He is one big calf. He was only a weekish old at this point.
Tuesday, April 18, 2017
What I Have Learned
***You need long underwear when the weather is cold.
***Heifer checks at 2 AM are pointless 80% of the time.
***It is the other 20% that matters, so get up lazy bones.
***Long underwear and coveralls are not enough warmth to convince me to get up in the middle of the night to check heifers when the wind blows and it's snowing.
***I can be up and dressed, on the hill, and check all the heifers before I'm awake enough to realize this was truly pointless.
***When the wind blows and wakes me up I can't fall back to sleep right away.
***Forty-one days of heifers calving is exhausting.
***I am tired enough 20 some nights into calving that I will sleep
as soon as my head hits the pillow - even when the wind is cold.
***Pulling calves is not as fun as I thought it would be.
***I like driving a tractor.
***I'd keep a calf as a pet if it would just stay little and cute!!
***You can check heifers in your pajamas on a warm night.
***Calves come in multiple sizes....
***Heifer checks at 2 AM are pointless 80% of the time.
***It is the other 20% that matters, so get up lazy bones.
***Long underwear and coveralls are not enough warmth to convince me to get up in the middle of the night to check heifers when the wind blows and it's snowing.
***I can be up and dressed, on the hill, and check all the heifers before I'm awake enough to realize this was truly pointless.
***When the wind blows and wakes me up I can't fall back to sleep right away.
***Forty-one days of heifers calving is exhausting.
***I am tired enough 20 some nights into calving that I will sleep
as soon as my head hits the pillow - even when the wind is cold.
***Pulling calves is not as fun as I thought it would be.
***I like driving a tractor.
***I'd keep a calf as a pet if it would just stay little and cute!!
***You can check heifers in your pajamas on a warm night.
***Calves do not pose well for selfies.
Brutus is my favorite.
there is ^^^^ Brutus big and ^^^^ Allons-y small.
Allons-y is named after my favorite Doctor Who doctor. Any guesses which one?
***Milking a cow is painful at first.
***Milk cows like to talk - or at least the two I've milked like to.
***Moving cow/calf pairs is not for the faint-hearted.
***If you piss off a momma cow she will drop her head, run toward you, bump your butt, lift you in
the air, and bump your leg below the knee to lift you again before you hit the ground the first time. Phew. Follow all that?
***Number 530 likes to be with her calf. See above lesson learned ^^^^^.
***Tractors are not so bad to drive - unless it's muddy.
***Feed wagons are not so bad to pull - unless it's muddy.
***Feed wagons will try to pass you going downhill on a muddy hill.
***When the last heifer is in active labor it is a wonderful, glorious day that the Lord has blessed!!!
***Your body doesn't get the message that the last heifer calved and will still get up.
I have learned so much in such a short amount of time.
3rd Annual Refresh, Refocus, Renew Homeschooling Mom's Retreat
This year's Refresh, Refocus, Renew Retreat was as amazing as the previous years. I felt moved to tears a few times and became closer to Our Lord throughout the whole weekend. It could have been so wonderful because it was a trip to North Dakota by myself. We always have our retreat at Maryvale in Valley City, ND. The sisters in residence there are beautiful souls. I enjoy sharing their convent with them for a couple of days.
Our theme this year was Listening with the Ear of Your Heart. We had put our retreat under the patronage of St. Benedict - as it is written in the Rule of St. Benedict to listen with the ear of your heart.
Friday evening we started with a talk with I presented on increasing prayer as a family.
My hour long talk became interactive and lasted closer to two hours. That's what happens when women start talking. Ha ha
That evening we gathered in the chapel to pray the Chaplet of St. Benedict. Then we made either a rosary or a Chaplet of St. Benedict.
Saturday morning we gathered in the chapel for morning Mass with the sisters. Then breakfast in the library together. Fellowship time for lots of talking is a must at our retreats. It is part of how we become refreshed, refocused, and renewed.
Karla was our substitute "Guardian Angel" for the retreat. Kristin was busy with sweet Maya at this moment. Lighting the Christ candle is such a beautiful way to start our retreat.
Saturday morning we were blessed to have Fr. Asselin speak to us about listening with the ear of our hearts and how God calls each of us. He spoke on how God will call us and some examples of what that might look like. It was very inspirational. He is such an amazing priest. His parish is blessed to have him.
Fr. Asselin blessed our rosaries and chaplets for us.
The main table (which happens to be our family's altar) was the focal point of the room.
St. Benedict, pray for us.
My sister, Mauri, graciously allowed me to bring her relic collection.
Suzie was the Prayer Leader again this year. She's such an inspiring, calm mentor for us. She brings peace with her to our retreats. The perfect fit for Prayer Leader.
Sister Dorothy graced us with another talk this year. She is my favorite speaker, period. She did an amazing prayer exercise with us that still has me floating closer to heaven.
We ate supper in the dining room Saturday evening. They served us a yummy Chinese meal.
We surprised Bernadette with a cupcake for her birthday and a present and card from all of us. We had to do something since she choose to spend her birthday with us instead of her family.
Teresa accompanied us as we sang to start the Renew part of our retreat.
We had a lovely time taking turns reading quotes from famous people and saints along with Bible verses. I am always amazed at the quotes each woman picks. They say so much about that person and each touches me in some way or another.
Kristin and Maya - such cute Guardian Angels - taking their turn reading a quote.
I loved all having all these babies this year!
My buddy who really doesn't like me. HAHA
Sunday morning we attended Mass again with the sisters. After we had cleaned up the library and put everything back to "normal" we gathered for lunch at Pizza Corner in Valley City. Two of my friends from Fargo drove over so I could see them. I am so blessed by my Fargo friends!!
That evening I stayed at Suzie's house and finally started to catch up on my sleep. What a faith-filled weekend! Confession, Mass, friends, grace, and lots of healing happened!
Just Another Day
Heifer birth circle
She was "surrounded" by other heifers. When her water broke she scared them and they all ran away. Funniest thing I had seen in awhile.
Darren started calling me Mama Bovine because the calves would follow me around.
It is mostly because my coveralls smelled like calf poop, milk replacer, and a host of other barn smells. I even had a mama cow lick me. I wonder if she thought I was her baby. Again, those coveralls were really stinky.
Kickin' Up Our Heels
Towards the end of February we had just enough snow to make it feel like winter, but not enough to be hard on the herd. These calves were having such a blast at the Nursery. I could have stayed all day watching them play. So happy to be experiencing all these things!
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