I hope you were able to see the lunar eclipse Sunday – it was amazing!
For us here in west Texas, beginning about 15 minutes before sunset until sunset was the most dramatic view. As the moon moved in front of the sun it appeared as if a bite were missing from the edge of the sun.
Finally, the moon was in the center of the sun making it appear as if the sun had a hole in it – you could just see the outline of the sun.
As the sun sank further, it appeared as a flame sinking into the horizon.
 Once again we are reminded of our wonderful Creator!
You know the saying, “a watched pot never boils”?
Well, a watched cow never calves – until she is ready that is!
We have been watching Buttercup very closely for the past 3 days because she was showing signs of being close to calving. We were preparing for church on Sunday and just glanced in the pasture, saw her standing and looking normal so we did not bother going out for a closer look. Evidently, she was about to calve because when we returned home, he was here -a light brown bull calf! So, we named him LBC for Little Brown Calf. Both mamma and baby are doing great.
As usual, the first milking was difficult. She is tender, swollen and does not want anything to do with the milking machine. John (because I am too scared to get so close to her well aimed kicks) began by hand milking and then was able (with help from the boys) to hook her up to the milker. After the first couple of milkings, she calms down and everyone begins the milking rotation. Until then, John is present at all milkings to help.
LBC is taking the colostrum very well from the bottle. Needless to say, everyone loves feeding him!
For now, we are milking Buttercup twice each day, freezing the extra colostrum and looking forward to her milk coming in which means 8 gallons of milk per day!
I posted last week on the progress made building our new cow palace (aka milking parlor). From framing to finishing, we have done the work ourselves. Besides saving money, it also gives the children a chance to learn additional skills and confidence to try new projects.
After pricing ready mix concrete, especially after there was a 3 yard minimum and we only need 1 1/2 yards, we purchased the ingredients and mixed it ourselves. Using Portland cement, we mixed it with sand and gravel purchased from a concrete supplier about 5 miles away. Mixing was done rather easily with a small cement mixer and then poured onto the floor.
It happened to be one of those rare rainy days here in West Texas so, as much mixing as possible was done inside the cow palace.
As usual, Emme was the most curious about the work being done.
For the finish, we have a brushed or rough surface so it will not be slippery when wet. We even added everyone’s hand prints - everyone still at home that is! They are in the middle of the cow palace floor so they will be seen and not covered up by feed and other stuff!
So, as you look at the finished milking parlor, complete with covered porch, remember that it will be nicely painted pale yellow – hopefully, in the not too distant future!
Now, if Buttercup would just have her calf, we are ready to milk!
The different storm clouds passing over have given a beautiful view for all of us here in West Texas. Like the sunsets, you can see the whole horizon of clouds. No trees make for a nice view!
May has brought wonderful rain – 3.4 inches of it! That brings our total rainfall for 2012 to 7.4 inches!
It has also brought wind which knocked out our wireless internet – Again!
But, even with the headaches that country living can bring sometimes, I would not change a thing!
Our new cow palace, otherwise known as milking parlor, is almost finished. Milking is going to be exciting in the new surroundings!
Using left over tin roofing, the sides are somewhat mismatched but only until there is another break in vineyard work, then it will be painted. As you look at it, try to visualize a pale yellow cow palace surrounded by a field of green grass.
Inside, the wiring is finished giving us three lights and three electrical sockets. Pouring the concrete floor will hopefully happen tomorrow. The doors have not yet been hung – one opening from the pasture for the cows to enter and one from the front giving us access to the milking area and feed.
The cows were given their nightly feed in the new stanchion last night but only after some coaxing. In preparation for milking, we begin now (especially with Buttercup so close to calving) to get them in the habit of entering and eating in the stanchion. Once we begin milking, they eat their grain while we milk – it helps keep them occupied and calm.
While they were both curious about the work going on, neither wanted to be first. Emme finally cooperated and had the privilege of being the first one to eat in the new cow palace.
As Emme ate, Buttercup began to get a bit antsy to have her turn. You can see her looking in the door impatiently.
Sometimes they can be so like children – not wanting the other to get more than they think they have!
We’re Expecting!
Calves that is!
That’s right – Buttercup and Emme are both pregnant!
Buttercup is due May 16, 2012 -less than 2 weeks away! She is sooo big – I almost feel sorry for her. She was bred to a neighbor’s Angus bull. Buttercup is 3/4 Jersey and 1/4 Holstein and this will be her third calf with us. When she freshens (her milk comes in after calving) it will be at 8 gallons a day. That makes for a lot of milk for cheesemaking and drinking!
Emme was confirmed pregnant by our local vet and is due the second week in September. Hardly any difference can be seen with her at this point. She is full Jersey and should make a wonderful family milk cow – this is her first calf.
When we moved to our basement, we set up a temporary milking parlor. It was not too long before Buttercup was dried off and we had no need for a milking parlor. Drying off a cow is is done to allow a rest period in preparation for calving – you stop milking her. This five month break from milking has been good for everyone. But, now we are all excited at the prospect of fresh milk once again. Our budget will also be glad to have the fresh dairy products again. It is amazing how much I save making our cheese, kefir, butter and still have left over fresh milk to drink! Having the cows on our own pasture also saves the expense of hay which makes our dairy products even less expensive!
Now that Buttercup’s time for calving is so close, John and the boy’s are working on building a new milking parlor – we actually call it the cow palace. Taking a break from vineyard work, this week’s priority is to get the cow palace finished!
So far, the cow palace is framed up. As you can see below, on the left side (where people are standing) is the milking stall for the cow to stand when being milked. The right side provides storage for pallets of feed. There will be two doors – one for us to enter the cow palace and the other for the cow to enter her milking stall. This will prevent either cow from having access to the feed storage area. The floor will be concrete and the sides will be metal.
Even Buttercup and Emme are interested in the work going on – they seem to know that it has something to do with them!
Emme especially keeps coming by to check out the progress. She appears to be trying to figure out what in world it is!
More pictures as the work progresses!
I hope you noticed the moon Saturday evening. It was not only a full moon but reached the part of its path which is closest to the earth called the perigee. Because of the variability of the moon’s orbit, this orbit was the closest of all the perigees this year – the result was a huge golden moon. Since there were no trees blocking our view here in West Texas, it was gorgeous!
I love the springtime – even here in West Texas.
Or, maybe I should say, especially here in West Texas! After such cold, brown winters (compared to lower Alabama), the green of spring is a welcome sight bringing with it hope and a new beginning.
Once the vineyard begins to bud and grow, it seems as though everywhere I look, there is green.
The new grapevines (Petit Verdot and Moscato Giallo) which were planted a couple of weeks ago are in varying stages of budding.
In the field, even with the drought last year and only 4 inches of rain so far this year, we have wildflowers. My favorite are the daisies, yellow black eyed Susans.
In the garden the beans are coming up.
So are the peas.
And, don’t forget the asparagus we planted last week – the little crowns are peaking up through the soil waiting to be covered further. They actually look like miniature asparagus!
Everywhere I look, evidence of new growth and life are around.
What an amazing Creator we have!
It happens to everyone.
Not you?
Just wait!
My latest signal of the reality of aging is the shortening of my arms. Yep, I can no longer hold reading material far enough away to focus!
The fact is, it is time for reading glasses. In fact, it has been for a while.
Not that stylish, cute sophisticated reading glasses aren’t around. It is just the fact that I now need them!
Armed with determination (and the girls at my side) to find some cute but sophisticated ones, we went shopping. I had images of Meranda from “The Devil Wears Prada” in mind. To my surprise, any style, any color is available. I am beginning to think that I have been overlooking an important fashion accessory!
After trial and error – and a buy 1 get 1 free sale – I walked out with 2 pair. My favorite is hot pink trimmed with black and a close second choice is black with a circle design on the temples.
The pink seems to be a hit with everyone. Even our 3 year old has decided it is much better to read with glasses on – and she does not even read yet!
I have to admit, it is nice to be able to see the small print again.
But, I now have a new problem – where did I put them?
Maybe, I should see if the buy 1 get 1 free sale is still on 
Our asparagus beds now have asparagus crowns in them! Yes, three 40 ft asparagus rows are now growing. If you remember, we had dug and prepared the beds with manure.
We received the asparagus crowns the same day as the Petit Verdot and Moscato Giallo vines. So, after the new grape vines were planted, complete with underground drip irrigation, John also laid the drip tape in the asparagus beds.
When I opened the box, I wondered what I has bought – they looked like a ball of roots or maybe spaghetti gone bad!
Upon closer inspection, however, there were indeed individual crowns among the mass. I sure was relieved!
We dug 18″ deep holes. I use “we” loosely here. I did not dig a single hole but John, our 12 and 14 year old sons did! Then we made a small mound in the center of the hole – I, along with our 16 and 19 year old did this step. Once the crown was placed on the mound, we spread out the roots as evenly as possible. They looked like miniature octopuses!
Two inches of dirt was then used to cover the crowns (and roots), they were watered well and left to grow. Except for watering and watching for sprouts which are to be covered with a couple more inches of dirt – we wait. One or two years is a long time but I can already taste the asparagus. It is amazing how many yummy sounding asparagus recipes are available – I can’t wait!
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About Me 
God has amazingly blessed me, Dina-Marie, with a wonderful husband and 10 beautiful children. Moving from our "secure" life in Alabama to the "exciting" life of starting a vineyard in west Texas has been challenging to say the least. I have had the opportunity to take a crash course in frugal living and become a real farm girl - complete with milk cow and chickens. I have learned the importance of health from the inside out, "traditional" cooking and cod liver oil!
I hope to encourage you to make the most of where you are and what you have. |
