Catherine Friend's Blog, page 9
April 18, 2011
Idiots R Us
So the sun's out for the first time in days. The calves have been locked up in the barn for 10 days. After I feed them, I let them into the barn to run around. But then I get a great idea. Why not let them outside? There's a huge pen where they can run and jump.
I open the barn door, and off they go, cavorting and running and having a great time. The youngest, Little #2, is the most adventurous, ranging the farthest.
After five minute of fun, I say, "Okay, boys, back in the barn." My technique is this: stick the bottle in front of them, and they'll follow me back inside.
One problem. I'd just fed them. Their tummies are pleasantly full. No one is interested.
More running.
Chapter One of my new novel is waiting for me inside.
"C'mon, guys, let's go." I finally get the most timid to suck on the bottle and lead him inside. One down, two to go.
After much sweet-talking, I get the second to latch onto the bottle and follow me inside.
Now for Little #2.
But while I'm working with the others, he manages to find the baby-calf-sized gap between the red gate and the fence post, and now he's in the pasture.
As exciting as that might have been, he's in a strange place, and that's scary. Suddenly everything is scary, even the nice woman who's been busting her ass to feed him 3-4 times a day. I use the bottle to lure him close, but I realize the barn is too far away now for an empty bottle to keep him interested.
So I grab him.Try to pick him up. Fail.
I've been stuffing him full of milk for 10 days. What was I thinking? Finally I grab him around the chest and carry him like little kids carry very patient cats.
We begin our awkward walk up the hill. We stop to rest. Five more steps. We stop to rest. The calf is calm and quiet, but my legs are shaking.
After numerous rests, we make it back to the barn. He doesn't mind when I put him back in his pen.
Heck of a workout. Legs shaking. Suddenly have the lung capacity of a heavy smoker.
Next time? Let the calves cavort BEFORE I feed them. I
I open the barn door, and off they go, cavorting and running and having a great time. The youngest, Little #2, is the most adventurous, ranging the farthest.
After five minute of fun, I say, "Okay, boys, back in the barn." My technique is this: stick the bottle in front of them, and they'll follow me back inside.
One problem. I'd just fed them. Their tummies are pleasantly full. No one is interested.
More running.
Chapter One of my new novel is waiting for me inside.
"C'mon, guys, let's go." I finally get the most timid to suck on the bottle and lead him inside. One down, two to go.
After much sweet-talking, I get the second to latch onto the bottle and follow me inside.
Now for Little #2.
But while I'm working with the others, he manages to find the baby-calf-sized gap between the red gate and the fence post, and now he's in the pasture.
As exciting as that might have been, he's in a strange place, and that's scary. Suddenly everything is scary, even the nice woman who's been busting her ass to feed him 3-4 times a day. I use the bottle to lure him close, but I realize the barn is too far away now for an empty bottle to keep him interested.
So I grab him.Try to pick him up. Fail.
I've been stuffing him full of milk for 10 days. What was I thinking? Finally I grab him around the chest and carry him like little kids carry very patient cats.
We begin our awkward walk up the hill. We stop to rest. Five more steps. We stop to rest. The calf is calm and quiet, but my legs are shaking.
After numerous rests, we make it back to the barn. He doesn't mind when I put him back in his pen.
Heck of a workout. Legs shaking. Suddenly have the lung capacity of a heavy smoker.
Next time? Let the calves cavort BEFORE I feed them. I
Idiots R UsSo the sun's out for the first time in days. T...
Idiots R Us
So the sun's out for the first time in days. The calves have been locked up in the barn for 10 days. After I feed them, I let them into the barn to run around. But then I get a great idea. Why not let them outside? There's a huge pen where they can run and jump.
I open the barn door, and off they go, cavorting and running and having a great time. The youngest, Little #2, is the most adventurous, ranging the farthest.
After five minute of fun, I say, "Okay, boys, back in the barn." My technique is this: stick the bottle in front of them, and they'll follow me back inside.
One problem. I'd just fed them. Their tummies are pleasantly full. No one is interested.
More running.
Chapter One of my new novel is waiting for me inside.
"C'mon, guys, let's go." I finally get the most timid to suck on the bottle and lead him inside. One down, two to go.
After much sweet-talking, I get the second to latch onto the bottle and follow me inside.
Now for Little #2.
But while I'm working with the others, he manages to find the baby-calf-sized gap between the red gate and the fence post, and now he's in the pasture.
As exciting as that might have been, he's in a strange place, and that's scary. Suddenly everything is scary, even the nice woman who's been busting her ass to feed him 3-4 times a day. I use the bottle to lure him close, but I realize the barn is too far away now for an empty bottle to keep him interested.
So I grab him.Try to pick him up. Fail.
I've been stuffing him full of milk for 10 days. What was I thinking? Finally I grab him around the chest and carry him like little kids carry very patient cats.
We begin our awkward walk up the hill. We stop to rest. Five more steps. We stop to rest. The calf is calm and quiet, but my legs are shaking.
After numerous rests, we make it back to the barn. He doesn't mind when I put him back in his pen.
Heck of a workout. Legs shaking. Suddenly have the lung capacity of a heavy smoker.
Next time? Let the calves cavort BEFORE I feed them. I
So the sun's out for the first time in days. The calves have been locked up in the barn for 10 days. After I feed them, I let them into the barn to run around. But then I get a great idea. Why not let them outside? There's a huge pen where they can run and jump.
I open the barn door, and off they go, cavorting and running and having a great time. The youngest, Little #2, is the most adventurous, ranging the farthest.
After five minute of fun, I say, "Okay, boys, back in the barn." My technique is this: stick the bottle in front of them, and they'll follow me back inside.
One problem. I'd just fed them. Their tummies are pleasantly full. No one is interested.
More running.
Chapter One of my new novel is waiting for me inside.
"C'mon, guys, let's go." I finally get the most timid to suck on the bottle and lead him inside. One down, two to go.
After much sweet-talking, I get the second to latch onto the bottle and follow me inside.
Now for Little #2.
But while I'm working with the others, he manages to find the baby-calf-sized gap between the red gate and the fence post, and now he's in the pasture.
As exciting as that might have been, he's in a strange place, and that's scary. Suddenly everything is scary, even the nice woman who's been busting her ass to feed him 3-4 times a day. I use the bottle to lure him close, but I realize the barn is too far away now for an empty bottle to keep him interested.
So I grab him.Try to pick him up. Fail.
I've been stuffing him full of milk for 10 days. What was I thinking? Finally I grab him around the chest and carry him like little kids carry very patient cats.
We begin our awkward walk up the hill. We stop to rest. Five more steps. We stop to rest. The calf is calm and quiet, but my legs are shaking.
After numerous rests, we make it back to the barn. He doesn't mind when I put him back in his pen.
Heck of a workout. Legs shaking. Suddenly have the lung capacity of a heavy smoker.
Next time? Let the calves cavort BEFORE I feed them. I
April 16, 2011
Orange Sheep?
Luckily we don't have a problem with people stealing our sheep, but should this problem ever arise, a guy in England has figured out the solution: dye your sheep orange.
The guy, John Heard, has lost 200 sheep to theft, so he "put his 250 blackface ewes through a harmless dye to make them stand out and so less likely to be pinched." He hasn't had any sheep stolen since. Luckily the nontoxic dye wears off, otherwise he'd only be able to sell to knitters who want orange sweaters and socks.
The guy, John Heard, has lost 200 sheep to theft, so he "put his 250 blackface ewes through a harmless dye to make them stand out and so less likely to be pinched." He hasn't had any sheep stolen since. Luckily the nontoxic dye wears off, otherwise he'd only be able to sell to knitters who want orange sweaters and socks.
Orange Sheep?
Luckily we don't have a problem with peo...
Orange Sheep?
Luckily we don't have a problem with people stealing our sheep, but should this problem ever arise, a guy in England has figured out the solution: dye your sheep orange.
The guy, John Heard, has lost 200 sheep to theft, so he "put his 250 blackface ewes through a harmless dye to make them stand out and so less likely to be pinched." He hasn't had any sheep stolen since. Luckily the nontoxic dye wears off, otherwise he'd only be able to sell to knitters who want orange sweaters and socks.
Luckily we don't have a problem with people stealing our sheep, but should this problem ever arise, a guy in England has figured out the solution: dye your sheep orange.
The guy, John Heard, has lost 200 sheep to theft, so he "put his 250 blackface ewes through a harmless dye to make them stand out and so less likely to be pinched." He hasn't had any sheep stolen since. Luckily the nontoxic dye wears off, otherwise he'd only be able to sell to knitters who want orange sweaters and socks.
Orange Sheep?Luckily we don't have a problem with people ...
Orange Sheep?
Luckily we don't have a problem with people stealing our sheep, but should this problem ever arise, a guy in England has figured out the solution: dye your sheep orange.
The guy, John Heard, has lost 200 sheep to theft, so he "put his 250 blackface ewes through a harmless dye to make them stand out and so less likely to be pinched." He hasn't had any sheep stolen since. Luckily the nontoxic dye wears off, otherwise he'd only be able to sell to knitters who want orange sweaters and socks.
Luckily we don't have a problem with people stealing our sheep, but should this problem ever arise, a guy in England has figured out the solution: dye your sheep orange.
The guy, John Heard, has lost 200 sheep to theft, so he "put his 250 blackface ewes through a harmless dye to make them stand out and so less likely to be pinched." He hasn't had any sheep stolen since. Luckily the nontoxic dye wears off, otherwise he'd only be able to sell to knitters who want orange sweaters and socks.
April 11, 2011
Calf Inflation!
So it's spring, which means it's time to buy more calves. Last year's babies are now 600 pounds, and will be 900 or so pounds in the fall. We love having steers around.
Has the price of beef in the store been going up? If not, it's headed that way. Last year we paid $35 for each calf, about 10 days old. This year the price is $100 apiece, and the dairy farmer gave us a break. He could sell them at the livestock barn for nearly $200. Holy smokes. I don't know what's going on, but when farmers are willing to pay $200 for a calf barely a week old, it's only because they expect to make lots of money on the finished animal.
Here's one of the little cuties.
And we're finally learning how to make videos, and I posted our first one on youtube this morning. I feel so proud, yet it was ridiculously easy, so I don't know why we haven't done it before. Below is the link to a very short video Melissa filmed this morning.
We have to keep the calves separate for awhile...otherwise they will suck on each other's... boy parts.... When it warms up mid-morning, we open the barn door and let the sun in. I can't wait until a week from now, when I start letting them out to play. Another opportunity for video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devs9FmM3-c
Enjoy!
Has the price of beef in the store been going up? If not, it's headed that way. Last year we paid $35 for each calf, about 10 days old. This year the price is $100 apiece, and the dairy farmer gave us a break. He could sell them at the livestock barn for nearly $200. Holy smokes. I don't know what's going on, but when farmers are willing to pay $200 for a calf barely a week old, it's only because they expect to make lots of money on the finished animal.
Here's one of the little cuties.
And we're finally learning how to make videos, and I posted our first one on youtube this morning. I feel so proud, yet it was ridiculously easy, so I don't know why we haven't done it before. Below is the link to a very short video Melissa filmed this morning.
We have to keep the calves separate for awhile...otherwise they will suck on each other's... boy parts.... When it warms up mid-morning, we open the barn door and let the sun in. I can't wait until a week from now, when I start letting them out to play. Another opportunity for video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devs9FmM3-c
Enjoy!
Calf Inflation!
So it's spring, which means it's time ...
Calf Inflation!
So it's spring, which means it's time to buy more calves. Last year's babies are now 600 pounds, and will be 900 or so pounds in the fall. We love having steers around.
Has the price of beef in the store been going up? If not, it's headed that way. Last year we paid $35 for each calf, about 10 days old. This year the price is $100 apiece, and the dairy farmer gave us a break. He could sell them at the livestock barn for nearly $200. Holy smokes. I don't know what's going on, but when farmers are willing to pay $200 for a calf barely a week old, it's only because they expect to make lots of money on the finished animal.
Here's one of the little cuties.
And we're finally learning how to make videos, and I posted our first one on youtube this morning. I feel so proud, yet it was ridiculously easy, so I don't know why we haven't done it before. Below is the link to a very short video Melissa filmed this morning.
We have to keep the calves separate for awhile...otherwise they will suck on each other's... boy parts.... When it warms up mid-morning, we open the barn door and let the sun in. I can't wait until a week from now, when I start letting them out to play. Another opportunity for video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devs9FmM3-c
Enjoy!
So it's spring, which means it's time to buy more calves. Last year's babies are now 600 pounds, and will be 900 or so pounds in the fall. We love having steers around.
Has the price of beef in the store been going up? If not, it's headed that way. Last year we paid $35 for each calf, about 10 days old. This year the price is $100 apiece, and the dairy farmer gave us a break. He could sell them at the livestock barn for nearly $200. Holy smokes. I don't know what's going on, but when farmers are willing to pay $200 for a calf barely a week old, it's only because they expect to make lots of money on the finished animal.
Here's one of the little cuties.
And we're finally learning how to make videos, and I posted our first one on youtube this morning. I feel so proud, yet it was ridiculously easy, so I don't know why we haven't done it before. Below is the link to a very short video Melissa filmed this morning.
We have to keep the calves separate for awhile...otherwise they will suck on each other's... boy parts.... When it warms up mid-morning, we open the barn door and let the sun in. I can't wait until a week from now, when I start letting them out to play. Another opportunity for video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devs9FmM3-c
Enjoy!
Calf Inflation!So it's spring, which means it's time to b...
Calf Inflation!
So it's spring, which means it's time to buy more calves. Last year's babies are now 600 pounds, and will be 900 or so pounds in the fall. We love having steers around.
Has the price of beef in the store been going up? If not, it's headed that way. Last year we paid $35 for each calf, about 10 days old. This year the price is $100 apiece, and the dairy farmer gave us a break. He could sell them at the livestock barn for nearly $200. Holy smokes. I don't know what's going on, but when farmers are willing to pay $200 for a calf barely a week old, it's only because they expect to make lots of money on the finished animal.
Here's one of the little cuties.
And we're finally learning how to make videos, and I posted our first one on youtube this morning. I feel so proud, yet it was ridiculously easy, so I don't know why we haven't done it before. Below is the link to a very short video Melissa filmed this morning.
We have to keep the calves separate for awhile...otherwise they will suck on each other's... boy parts.... When it warms up mid-morning, we open the barn door and let the sun in. I can't wait until a week from now, when I start letting them out to play. Another opportunity for video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devs9FmM3-c
Enjoy!
So it's spring, which means it's time to buy more calves. Last year's babies are now 600 pounds, and will be 900 or so pounds in the fall. We love having steers around.
Has the price of beef in the store been going up? If not, it's headed that way. Last year we paid $35 for each calf, about 10 days old. This year the price is $100 apiece, and the dairy farmer gave us a break. He could sell them at the livestock barn for nearly $200. Holy smokes. I don't know what's going on, but when farmers are willing to pay $200 for a calf barely a week old, it's only because they expect to make lots of money on the finished animal.
Here's one of the little cuties.
And we're finally learning how to make videos, and I posted our first one on youtube this morning. I feel so proud, yet it was ridiculously easy, so I don't know why we haven't done it before. Below is the link to a very short video Melissa filmed this morning.
We have to keep the calves separate for awhile...otherwise they will suck on each other's... boy parts.... When it warms up mid-morning, we open the barn door and let the sun in. I can't wait until a week from now, when I start letting them out to play. Another opportunity for video!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=devs9FmM3-c
Enjoy!
April 7, 2011
Donkey Saves Sheep
I don't usually post links, but I might start because there are some fun stories out there. Here's a donkey named Dotty who won an animal bravery award in the UK for coming to aid of her friend, Stanley the sheep.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-12970506
Too bad they don't have these awards in the U.S! We could nominate our llamas.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-12970506
Too bad they don't have these awards in the U.S! We could nominate our llamas.
Donkey Saves Sheep
I don't usually post links, ...
Donkey Saves Sheep
I don't usually post links, but I might start because there are some fun stories out there. Here's a donkey named Dotty who won an animal bravery award in the UK for coming to aid of her friend, Stanley the sheep.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-12970506
Too bad they don't have these awards in the U.S! We could nominate our llamas.
I don't usually post links, but I might start because there are some fun stories out there. Here's a donkey named Dotty who won an animal bravery award in the UK for coming to aid of her friend, Stanley the sheep.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-york-north-yorkshire-12970506
Too bad they don't have these awards in the U.S! We could nominate our llamas.
