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Life is too short to eat bad food! Sharing great recipes, farm life, stories and photography from our Northern California dairy farm.

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Showing posts with label family dairy farm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family dairy farm. Show all posts

April 19, 2011

Excitement on a Foggy Day

One of the climate issues we encounter when living near the coast is FOG.  Some people call it our 'natural airconditioning' because it visits us all summer long, actually all year long.  During the summer months, it really keeps things pretty cool on the days it visits us. 

I don't like it.

But our cows do.  They don't like the hot weather, so in the area of northern California where we live, the cows really like the climate.  It's not too hot except maybe a few days in summer and it's not too cold.

I took a stroll outside with the macro lens today to see what exciting photos I could capture..... in the fog, then I came in to see what I could do with the dreary things on picnik.com. 

Much more exciting when the editing is complete.














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April 9, 2011

Brittney the calf and the Ferorious Beast

The area in front of our house this time of year contains 15 or so calves....well, right now there are eight because the other seven jumped the fence into the heifer pasture, but that's a whole other story

It's fun to have Brittney near our house {she's on the right with the mostly white face}.  These girls have a pasture full of belly high green grass, but they still smash the fence down  to get to the grass on the other side. 

Just like a girl to keep all options open at all times, right?! {or maybe just never satisfied}














Well, my little ferocious beast, Chloe will keep them in line.













This little fluff ball of a dog, loves to have a herd she can call her own so near the house to keep in line.



She has stepped up to the plate and taken on the responsibility that any good 'cow dog' would.













We're going to the Dairy Princess Ball tonight, what are you up to this weekend?

I love to hear from you! Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to leave a comment, you can click on the “Post a Comment” link below to do so. Have a peaceful day.



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March 15, 2011

Meet Barina ~ what happens at the calf barn with kids

Lately, almost every one of our trips to the calf barn involve either, halter training Emma or Brittney OR adding yet another new calf to our string of  'pets'. 

Meet Barina.

Paige laid her eyes on this little calf and there was no turning back.  The two of them immediately bonded.














Paige decided that 'Barina' would make the perfect name for her new little pet. 













I had to plead with my 4 year old to leave the calf barn after an hour.  She didn't want to leave her new little friend.  I think she would have napped right next to Barina if I'd let her. 

The funny thing is, Paige doesn't nap any longer but she would have if I'd told her she could take a nap with Barina.  She would have done anything to stay longer.













I can't say that I blame her, the calves are my favorite too:)

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March 14, 2011

Things that happen in the Heifer pasture

Spring is on the way and the heifers are ecstatic about it.  Why?  Play time is one reason, as you can see in the above photo.  These two girls were so excited to be let out on pasture, the just couldn't contain themselves.

During the rainy days the heifers live in their freestall barns and after a few days of dry weather, they're let back out on their pasture to graze on the grass that's been growing for them.

A couple of reasons they're not out on pasture during rainy days are; it keep the grass from being torn up by them running around on it and keeps the seed in tact.  Another reason is, pasture grass, during the rainy season, has very little nutrients to it and is mainly composed of water, but once that sun hits it and it begins to grow, it's full of nutrients.

{all of those nutrients which are great for cows, are also the reason Joey, is not allowed on pasture right now}














Here's a short video I took of the two girls playing from the above photo:



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