Will the fun ever stop?

We spent most of the day standing around looking like idiots.

They did this.

We were already doing what most of you suggested, shaking a pail of treats at them. Edie would be interested, but had to get permission from Letichia (the mama cow) They would come up, but leading them off wasn't happening.

I had to go to my mother's last night. And while I was gone, the boys were riding around on their ATV. It didn't spook the cows, they just decided that they were too close and wondered back to the correct side of the barn. So much simpler then standing there shaking things at them.

The Quest comes to an End, but the Adventure is Just Beginning

We have a problem, dear readers. But instead of just blurting it out, it would be best to start at the beginning. Yesterday morning I got a phone call from the people we met 2 weeks ago. The cows were in the loading pen. I could pick them up today or wait and they would turn them out into a smaller pasture. Of course I said I want to pick them up today. As we drove (I know I said that the trip was 1 and 1/2 hours, but I lied, it is a full 2 hour trip) I started thinking about the fact that I, me, the suburban raised girl, was about t be responsible for an animal, strike that 2 animals that weigh 750 lbs. And I got nervous.

Things tend not to go smoothly for us, we don't have beginners luck. As I was thinking about dying at the hands of a cow, the truck shuddered. We had lost oil pressure. We pulled into a station in a very small town. One of the cylinders had blown, and all the oil had shot out. I paid way too much for 4 quarts of oil, my husband made a "tampon" for it. And we made it safely to the farm.

We talked with the owners, laughing and being told all about what happens next. What happens next is that we are now in the American Dexter Cattle Association. But nothing else was brought up. We loaded them and went into the house to fill out paper work, then we said our goodbyes. The trip home was ok. Half the trip I got a kick, ok found myself in a giggle fit over the different country road waves we were getting from others. No longer was it the one finger wave, we now had a horn hanging out of the trailer, now we were receiving the full hand over the steering wheel wave. My husband thought it was funny, how much I was enjoying it.

We stopped at another middle of nowhere gas station to get something to snack on. As my 4 year old and I were paying, I looked out to see my husband checking on the cows, and a group of people staring at him. Seeing a small cow with horns must be a sight!

And to that man driving the AT&T van. Just because the road says you can pass, doesn't mean you should. If you can't see the road up ahead, don't pass 3 cars, and 2 trucks. This guy almost slammed into on coming traffic. We had to brake to let him back in. So if AT&T is doing a search looking for what peole are saying about their company. You might want to get the man driving the van around 4:20 pm Feb. 28, 2008 on hwy 400 east of Leon Kansas, driving lessons.

The truck stalled in a downtown area of a small um...ok large town (not really a city), and it wouldn't start back up. I freaked. How where we to push the pick-up with cows in the back!?! Luckily it finally turned back over and we booked towards home.

Once home we didn't have hay. I have called several people and no one answered or have yet to return my call. So I hollered at a neighbor, who was outside as we pulled in. I asked him if I could buy some hay off of him, telling him what was going on. He said to take what we need, no charge.

Their stallion wasn't real happy about my husband stealing his food.

Now we had to let the Dexter's out and into the pen.

Letichia, the oldest and the one with the calf, backed out not very gracefully, of the trailer. Baby, whom we have named Uma (pronounce it like oooo ma. get it? ha!) followed.

Letichia was first to the food.

Uma was quick to join her.

Soon the neighbor with the hay and the good neighbor were over to look at the cows. Now they too want some. The neighbor with the food left after a bit, him and his girlfriend were craving steaks.

Edie, the pregnant one was hard to photograph. Why? Because Letichia is a bully, and kept her away from us and the food. I will try to get some of her later.

Now here is the problem, sometime last night they escaped from the pen. Luckily they went into the goat pen. Uma however was still in the cattle pen. Letichia's bellowing is what gave me the heads up. They are still in the goat pen, and they want nothing to do with us.

The Continuing Saga of the Quest for the House Cows

Yesterday my husband finished up the corral fencing, using field fence that his brother was set to throw out.

The main gate was finished as well

Before

After

The beginnings of a milking stanchion has been set into motion.

It would be horrible if the people changed their mind about selling us those cows. Good thing that we just got a phone call. THE COWS ARE COMING! (run away, run a...way) We will be leaving this afternoon to pick them up.

Shriveled Old Carrot

Those of you near Russellville Ark, might be interested in this:

Animal Producers set meeting
The Arkansas Animal Producer’s Association (ARAPA) will hold a state-wide meeting from 3-6 p.m. March 2 at the Atkins High School auditorium. The public is invited to attend. Continues here (you will need to scroll down)

We have 4 new residents, (no not the cows. The weather has stopped behaving badly, so we might just be able to get out there this week) 2 goslings and turkey chicks. I am hoping that we can get more eggs with the goslings. None of the eggs that my goose laid last year hatched. We will try again with her this year. But until then, we have the new duo.

Sexing geese is an interesting event. Marina and I were discussing this once upon a time. I am surprised that I can remember it. But we were chatting through IM when the discussion turned to geese and how one must sex them. None of my bird books really said how one does it or what one is looking for. Marina grabbed her book and the side hurting laughter began. It didn't help that it was the middle of the night and both of us were giddy from lack of sleep. Marina informed me that a gander will have a shriveled carrot. What!?! The technique is similar to sexing chicks, something I am still working on. Luckily for me Marina's book also talk about sexing without flipping. Look at the birds carriage, the lower it carries itself to the ground, the more likely it is female. This happened to be true with my other 2. But this group. . . At the store they looked to be female, but as they grow (we have had them a week) their carriages seem to be rising. Well, I guess we have Christmas dinner.

Seed exchange muddin'

Howling Hill's seed exchange is still in my hands. I have taken out Echinacea purpurea, California Wonder Bell pepper, and garlic seed. And have added Golden Zucchini Squash, Kentucky Wonder Green Beans, cow peas, snowball cauliflower and ailsa craig onion. They will be mailed as soon as Gina emails me back. There is still time to join, just let me know.

My red bell peppers are starting to flower.

This weekend we took a little down time to play.

My middle son has declared that he wants to race ATV's

While the youngest ate a lot of mud during the fun, and then slept hard.