Comings And Goings At The Trough

 During these hot summer days, there is always some activity at the troughs.  It's a cool place for a dip, to get a drink, or to meet up with herd members.

Amazingly, we had a few cool mornings where everyone was up with the sun to take advantage of the cool before the days heat set in.

The big news here is we took the steers to the sale barn.  It is always hard to say goodbye and to not think of what is ahead for them.  The focus now is on growing the heifers for future sales. 

"If A Tree Falls In..."

One of our dead Post Oaks fell over sometime during the night.  We are still loosing trees from the drought five years ago.  This oak is the latest victim.

Thankfully the cows were not around when it fell over!  They were all curious enough when they discovered the tree down and the fence was damaged.

Our neighbor has equipment to make cleanup fairly easy.  Everything was picked up and fixed in a matter of hours.

Peg has "retired."  Her drive to and from Dallas every weekend is done.  She has taken an accounting position in Salado.  She looks forward to shorter hours, less stress, and a country lifestyle.

Sad News

Remember that beautiful little fawn pictured below?  Well, we found some "remains" yesterday that suggest it is dead.  I think the cows found it and attacked it as a threat, killing it.  We had let the cows into the "Wild Pasture" so they could eat different stuff like native grasses and forbes.  The fawn's mama could not fight off an attack by several 1000 pound cow mamas who are very protective of their babies.  RIP little guy!!

On a brighter note, the cows are settling in to summer.  The babies are growing and seven have been separated and are going through weaning.  The rest of the babies are with their mamas being cared for as only a mama cow can.

Here is Stormy getting a quick bath from her mama, Raquel.  Baby Spring is on the bottom left in the picture.  This particular week we enjoyed temps in the 80s with very little humidity.  The cows were up moving around during the day enjoying the cooler weather instead of bedding down under the trees in the oak grove.  We are back to normal temps now in the high 90s. 

Fawn

Peg and I were out "treating" ant hills and a mama deer jumped up in front of us and ran off.  I said to Peg there is probably a baby hidden right around here in the grass.  I slowed the buggy and we continued forward about ten feet and found this little guy.

Truly a beautiful picture!!  Babies are always the cutest!  We'll see him/her around for the next few years. 

Quarantined

We finished up quarantining, passed through Phase I of reopening, and are now enjoying Phase II.  Frankly, dealing with all of this isolation is for the birds!  I must say that had we been in a town or city, all of this could have been horrible.  Luckily we enjoy large spaces and distances so it has been okay.
News from the farm includes the birth of Brownie's baby heifer, Spring.  Seriously, everyone else gave birth 4-6 weeks ago!!!!!

 Here is Spring just a couple hours after birth.  Brownie has hidden her so she could go enjoy some cubes for breakfast without the hassle of tending to a newborn.

 What is Peg pulling?  Peg is not pulling anything; Zeek is pulling her.  After her knee replacement in October, she has not walked the dogs.  While here on quarantine, she hooked up the leash and started walking the dogs, or should I say they are back walking her.

A typical day includes several spins in the buggy.  Both dogs are totally into it! 

Hope you and yours are well; take care!

Goodbye!

Bridle, Brianna, White Face, and Lucky

Our first four heifers born during January thru March 2019 head to the sale barn in a week.  I watched everyone of them grow up.  I interacted with each of them and their mamas from just minutes after their births.  I am hopeful each will become a mama themselves!  I wish them luck and a good life!

Welcome BO!

Yes, we have acquired another dog.  Her name is BO.  We've had our eye on her for a couple years and finally we were able to make the adoption final.

She's kind of camera shy so taking a picture has been challenging.  I finally decided to use her "commands" to get her to stay still.  "Sit and stay" worked. 
BO always has a wagging tail and a toy in her mouth.  She's a real "people person" so she follows us everywhere.  I don't think there is a happier dog in the world!  Welcome home BO!!!!