It's That Time of Year Again...

Summer and show season that is. I'm both excited and dreading it this year. I'm not taking many to Fonda. Three at most. And yes family I am sticking with that number!

So far there is the oldest of my Jersey calves from this year, Snickers. She's growthy and sweet, but my cows growthy is other farms puny so who knows? I like her though, she is really correct.

Snickers at a couple days old

Then there is Mandolin Rain. Who will show as a dry cow this year as we had some difficulties getting her settled last summer, she went cystic darned cow. But it allowed me to get her bred to Roylane Jordan, unfortunately for a late October calf but ah well.

Mandy (photo by Mom many moons ago at Altamont)

Finally there is Mandy's Blitz daughter. Blitz still has to come through calving. She is due, also to Roy, the week the family is at camp. Yikes. I am on my own. Whimper. Help! Hopefully her calf will be easy for her to birth. However, at the moment, the baby is seeming to be quite large. Could just be that it is my backside that is getting bumped through Mommy's tummy as I milk both her and her mother. I have to dry Blitz off in a week and I am not sure HOW I am going to be successful. She's still making over 40 lbs. With barely more than a handful of grain. She is getting less than my other dry cows. Which really scares me!

Blitz as a Junior calf at Altamont (again by Mom) Blitz just turned three so that tells you how old this pic is!

Time Marches On

From August 2006, to August 2008. Maqua-Kil Blitz Mendocino. Daughter to Frieland Z Mandolin Rain. She is sired by Fustead Emory Blitz, out of an Ocean-View Zenith-TW ET daughter.

Firecracker and Dixie Rose

When you start, if you are extremely lucky, the calf, in this case Dixie Rose Delux, will be laying peacefully, munching on some straw. While at the same time, her stall neighbor, aka Firecracker, will be catching an early morning snooze.

Naturally. As soon as you get situated to snag the cutest of cute pictures, calf number 2, Firecracker, will hop up, deciding to fore go her siesta, in favor of chewing on the delectable denim of your work jeans.

Which will of course cause her neighbor, the original calf Rose, to leap to her feet, to try and get in on the action.

Cause after all, denim is the best tasting substance on the planet right?

With Rose munching on the available denim, what is a little Firecracker to do, but go after the next best thing?

Flannel of course!

Or perhaps the camera strap!

Leading me to the conclusion...if at first you don't succeed...

Fire your assistants!

And then hide all evidence that you tried in the first place!

Or post it on your blog for all to enjoy a nice laugh!

Dixon's Daughter....

...has a name now.

This morning I, for a second cd, put on Trent Willmon's first album. It usually takes us 2 cds to get through a milking.

I have been needing a name for Dixon's little girl. So far I had come up with NOTHING! And I was starting to get a bit frustrated. I wanted to have something to call her. And I was completely stumped...

The second song on Trent's album is "Dixie Rose Deluxes". Dixon's grand dam was Dixie...

Can you guess where I am going with this?

Well anyways. The little heifer is going to be Maqua-Kil Dixie Rose Delux. Yes I know silly but it fits her. I think I will call her Rose for short. But at least she has a name! So now I can do my registrations for them!

Stay warm out in this brutal cold. I wonder where global warming went....

And for anyone who isnt familiar with the song....

Calving So Far

Has been pretty decent.

Salt Lake had twins, heifer and a DOA bull. Cider had a bull (he is a jerk, we still have him because calf prices are in the toilet) and so did Spruce. Spruce's unfortunately had something wrong with him. We don't think his guts were connected inside, had a heifer like that a few years back, he had the same symptoms. We ended up losing him which I was sad about, but I would rather lose a bull calf than a really valuable heifer.

And then there are all the heifers, five in total.

Bonneville had a really sweet, inky black R Maple heifer. She is cute as a button, smart and just plain good tempered. Mom named her House. Bonneville is Alan's heifer, but he knew how bad Mom wanted an R Maple calf, so he was a sweet kid and gave the calf to her.

Hollywood Kiss had a second R Maple heifer. Her name is Firecracker. And well, she is definitely living up to that name. She will jump and twist and buck so enthusiastically and wildly she cant keep up with herself, and falls over. I think it is going to be very interesting to watch her grow up.

Heifer 192, whose name is I think Veneer, had a Straight Pine Elevation Pete daughter that is HUGE!!! It is a good thing that 192 has a wide butt. Alan named her Value...anyone who was at the fair knows that joke...if you want to know and weren't there....just ask...

Dixon, daughter to Dallas, daughter to my greatest show cow Dixie, dropped a Straight Pine Elevation Pete daughter as well. Not as big as Value, but slick and SO SMART! She wasn't even 48 hours old, and she stole a bucket from another calf, and bucket broker herself. I don't usually put calves on a bucket until they are 4-5 days old in the winter. But she just latched right onto the concept. I dont have a name for her yet. She needs something special, coming out of my Dixie family. I'm open for suggestions.

Last heifer is little Snickers, the Jersey calf. She is cute as heck, and insane. She BITES!! And I do mean bite. But she is so darned cute I don't mind. Everyone else does, but I don't. She is big for a Jersey calf, about 1.5x the height of either of the R Maples. Who are a week or so older, and Holsteins. I am hoping I can maybe show her this summer, but time will tell.

I have a little bit of time until the next heifer, Broadway (1/2 Milking Shorthorn, 1/2 Holstein) calves. She is bred to a Jersey...we are curious about that calf. Then we have a bit of a bigger break, and then a huge flush of mature cows that are drying off now. I am SO hoping for more heifers. I will post some pictures later.

Not Much...

To report.

Things here have been totally average. Aside from Dad blowing up the engine on our big tractor, there really hasn't been a whole lot going on. I did go to the college and give my final report on my internship. Got my grade, all that was available was a "S" for satisfactory, or a "U" for unsatisfactory. Suffice to say I got my "S"...and hopefully since I am not a total graduate at some point the darn college will send me my diploma...yeah it took them almost a year last time!

We are starting to get to where we will be having calves coming again. Next animal up is 203, Cider, due the 19th. She's a heifer of dad's. She's bred to Citation R Maple. We have a couple bred to him, a couple to Straight-Pine Elevation Pete, and a few others bred to the shorthorn we sold back in January, Promise.

The next heifers after her are Hollywood Kiss (one of my girls) and Bonneville (Alans). They're also due to R Maple. Both on the 22nd of December. I'm really hoping Hollywood has a girl. She is one of the sweetest critters in the batch right now. I doubt she will be a quiet milker though. Her mother is always crazy. And her aunt is just plain NUTS! She jumped all over Alan last night, and that is just the latest of her human punching bag incidences.

There are a few cows thrown into the mix, such as my semi-retired show cow Spruce. She is bred to a red Holstein bull named Kingdom. I'm hoping for a heifer, red or not doesn't matter so much as I don't think there is any red in Spruce. She is due on Christmas so I am hoping for a healthy bouncy present.

After her is my 3 year old Jersey Hooter. She is bred to a Jersey bull named Duce. I know nothing about him. I just know that she had been EEDing on my every time I bred her to CGar. And since he was rather costly, and I was sick of her dumping the calf, we bred her to Duce which we had in the tank for the real small Holsteins that we weren't running with Promise.

And then there is Salt Lake...She is bred to just bred to O-C-E-C Lindy Fred...She was very nearly sold because she kept attacking me...Instead we just dried her off a little early. I have to admit I am kind of glad we kept her, because we are going to REALLY need the milk.

There are a couple of other heifers due next month. Dixie, my very best show cow, has a grand daughter Dixon, a red carrier, due on the fourth to Pete. I should have bred her to R Maple. Then I would have had a chance for a red calf. Oh well. If she comes through well and there are no problems there is next year.

That is all for now. I am going to take my camera to the barn tonight if I can remember it. And snap some Come Monday and Trent pictures. Those babies are so darned cute! And growing pretty well I think.

Til Then...


Happy Holidays!

Still More Pictures

Me and Hazel

One of my favorite people's niece on my graduation calf Frieland E November. Intermediate calf Holstein

Me and Moon

Maqua-Kil C Come Monday

More of Come Monday

The Baby has Arrived!!!

By The Way....

For any who have wondered the Name the Calf heifer has a name. Maqua-Kil LF Dalkeith. A friend submitted it over at Buckin' Junction. I have to give her a bath, then I'll take some "Baby Update" pictures!

Name the Calf....

Well I am doing it again! Holding another name the calf contest. This one for a calf needing a name starting with a "D". She is a really beautiful black inky colored calf. And looks SO much like her Momma Detroit. Little "Decaf" as we are calling her is in desperate need of a real name. Though if nobody has a suggestion, well, we might be stuck with Decaf. I wanted to name her after another "D" city, but I haven't been able to come up with one...more to follow!

Update on Neon Moon

Some days I am in the mood to fool with the calves in the winter. They are few and far between. It is cold gray and dull most days, making me just want to curl up and nap. Today however it is bright and sunny, fairly warm given that it is February, and I had the urge.

So I went out and fed corn meal and soy to the top producers that get it top dressed on their feeds. And haltered ole Neon Moon. Who is actually going to be 8 months old the first. Whoo hoo for her.

I led her a couple weeks ago, but dang it she is getting big! And by big I mean her head is already above my shoulder when I get her walking! Fortunately, except for today (she is in heat and wanting a boyfriend) she is a gentle giant. She loves to go out and walk around the barn. Granted there are times when she would obviously rather go at a dead run. It was a bit interesting leading her today I have to admit. Though after a few minutes she settled down and walked nice and slow and easy. Thank God for quiet cows.

I am debating going back out after a fresh cup of coffee and a piece of my Momma's apple crisp to lead Asaki and November for a while. They are both little babies and shouldn't give me too much trouble (yeah right their cows).

A new One

We have another new one. Old 116 dropped a mammoth bull calf this morning. They both seem to be doing okay though it took her quite a while to have him. She was low on calcium, and he was a bit twisted. His one leg was pulled further back than it should have been and his head was twisted. Dad gave her a bottle of cal-nate and I turned the baby so he was straight. Then she had him no problem. Granted she dropped him standing up so I had to catch him while Dad held him to the side slightly so he wouldn't hit his head on anything. Ahh and now the craziness of calving starts. Fun fun fun.

Maqua-Kil Blitz Neon Moon

Some New Calves

We've had a couple new calves in the last few months. Old Boston, one of my former class winners from her younger years, dropped a lovely little Rain heifer calf awhile back. And Crescendo, a little first calf girl, had a crossbred heifer that we are considering keeping. And then finally, last night, Brink, a big old cow, who is also Blink's dame (Blink is the french fry eating heifer from my show string), dropped a MONSTER of a heifer calf. The baby is huge. And I think she is going to be a nice looker too. She's a Four of a Kind Eland daughter. The Elands usually aren't too awful big when they mature, but maybe I can push her enough to keep some size on her. Her front legs have some issues with contracted tendons right now, but I can fix them easily enough. I've definitely seen worse. This new one is going to be Frieland E November, for the Emerson Drive song. Boston's is I guess either still waiting of a name, or nobody has told me it. Not sure. I know Bachlava (definitely spelled wrong) was an option, not sure if that was what was decided on or what.

Anywho, life is crazy right now. Only one week of class left, then finals, then a break, then Christmas and New Years, followed by the PBR event in January at the Times Union Center, then off to do my internship. Busy busy busy!

A New Name

First off a big thank you to everyone who put in names for the "Name the Calf" contest. I cannot express how much I appreciate them all. And they are great names. Believe me we are keeping a running list here of all the names that don't come out of the hat for future use.

Secondly, we picked a name from the hat this morning. And a big congrats to Andy Drish on his suggestion of "Sage" which was the first drawn. Now Andy can officially say he has named a calf...but I'm not sure how many people actually want to be able to do that. We're gonna be getting both of the calves registered soon, and I am looking forward to hopefully be able to show at least one of them next summer.

Top Two Photos: Maqua-Kil Sin Syracuse

Bottom Three Photos: The 'Name the Calf' baby

Crazy Couple of Days: And a "Name That Darn Calf"

It's been a crazy week here. Becky and I had Monday and Tuesday off extra from school for fall break. Alan got last Friday and this Monday off. Loads of work was done by all. And Wednesday afternoon, my crazy, mean, snake of a cow Soir dropped her calf...in the very bottom of the ravine in the cow pasture. No one could get her or the calf out. She started attacking the banks the second Dad started down (which his going down was a bad plan anyways what with his broken shoulder and all). So we left her and baby out there figuring she is a smart enough cow, she'd get the two of them up and out. Which she did.

However, that didn't mean the two of them got into the barn. She wouldn't come down, and Dad couldn't get her Thursday morning, what with it is blacker than black out when we start up. And Thursday night was the Montgomery County Farm Bureau Annual Meeting. I was taking Brandon to that with us so I had to go back to school during milking to get him, so I didn't go out at all. Total side note, but I was elected to the board of directors for our county. I am so excited.

But anyhow. This morning she didn't come down either. And as Brandon spent the night, I had to get him back over to school. So I left her on pasture. Then tonight who should walk into the barn but good ole Soir (I'm being sarcastic about the 'good')...yet no baby. So as Becky Dad and I were the only ones in the barn, Beck and I headed up to see if we could find it. After about 20 minutes with no luck, we went back down cause we did have to milk. Only to discover that Soir baby cousin and my darling two year old show heifer, Spruce, was also missing. Spruce was due the 20th of this month. Panic mode time, as neither of us had seen her up there and she was WAY ready to calve. So Becky and Alan went back up to find both the cow, her possible calf, and hopefully Soir's little bipper.

Which they did. Both calves are girls. I am so thrilled. Counting the calf I bought this spring that makes six heifers for me in over a year. The one calf (Spruce's) is by a calving ease sire, as with first timers it is best to err on the side of caution. I'm gonna call her 'Syracuse'. We love their basket ball team, and I think it really fits her.

The other one I haven't decided on a name. Which is were all you come in. Anyone who wants to put a "S" name in for consideration can do so. If she's dried up enough in the morning I'll snag some pictures of both of them. That way everybody can see what they look like and pick from there. So put in the names. I need the help. I've got three different 'S' families, and they are all real prolific breeders, so there are a WHOLE LOT of them!!

She's Driving Me Crazy...

My big black cow Soir Noir that is. She was due the fourth. So far she hasn't bagged up at all, and is showing no signs of wanting to have her calf. She's also totally insane, has been since she was a calf herself. So, as I haven't got a death wish, I am somewhat hesitant to force her into the barn and try and do an exam on her. On top of that, with Dad hurt and out of commision for a while, I don't think it would be such a plan to get myself mangled and banged up too. (Plus I am going out with the family, and Brandon, for dinner Thursday, I'd rather not be in traction). I figure she's a big old girl. She'll calve when she calves, probably with a monster bull, and knowing her she'll be fine.

Her baby cousin Spruce on the other hand is being a sweet girl. She's due the 19th and is all bagged up and looking great. Unlike Soir, she is a darling. All I have to do to check on her is walk out into the barnyard while they heifers are down while we milk morning and night. She comes right up looking for pets, hugs and ear scratches. The biggest problem is getting her to NOT follow me into the barn, as we don't yet have a stall completely ready for her (gotta get on that quick). I gotta say I am looking forward to her baby. She is bred to Ocean-View Marsh Swain. He's a young sire we have quite a few calves out of already. They aren't show stock, but most of them are good sturdy looking commercial style calves, and we should have some luck getting milkers out of them. Only time will tell.

On another note, with Dad out of the line-up, I've been doing all our AI'ing on the cows. What a joy that has been. The day before he got hurt, I started an Ov-Sync protocol on my two Zenith daughters, Mandy and Chicago. Thankfully Chic is nice and small. Mandy on the other hand is my monster, as my sister says "freak", cow. That one that is as tall as me that I show every year. I was darned if I was going to stop the regimine. So I bred them myself. Oh the fun that was. But they are both on service now. Mandy to Cousteau, and Chic to Kenyon. Will be interesting to see if the animals I am breeding are settling at all.

Oh, and anybody up for a pig roast? Cause I may kill Daddy dearests pigs, as they are driving me to drink, and I don't drink...