Farmerjan's journal - Weather

[farmerjan]

Wind is blowing like a banshee out there... high wind warning on the weather report...

DS got up and came out and fed some rolls of hay this afternoon late... I saw him go across the road and get a roll to feed to the cows next door... called and asked if he needed any help... he said Chad was with him to open gates... he had come to the farm to work a little... was there when DS got there and did gates and such so DS got the pens of heifers fed at the barn so that was good.
He said he hopes Caleb will be able to come and help sort/grade the heifers so he can get them moved around... maybe he will get a decent night's sleep... I told him he ought to take something and he said he has tried a couple of different things and I said then you need a good "drink" to get your body to relax and maybe you could get some sleep... I really like making a "drink" some of the night's that I ache so much... just enough to get my body to relax and I sleep like a baby.... and for me, one's enough... might go days without touching it but then some nights I am ready for some relax help....

 

[farmerjan]

Long day but really REALLY nice out... DS called and he sounded better and said Caleb was going to be able to come this morning (was planning on after 4 originally) and his wife and 2 boys came... they had been checking cattle at his father's because a heifer had gotten out into the neighbors field... and said since they were halfway to us they would just come on. Got there and they had sent his wife to Wendy's to get some lunch and so I helped in the barn for a bit... opening gates when they were being sorted into which ever pen he wanted them in... Took awhile... but they got them sorted the way they want them pretty much. There are 30 to go to WVa pasture... 14 for VT and 20-22 maybe for sale at the yard. Took 2 back to the nurse cow pasture... they are bred from being out to pasture and probably due around May/June? We left 2 others there when I caught them all up that looked preg as well as a couple he wanted to retain. Then she came back and ate... I even got a burger since she had gotten 4 of the $5 meals and their 3 yr old only eats partial... I wasn't planning on eating... then DS and Caleb went back into the barn and wanted to look them over again to make sure they had what they had right... and Nikki and I just stood around with the kids (3 and 7 months) and talked. Come to find out she was not a big fan of the GF and she only met her once... she's pretty nice and seems to be a good match for him... the 7 month old has already learned to scrunch around and sit himself up by himself... cute kid...

They finally left and DS and Chad were going to work on the hay barn... putting up the "headers" on the top of the telephone poles... they worked most of the afternoon and did get it done. I went and got Chad some lunch and we all stood around and talked... J (sister) called DS to give him an update on GF .... She got bucked off a horse and has several fractured and a couple BROKEN ribs... one a complete break... it happened Friday and on the way home from the bull sale he had to go to the hospital as they were going to transport her from the local one to there because they were talking some surgery to put a plate on the one rib so it did not puncture the lung... big mess... but she had not arrived at the hospital and after an hour there he finally said we would go home since they did not know how soon she would arrive.
It's a mess and DS was really worried... but she did not want anyone to come to see her on SAT... she said she just needed to rest... .......come to find out it has come out that she is seeing the ex boyfriend....again.... and that is why she wanted DS to move out.... and it turns out ex came to see her on Sat and that is why she didn't want anyone there...
When DS got off the phone with J he was pretty fit to be tied... and madder than he//... but I think this has put the kabosh to it all... THANK you GOD that he did not give her a ring and all that...
DS had already been told about her seeing the ex, earlier in the week, and mentioned it on the phone in a conversation with the friend she was riding with when DS talked to her... so this discussion with J was not a total shock... he mentioned to Nikki, Caleb's wife, that she needed to find him someone DECENT that was animal oriented ... so I think he is coming to face it... but having J confirm it put the final screws to it... it is really pretty bad and he has gone off on a tangent about what a so and so the ex is for this and on and on and I finally said that he is no worse than she is and he blew up at me... and I said well she isn't any better... and then I left because his temper was starting to get the best of him.... it's not like someone has held a gun to her head....
She is a selfish self centered two bit whore... and this is a pattern... and I think he reached his limit... all I can say is that I am glad it came out so he can stop blaming himself for it...

So he called a little bit ago and said he took the 2 heifers to the nurse cow field (pregnant ones) and turned them out... Said he needs a couple more for WV and for VT so might go by the stockyards tomorrow after his therapy appt... he said if I wanted to go I could meet him to go... but I am testing at my 2nd biggest herd (250) and have to be there by 12 or so to set up for 1:30 milking.... so can't go. Got the meters and the hoses and the trays of bottles all in the car ready to go...

I should have worked on the wire/posts but my hammer is broken... snapped the handle right at the head trying to take a nail out... so will have to get another one... it was a cheap yard sale hammer I got several years ago so not the end of the world.... I will get a new handle for it but will stop at Harbor Freight or somewhere and pick up another inexpensive one with a fiberglass handle... saw some the other day when I was doing those errands last week... then get back after the posts and wire mess....

DS is taking the kids to see the dinosaur exhibit on Sat... it was already planned... I think J is going with him but I said I could go if she can't.... but he is talking I ought to take the ones to the stockyard sale on Sat... so I might be going there by myself.... we'll see when we get closer to Sat....

Going to cool off more tonight they say... I brought all the plants in... tomorrow is supposed to be nice again... so if I put them out I will have to bring them back in after testing... because nights are supposed to go from the low 40's down into the low 30's by mid week but days are supposed to be nice.

Oh, surprise too, my garden got plowed today... I stopped to see the neighbor as I saw him when I went by... and he said he could come do it this afternoon... I said anytime whenever he wanted to would suit... so it is plowed and he will come and run the rototiller over it in a few days... he uses a 2 bottom plow to get it turned up... soil looks real good... lot of overgrown grass in it but it will get chopped up good with the rototiller... ..
Need to see about getting some onion plants... I am going to get some other potatoes but there are alot here that are sprouting so am going to plant alot of them.... It will be 6 weeks before even thinking about putting out anything like tomatoes here... but potatoes and onions and broccoli and some cold weather stuff can go in...
Now to deal with the deer... Electric fence I hope will knock them on their a$$... got the electric netting...

I need to go to bed....

 

[Baymule]

Wow! GF cheating on him again with ex boyfriend. Didn’t want him to come see her because ex was going to be there. At least your son’s eyes are opened wide now.

 

[Mini Horses]

Now DS can go from sad to mad without guilt. You'll see some of his work happening soon.

Glad your garden got plowed! I need to get mine done -- it's on my list "to do"

 

[Ridgetop]

This happened before so if she crawls back (again) all repentant he might waiver and take her back. Although it will be hard in the children, he should probably stop doing stuff with them too. Being the uncle/dad figure for them just keeps him in GF's orbit and he can't break loose.

Maybe DS should sign up on a dating website. Find someone that likes to farm, garden, can, has some experience with livestock or at least likes animal work, doesn't mind living somewhat secluded, hunting and fishing optional. If he can sort out some women like that up front, then he can date them and maybe find an honest woman with the same goals that will support him in life. Since he likes kids (GF's and GFS') maybe find someone still young enough to have a baby with him, or that wants a dad for her young children. Very young, no teenagers since they can be horrible on a marriage and often hate the new partner.

His situation breaks my heart. A really nice man with a good heart, good job, good lifestyle, and good mom, and stuck with a b****h.

 

[Larsen Poultry Ranch]

Match.com worked well for me, my brother, and my best friend. You do have to go through a lot of junk to find one worth investing your time though. At least you can usually figure it out by chatting online, and by the second date at the latest. Farmers Only was a waste of time, but it could be because there weren't enough in my area. Maybe try the friend of a friend approach, get his buddy's wives/girlfriends helping to look, after all, they will likely spend time with this new gal too, it'll be easier if they like her too and have stuff in common.

 

[Bruce]

Plenty of ag contacts when milk testing too. Some of those farmers must know some decent eligible women!

 

[Ridgetop]

DS doesn't have a chance with all the BYH people looking for a GF for him! LOL I still think that something like Match.com would be nice since he will be able to meet nice women and see that he can find someone better than GF.
And no pressure like there would be with dating friends of friends.

I shouldn't say what we are all thinking but I will - too bad that GF only broke her ribs. 🤬

 

[farmerjan]

Tuesday night. Cloudy gloomy day all day... got about 20 sprinkly drops but it stayed mostly just south of us and headed east... bet that @Mini Horses got a good rain out of it by the looks of the radar....

Packed the samples, and dropped them off mid day, went to the bank, and stopped by a couple of the "ready made" barn/storage shed places as on the way home from testing saw one that had some "greenhouses" ... these ready made, drop off at your place ready to use type of storage building companies have branched out into more than just storage buildings and gazebo's.... they have dog pens and chicken coops and now the greenhouses... Prices are about what I expected... 4-6,000.... for 8x12 to 10x16's or so... one place has them with no floors.... to be set on a slab or gravel or something... some have a floor... heavy 8mm polycarbonate sides, fan in ends, shelves; some with a little potting section with potting bench... all sorts of little extras.... sure it is alot of money but no more than a good sized storage building.... plus is all ready to use once they set it where you want it.... can get things done custom.....
Something to use for comparisons.... I will have to do something before this coming winter if I am going to have all these plants and it would be handy to have the hanging plants and then be able to have the chickens in the "floor" area...like the meat type birds that can't fly or anything... like I kept them in the "shelter logic greenhouse" I had here for the last 2 years....
I much prefer the price of the shelter logic one, but the poly/plastic tarp type stuff doesn't last but a couple years in the heat/sun/WIND....
The polycarbonate ones like Harbor Freight has that @Mike CHS mentioned is a light polycarbonate... like 2mm... I am afraid that our wind would tear it apart... The farm I tested has one and she likes it except that the wind really works on it and where the poly sheets fit into the metal frame, they get loose and they leak a bit.... Found one on the internet that is bigger than the "big one" at HF.... heavier pc for about $100 more than HF... it's nearly 1,000... of course have to come up with some coupons and all that for discounts... but they have to be assembled...

So lots to do some comparing... I was not in the mood with the gloomy weather to stay at the house today...

Temps are dropping... it was 44 went up to 58 and is now at 38 at midnight. I was going in to bed and was thirsty and wound up on here... time to call it quits.

DS said the dinosaur thing is on SUNDAY... so we may very well be taking the cattle Saturday... I have to try to get that miserable little witch in at the nurse cow field so she could go too....
That's fine... more money in my pocket...fewer on the feed bill/pasture eating... cows are really "picking" the green grass as fast as it is coming up... warm days makes them want to be grazing. Get these 18-20 or so gone to the sale, will be good...
Then he needs to get the ones spayed and taken to VT, and the ones will go to WVa in about a month.... and it will be time to get the cows with spring calves in and vaccinated, bulls worked, and moved out to pastures.....
One of the pregnant ones from the other day was my longhorns' 1st heifer calf...(pushing 3 yrs old) so she will be staying...( there was neighbor's bull that got in with them at pasture last summer for a couple days, and he put them at the nurse cow field when he brought them home, and none got lute and now is way too late...there are 2 others that I am pretty sure are bred... they are big/old enough so it is okay except don't know what size calves that bull will throw)..... LH's black twin heifer from last year will be going out to WVa but I have a feeling she will not fit in with the rest when she gets a couple more months on her... I will pay the difference of what we might make...and keep her if she doesn't make the group to sell when we bring them back in the fall.... if I like her enough... There are actually about 3 of mine in that group to go out there... not planning to keep any of the rest for replacements at this time... but when they come back we will look them over and might want to retain a couple .... depends on alot of things... if prices are real good, they will all go....

I'd really like it if we take a load on Saturday... there are several in there that are mine... mis matched/odd ones... the 2 hol x steers that were on the nurse cow last year and her heifer that has a stupid idiot attitude... the steers will come right to you for the bucket and she has NEVER been wanting to come up or be around people... don't need her..... nurse cow came up open and got put back with a bull so hopefully she will be bred this time... she was a little thin after those last 3 calves.... with being dried up she has gained some weight back...but she is getting some age on her now... at least 7 yrs old.... I'd have to look.

Past time to hit the sack... Might see frost in the morning... and again Thurs and Fri mornings in the low 30's... then warming up into the upper 60's and 70's on Friday and Sat; and rain Fri eve and Sat morning....

 

[Mini Horses]

Yes, rain here last night. Not sure how much. Seemed a soft rain when I went to barn about 10. Looks like heavy rain over weekends with this big system hitting west coast now. 🤷

Greenhouses. What kind of frame is on the "shelter logic" you have? Can you get just the cover? Would it be worth the expense to buy time for it's use? Then you could shop more seriously for thousands, vice being sorry later. Just a thought. A neighbor has a hoop type and has some raised beds inside, on one side. Then plant starting, etc on other. Pretty nice. It isn't polycarb but heavy mml plastic that came from "Growers ??? Solutions" I believe. Professional hoop style anyway. Of course, assembly at site is needed. Sometimes not readily available.