Long Overdue

I've missed you all.  I've missed sharing my thoughts and life with you.  So...I decided that it was time to make a post as it has been long overdue.

Oh trust me, my life hasn't slowed down one bit, it's still crazy busy with the kids, the farm, the hubby and everything else in-between, but I have a lot going on in my head and a lot going on period that I'd like to share and get out with the hopes of making people smile, or make them realize that they aren't alone in their thoughts and to also boost people's spirits about life in general.

I'm back...I will try my best to be regular with my posts but at the same time I am not making any promises so please be understanding.

Being that I haven't been on here for a while there has been a lot to catch up on and it won't happen in one post alone obviously so I have decided for now to share the latest happenings around the farm.  I have found in the past that you all seemed to find my previous posts about the farm rather interesting.

The stories and "life" around the farm is nonstop.  I've found that the animals have become like my "other" children and I do care about every single one of them.  Who would've thought I'd have a big enough heart in me to give out that much love, heh?  There are a lot of animals to love there.

Some of them continuously drive me crazy, some of them you barely know are there as they are so quiet and easy going and some call out to you with personalities that want the attention that you can't help but love them.

This lovely lady's name is Wren and she is one of the most easy going cows in the barn.  She is a rather small and short cow, by comparison, and when she walks in the barn she is by no means in any kind of hurry.  She takes her old sweet time coming up the aisle and is almost always one of the last ones in.  I can pet her anytime in the barn and she just keeps eating away and makes nothing of it, the kids can pet her too.  She's very sweet.

This cow is one of my favorites because she too is rather calm tempered and I love the marking on her head.  Her name is Amber as you can see and she is typically one of the first cows in the barn for every milking.  One morning a few months ago Jeff went out to walk the cows up for the morning milking and found her laying in the river that runs along the cow pasture.  She had broken down a wire that is up to keep them out of the river, being curious as cows are, and had spent most of the night submerged in the cold water.  We weren't sure if she would make it but she did.  She bounced back rather well with the exception of losing the calf she had been pregnant with at the time.

This pretty lady is Sami and no, I didn't name her.  Jeff's Dad actually named this cow before he passed away.  Funny thing is, she kind of reminds me of our daughter, Sami.  Not that I'm saying our daughter is a cow, she's obviously not, but they have similarities.  This cow LOVES to eat and she makes it a habit when leaving the barn after her milking to bounce into as many stanctions as she can on her walk out looking for leftover hay, corn or whatever she can find.  I would say on average I have to back her out of four different spots before I finally get her butt out of the barn.  She also is tall cow with a bigger build, just like our Sami.  Sami even agrees she is like her and takes no offense to it.  In fact I think she thinks it's pretty cool.

This is Toni and she is for sure the most unique cow we have at the farm as she is blind.  Yep, you heard me.  I think she must have a little sight as she does seem to know her way around the farm pretty darn good, but she definitely has a visual impairment as I have personally witnessed her running into a lot of things.  I hate to say it, but most of the time when I do see her do this, I can't help but chuckle and then I say out loud "poor thing".  I've witnessed her running into the barn walls, poles in the loose housing area and she has hit her melon on the barn cleaner chute many times.  Her poor head takes quite a toll.  Her hearing is awesome though as I can walk where she is and she knows right away I'm there and will turn her head in my direction...just like she did to pose for this picture.

Yesterday was another busy day at the farm with many unexpected happenings.  There truthfully aren't too many dull moments around there with new babies being born almost daily and all of the animals living there. 

Today we had to call the vet in to look at one of our younger cows.  She hasn't been feeling too hot the last few days.  She just looked sad and she wasn't eating real well and if you've ever milked a cow their utters and teets totally change when they are sick and it was obvious when milking her something wasn't right.  He came in and looked and it ended up that she had a twisted stomach and in order for her to feel better surgery was necessary.  We decided, being that she was a new cow and had many years left in her that the cost of surgery was worth her getting better and being around for a while hopefully.  Everything went well.  She's a little sore and still bouncing back but I think she'll be fine.

Farming is hard work and a lot of long hours for sure but like I've said before, it brings you closer to nature and the simplicity of life and I'm so appreciative for that.  I'm amazed daily at so many things around me.

There was an unbelievable sunrise the other morning.  I was ticked I didn't have my camera along to take a picture, it would've been amazing!  I marvel at the corn field to the south of the property and watch how much it grows and how green it has become over the last few weeks.  The little babies all around me, hanging out with their mamas or just hanging out together make me smile.

I truly do believe, despite the hard days, that God knew what he was doing when he led me in this direction in life.  It seems to be where I belong.  Luke seems to love the mornings spent there with Daddy too.  Tractor rides are the best!!!

And like I said before, the farm is full of surprises.  This morning when I climbed into a full wagon of hay bales so I could throw some off and bring them into the barn I found the cutest littlest surprises.  Mama obviously took a lot of time planning out where to hide these little ones.  I have since made everybody aware they are in there so they don't harm them.

The circle of life...it just keeps spinning :)