The Rescue

It’s hard to believe we’ve gone straight from extreme drought to too wet.  Our ground is saturated and we received another three inches in the early morning hours, and it’s still raining.  They issued a flash flood warning for my area this morning, and it wasn’t long before my nephew called to tell me I should take my camera to the creek running through his family’s pasture northeast of town.  He said it was already out of its banks and had crossed the state road.

It was still rising and close to crossing the county road.

SOOC

SOOC

SOOC

Then he said his uncle’s cattle had managed to be on the wrong side of the creek.  They were stranded between the rising creek and the fence with only a three-foot strip of land.  I suggested this might be a good time to cut the fence, and he said that’s what they were doing as we spoke.  Of course, they had to wade through waist deep water to get there.  I headed out the door.

By the time I arrived, I could see the cattle were on the other side of the fence.  I did go see if they needed any help moving them.  That’s when they said they were still trying to get one calf.

When they cut the fence, all the cattle came through except one calf.  She panicked and jumped into the water.  She crashed into the bridge and went under.

They scrambled to try and get rope to pull her out, thinking she was probably already dead.  They finally saw her surface downstream and pull herself back onto the strip of land.

In the meantime they other cattle had left the field and wandered away, so they had to bring them back.  That’s when I got there.  They were headed back to the calf to try and get her to safety.

SOOC

SOOC

He waded through the waist deep water again and very slowly brought her back to the hole in the fence.  She still didn’t know what to do, but she hollered for her mom.

SOOC

Mom was hollering encouragement back to her.  She was very concerned.

SOOC

The calf went past the opening, back towards the bridge.

SOOC

Another person started towards the calf from the other direction to turn her back to the opening.

SOOC

This time, she came through.  It still wasn’t easy getting back to mom.

SOOC

SOOC

SOOC

SOOC

Finally, they were all safe,  so they were moved to the other side of the creek.

They should be safe now, but with more rain in the forecast, they’ll keep a close eye on the pasture.  They’ll also keep a close eye on the calf, newly named Mikelle Phelps, to make sure she doesn’t develop pneumonia after her swim.

Sharing with SOOC Sunday, Homestead Barn Hop, Farmgirl Friday.

First Farmer’s Market Friday!

1.  It’s finally arrived!  Tonight is the first farmer’s market of the season.  I have my soap packed in boxes.  I have a few copies of my novel.  I have popcorn.  I did have to raise the price of my popcorn.  I found out I was selling it at such a good price that one local business, instead of popping and serving it, was reselling it at ridiculously jacked up prices.  I have to say that I was really more upset about it than I should be.  I kind of look at it like they were cheating me and the people they were selling it to, so I can’t be nice and sell it really cheap anymore.

bluebird

2.  I also ordered my notecards.  They are packaged as five different note cards following a theme (still life, goats, birds, etc.)  They even arrived in time for the first market!  As soon as I get time, I’ll add the “Buy It” button to my on-line market, and they will be available there too.  For now, the pictures are up, so you can see what they have on them.

3.  I looked out the window yesterday afternoon and saw Cookie on her side struggling to try and get up.  I rushed out to help her, but in my rushing, I scared the daylights out of her.

Cookie

After flipping and flopping, she finally got herself righted and on her feet just before I got to her.  Poor girl is short and round very pregnant.

I told her triplet brother, Casey, that he better help her up if she gets stuck again.  As close as these two are, it will be interesting to see what he thinks of being an uncle.

Casey and Cookie

4.  It’s been a rough week, but more about that on Sunday.  I’m exhausted and looking forward to a three-day weekend.  It doesn’t look like I’ll get to be in the garden much as we are expecting rain about every day.  This has been quite the rapid change from extreme drought to too much rain all at once.

Bob

5.  After today, I have five more work days until summer break.  I’m really looking forward to that break also.  It’s been a stressful year with my position being eliminated.  Don’t worry, I was involuntarily transferred to the high school as a resource teacher.  I’ve requested a transfer to the middle school, but I still haven’t heard anything on that.  It’s getting late enough that I’m starting to stress over the hoping and not knowing as well.

House Wren

Like I said, it’s been a rough week, but I”m going to enjoy the farmer’s market and make the most of my long weekend.  I hope you have a great weekend as well.

I’m sharing this with Random 5 Friday, Camera Critters, Bird d’Pot and Weekly Top Shot

Moving the Cattle

It’s the time of year we move the cattle from their winter home to their summer pasture so the beans can be planted. I wanted to leave them up north for as long as I could to give the pasture a chance to grow since we’ve had such a late start to spring.   I love reading about this process on other farms:  sorting cows from calves, loading them onto trucks or trailers and then driving them to the new location.  For me, it means I open my mustard and ketchup gates.

Then I return to the barnyard and shut the goats and llama in so they can’t go join the cows on my bean field, while I leave the gate open all night.

In the morning, Djali was a bit irritated that his freedom had been restrained, but I opened the panel and let him back into pasture when I went to see if the cattle had moved themselves into the Back Forty.  I planned on shutting the gate either way.

When I looked over the hill, I saw the cattle hadn’t come into the Back Forty, but they were just thinking about it.

I encouraged them to come on through.  MJ thought about it some more and took the time to scratch his face on the mustard gate.

Then he slowly took his time coming through.  My old man really is starting to show his age.

Next Maxine came closer.  What was she checking out so closely?

Her big hunk of steer.  He looked quite happy, so she decided to join him.

That’s all there is to moving my cattle from their winter home to their summer pasture.  How easy!

You might notice Maxine’s very saggy empty udder.  I don’t think she’ll be having a calf this year.  The injured bull was obviously too injured to breed her, but I do credit our plan with saving his life.  Once he had company, he really perked up and started showing some improvement.  Now you can’t tell he was ever injured!

Linking to Friday’s Fences, Skywatch Friday, and  Farmgirl Friday