sure to be a good 'un.

Top Honors at the Fair

This week my niece showed her goats at the Marion County Fair in Salem. We watched her show yesterday {and Jess spent the night to be there for her shows today} and here are the results:

• 2nd place 4-H market goat in heavyweight class, showed in reserve championship drive
• Champion Junior 4-H Goat Showman
• Reserve Champion Overall 4-H Goat Showman
• Supreme Champion Boer Goat Female
• Champion Junior 4-H Round Robin Showman

Her haul included not one, but TWO , of the most coveted prize in livestock showing--BELT BUCKLES!!! 4 giant rosettes, 1 trophy, and a bag!!!

All that, and it is only her 2nd year showing in 4-H, and her final year as a junior showman. That is quite a fair for a junior showman!!!

The backstory on this young lady is what makes today so sweet. Morgan has shown an extreme interest in animals since she was a little girl. Similar to me, she fell in love with horses, but when she couldn't get horses she found an animal she could show that she was interested in. I also won showmanship my 2nd year in 4-H, and went on to make a name for myself in our county for showing cattle and sheep. Morgan has done just that at her fair this year, and I am so excited for her.  I have to say though, I don't think I ever loved animals as much or worked as many hours at my projects as Morgan does on her own. My parents helped me a lot at that age, and I don't remember coming home from school and running out to the barn to spend hours working with my cattle. But, that is what Morgan does with her goats. It is neat to see her passion and how she devotes herself to her animals. She definitely deserves to win.

I can see I am going to need to devote a label for my references to Morgan, who is definitely a 'cowgirl' at heart, but I will call her 'goat girl'.

Hauling Hay

 

Hay 101
Haying season is interesting because it is so unpredictable and timing is critical. It is dependent on the weather, as hay needs to be cut, dried, raked, baled, hauled and stacked out of the elements. This process takes several days. If the grass is cut when it is wet and not allowed sufficient drying time before baling, it will mold. Wet hay {more than 22% moisture} can also catch fire when stacked in the barn, because the heat and humidity cause spontaneous combustion. If it is a really rainy year, hay can grow too long and become overripe before farmers have a chance to cut it. Every year, May through July, driving to town and back, we watch the fields around us with interest wondering when will they get cut and will the farmers get it baled and picked up before it rains.

Quick, Let's Get 'Er Done!
We've been waiting for our neighboring farm/hay supplier to get their hay cut so we could put up our hay for the next year. Last week, we got a call that the hay would be ready to pick up from the field about the 5th of July. We came home from our 4th of July beach trip yesterday evening, dropped our youngest daughter off with Grandma for the night, our son at baseball practice {coordinated his pick-up with a friend}, and then Jim, Jess and I headed home to get the truck and trailer for hauling hay.

4 Ton of Hay & Sweat
We got two full trailer loads {64 bales each=128 bales/4 ton}. We left for our first load around 6:30, it took about 40 minutes to drive through the field and pick up each load, then we unloaded at home, and were back home with our last load by 9:30. Jess and I didn't help unload the last load at home as we drove to pick up Andrew. But, the load I helped Jim stack in the barn at home was hot and hard work. We were covered in hay dust and sweat. So, I am very impressed with my husband. He did most of the work. I got the easiest job of driving the truck in the field, Jess held the trailer gate and yelled stop and go, but Jim was the one picking up bales and stacking them in the trailer. I wonder if he is sore today, but he would probably not admit it if he was! Maybe next year, he'll give in and let Jess drive so I can help carry bales. The 60 pound bales are just a bit too heavy for the kids to pick up at this age. Jess did help drag a few bales with a hay hook.

Another Farm Memory=Priceless
It was physical work, but fun to do together. We felt good about getting our hay put up in one night. The hay smelled so sweet in the field and we saw a coyote with 3 pups playing out in the field. It was a beautiful summer night with a nice breeze blowing to go along with another good farm memory.

Miscellaneous Farm Update
We were lucky in all of that, to be home to notice the cow coming back into heat. We just had her serviced again this morning, and she really better take this second time. Now we're looking at an April 15th calving date. We have a third delivery of feed coming again today. So, with hay, feed and breeding expenses, we have spent $1000 in a couple days on the cattle. Last week, we vaccinated and dewormed the cow/calf (around $30 expense, including gas to pick up the vaccines). This week, we will be sending in entry fees for the 3 shows in August.