The Daily Grind

Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment, full effort is full victory.  Mahatma Ghandi

Well it's been a while since I blogged about my new job at the farm and for any of you concerned that it may be because I no longer enjoy it, well, you are wrong.  I just felt the need to post about more than that. 

But, it's overdue, and my "girls" need a shout out too as they have become a big part of my life.

It's funny, but if you had ever asked me a few years ago if I thought I would have quit my job as a Customer Service Rep to become a full time dairy farmer I'm pretty sure the answer would've been "No".  But honest to goodness, I look back now and really think I should've done it sooner for many reasons that I won't necessarily dwell on right now.

Instead, let's take a look at some of the images I see on a daily basis around the farm and explain some of them to you.

Above is an "action" shot.  This is what it looks like when the first group of cows start heading into the barn.  We have 74 stalls in the barn for the cowies and when 74 cows start walking in the barn one by one I always think it is pretty darn neat.  Out of 74 cows, the majority will go exactly to their designated spot without any issue, and then you will have roughly 5 or so that like to screw with you and go somewhere they don't belong and you have to watch for them and direct them to the right spot.  Seriously, it's not that they don't know where they belong, they really just like to piss you off I think.

Another picture showing the cows coming in the barn for milking.

With the weather being nicer out now, the cows stay out in one of three areas we have fenced off for them in-between milkings.  They love this!!!  So before the cows come in the barn one of my jobs is to walk out to where they are and walk them up to the barn.  They of course moan and groan (yes seriously, some of them do) when I make them get up from their comfy spots in the dirt/grass/poop to haul ass to the barn, so I get some funny looks.  Here are some of the girlies that were nice enough to pose for pictures during this process.

The cows checking me out as I approach them to walk them to the barn for the afternoon milking.

She's looking at me as if to say "Really?  Now?"

They are such nosy creatures and always very cautious about people although they are very comfortable with me now.

This is one of the Brown Swiss cows we have at the farm.  Sam officially gave her the name Butterscotch years ago when she was just a little calf.  I get to milk her :)

Despite what people think, cows do not sleep standing up.  A lot of them do what this lovely lady is doing and turn their heads back.  Awww, I woke her from her afternoon nap.

This chickie is one of our sassier, I don't give a shit kind of cows in the barn.  She doesn't really kick or anything, she's just a pest and wanders into other open stalls to find more food and takes her old sweet time getting out of the barn.  I think their eyes and demeanor are so sweet.

The cows headed up towards the barn.

Another one of my jobs at the farm is to take care of the baby calves.  Although they can at times be major pain in the butts, just like normal little kids I suppose, at the same time they are very sweet.  The first few days they are bottle fed like the little girl below.

But within a few days I try to wean them off the bottles and then start feeding them from pails.  They will drink their mother's milk for a day or two but then will be fed milk replacer (Similac for calves) after that.  Here is the line up of all the pails I had to make for the little ones today.

There are so many things I see around the farm each and every day.

The gorgeous scenery looking to the south from the barn.  I know it may not look like much to the average person but I have found a deep appreciation for the trees and want to climb that one limb that is bent over and just sit there someday.  There is also a small river that surrounds the property that is a neat little addition and peaceful.

Yep!  Poop, poop and more poop.  It is honestly never ending.  We could seriously have one full time person around the farm whose sole purpose was to deal with the poop the cows produce and they would likely never run out of work.  By the end of a milking I unfortunately have it located in way more places on my body than I care to, but it is what it is, right?

Luke is usually with us at the farm every afternoon so this is a very familiar scene in the barn.  Luke running through the barn or riding one of the many vehicles sitting at the top of the barn.  Oh my goodness can he cruise on these things.  The barn is empty on this photo but quite honestly most of the cows are so used to him being there he can ride all over the place now when they are in the barn and they don't make much of him.  Do you think he has enough stuff to ride?

Now onto some of my most memorable cows in the barn.  For me anyway.

This is a cow Jeff milks on his side but she stands out to me.  I don't know her official name but only know her as #47.  She was one of the first cows I could recognize in the barn because her head is always tilted to the side like on this photo.  It is never straight.  I think this gives her the appearance of always being slightly confused and it makes me giggle.  She is also a very nice cow and a "worker" according to my bossman.

This cow is on my side and I should be milking her, however, she is one of roughly three cows total on my side that doesn't like me to milk her necessarily.  She has a tad bit of attitude and will continuously stomp her back right leg the entire time I clean her off before putting the milker on.  The only way I can get the milker on her is if her Daddy (that being Jeff) stands by her with his hand on her butt/backside so she behaves.  Sounds like my kids at home?

This cow is also on Jeff's side of the barn but I just think she is a very nice cow.  Currently she is pregnant with her third set of twins.  Yes, third!!!  One set of her previous twins is also in our barn as milking cows now and her second set of twins is up the road at the other farm growing up yet so they can then become milking cows.  So let's just say she is an experienced Mommy (kind of like me) and I just took a liking to her.  I'll post pics in a few months of her next set of twins.

This is a photo of a cow on my side I like to call "Big Bertha".  I don't think this photo does her justice but I can only think to myself that I am soooo happy I don't have to carry that around every day.  Yikers!!!  Seriously, when it is time to put the milker on her I darn near have to get down on my knees and put my head under her utter so I can find the tits on the other side of her.  No lie!!!  Obviously though, she milks out a lot and is very docile!!!

And now let's meet #95.  She's kind of a hit or miss/Jeckyl & Hyde kind of cow.  You just never know what you're going to get and yep, she's on my side of the barn.  Well, I caught her with a bad hair day or something on Wednesday morning's milking and now she will stand out in my head for a while now.  Since working at the farm I've had an occasional kick here and there but nothing overally major.  Well, thanks to this snotty lady above that has all changed.

While holding her milker in place (squatted on the side of her) as it was leaking air she decided she was going to let me know who was boss and rammed me in the knee roughly 2-3 times.  Needless to say a few choice words were uttered as I flew into the aisle to get away from her "issue" and well, yeah, I've milked her two times since with no problems, but the slightest hint that she has PMS or whatever and Jeff is hanging that milker on, not me.  Below is the damage.  Ouch!!!

It's a constant adventure.  It takes a lot of patience working with the hubby who isn't always the most understanding and supportive in some situations.  Overall though, it's great!

It's hard to explain to somebody who hasn't done this themselves.  So totally different than the corporate world.  I'm thankful I'm not stuck inside all day anymore and have found a new appreciation for so many things this world has to offer.

Who would've thought it would take this to make me realize so much?