Cold and Wet

Everyone's preparing for the cold weather to come. We all know about it, and we are all terrified of the prospect that we could see another "Snowmageddon", as mom likes to call it.

Here at the farm, we have a lot to do. All of the equipment has to be winterized and put away. Check and Check! This means oil, grease, hydraulic fluid, clean, and shelter. You never realize how much equipment we have until you have to do this step. Hay equipment - cutter, rake, 2 balers, loader, and trailers; the overseeder, the Backhoe, Massie and Case, and the 2 ATV's. It always winds up being a lot more than we think once we get started.

All of the animals need to be able to find shelter and liquid water. We have them arranged for shelter, but the water will have to be monitored. We have at least filled their troughs. Hay must be put out because any grass will be frozen and the poor little baby calves need a warm dry place to lay. Outside water pipes must be winterized. We are working on that one today.

We have to actually think ahead, :P and order feed so it is ready shortly after the freeze ends. And, the vet came out to give our yearling heifers a vaccination yesterday. It's crazy how busy the slowest time of year can get.

Praise God our beef orders have picked up. Little Bug and I have been all over the place making deliveries. We won't be doing them during the cold, but work on the farm must never cease.

Things are always fun out here. Our newest chickens have started laying eggs. Little Bug is always an adventure. She loves going for little walks, or riding in the mule, and watching the cattle is one of her favorite pastimes.

All in all I think we are ready. Mom and Daddy are not looking forward to checking the animals during the cold, but it must be done. See you on the other side of the storm!