Monday and Tuesday

Yesterday we headed to town and watched our heifers get sold.  It was awful early, somehow Neil picked number 2 in the sale and so we were done by 10:30.  Then we sat there and watched 3 of our neighbors sell till about noon, then we went for lunch.  Seemed to early to be done.

But that was alright cause then we headed down to get new phones.  I really liked my blackberry till about last month when it just quit on me.  Would just shut off and take like 6 hours to reset and they said it would have to be sent away for repairs, so since we were almost at contract renewal I got a new one instead.  I had no idea what one I wanted, I was looking at the windows phone and kinda liked it, but he only had the Nokia with windows and wasn't sure I wanted that,  I knew I never wanted the iPhone and so I  picked the Samsung Galaxy 3 and so far I am loving it.  But not sure if that's cause it is new and has all kinds of fun things on it or if it really is that cool.  But it doesn't matter, cause I am gonna keep it anyways, lol.

(was foggy this morning but almost quiet around here now)

After 2 or so hours there, we stopped at the plumbers but he doesn't have what we wanted and so we went to the grocery store and Timmies and headed home.  Was nice to get home at a decent time.  We got the auction mart to fax us the averages of the sale so we could price our steers and he called about half hour after we got home.

Today I just kinda cleaned up the house and Neil helped neighbors wean. I thought I heard him coming home, but turns out wasn't him, saw helicopters fly over us again, sure was loud!  They look so weird with 2 propellers, I think they must be army.

Weaning

So today was the day we weaned our calves.  It is kinds noisy around here now, probly a couple days at least.  Was a pretty nice day out, I was a little concerned cause it started out kinda chilly and windy.  But by lunch it was above freezing out so that was nice.

(settling in)

We had 3 neighbors come help as well as Neil's mom and dad came out.  I ended up staying in the house which was unexpected (and I was happy about :) cause otherwise Neil's mom would be inside alone.  So we spent the morning cooking and chatting.  I was kinda glad cause sometimes too many people trying to make choices outside and it really irritates me.  So didn't have to hear anything and got to sty warm as well.

(found the hay)

We sold our steers to the neighbor, he is gonna feed them out till Feb at a feedlot then sell them as grassers.  We kept half our heifers for replacements (I hope we don't breed them all, but since no one listens to me we probly will) and hauled the others down to Brooks for the sale tomorrow.

(loading steers)

Before they loaded the calves, they all come in for lunch of ham, scalloped potatoes and salad and buns, and pumpkin raisin bars for desert, mmm.  Oh and of course a drink to warm up with.  We had a good visit about all the old weanings and how cold it would be.  Some good stories sure came out.  It was  a little longer break cause we had a pair of the neighbors that was delivered and so we had to wait on him to return.

(I like her )

Now the calves at home are settling in, most laying in the straw and a few trying out the hay.  We pretty much ignore them the first couple days, just make sure they are not sick and are drinking and then if a week or 10 days they will all get vaccinated and ivormeced.  Then they will be good for all winter just check for sick ones for a couple weeks.

(Sad moms)

We had one black heifer that I tried to talk Neil into keeping, but he said no:(  But maybe next time we get a black one I will start sooner on convincing him :)

Time for Winter

Well this morning the ponies were hanging around the gate and since we are weaning on Sunday and we move the cow calf pairs through their summer pasture, I have to move them and so today was the day.

I was not all that thrilled to have to go walk through all that snow out there, but since there was wind with it near the windbreak there was a bare spot that I used.  Looks like the horses have been using it too.

I had trouble getting the knot on the gate open and the ponies were getting restless cause by now all but Magic and Jessie know they are getting new grass and better shelter.  I got it open and they run past me and out.  Kali is so funny cause when everyone starts getting fighty she comes to me.

But they got all sorted out (mostly) and are happy to be out there.  I did not spend much time out as I had to take my gloves off to open the gate and my fingers got really cold cause I wanted some better pics, but had to go find a way to close that gate again a little better.  I got it, but I think it needs a longer rope on it that does not have to be knotted.

Quite a bit of snow in drifts, but where the grass was grazed down (a lot of tame grass up close in the summer pasture) the wind just blew the snow right off it and it looks bare.

The winter pasture hasn't had anything in it since June and so lots of tall grass for them to get at.  I doubt Magic or Jessie have ever had to work for grass before, but they will learn :)  At least for a while till i bring Jessie in to ride her again.

Wordless Wednesday -- Winter