Tomato Time

The first picking of our tomatoes...

Cows in the News

It's not everyday when cows make the news, but an interesting study was released about cows and their relationship with magnetic north.

Here is a link to the story:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93956323

Our cows seem to concur.

Hay: Round 3

Seems like we just got done with 2nd crop hay and it is time for 3rd crop. This time, the weather cooperated, which sped up the harvest quite a bit. We started cutting last Saturday and we finished up tonight. We made about 130 round bales.

River Trip

On Sunday, we paddled down the Embarrass River. Our friend Kate joined us. The trip lasted about 4.25 hours. We figured it was about 14 miles. We saw a lot of interesting things, including a herd of beefers that could wander into the river at their leisure.
Zachary and I were in a canoe and Kate was in her Kayak. Here she is behind Zachary.

Madden and Ice

In the past few days, Zachary has learned to actually like Madden. Historically he always hated sports games, but with our nephews prodding, he is actually enjoying it. His trash-talking is also improving.
In game action.
Monday night I was foolishly not wearing my steel toe farm boots while milking, and luck would have it I was stepped on by a cow. Don't wear tennis shoes milking! My big toe is about twice the size as it normally is, but its not broken. The x-rays actually shown a chip fracture that was a few years old, but healed, in my toe. Don't remember that one. A little ice and elevation, I'll be running laps around those cows again, but with steel toe boots on. Above Zachary and I are sharing my chair footrest, sporting my ice foot-turban.

A Day at the Faire

Saturday Zachary and I went to the Renaissance Faire in Bristol, near the Wisconsin/Illinois border.
I had my hair braided. I think I was twelve the last time my hair was in braids.
Here is Moonie during his show. One of the funniest "Mimes" you'll ever see.
Through happy coincidence, we spent most of the time at the Faire with Zachary's sister and husband, Kristanna and Bob. Zachary happened to call his mom during the car ride south and found out that Kristanna and Bob were also planning on attending the Faire. So we met up later and had a nice afternoon together. Kristanna is posing with her Henna Tattoo artist after she was done. She had a pregnant fairy done, since she is pregnant herself.
Our knight in the purple outfit battling for honor during the "Joust to the Death" event. Our knight won in the end. He represented our corner of the stands.
Kristanna and Bob, happy parents-to-be.

Carrot Mutants

That is what you get when you don't thin your carrots after they spout. (But they are still delicious and better than store bought!)

Hay is for Horses... and Cows

The hay is done. We finished it late Sunday afternoon as the rain clouds rolled in. We made 3752 hay bales form 60 acres. Our horses, April, Rocky, and Murphy, enjoying the fresh hay.
Zachary unloading bales onto the elevator.
Break time between wagons, Zachary sitting with our nephews Jordan and Seth.

Happy Anniversary

On August 1st, we marked our first anniversary as dairy farmers. We are still in business so we must be doing something right. Above are two team members, Gwen and Thomas, "celebrating".