Meet Blackie

It's that time of year again.... when our little farm starts to grow... adding feet by the four.

(four feet.... that is)

This is our newest addition... Blackie (aka Black Stallion, Laddy III, and Black Beauty)

Blackie is a ewe lamb, Suffolk and Dorper cross. She is Wyatt's show lamb for the Fair come fall.

Much to Wyatt's consternation, I would not allow him to name the little lady "Black Stallion".

Sorry.  Some things just aren't proper.... and Blackie is not a male or a horse (at least last time I checked).

Blackie had just arrived, and was headed out to the barn to meet her new roommate -- Reid's calf -- you'll meet her next.

Run, Blackie, Run!

Wait!!!!  Should I go with them.... or stay with her?

(the crazy lady with the big black camera)
Maybe the camera is my Momma?

Go?

Stay?

Goooooooo!!!!!

Ahhh...... sweet, warm milk.

(in a Coca-Cola bottle)

Welcome little Lady.... and no worries about the market at the end of the Fair.

You'll get to go back to your previous home and become a Momma!

More of this....

...headed our way...

...brrrrrr.....

....food for....

...the birds...

...stay warm, my friends...

(yes i fed them)

66.4 mph

 66.4 mph.

That's the max windspeed we had last night.

...the wind that knocked out our power for almost 9 hrs....

...the wind that had us eating leftovers by lamp light and cuddled around the gas fireplace....

...the wind that blew away the leaves and took some branches with them....

...the wind that had us carrying pails of water from the cattle trough to flush toilets....

...the wind that took out our patio table AND the umbrella AND the granite umbrella holder AND a few shingles here and there....

So today I'm thankful

for electricity...

for running water...

for warm houses...

for helping hands.

What are you thankful for today?

A little corny

Yes, we do love our animals around here...

...they get special treats and lots of pats and hugs...

(now you know where she gets it)

Here's wishing you a wonderful, relaxing, long weekend.... with a little corniness...

...and lots of smiles!

Palouse Country Harvest

The hills are alive..... with the sound of combines...... singing the song of harvest....

A grain's eye perspective...

The big green machine gobbling up the golden grains and separating the wheat from the chaff.

We have a very generous neighbor across the flat that every year gives three eager boys a ride on his combine. The boys wait all summer for this short lived moment....
"Is the wheat ready yet?" over and over again....
This summer they got to ride almost an hour.... boy heaven.

You can't see them here in the cab....waiting for the combine to start up again.
I can only imagine how they feel.... heart thumping, pulse quickening, eyes alight with excitement.
What a good man our neighbor is... he remembers what it is like to be a boy.

And that means the tank is full.... time to unload the liquid gold.

A short ride in the semi was "loads" of fun, too.
The semi is headed to the elevator to unload it's precious cargo.

Until next year....



I'm linking up to You Capture this week (first time!) where the theme is Outside.

Birth of Bull's Eye the Calf

Here is a short (30 sec) birth video of Bull's Eye. (I apologize for my poor videography skills!) Luna had been in active labor for a few hours, and down and pushing for about 15 minutes before he was born. I never tire of watching calves being born..... although I must admit, I am a nervous watcher.... torn between letting nature take its course and giving nature a little helping hand. But Luna was awesome... she needed no help. The boys were standing next to me watching.... as you can tell.

Welcome Baby Bull's Eye

We welcomed a new life on our farm this weekend....
"Bull's Eye" (as the boys named him) was born at 9:50 AM.
(Updated: here's a link to the short video of his birth)

At 9:54 AM he was standing and searching for his first meal....
he's a go getter, that one....
I am continually amazed at the tenacity of calves..... a.maz.ed

His first bath.... Luna is such a good Mommy.

Hello, Bull's Eye... been walking long?
You'll get those land legs going real soon, don't you worry.

So here's the milk bar! I knew it was somewhere close by!
Now, let's see... Eeenie, meenie, miney, moe...

Some hours later.....
Aren't I handsome?

Nighty, night..... sleep tight..... welcome to the world little Bull's Eye....

{linked to Mosaic Monday's over at the Little Red House}
{Click to see the vintage summer photos she has for you today... gorgeous!}

Hayin'

Here are some photos of raking the hay and baling the hay and putting the hay away, hey hey!
Enjoy...

Yippee!!! Time to celebrate another year of getting the hayin' done!

Have a safe and happy 4th of July!
God Bless America!