JAN 24,2008

LAST BLOG IT WAS -14, THEN IT GOT TO -28, THEN TO -34, THEN A WEEK OF WARM WEATHER WHEN THE DAYTIME HIGH GOT ABOVE ZERO. ALMOST GOT TO FREEZING, NOT QUITE, SO WE DIDN'T, ANOTHER ICE SHEET. ALREADY HAVE ONE UNDER THE SNOW PACK. THIS MORNING -20 AND I GUESS FROM THE WEATHER FORECAST WILL BE THIS WAY MOST OF THE WEEK.

HAD 1 CALF IN THAT REAL COLD SPELL (NICE LOOKING BULL) THAT DIDN'T MAKE IT. HAD ANOTHER IN THE LAST WARM SPELL THAT IS DOING WELL. HAD A PAIR OF TWINS BORN DEAD. THIS IS WAY TOO EARLY. 3/4 OF THE NEW CALF CROP IS DEAD. NOT A GOOD RATIO. THE RED BELLIED WOODPECKERS (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A ROBIN) ARE REALLY WORKING THE FEEDERS THIS MORNING. AT LEAST ONE PAIR FEED (SEEMS LIKE A LOT OF BIRDS BUT I CAN'T TELL ONE MALE FROM ANOTHER) HERE ALL THE TIME. PAT GETS SUET FROM THE MEAT MARKET IN PLUM CITY TO PUT ONTO THE FEEDERS AND IT CERTAINLY IS A HIT WITH MOST OF THE BIRDS. (WOODPECKERS, BLUE JAYS, CARDINALS, NUTHATCHES AND MORE).

HAVE TO GIVE SHOTS THIS MORNING. ONE OF LAST YEAR'S CALVES HAS AN INFECTED KNEE. HE GOT A SHOT OF PENICILLIN TUESDAY, AND I WORKED SOME OF THE INFECTION OUT. IT WAS DRAINING NICELY. WEDNESDAY HE LAID DOWN IN A HOLE AND WE HAD TO HELP HIM GET BACK ONTO HIS FEET. WE PUT HIM IN THE BARN AND HE IS DOING BETTER. HE WILL GET ANOTHER PENICILLIN SHOT AND THE NEW CALF (HE AND MOM ARE IN THE HAY SHED DURING THESE BELOW ZERO MORNINGS) WILL GET A TAG AND VITAMIN E WITH SELINUM SHOT.


PETE WENT TO THE BOTTOMS TO BRING HOME SOME HAY (WE HAVE ABOUT 29 BALES WE DID NOT GET HOME LAST FALL) AND ALMOST MADE IT UP THE HILL. THE FEED WAGON HAS 3 BALES IN IT AND IF YOU LOOK CLOSE YOU CAN SEE IT IS TIED TO THE TREE WITH A TOW ROPE. PETE AND HIS DAD TRIED VARIOUS WAYS TO TOP THE HILL WITH NO AVAIL. IT WAS ABOUT 30 THAT DAY AND THE SNOW PACK WAS SLIPPERY. TODAY I WAS ON THE TRACTOR WITH MANY LENGTHS OF CHAIN SO THAT I WAS ON TOP OF THE HILL PULLING AND PETE WAS BEHIND THE WAGON IN HIS DODGE PUSHING. WITH QUITE A BIT OF TIRE SPINNING, RE-HOOKING, SHOUTING, AND A FEW LANGUAGE CHOICES WE GOT THE FEED TO THE COWS. ONE THING ABOUT WINTER IS HAVING A COMPLETE NEW SET OF OPPORTUNITIES TO OVERCOME. WHAT A CHALLENGE AND AT ABOUT -10 TO BOOT.

JAN 13, 2009

MINUS 17 DEGREES THIS MORNING. NOW JAN 24th. NOT DOING GOOD ON BLOGING

JAN 8, 2009

WOW A NEW YEAR ALREADY. WINTER IS IN PROCESS AND SOON WILL BE SPRING, A BEAUTIFUL TIME. BUT WINTER IS ALSO PRETTY NICE. THE AWE INSPIRING SNOW CLINGING TO THE TREE BRANCHES, THE CARPET OF WHITE EXTENDING FOREVER, THE TEMPERATURE, CREATING THE DESIRE TO PUT ON ADITIONAL CLOTHS, WARM CLOTHES. THE LORD CREATES AN UNENDING CASCADE OF DIFFERENT DAYS NOT TO CHOSE FROM,. BUT TAKE THEM AS THEY COME.

DEC 23,2008

WELL IT'S TUESDAY, ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL DAY. SUNS NOT UP YET BUT WHEN I LET THE DOGS OUT THE PORCH LIGHT SHOWED ANOTHER ADDITION OF SNOW HAD OCCURRED OVERNIGHT. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MEASURE IT BUT IN MOST PLACES THERE IS A GOOD FOOT OF SNOW AROUND YOUR FEET. IT KEEPS TRYING TO WEIGH DOWN PAT'S CHRISTMAS BLOWUPS (SANTA, ELVES, SNOW MEN ETC) BUT THE 20 MILE PER HOUR WINDS KEEP THEM BOBBING AND WEAVING ENOUGH TO STAY CLEAN. THE LAST COUPLE OF MORNINGS IT HAS REALLY BEEN CRUNCHY UNDER FOOT. IT HAS BEEN -19 THE LAST TWO MORNINGS. IT'S A WONDER THE ANIMALS LIVING OUTSIDE DON'T FREEZE SOLID. THE COWS, CALVES AND HEIFERS ARE ALL FINE. WE FEED THEM EXTRA CORN AND SILAGE ON THE COLD DAYS TO KEEP UP THEIR ENERGY. THE DEER, TURKEYS, RABBITS, EAGLES, WOODPECKERS, PIGEONS, ALL SEEM TO STAY ALIVE SOMEHOW. THE FOOT OF SNOW MUST MAKE FORAGING FOR FOOD A REAL CHALANGE. GOOD THING IS THATS ALL THEY HAVE TO DO ALL DAY.

AS FOR US POOR HUMANS, WE HAVE TO PROVIDE FOOD AND SHELTER FOR OURSELVES AND FAMILY AND IF WE ARE SMART AND INDUSTRIOUS WE WILL NOT ONLY PROVIDE FOR TODAY, TODAY, BUT WILL ALSO TRY TO PROVIDE FOR TOMORROW TODAY. GOT TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THAT SAYS. ENGLISH TEACHERS WOULD SAY I HAVE TOO MANY TODAYS BUT I THINK NOT.

THIS MORNING ITS ABOUT +3 DEGREES OUT. A LITTLE EXTRA SNOW ON ALL THINGS OUTSIDE. IT'S NICE WHEN THINGS WARM UP A BIT. GOT 12 HEATER FRAMES WELDED AND CLEANED READY TO BE GALVANIZED. NEED TO FINISH THE WATERING TANKS AND A NEW SUMMER WATERER DESIGN AND CAN TAKE THE WHOLE WORKS TO THE GALVANIZER IN ST. PAUL AFTER THE FIRST OF THE YEAR. WOW ANOTHER YEAR GONE BY. TIME FLIES WHEN YOU'RE HAVING FUN. WORKING LIKE CRAZY AND STILL HAVE THINGS ON MY LIST TO GET DONE. PRETTY SOON I WILL HAVE ANOTHER YEAR TO ACCOMPLISH THEM.

NEED TO VACCINATE AND PUT POUR ON (KILLS THE GRUBS AND LICE ETC) ON THE HEIFERS AND CALVES YET. WE HAVE CHRISTMAS DINNER AT OUR ACCOUNTANT ON THE 24TH, PETE HAS HIS FAMILY DINNER ON THE 26TH, MAYBE HE SHOULD HANDLE CATTLE ON THE 25TH? WOMEN SAY NOT. MAYBE ON SAT THE 27TH. TIME TO START WORKING ON EQUIPMENT SO EVERYTHING IS READY FOR NEXT YEAR. PART OF THAT PROVIDING FOR TOMORROW. (SAME OLD STUFF, DIFFERENT DAY OR I SHOULD SAY YEAR. IT NEVER SEEMS TO BE DONE. HOPEFULLY WE CAN RIDE THE MOTORCYCLE MORE THIS NEXT SUMMER.)

I GUESS OUR ABILITY TO PLAN AND WORK FOR A BETTER TIME IN THE FUTURE IS WHAT MAKES US (MAN AND WOMAN) DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE ANIMAL KINGDOM. PERHAPS SOME OF OUR SPECIES HAS NOT DEVELOPED THAT ABILITY. HAVE BEEN TRYING TO LEARN THE PIECES OF DEVELOPING A WEB PRESENCE FOR "ABC PRODUCTS". FARMING IS A WONDERFUL LIFE STYLE BUT IT TAKES INCOME FROM ANOTHER SOURCE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE IT. WELL BACK TO MANUFACTURING AGAIN!!

WE HAVE ABC PRODUCTS LLC (SIMILAR TO ABC PRODUCTS INC, WHICH WE LAID TO REST) WHICH WILL MARKET THE HEATERS (MEGA-HEAT, TENT-HEAT) THE HANDICAPPED TOILET SEATS, CHIP PICKER AND SUMMER TIME CATTLE WATERERS TO START WITH. WILL STILL MAKE RAIL ROAD BRACKETS ALSO; PLUS TRY TO RENT THE HOUSES. TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME.

HAVE TO WORK ON THE MORSBACH FAMILY HOME. BUILT BY ?? MY GRANDFATHER CARL LIVED IN IT IN 1900 AND I, CARL, LIVED IN IT IN 2000; BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHEN IT WAS BUILT. SHOULD SPEND SOME TIME ON FAMILY HISTORY ALSO. THE HOUSE IS SMALL FOR PAT AND I BECAUSE WE HAVE STUFF. WONDER HOW IT WORKED FOR SOME OF THE FAMILIES (WHO RAN THE FARM) THAT HAD 9 AND 13 KIDS. MAYBE SOME IMPROVEMENTS CAN BE MADE THIS YEAR.
(LORD, I HOPE SO...I NEED SPACE)!!!

OH, BY THE WAY, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALL AND ALSO A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

DEC 15, 2008

9 BELOW THIS MORNING. SPENT MOST OF YESTERDAY WORKING ON THE WEB PAGES. FRIDAY WE PREG CHECKED THE COW HERD. BAD NEWS AS 16 OF THEM WERE OPEN! THEY WERE MOSTLY THE OLDER THIN COWS WE BOUGHT A FEW YEARS AGO. THE HERD IS NOW ONLY AT 69 MOMS. WE PUT IN THE 14 HEIFERS AND WE'RE AT 84, STILL 16 SHORT FROM THE 100 WHERE WE THINK THE BALANCE POINT IS.

DEC 14, 2008

SUNDAY, SLEPT LATE, TOOK A NAP, MID AFTERNOON; IT'S BEEN RAINING, AND THE WIND IS BLOWING THE BIRDS OFF THE FEEDERS. PAT'S SANTA IN FRONT OF THE HOUSE IS REALLY BEING PUT TO THE TEST (STANDING UP). HE MAY BE PUT TO THE MOVING THROUGH THE TREES TEST LATER IN THE DAY. HOPE NOT!! IT'S ALMOST FORTY DEGREES, THE SNOW IS MELTING, THE DIRT IS MELTING (SLIPPERY MUD OVER HARD GROUND) IT'S SLIGHTLY RAINING- WHICH MAY CHANGE TO RAIN, HARDER-RAIN, SLEET/SNOW. THE WEATHER MAN IS CONFUSED (WHAT'S NEW) AND I'M HAPPY TO TAKE IT AS IT COMES. SUPPOSED TO DROP TO AROUND -1 TONIGHT WITH THE WIND STILL BLOWING. DAMN THOSE COWS ARE TOUGH!

I HAVE A RED BELLIED WOODPECKER (ABOUT THE SIZE OF A ROBIN) ON THE FEEDER (THE WIND IS QUIET FOR A MOMENT) AND A DOWNY ON THE TREE WAITING HIS TURN. THE WIND PICKS UP AND THEY'RE BOTH BLOWN AWAY.

DEC 10, 2008

WELL IT WAS 8 BELOW THIS MORNING AND WE HAVE ABOUT 6 INCHES OF SNOW. MAYBE I HAVE TO ADMIT WINTER IS HERE. HAVEN'T BLOGGED FOR A WHILE BECAUSE I'VE BEEN TRYING TO CATCH UP ON LOOSE ENDS BEFORE WINTER. MONDAY WE GOT THE ROAD TO THE HAY FIELD ALONG THE RIVER COVERED WITH A LAYER OF CARPET AND 8 INCHES OF BREAKER ROCK. WILL WAIT UNTIL SPRING TO SEE IF WE NEED TO PUT DOWN ANOTHER LAYER OF CRUSHED ROCK. WE GOT TWO ORDERS OF RAILROAD PARTS DONE AND SHIPPED, GOT A HEATED WATER TANK OUT FOR THE HEIFERS, BUT IT STILL NEEDS TO BE FILLED WITH A HOSE EVERY DAY OR MAYBE TWICE. GOT ABOUT TWO MONTHS OF CANDY FOR THE YOUNG STOCK YESTERDAY AFTER THE MORNING SNOW AND BEFORE THE AFTERNOON WIND COMES. HAD THE WAGON BEHIND THE BLUE PICKUP, BUT EVEN IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE HAD QUESTIONS ABOUT GETTING THAT LOAD UP THE 3 SNOW PACKED HILLS. IN THIS COUNTY WE DO MORE SANDING THAN SALTING SO FOR A FEW DAYS AFTER A SNOW STORM WE DRIVE ON SNOW PACK. IT TEACHES YOU TO SLOW DOWN AND BEHAVE YOURSELF.

WINTER AND SNOW ARE HERE SO INTO WINTER THINGS. FRIDAY IS PREGNANCY CHECK DAY (ABOUT 95+COWS AND 14 HEIFERS). ITS A TEAM EFFORT, THE VET PREG CHECKS, FOREST DOES POUR ON (BUG KILLER) AND SHOTS, PETE KEEPS THEM MOVING DOWN THE CHUTE, PAT KEEPS TRACK OF THE DATA BY COW TAG NUMBER, AND I RELAX, HAVE COFFEE AND WATCH. (YEAH RIGHT --- HAS TENDENCY TO GIVE LOTS OF ORDERS.) WE STILL HAVE TO GIVE SHOTS AND POUR ON TO THE CALVES TWICE (TWO WEEKS APART) AND THAT WILL FINISH OUR ANIMAL IMMUNE PROGRAM FOR THE YEAR.

HAD AN INQUIRY ABOUT RENTING THE SOUTH HOME YESTERDAY, BUT DID NOT READ THE EMAIL UNTIL LATE LAST NIGHT. THEY ARE FRON TX AND WANT TO STAY FROM THE 24TH TO THE 28TH OF DEC. HAVE TO CALL THEM TODAY AND SEE IF IT'S SOMEBODY DREAMING OR FOR REAL. MAYBE THEY WANT A WHITE CHRISTMAS. IT WOULD BE NEAT TO HAVE SOMEONE STAY FOR CHRISTMAS. IF SO, WILL HAVE TO TURN THE WATER ON, THE HEAT ON, VACCUM THE BUGS UP, MAKE UP THE BEDS PLOW THE DRIVE, (PUT UP A CHRISTMAS TREE?). SOUNDS LIKE HE IS GOING TO BE BUSY, DON'T YOU THINK???

EQUIPMENT REPAIR TIME. GOT PLENTY OF THAT.