Thursday, April 28, 2016

Farm Update ~spring 2016

Recently I heard a song, Fall Away,  which made an impression on me.  These are some of the words: "...when you're happy the years fall away, but when you're blue, days go by 'a draggin..."  I must be terribly happy; this year is rapidly falling away!

Our winter was not so cold this year and we both made it through with not so much as a cold.  I had dreaded my "new" job,
thinking I would have to stand out in the snow and ice when I waited at the gate while the farmer put out hay for the cows.  But I had a heated side-by-side to sit in while I waited, and we had no snow anyway.

Now we're a month into spring; the early garden seeds have been planted, irises, foxglove, daisies, and columbine are in bloom;  the third flock of chickens for the new year have been started.  We've sent calves to market and vaccinated cows and small calves.

There was a rash of cattle rustling in our county during the winter, which made all the farmers around us watchful and uneasy.   The farmer decided to use branding on the cattle as a means of identification.   (I hate having to be a part of this.)
There are a lot of new baby calves.
I try to spend an hour or two in the afternoons to work on the quilting project, until I hear the farmer's footsteps coming down the hallway, and he asks me if I'd "like" to do this or that. lol  I'm on the 9th row of twelve rows.
 
"When you're happy, the years just fall away."



19 comments:

  1. I must be happy too! What is that saying "time stands still for no man" something like that. Y'all have been so busy! Yes, I wouldn't like the branding part either. The calves are so cute.

    I haven't heard of cattle rustling in a long time. Hopefully, the branding will keep it away from y'all.

    P.S. I always smile when I see you've posted something, and I know you don't live a life of leisure. Compared to you, I feel downright lazy.
    xoxo

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  2. Oh mercy, and I meant to tell you how beautiful your quilt is! Sometimes I think about starting one, and of course the only kind I'd know how to make would be the little squares like our grandmother used to make. :)

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  3. Cattle rustling....oh my, that is a cause for worry. The quilt is lovely and what a great place you have to work on it. When I'm happy I whistle!

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  4. Springtime sounds lovely there and as if it is treating you well. I'm glad to hear you are happy and that the time is passing quickly. Your quilt is absolutely beautiful. It looks very happy too! :)

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  5. Sounds and looks like a beautiful place where you live. I figured you were busy as a bee and I love that quilt. I must be happy as well, time is falling away fast ..

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  6. My goodness, castle rustling in this day and age. Where's the sheriff and the good guys in white hats? I hope the branding helps a lot.

    Farm life sounds busy and productive. I love your colorful quilt.

    Have a great weekend ~ FlowerLady

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  7. I always loved that first warm day when we let the cows out and, after being stuck in the barn all winter, they ran and jumped and romped in the warmth, on their way to the new, green pasture. I must be deliriously happy as my months are flying by at a frightening pace!

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  8. I can see that's going to be another beautiful quilt. I enjoyed all the farm news and the baby calves made me smile.

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  9. Hubs and I were just saying the other day how it doesn't seem like we're in our sixth year already out here! We moved here July of 2010. So I guess we must be happy, too.

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  10. I am glad your "new" job didn't turn out so bad. Looks like things are busy on the farm, but I am happy you have some time to quilt.

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  11. Like your posting and I must say I am very happy too.

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  12. Love your header
    and yes
    years are just going by to fast.

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  13. Love your header
    and yes
    years are just going by to fast.

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  14. I'm like Sally, compared to you I feel lazy. We only have 2 calves to take care of, one just went to the butcher, and my husband does that. Garden is coming on great and iris blooming. What a great spring it has been. We've had plenty of rain so what a great kick off for the growing season. Holy Mother of Pearl, cattle rustling! Who would have thought! Hope they catch the dirty scoundrels. Your quilt looks great. Can't wait to see it laying on the bed.

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  15. Wonderful post, it made me smile. The gate cartoon reminded of my years opening gates in my youth. lol
    Your quilt is amazing. I wish I had your talent and patience to hand quilt. You must enjoy it and it makes the time Fall Away. I'll have to go look up that song.
    I agree about the branding. I've never been around it, but I know it must be quite unsettling. I can only imagine the sounds and smells around it. But I understand that it must be done. Rustlers can flat steal you blind.
    Take care and have a wonderful rest of the Spring.

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  16. a old picture posted.
    do not think the seeds made :(

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  17. Of course, it's just understood that a farm wife should open and close the gates. Now, a few of our Arkansas gates that are fashioned out of barb wire are a bit challenging. :~\ And, of course, I love love the quilt. I would guess it is nearly completed by now.

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  18. Oh my, like me, you have been very busy. I've been watching our neighbor's calves frolic in the fields around me, too. Your quilt looks lovely. Time does fly, I must be very happy, too.

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  19. I love the quilt you are quilting.

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