Thoughtless Tuesday~Out the Office Window

What a difference a week or two makes.  A week and a half ago, as I was sitting in the office, I glanced out the window to find a humming bird perched on the maple tree gazing in. 

Then he saw that I had spotted him and took off.  To the feeders no doubt. 

Now, 10 or so days later, the tree has filled out.  Spring is here.  I have yet to see my little friend come back for a rest in the fully bloomed Japanese Maple.

Sometimes it's the small things in life that make my day :)

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Secret Tunnel

We drive by it every day. 

We and many others drive over it every day.

Walking through it from our farm, leads to Stafford Lake.  The Secret Tunnel, as I call it, is only secret because my kids didn't know it existed until yesterday. {and Bryce still doesn't}

While Bryce was in school yesterday, Paige and I went on a 'ranch walk' to see what we could discover.  I led Paige through the tall green grass on an area of the farm that's near the road.  Nearing the gated tunnel entrance, seeing it for the first time, Paige became excited with the prospect of experiencing something new on our morning adventure.

After opening the gate and walking through, Paige discovered we were now at Stafford Lake Park.  When she got her bearings and realized exactly where we were, she was amazed we didn't need to cross the busy road to get there.  It's acessable through the Secret Tunnel that only we can use.

The tunnel was once used {and is still used once in a great while} to move cows from our ranch, to the other side of the road where the other half of our property lies, behind Stafford Lake.

Once on the park side, we took a little stroll down a paved path.

Once we reached the end of the path {because X marks the spot}, we turned and walked back.

Back through the tunnel, we stopped midway to wait for a car to drive overhead so we could hear how loud it sounded from the inside. 

We also found hints of another tunnel walker that had visited recently.  Looks like a racoon or skunk print.....not sure which.

My kids LOVE tunnels and I don't know why I haven't shown them this before.

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The Innovative Dairyman

We're back to our winter weather; a little rainy and a bit cold but chores must go on here on the farm. 

I wonder if these two electricians knew what was in store for them when they came out to the dairy farm on this rainy day? 

Would they have even shown up if they knew they'd be repairing an electrical wire while being lifted in the bucket of a tractor dangling over the solid waste pond?

 Hmm, not sure.

But they were here, what else could they do when shown the situation?  Turn and run? 

Ranch life.

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What Farm Kids Do For Play

Gosh, we have really lucked out with the weather we've been having here in northern California.  Spending time outside is a definite must.  Today we headed down to the calf barn to see what we could find.

The thing about kids is, they can easily find things to entertain themselves that don't involve toys.  Actually, I think they may prefer it that way.

After checking in on Emma & Brittney, I wanted to sit in the warm sun for a little bit to warm my bones.  So I found the nice stack of alfalfa near the calf barn and planted my behind down while the kids took turns riding the gate.

No toys required. 

They could have easily played this game for an hour, or maybe two.

Later, when I asked both Bryce and Paige what they were thinking about as they were going for a ride on the gate, they answered:

Bryce: "I was thinking about how much fun I was having!"

Paige: "I was thinking, I needed to trim my toenails." 

Well, with this gorgeous, sunny weather, I can't say that a thought similar to Paige's hadn't crossed my mind as well, but mine was in the form of painting toenails.

How was your Saturday?  Did you do anything fun?

Getting ready for the big games tomorrow?!

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October Morning on the Dairy

It's mornings like this that I just have to stop and take in the surrounding beauty and be grateful for where and how I live on this dairy.  This morning, as I was getting Bryce's lunch ready for school, I happened to glance out the kitchen window and spotted this beautiful sunrise.  It wasn't early, about 7 a.m.  but I knew if I didn't just drop what I was doing, this beautiful salmon colored sunrise would be gone.  It only took a few moments to walk out the slide door, onto the deck and snap a couple of photos, hoping they would do what I was witnessing, justice.....of course they didn't.  It was much more vibrant in person.

And just like that, it was gone.  More clouds moved in and there was no sign of the sun for the rest of the day.

Another thing I'm grateful for, living on the dairy is all the wildlife that makes this land their home and the fact that I am able to have visual contact with it on a daily basis.  On the way back from dropping Bryce off at school, one of our resident Cooper's Hawks was perched on a branch on the side of the road that leads up to our house.  I was glad I had brought  my camera with me on the ride.



















I was able to snap two quick shots before my feathered friend flew off.

Happy Friday!
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Tips on How to Survive a Visit to the Calf Barn

It's true, when you hang out at a calf barn, anything can happen and any non-clothed body part is viewed as an open opportunity to a calf.

I wanted to take some snapshots of Paige feeding the calves on this afternoon.

 

I was concentrating on getting a good shot ........

and practicing with my camera settings and all,

when I was totally taken by surprise by this little girl..............

who completely startled me by grabbing a hold of my elbow with her mouth as I was in the process of snapping the above photos.  I just turned the camera towards the calf, without looking through the view finder and began snapping photos.

 

Give them an inch and they take a mile.  I let her suck on my elbow for a little, until she really became disturbed that nothing was coming out.  She then became more and more aggressive until I could begin to feel her teeth.....not a good feeling on the elbow funny bone.

 

So if you ever get a chance to visit dairy, or a calf barn, here are some tips you may want to remember:

Tip # 1:  Never take a shower before you visit a calf barn, because you will definitely need one afterwards.

Tip #2:  Never visit a calf barn immediately after exercising because you may be mistaken for a salt lick.

Tip # 3:  Never allow a calf to suck on your ring finger {self explanatory}.

Tip # 4:  Always carry a calf bottle with you so your other body parts aren't mistaken for udders.

Tip # 5: Never leave dangling equipment unattended {such as cameras hanging from your person}.

And on a serious note,

Tip # 6:  Never walk between a calf and her mother {unless you want to feel the excitement of being charged at by a 1,500 pound animal}.

Happy Tuesday!

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Left Stranded

Being stranded.  It's a helpless feeling.   I was just minding my own business over at the calf barn, waiting for Paige and Dominic to come back so we could feed the calves when "Charlie" the larger of the two bulls we have here on the ranch found me......once again. 

Okay, I know what you're thinking.....not again with the bull stories!  But, this is my life.  The life of a bull magnet.  Because as you know, every time I'm down on the ranch one of the two bulls find me.

Fortunately there's a fence between he and I. 

He just stares at me much of the time.  He probably senses my fear.  Or he just wants to play.

Then he decides to walk over to the area where Dominic just fed to grab some grain.

Now, if I were a brave soul, I would walk out right past him, through the open gate over to the milking parlor.  But I'm not brave.

He's still keeping his {stink} eye on me.

As cows walk out of the milking parlor after their milking session, they walk over to say 'hi' to Charlie before walking back to their corral to eat.

I think the cows are even mocking me.

They all stop and stare as they walk by.  Now if only Charlie would pull his head out of the grain and follow them I would be free and clear to go.

But he doesn't.

So what's a girl to do when she's trapped in a calf barn by a big, bad bull?  Well if you're me, you think about shoes of course!  Or boots in this case and how much I love them.  Do I need another pair?  These are two years old, but still in pretty good shape.

Then I start photographing my boots.   Well, I was becoming bored after all.

Justin Ropers are SO comfortable and durable.  I just love my work boots!

Okay, back to Charlie.  He's still there...... Sigh.

Oh finally!  Dominic and Paige are coming back.

But before I could get a word out......

they were off again!  You're kidding me right now!  I guess they didn't realize that I was stranded.....hmmm.....or maybe they did.  Anyhow, they rode right by Charlie.  Maybe now he'll follow the cows into the next corral.

Nope.  He just moved closer to me and began playing or showing off......great.

Finally!  My rescuers!  As soon as Charlie saw Dominic coming, he moved on.  Now why can't I get him to do that?

Happy Friday!  Cheers!

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Nothing like a good hand sucking in the morning

I am SO loving that school is out for the summer.  Our mornings are so relaxed and we have time to hang out with Dominic on the ranch.

This morning Dominic was replacing the straw bedding for the calves in the calf barn so Bryce, Paige and I tagged along.

Paige LOVES the calves.  So much so, she lets them suck her fingers.....or entire hand.  The calves enjoy it also.  They'll suck on you for as long as you let them, figuring milk has got to come out at some point!

"It tickles!"

On cold mornings, this makes for a good hand warmer.

Still no milk.

The result and what every kid enjoys (except for Bryce, he didn't want anything to do with this) bubbles and gooo.  Now, go find Daddy so you can wipe your hand on his sweatshirt.

Happy Friday!  Cheers!

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