A Hodgepodge of Random Updates

My father once told my husband that if he married me he ought to be warned that his life will never be dull.  I can say with confidence that I do not invite mischief.  It just somehow seems to always find me.  Even here in the backwoods of the Ozarks.

Our Cows Will Never Be the Same Again!

This post happened just before we moved, but I wanted to record this mile-marker in our cowie adventures. 

Warning!!  This post contains graphic pictures depicting the process of dehorning and castrating!  View at your own risk if you are squeamish!

So much to say, so little time!

We've been very busy lately...too busy to sit at the computer and write things out.  I have much to tell about because so much has been happening!

 

Turtle soup, anyone?

They say simple pleasures for simple minds, so what does it say about us that we all get excited about finding a snapping turtle in our yard?
 

Our first full-fledged barn cats have been born!

We feel a bit as if we are slowly making a picture book come to life in our daily lives.  You know the ubiquitous barn cat that is always seen in every children's book about farms?  The ever present barn cat provides that warm fuzzy feeling of contentment when seeing her grooming herself on straw bales and she also provides an invaluable service of keeping the mice and moles in check.

We have hit a new epoc in our lives of living in the country as we now have our first official, authentic, full-fledged barn cats that have arrived... and actually were born in the barn!

This is Clover, Molly's cat.

Saturday, what a day!

We had an outdoor work day this past weekend.  It was a beautiful day and we all worked hard and got quite a bit accomplished.  I am so proud of the character our children are developing!  I'll include some of the pictures that we have taken that show the "before" aspect along with the pictures of everyone working and the end results.  It always feels so good to remember what it used to look like and be able to see all that we are accomlishing as we take dominion over this bit o' earth.

Genotyping results of Sweetiebelle are in!

This is the portrait of the foundation of the future Hake family herd...

Many years ago Steve and I began dreaming of owning our own family milk cow.  Over the years we slowly refined our dream as we sifted through new information and decided what we, personally, preferred. 

Recovering from a virus

Our long, wonderful stretch of good health has come to an end.  We haven't had anyone sick for almost a year and it was very much appreciated and enjoyed.  I was sort of holding my breath wondering if we'd make it through February.  It seems that is our sick month.  But, alas, we didn't make it and several people came down with a stomach virus.  And a strange one it was, too.  It has lasted over a week.  Most people weathered it alright,

In all seriousness, we are not kidding

No, seriously.  We're not kidding.  But we almost were!  We were sooooo close to getting two pregnant purebred registered Nubian goats and a buck to keep things interesting.  I think that it is just as important to record the crazy things that we didn't actually end up doing, so here's the story...

A new learning experience

It is quiet in the house tonight.  I've put all the younger ones to bed and a couple of the olders ones that are sick right now.  Steve and Ethan and Jordy are out working in the barn preparing for an ice storm that is coming in tonight.  We've never experienced an ice storm and are curious what it will be like. 

It amazes me how much there is to learn with life in the country.  I had no idea it was a whole 'nother world! 

Enter Brisket

 Introducing...Brisket, our new meat cow!

Spring is on the way!

Spring is on the way!

I was on my way out to the pecan orchard where the kids and I have been hard at work clearing out debris so that Sweetiebelle can be outside grazing when I almost stepped on this beautiful cheery crocus.  She carries with her the bright promise of sweet breezes, sunny days and the delightful time spent working outdoors together.  We have a common goal we are working toward...