Life on the Farm

Our life on the farm hasn't changed much, farmers are fairly isolated to begin with. The cows still have to be milked twice a day, the milk truck comes every other day to pick up the milk and take it to the plant for processing, cow feed is delivered very 10 days and the farmer drives to the mill weekly to pick up bagged feed for the heifers.

We're starting to get geared up for spring planting. The fuel truck has come and filled the farm tanks with diesel fuel and gasoline. Seeds have been delivered and planting will begin once the soil is warmer and dry. The alfalfa is greening up and growing, soon we'll start baling hay, hopefully the first of May. 

Also we've opened the gates so the cows can get down to the permanent pasture. We're very happy when that happens, so are the cows! I think most of the pictures are self explanatory but in case you don't speak cow 'talk' I'll make some comments.

When I went outside, the cows were lined up and waiting. They knew something was going to happen but weren't sure what.

Finally, the gate is opened and they're off!

Get out of the way!

Can you see, these cows are running?

Is this how we will act when the all clear is sounded and we head to our favorite LQS?

Which way should I go?

They always run straight ahead . . .

then turn to the left at the corner of the field, they're still running.

The north side of the pasture grows faster than the south  section. There's an electric fence wire running through the field to keep them in the north section. 

They don't run through the wire, they turn toward the east again.

They've had a good run, now they need to establish hierarchy in the herd.

The excitement was all over an hour later and they were grazing quietly and peacefully.

Our younger son and his family live in a separate house on our farm. We're trying to keep the grandsons lives as normal as we can. The 3 year old isn't hard but 7 is more challenging.

One of the activities has been to pick up all the sticks that came out of the trees over winter.

I sent the sticks home with them, told them they could burn them when their family has their next hot dog roast.

Weekly grocery shopping is not my normal, my last stockup shopping was March 23rd. I have a large chest freezer with plenty of vegetables, meat and fruit. We drink the milk our cows produce and I have my own laying hens. 

But I did leave the the farm to make a trip to a local seed (seeds as in corn, soybeans, wheat and such) & supply business.

Several years ago the owner's wife added a greenhouse/garden supply business to the original seed & supply. I bought onion starts, broccoli and cabbage plants then planted garden later that day. Guess you could say I went grocery shopping in a way.

I was the only customer and had all the vegetables starts and flowers to myself. I couldn't resist these beauties when I walked passed the display of pansies/violas. A few packs came home with me and I repotted them into a couple of planters.

The daffodils are all open, adding a touch of sunlight even on cloudy, overcast days. The flowers permanently face east because the wind blows them that way.

Linking to To Do Tuesday, Midweek Makers, Clever Chameleon, Wednesday Wait Loss