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A showman walks into the show ring with his cow all clean, fitted and looking fine. The showman isn't looking too shabby himself with his crisp, clean shirt, fancy show jeans, cowboy hat and boots to match. But getting to the show ring looking like a million bucks is easier said than done.  You see...there is a whole lot of poop going on back in those barns...
And it is no easy feat keeping the poop where it is supposed to be and not all over the kid.
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Did you know today is National Fun at Work Day? I didn't either...but it is. I love my job...but I can't say that I generally have fun at work. I just don't know how much fun a bean counter can have?  But, I do know a couple of people that manage to make working fun.
Last weekend we had our first "big" snow of the year. We ended up with probably around 4 inches of snow, but the southern part of Central Ohio received about 9 inches. I know...some of you are laughing right now. You see...it has been a couple of years since we have had a decent amount of snow. We just keep getting these annoying couple of inches at a time that do nothing but make maneuvering the roads a nightmare. We returned to work last Monday on clear roads only to hear weather reports of the next big storm coming in for Saturday and Sunday. All week long we heard the warnings, but the storm was very unpredictable and no one quite knew what to expect.  The rain, freezing rain, snow line was supposed to move right through the heart of Central Ohio, and with temperatures hovering on the freezing mark, the storm could do just about anything.
By Friday morning the report was that some were just going to get rain, a small line was going to get ice and everything North was supposed to get anywhere from 6 to 11 inches of snow. We were in the 6 to 11 inches of snow line. So what does everyone do before a snow storm? Head to the grocery for bread and milk. I am not a goal setter. I think it is because I am like most people and peter out after a few weeks or months. Then I am a failure because I didn't complete my goal and a failure at goal setting. It just doesn't help the momentum or ego.  But, I do enjoy looking back at the previous year to see what I have accomplished.
I call it reverse goal setting. Looking back at all we have accomplished, just motivates me to keep plugging along. Santa made an early stop on the Farm. It was a surprise to me... But the 3 Wiley men are over the moon!  Nash is an 8 week old full-blooded German Shepherd  We have talked about getting a puppy off and on for a while now. Daisy is almost 12 years old and really slowing down. We really don't want 2 dogs, but we know that sometimes it is better to get a puppy when the older dog is still around to help train. Daisy is the best dog ever! She stays home and is Daniel's shadow. We are really hoping she will train the puppy to stay home. Having a farm dog that you can trust to leave out and about, but not run off is priceless. It allows the dog to be a part of your family and farm. Following along as you do chores and "helping" herd the cattle when you need an extra hand.  Daisy was a surprised as me and the boys were.  Of course Nash is getting lots and lots of attention, but we have made a special point to give some extra attention to Daisy. We live on a farm and have "farm" dogs. A.k.a. they roll in manure, mud, dead animals and any other gross thing they can find. So...all dogs stay outside around here. However, we do occasionally let Daisy come in the house to sit on the rug. But, now that she is pretty well deaf, it is hard to tell her to stay on the rug. What Santa did not warn me about was that Nash is too small to stay out in the garage, which means Nash is a mud room puppy for now.  Daisy is pretty much over the puppy. She only stayed inside for a few minutes and was more than ready to go back to her rug in the garage. Too much commotion. She would rather just sleep.  Santa delivered Nash on Friday and then Nash made his first trip to a cattle show to unload cows and equipment. When he got home, he got his first bath. He wasn't amused.  That's a little better.  He had a busy weekend and spent most of it being held and taking naps.  We want to expose him to as many people as we can, and what better place than a cattle show to meet all kinds of new people and experiences.  Of course, he was the star of the show.  At one point, someone asked us if he could walk. What can I say...he is spoiled already.  He loves to snuggle in to take a nap.  Except that nap didn't last very long.  Nash is not a fan of the cold just yet. He is going to have to grow a thicker skin to survive around here. But for now...we are spoiling him rotten. The next show is in 4 weeks and I am pretty sure he is going to be a lot heavier and won't get as much cuddle time, so we are taking advantage of it now. You might also like... Every cat needs a barn... Or maybe it's every barn needs a cat. Either way.... Every farm needs a cat.  I am not a cat lover.
Maybe that is because I am allergic to cats... The weather turned cold this week. There is no denying that winter is coming. Before the snow starts flying, there are several things we always do to make sure the cows are ready for the cold months ahead.  Halter Break Calves
Show season is just around the corner, so fall is always a good time to halter break the calves. We try to handle the calves as much as possible from day one, but with fairs and hay duties, we don't always get to spend as much time with them as we would like. They must be ready for the show arena by November, so it is now time to really get to work and fine tune the calves. We prefer to halter break with the tractor to save our backs, and then always put in a good amount of ground work and show stick practice. It is fall in Ohio... Or is it summer? I don't know...but I am confused. The last few weeks have been inching towards cooler fall weather, lots and lots of rain.... And then 86 degrees. What in the world?  I know come the middle of January I will be looking back at these days and wishing I had spent every waking moment outside.
But, I am really in the mood for some soup... |
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AuthorHello! I am Heather... the city girl turned mom to manure loving country boys. My husband and I both grew up in the city, but spent weekends visiting grandparents in the country. We are first generation farmers who learn best by almost always doing things the hard way. I hope you enjoy following along with our adventures down on the farm. Archives
January 2019
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