Kopp and I fed the cows together tonight and I almost DIED!!! We were heading down the hill to feed the herd across the road. They just so happened to all be at the top by the gate (which, of COURSE, I opened) so they were really trottin’ along, right? Like, full speed running and bawling at the same time. They got to going so fast they missed the turn into the section with the feeders and had to back track! It was actually a good thing because that gave us a few extra seconds to start dumping feed. Anyway, I’m trying to stay in the mule AND keep my boobs from giving me black eyes because Kopp is driving so fast. He says, “Ya better move fast, Mom, they’re coming!” I’m like, WHAT?!?! I already play Gate Wench, now I gotta play Dodge Cow?!?!

So I jumped out and spun around to grab a bucket and you know what!?!? JASON PUT 50LB BAGS OF MINERAL ON TOP OF THE FREAKIN’ BUCKETS!!! I started yelling, “WTH, Dad!! You covered the GD buckets with mineral?!?!” Instead of coming to my rescue, he hollered at me to move my butt!! I’m in an absolute panic because the cows have completely surrounded the trough, mooing and slobbering, pushing and shoving. It was a shark feeding frenzy for sure. I managed to throw one bag off a bucket (adrenaline rush), and I slung the first bucket of feed. Thank God they were distracted long enough for me to get the other mineral bag off and dump the second and third troughs. My chivalrous farmer, after not lifting a single bucket OR bag, checked the mineral feeder which ironically didn’t need filling. I chewed Kopp’s butt all the way back up the hill, half expecting him to make up for leading me to my potential death by opening the gate, but, NO, I was back to Gate Wench. Next we went across the creek to feed those guys. Apparently something I said registered because guess what? The S.O.B. didn’t make me close that gate on the way out (I despise that gate)! Small victories, Man. I’ll take it!

What else is there to do for the evening after edu-taining children all day? Why, chase a calf, of course!

So, today’s calf-tastrophe started earlier this afternoon when I got a message from a friend saying we have a calf out by the bridge on ZZ. I messaged back and said, “Yeah, that guy gets out all the time, it’ll find its way back in. Thanks for the heads up”, and left it at that. We’ve gotten messages pretty much every day about the little booger so it’s like whatever.

[Read more…]

Charlotte and I noticed a new calf in the corner of the pasture as we came down the driveway from domestic shopping Sunday morning. I hopped out of the car to check on it and of course, I spooked it, so it slipped under the fence and took off up the hill. I figured Momma would call it back down and didn’t mess with it, plus I had to get to church to work at our ice cream social.
[Read more…]

You know that scene in “A Christmas Story” when Ralphie opens his window on Christmas morning and he’s all, “Wow! Wake up, Randy!” and there’s fun little bells ringing/jingling in the background as he marvels at the beautiful winter scenery?
[Read more…]

So I’ve decided to name the calf tagged #1 “Janice” and here’s why…..

Janice needs to go to the vet because she has a bad foot and isn’t putting any weight on it. We’re pretty sure she got hurt when everyone was sliding up and down the “Grand Canyon” embankment from the cow-tastrophy we had on Sunday.

[Read more…]

The kids and I were sitting in the living room drying off the sweet little kittens because it had been raining all morning so they were wet. It was great, they’re so stinkin’ cute! They got all fluffy and stuff! Anyway, Kopp calls on the home line which is never good. He’s got the mule and is at church getting ready for our church picnic tomorrow, and says Monica had called him to let us know that we had some cows out on top of the hill (Monica is our mail carrier and she’s amazing…..looks out for everyone on her route and brings Casey a cookie every Wed!).
[Read more…]

So, we had some cow-ventures today. What should have been about a 2 hour feeding chore ended up taking over 5 hours, but, what the hell, it’s how we roll.

When Kopp first asked me this morning to help him my first response was to piss off because he’s been a very grouchy patient these last 2+ days (Christmas plague, which I had first but powered through) so I explained that grouchy people don’t usually get help. I made him beg for a while as he professed his profound apologies and basic butt-kissery and finally decided he repented enough and bundled up to brave the arctic temperatures to help feed.
[Read more…]