Hundreds of Bees

Looked outside yesterday during our rain showers and saw this giant ball of brown.  Thought it was an owl or some other kind of bird.  This morning walked out to get a closer look and discovered it was a big group of bees.

Called a bee person to have it removed/relocated and he said it was a colony looking for a new place to live.  The scouts from the group were probably already out looking for a new home. He said for me to leave them alone and they would leave soon.  I told him if they weren't gone in a couple of days, he would hear back from me!

Exotic Visitor

A week or so ago, we had an exotic visitor.  I believe it is a fallow deer. 

It probably escaped from a nearby ranch.  She hung around for a couple days and disappeared.  Hopefully she was able to get back with her "kind."

Birth Alert #5

Yesterday Blanca had her baby, a little heifer.  Ferdinand is the baby daddy (he is also the baby daddy of Sweetie's baby (Birth Alert #4)).  So all five of our original mamas have given birth to their second calves!
I got a call mid afternoon telling me there were a bunch of buzzards surrounding a mama who had just given birth out in the pasture.  I rushed out into the pasture and scared off the buzzards.  Blanca had done a good job protecting her baby but buzzards can be relentless.  I took over protecting them. 
Here are the first pictures of the new arrival.  She is just minutes old...

Word got out to the rest of the herd that they had a new member.  Mama and baby had a steady stream of visitors. 

Big Red was one of the first to welcome her new baby half sister. 

The herd surrounded mama and baby.

This morning our new little girl arrived with the herd for breakfast.  She was bouncy and happy to be with everyone.

Welcome to our newest little heifer!!

Birth Alert #4

It's a boy! He's pretty big and a real cutie.

This picture was taken a few minutes after his birth.  Sweetie chose a bushy area to give birth.

Later, this little guy and his mama made their way out into the pasture and joined the herd.

He is the "apple" of his mama's eye!

Mama and baby make their appearance at breakfast for cubes.  Welcome little guy!!

Snoozing On A Sunday Afternoon

Caught all the girls enjoying the warm temperatures and shade Sunday afternoon.  Babies together and Mamas together.

Rufus Valentino

Rufus Valentino arrived today.  He's 16 months old, very handsome, and will be the baby daddy for our herd in the future.

Tho he's "inexperienced" and unproven, his pedigree is flawless.  All his stats line up and "say" he's a winner.

At this time, Valentino is separated from the girls.  It will be interesting to see what happens when -they see each other.  He's moo-ed a little but is quietly contemplating the tasks ahead.  Welcome Valentino!

Working The Cows

With three new babies and a bull on the way, we knew we had to update shots and put in ear tags.  Several months ago, Peg purchased a cow working system.  It is designed to confine and control the cows with the least amount of danger and stress (for them not us--lots of stress for us) so they can be given their shots, etc.
First we had a pad of sand laid out
. 

The system was delivered and fitted together.

The fencing to guide the cows into the system was planned and installed.

Of course the final step was to make an appointment with the Vet and take care of all she needed to do.  The Vet was great and "The Girls" weathered their yearly shots.  Also the babies were officially tagged and brought into the herd.

Our stress has been reduced because the system worked as hoped and we are moving forward with our little herd.