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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Zucchini {garden & bread}~Heifers~ Wannabe Cow Dog

Finally, we have zucchini and squash blooms!  The summer squash is the first to bloom, zucchini is about ready to.  I really had my doubts about my garden this summer, but I think we'll be okay.

I even spotted a tiny summer squash.

The strawberry plants were not so lucky however.  Something has been munching on the plants themselves in the middle of the night.  Probably a pesky rabbit.  Don't get me wrong, rabbits are cute and all but boy, can they do some damage to a garden. {anyone have a good recipe for rabbit?!}

After I finished up watering this morning, I spotted  Chloe spotted the heifers coming down the hill behind our house, making their way back down to the barn for some water after grazing all morning.

Chloe SO thinks she's a cow dog...poor thing.

After the heifers made it down the hill and Chloe stopped barking her head off we came back inside to make Zucchini Bread.

Since we don't have any zucchini as of yet, I took some out of the freezer that I had grated and frozen from last summer to make Zucchini Bread.  I kind of made up my own recipe.  This is what you need:  {full recipe below}

Cream together the brown sugar, butter and eggs.

Add the grated zucchini and mix that in.

Add the whole wheat flour, baking powder, cinnamon, sea salt and sunflower seeds.

Mix well.

Spray a loaf pan with non-stick spray and place the batter in.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.

Done.  Doesn't this look like the meatloaf I made just the other day?!....not sure if that's good or bad!

Definitely didn't  taste like the meatloaf!  This version of Zucchini Bread is a little bit healthier by adding the whole wheat flour and no oil added.  And the sunflower seeds added a great touch! 

Enjoy!  Here's the recipe:

Healthy Zucchini Bread

1/2 cup butter, softened

1 cup brown sugar

2 cups whole wheat flour

2 eggs

1  1/2 tsp. cinnamon

2 cups grated zucchini

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. sea salt (fine)

1/2 cup sunflower seeds (or nut of your choice)

Cream together butter, brown sugar and eggs.

Add grated zucchini and mix

Add flour, cinnamon, baking powder, salt and nuts

Mix well

Bake at 350 degrees in a loaf pan for 45 minutes

Happy Saturday!

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It's a Bull, It's a Bull, It's a Bull!!

So, remember yesterday when I was talking about freestall barns and snapped a few photos of ours to show you?  Well, in the far alleyway of the barn, there happened to be a few cows hanging out so I walked over, through (under) a freestall to see what they were up to and maybe snap a few more photos. 

Cows in general are very curious animals, they normally just stand back and watch me when I'm around.  But yesterday, while I was standing in the center of the alleyway, a "cow" started walking towards me in a , I felt, strange manner.  She had her head down low, almost like she was going run towards me at any moment.  At second glance I noticed........

It's a BULL, It's a BULL, It's a BULL!!!   

OH DEAR!  OH DEAR!  OH DEAR!

I high-tailed it SO quickly back under one of the freestalls, but not before I snapped a quick photo....he was really close!

If you've read my previous posts, you know how terrified I am of bulls.  Especiallly the Holstein bulls (we have two).  I don't know what it is but these two bulls always seem to find me.  There's over 200 cows around and two bulls and they always find me!  I'm usually pretty good at remembering to ask Dominic where the bulls are before I venture out on my own through the ranch, but I forgot to do so yesterday.

He probably looks pretty tame to you in this photo, but trust me, with all the snorting and head movements and all, I was shakin' in my work boots. 

I don't know if he was showing off, or playing in the sand or what, but he was making a big mess.

Keeping his eye on me the entire time.

He's giving me the 'stink' eye.

Or maybe he just didn't want his photo taken?  What do you think?

Happy Friday!  Cheers!

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