A Calf is Born: A Birth Story in Pictures

This evening the heifer that Rebekah has picked as her favorite had her calf.  This is her birth story in pictures.

Rebekah is watching as the heifer has the water bag out.

The water bag has just popped.

Those are the front feet, this is good. The best position for a calf to come is both front feet first.

The head is coming out.

The shoulders are coming out.

The calf is all out and now the heifer takes about a minute to rest.

The new mama starts licking her new baby. This serves two very important purposes 1) helps the calf dry off and 2) helps stimulate the calf to stand up. It essential that the calf stand up and nurse within the first few hours of life

Mama and baby are watching their audience. The kids were watching them.

The baby is already trying to find a place to nurse. The first milk that the mama produces is colostrum.

The placenta is hanging out. The mama will deliver it soon.

Rebekah was thrilled to be right beside me when the calf was born.  She has named the new little heifer calf “Thumper.”

The sun soon went down so I didn’t get any pictures taken of the calf standing.

Definitions:

• Water bag: The fluid filled bag that comes out before the calf.
• Heifer: A female cow that has not yet had a baby.
• Colostrum: The first milk produced and it contains essential antibodies for the newborn baby.

We have been so blessed to be able to share this lifestyle with our kids!  It is so wonderful for them to be able to witness the miracle of life.  We are so thankful for God’s many blessings in our lives!

Blessings,

Jennifer

Linked to:

Off with the Old, On with the New

We continue to work on the house remodel.  This past week we have been focused on removing the old siding and replacing it with new OSB and house wrap.  In order to accomplish this task we rented a high lift.

The front of the house

My job was to  help Scott get the OSB in place and then I would go back down and till my garden.  Then when he was ready to put the house wrap on I would go back up.

This is my view while I was up on the lift.

I am so glad to have this job completed.  The next major project is going to be to do the necessary concrete foundation/basement work.  I sure hope we can get to that soon.

Blessings,

Jennifer

Pretty as a Missouri Evening

Sunday night we had 1″ of rain followed by another 0.2″ Monday.  I snapped these photos Monday evening after the sun came out.  Although we had some minor wind damage Sunday night, we didn’t have anything serious.  However my thoughts and prayers go out for those in other areas who had severe storms!

Blessings,

Jennifer

Green Grass and May Snow

I have been slow getting this posted but I thought you might enjoy some pictures before and after the May snowstorm.

Newborn calves enjoying the warm temperatures and the soft, green grass.
And then…

 

We had between 4 and 5″ inches of snow 12 hours later.

I’m thankful the snow didn’t last long.

We were due to start calving the first of May but a few calves came early.  We would not have guessed that we would have to worry about calves chilling or being born in the snow in May.  However we were blessed in that none of the cows calved during the snow.

I hope that the grass is green and growing where you are!

Blessings,

Jennifer

Linked to:

Moving the Heifers

This past Saturday I captured a few pictures of Scott and Eli moving our heifers from one paddock to another one.

Ready to move

Scott and Eli moving the fence ahead of the heifers to guide them to the next paddock.

They are getting close to calving!

Enjoying the new grass.

Blessings,

Jennifer

Top Bar Bee Hives

For quite some time I have wanted to start beekeeping.  The majority of my winter reading material has been on bees in preparation for this spring.  Shortly after we moved back to our family farm we discovered there is a hive of bees in one of the grain bins.  Although I cannot get to the bees, to get them out because of where they are located I have hopes of catching a swarm from this hive.

The bees are going in above the unloading auger located at the bottom of the grain bin.

Closer view of the unloading auger

Close up of one of the bees. They aren’t very active today due to the cool, wet weather.

So I have been working on building two top bar hives.  I didn’t have the proper tools to cut the bars the way I wanted to so I recruited my brother to help.  He willingly agreed to help me.  (Thanks, Matt!)

One of the top bars.  Didn’t he do a great job?!

I got wax from a local bee keeper and melted it so that I could dip each of the top bars in it.  This helps the bees know that they are supposed to build their comb here.

Chunk of wax before melting it.

Two of the top bars after being dipped in melted wax.

I didn’t get any pictures of me actually dipping the top bars because the wax got solid very quickly and I was trying to hurry.

Top bar hive with the lid off

I think the new hives look really good so far.

Hopefully when the bees swarm they will find my top bar hive appealing.

Have any of you been successful at catching swarms?  If so how did you do it?  Do you have other suggestions how to get the bees into my hive and out of the grain bin?

Blessings,

Jennifer

Linked to:

Our Sweet New Baby

Sons are a heritage from the Lord, children a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when the contend with their enemies in the gate.           Psalm 127:3-5

We welcomed our precious Hannah Elizabeth into our family March 10.  What a wonderful addition she is to our family.

Hannah Elizabeth one month old.

Our children are all such wonderful blessings!

Blessings,

Jennifer