The truth.......

Well as the truth has been told to me I am not feeling so bad about loosing the last few animals. Poor things (bull calves) did not have their colostrum for at the minimum 12 hours and who knows really how long it took.

I don't blame them (the farmer) they have a huge maximum capacity farm with over 300 milking three times a day. They make close to 30,000 pounds of milk a day so I can see how a (basically useless in their book) bull calf can be over looked. The cows udders are so huge that the calf (who looks at the high point of the udder)for a drink can't always find it. Sometimes the teats are so big that the calf can't manage.

Without the colostrum as we all know, the calf has no antibodies from his dam to take him through the first important few days of life. No matter what I do by the time I get him will help (that is without spending a large quantity of money). So there I have it. Still feel bad though.

So now I have two more and they are fine and healthy. Drinking up a storm and flitting about.

On another subject.

My daughter has a slight hearing loss in one ear. I have been called by the school no less than four times about the subject. The pediatrician was not worried nor was I but none the less I had to take her to the Audiologist to make sure there wasn't some form of vegetable growing in her ears. The doctor gave her the thumbs up but still she took 2.5 hours to test and recheck. What a long day....
I don't mind making sure my girl is healthy (the school was trying to tell me she could have a tumor or something, thanks for that!).

What really bothers me is that while I had my daughter bring home extra work I have again realized that the girl has no concept of her vowel sounds.

Yes, I am frustrated.

Yes, I have been working with her myself,

No, the school thinks there isn't enough of an issue to get extra help.

If you don't know your short vowel sounds do you think you will have difficulty reading and learning to spell? Sure my girl can do American Sign Language (something I have always wanted to learn) and speak Spanish so I guess they don't expect her to have to know how to read or write at this point. Is it me? Am I expecting too much from the school to teach her the basics of our language?

Sure I sometimes call my daughter the trophy wife in jest but it looks like the school is going to have her major in it!

OK, maybe not.......

So since last I wrote all has gone more haywire than I like to admit. I have lost more animals this year than ever in my career.

I know it was not due to my poor husbandry but to circumstances beyond my control. It doesn't help one feel any better though. I have completely run out of room in the burial plot. Where to put the next one is the question.

Now I figure the spring season has only about a month left to it and with this particular Spring season I will also let go of the sadness that is collected.

I am looking forward to the growing season and am putting seeds in the ground at this point. I will plant my started plants this weekend. I don't think the 4-H has anything planned this weekend. We have been very busy with community service and charity events.

The trailer is getting closer for occupancy with the windows being cut in this weekend (yup spent all that money and I put big holes in it). Carpeting on the sleep deck and floor and a set of stairs are in the works.

Two more Does left to kidd and that will be it for the season. No, I don't know when they are due. It was a bred this year or not so I wasn't paying too close attention.

I have dealt with some people I will never deal with again, but they were counterbalanced by others who are completely and honestly trying to invoke a good feeling with younger generations in the area of Agriculture.

I will continue to do my best to help everyone I meet in this area as well as keep the good food growing for those who have the inclination to buy excellent product close to home. We are ever closer to the milk licence and will get there soon. I now have my vacuum system with the buckets and claws (both cow and goat).

So the turning of a page and another chapter laid to rest. I'm sure things will improve this next season. Yes, I am the perpetual Optomist........