Long Days and Late Nights
13 Friday Sep 2019
Posted in Dirty Work
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13 Friday Sep 2019
Posted in Dirty Work
Our middle child (Michael) left for college. This is move-in day. He is the work horse behind our operation. So now, we have to step up our game. ….and I thought I was already high-steppin’. Luckily, he comes home on weekends and he helps us get caught up. 
We’ve also been doing a lot of “cattle work”. We had quite a few cows that were missing ear tags, and so we spent one day putting in brand new earrings…..as I like to call them. Fancy cows! We also did a preg-check. That’s when the vet comes out and we check all the cows to see who’s pregnant or open. That was a long day. Help me!
Hay…..so much hay. We finally conquered the beast….but not without long days and late nights. Here we are just finishing up on the biggest field. Woo-hoo! Oh wait….we still need to haul it all home. Ugh!
This was my view for days. Mowing hay….round and round. I sat in the tractor with my ear buds in and my big water jug. I shift into survival mode on days like this. 
Very poor quality picture….but another view from another day. I can mow hay…rake hay…bale hay…haul hay! I admit that I suck at baling. The monitor is always screaming at me and telling me things I don’t understand. So, the big boys usually do that and I’ll stick with what I’m good at.
Late night hauling. We had over 300 bales to haul in. The farm girls did the driving back and forth while Earl loaded the wagons for us. It was 1:30 before we wrapped up that project. Needless to say….I was pooped! 
We’ve also been bombarded with kittens. Two litters have showed up at the barn. Look at those cat eyes. They’re saying….just shoot me now! haha We help her out and feed them warm cows milk.
And there you have it. When I’m not doing the dirty work I’m busy in the yard and flower gardens. I’ve got some monster pumpkins growing out there. Can’t wait to show you………………………….Carol
Was thinking the other day haven’t heard from Carol for a while missed you
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When you start on the hay do you then work on it every day until it’s done? Did it stay fine the whole time? How many days’ work from start to finish? What a relief it must be to get this huge job out of the way!
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We watch for a wide open week with no rain. Once we mow hay down we stay with it every day until its hauled in off of the field. We try not to mow more than what we can handle according to the weather forecast. If hay gets rained on the quality goes down drastically. Milk production is all about the quality of feed and hay the cows eat. It’s a science…..🙂 kinda gets crazy at times.
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Does that mean you might work like 10 long days without a day off (for instance)?
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😂😂😂 I dont know what a day off is….but yes, we’ve been working on this hay for the last 2 weeks off and on. It does get better though…..and it’s back to just doing the milking twice a day and then what I call my “girl work”…🙂 Once in a blue moon I’ll take an evening off if the crew is home to cover.
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Dairy farming’s hard work but must be even more so when you get it all done by the efforts of your own family pulling together. I admire that you all can do that!
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