Guess I'll try again.

[Icu4dzs]

I think so. One nest fell from the ceiling in the barn and five babies recently hatched were lost. Not a good day.
I never realized how tired I could get until I cut all that firewood this morning. Seems like the more I cut, the more I found that needed to be cut. I had to move that elm tree that fell in the wind about a year ago but really wasn't dead. Apparently, it had some "polyspore" fungi invading it but I didn't think that would make it get knocked over.
I cut it into sections along with much of the wood I brought out of the 2 acre fenced in area that I have never ventured into because it is mainly a swamp. The reason is that the entire farm is basically a single downslope with a bout a 25 foot elevation change. All that rain we got for those 10 days now sits in a low point on the farm which is the area through which the cows have to walk to get to the pasture. (They really don't like all that mud, believe me).

The problem was that the water now amassed at the bottom of the farm is causing some access problems which I had to over come. It isn't over yet

The bull went home today. I didn't want him to get hurt and he had been "eloping" twice a day or more. I was afraid he would get hit by a car or truck.

The llamas still haven't come back up to the main barn for grain yet.

I'm too tired to write.
Cheers,
Trim sends

 

[Denim Deb]

I don't like mud much myself. At times it's been so bad at the farm that it's pulled a boot off of my foot. Other times, it's starts all balling up on the bottom of my shoes, and I have to scrape it off cuz I find myself getting taller.

 

[hqueen13]

Hope you're still kickin in the cold north. Miss your posts!

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Wish you were still here

 

[Icu4dzs]

Well, actually I am still here but have been busier than a one armed paper hanger with a broken leg.
The fact that I lost my "password list" a while back didn't help matters any.
Things have been going well. Had a baby llama on 25 OCT and one this past Monday.
I've been away so long that I don't remember how to "do stuff here" like post a picture of the baby llamas. But I'll give you some of the highlights since last we visited.


This is Molly, born 25 OCT 15 on the day I found her. She looks a lot bigger and prettier now!

Suffice it to say, I am well, doing a lot of things. I built a "canning kitchen" in one of the buildings last year and it was a big success. A LOT of canning got done.


The hog barn residents...


These four were born in April. They dont' look like this now.
Then in November, Jack tried to breed with Granny and she broke her leg...that was a bummer

If you look closely, you see a bone fragment protruding through the skin. This was a really severe fracture. I decided NOT to take the Vet's advice to "shoot her" and put a clam-shell cast on that leg the day it happened (29 NOV). Here she is that same day, looking pretty good...Kinda helped me being a doc with orthopedic experience on this one. It saved her life!

Around the end of March, I took that cast off. I had kept her in the barn and on "stall rest" for the majority of the time. When the cast came off (which was a bit of a struggle, there was some skin breakdown under the cast but after putting a bandage on that, she continued to do just fine. She is now out with the rest of the girls and gets around almost like nothing ever happened...sorta.

OK, so here is a picture of Snowflake, born April 10.

She almost didn't make it. I didn't know Lilly was pregnant...go figure. A guy stopped at my farm and told me there was a baby llama out on the pasture and it didn't look like it was doing too well. I raced out there and she was shivering in the cold wind...about 25*F with a 15 kt wind...so I put my coat on her and got her to the barn. Finally drove the mother back toward the barn and after a lot of work, got them together where they continue to this day...
We've had 6 calves this past season. Only Buttercup, (*who went for AI 6 times and saw the bull last time and this time) has not had a calf...and she is the milk cow...I hope the bull did his job this time!

This was the first calf of 6 that was born 28 SEP. Within a few weeks all the rest were born but when poor Molly was born, the cows tried to kill her. I had to jump in between all the cows who were really angry and Molly, pick her up and run to the barn and hide her in a stall. Her mother came right behind and things went OK after that.
There is a lot more to tell, but these are the "high lights".
Saepe Expertus, Semper Fidelis, Fratres Aeterni
Trim sends
//BT//

 

[Denim Deb]

You've been busy! Glad you were able to save Granny.

 

[Poka_Doodle]

Glad to see you here again. Congrats!

 

[hqueen13]

Yay! Nice to see you, and the pics are lovely!! I'm quite jealous of your canning kitchen!! I need me one of those!
Glad everyone is ok! Really cool that the cast worked! It pays to know things once in a while

 

[Britesea]

We don't have a spare outbuilding to make a canning kitchen, but I'm looking at making an outdoor summer kitchen for canning etc.

 

[Icu4dzs]

Well, me and Bob Warr are having a time of it. Yes, I am winning but it isn't and easy contest. Below are a few "Observations" achieved whilst working with my friend, Bob Warr!



Trim's observation #1: If there is even a tiny hole anywhere in your leather gloves, Bob Warr will find it and exploit it.



Corollary #1 to Trim's Observation #1 Bob Warr will always find the space between the end of your leather glove and the beginning of your shirt cuff so if you don't want the doctor to ask if you've been "cutting your wrists", be sure to get really LONG gauntlets, not just gloves.



Corollary #2 to Trim's Observation #1: Wearing a leather welding shirt when working with Bob Warr will save a lot of money in clothing, particularly shirts.*(see Trim's observation 13)



Corollary #3 to Trim's Observation #1: Get your tetanus booster BEFORE you go out with Bob Warr.



Trim's Observation#2 It's best to keep your fencing pliers on your belt.



Trim's Rule #1: NEVER, NO NEVER be more than 5 paces away from your fencing pliers particularly in really high grass.



Trim's Observation #3: If there is a concealed hole to step in or fall into, Bob Warr will help you find it!



Trim's Observation #4: It is wholly impossible to have too many "VICE GRIP" tools when you are working with Bob Warr.



Trim's Observation #5: Spray painting your tools with FLUORESCENT ORANGE PAINT will always help...even at night...you can find them with a black light!



Trim's Observation #6: Having only one (1) Golden rod is never going to be sufficient. You need at least one Golden Rod and one 3 ton chain hoist/come-along if you are expecting to get Bob Warr to come out tight enough to stop a calf...maybe.



Trim's Observation #7: Regardless of the height of the grass, ticks will ALWAYS follow you home and secret themselves in the most intimate of locations, where no human would ever use a flame to control them.



Trim's Observation #8: While it is NOT impossible to have all the tools you need when you are working with Bob Warr, the chances of having them all go with you on the FIRST TRIP are exceedingly low.



Corollary #1 to Trim's Observation #8: A tractor with a pallet fork will be able to carry MOST of those tools unless you are VERY experienced at working with Bob Warr and know all the tricks...of which there are many.



Corollary #2 to Trim's Observation #8: The distance to retrieve the tool you need will be often be directly proportional to the need but inversely proportional to the distance to retrieve it.



Trim's Observation #9: A generator and a few electric tools such as a Sawzall and 1/2" drill will mitigate a number of problems not otherwise easily handled, (EXCEPT if it rains).



Corollary to Trim's Observation #9: A very small chain saw (not a 20" bar) will work but it can always make a real mess of a well positioned fence post.



Trim's Observation #10: The post hole auger should be mounted on the front of the tractor but never is...



Trim's Observation #11: No fence post will remain plumb in soft ground after Bob Warr has been stretched no matter how deep you put it.



Corollary to Trim's Observation #11: Never stretch Bob Warr when the ground is soft. Put the posts in and wait for dry days (at least 7 of them), assuming the cattle will allow it.(which more often than not, they won't)



Trim's Observation #12: You will sleep well at night after spending any day with Bob Warr.



Trim's Observation #13: Since Bob Warr usually wants to work on the hottest days,ALWAYS Drink twice the amount of water that you felt thirsty for each time you drink.

Corollary #1 to Trim's Observation #13: Take the water WITH YOU on the FIRST TRIP out to work with Bob Warr.



Corollary #2 to Trim's Observation #13: The cows can pee outside, so can you.




There's a few more coming, but I just thought I'd add this bit of wisdom which has been recently gathered...



Cheers,

Trim sends