They Call Me Milkmaid
15 Wednesday May 2019
Posted in Dirty Work
Category Archives: Dirty Work
This is my basic milkmaid attire. Bad hair…don’t care. There is no makeup in the milk barn. I wear the same clothes day after day. They’re faded from being washed in hot water every night….but the smell still remains. I live in muck boots, and have to buy a new pair about every 6 months. Whenever my feet say “Ouch”. 
Some of my best friends are in the form of “bovines”. So much of the herd is what I have raised from baby on up. They see me every morning and evening…7 days a week. We have bad days and good days. Sometimes we even fight, but we have to get along. 
Then there’s Miss Daisy. Very curious. At least her nose is clean. Have you ever watched a cow clean their nose? Wish I could do that! Especially in the winter time when it’s cold and I have to wipe my nose on my coat sleeve and just keep goin’. Yes, a true milkmaid will do that……. 
I still have a handful of baby calves to feed, but nothing like last winter. Everything is so much easier when the weather warms up. We found this little tyke right after it was born. Mama was mighty proud! 
I clean up once in a great while. At least for special occasions….like Mother’s Day. These are my little “peeps” all grown up now. I am now the smallest person in the family. “Little but mighty” is that what they say? I’m just trying to survive………………CarolBaby It’s Cold Outside
12 Friday Apr 2019
Posted in Dirty Work
It’s so hard to talk about winter when spring is in full swing around here. It must be done though, so one more story about our wicked winter and I’m moving on to better days. If I hear one person say that our winter wasn’t too bad…….I will totally lose all control. Obviously they don’t work outside! 
Just look at all the bitterness. That’s snow and ice on the cows. They tolerate the cold weather much better than I do. 
We had a very wet winter and lots of freezing temperatures…mud everywhere and horrible ruts all throughout the pastures. It would rain torrents and then a deep freeze would come. This is only the tip of the iceberg. 
This is what we used on the cows all winter long. You need to protect their “tits” ( every dairyman says that and we don’t think nuthin’ of it ) from frostbite. This stuff works like magic. We didn’t have any problems as long as we put this salve on them every time. We pre-dip with iodine and post with this salve. Keeps the cows happy and the humans from getting kicked. 
Underneath all the heavy layers are Michael and Marshall. We have become experts at layering and staying warm….except for our fingers. My hands get so cold while feeding calves that I’ll dip them into the warm milk to take away the “sting” and then hurry on down the line. By the time I get back to the barn I can’t decide if I want to scream or cry they’re “burning” so bad. Don’t ever tell a milkmaid that you love wintertime……. 
We had just enough snow for one small snowman. They spent all this time building the cute little guy and then after they got done, they took the 4-wheeler….raced straight for him….and squashed him like a bug. Don’t mess with farm kids either. 
An early morning sunrise. One of the few beautiful things about winter. I’m so happy that is behind us and we’re enjoying all the beauty of spring. Ahhhhh…..new life everywhere. I plan to go “hog wild” on the gardening this summer……………………..Carol
Raising Calves
28 Thursday Mar 2019
Posted in Dirty Work
Today I want to share with you what “hibernation” means to a farm girl/milkmaid. I’m in charge of all the baby calves……until weaning age that is. This in itself keeps me fully “grounded” and at home most of the time. I’m sorta like the old timers. I go to town for supplies about once a month. Give or take a few days. Haha Raising calves is a big job so I recruit lots of help from the kids. We all work together. 
Here’s my partial row of calves. As soon as they’re born we put them into their own little hutch. I like to call it their cozy little condo. Every single calf needs to be vaccinated ASAP and then we feed them fresh colostrum to give them a good, healthy start. Without these steps their life can be pretty “dicey”. Calves will pick up bugs very easily and if not caught in time they’ll be dead within 24 hours. Just like human babies……constant care. 
Bedding down hutches is not a favorite job. It’s back breaking work and Marshall says it’s the worst job on the farm. Our winter was extremely wet and muddy which calls for lots and lots of bedding. The dogs think it’s great fun! 
We only had one set of twins. I kept them together for a couple of days so they could “bond”. That’s the “mother instinct” in me. After a few days they go their separate ways. Baby calves do best when they have their own hutch. 
We had all colors this year. Mostly brown, black and red. The red was my favorite. They’re always such cute little stinkers…..and then they grow up. 
I always do the “hat thing” at Christmas time. It takes so. much. patience. They hate that silly thing on their head….but I think it looks so cute. Can you see that look? It’s saying……Oh the disgust and shame! Get that stupid thing off of my head! 
Speaking of shame……little “Dixie chic” was so mad at us for doing this to her. Just look at her face! She is so ticked! Oh my…..Candace and I just laughed and laughed. Too much fun! Well, that’s all for now. More winter pictures coming up next………………..Carol
This is Me
25 Monday Mar 2019
Posted in Dirty Work, Uncategorized
Hallelujah! It’s finally spring! With that being said, I decided it’s high time I crawl out of my “hibernation hole” and start communicating with humans again. It has been a long hard winter. 
I want to start out with a little introduction of myself and my “farm crew”. I was born and raised in Ohio on a grain farm. I met my “cowboy” and he brought me out here to the wild, wild West. We started our dairy farm in 1993 on his family farm in Northeastern Oklahoma. This is where we’ve been ever since. I milk cows twice a day, seven days a week. I love the cows, but the work is hard and the stress is real…….so I turn to gardening for therapy and self-care. Gardening heals the heart and soul. 
We have 3 young farmers. We depend heavily on their help around the farm. We have no employees, so this is 100% family owned and operated. We’re just a small little speck compared to all the gigantic dairy farms all over the country. Candace is the oldest at 22…then we have Michael (on the left ) at 18. A senior this year. And the kid…at 16. All hard workers and keep us alive and kicking. 
I try to share on this website a little insight of our life on a dairy farm. We have good days…bad days…and really bad days. The picture is a perfect example of a very bad day. In fact, this has happened to all of us at one time or another. You simply wipe it off and keep on goin’. It happens! 
We have one Brown Swiss cow. She’s a bit on the sassy side, but gets away with it because she’s beautiful. 
Most of our cows are Holstein and Jersey or Jersey crossbreeds. Holsteins are big and bossy and capable of producing lots of milk. Jersey / crossbreeds are smaller, but give excellent butterfat. That helps with your paycheck. Cows are a lot like humans. Some are super friendly and easy to get along with….then others are sassy and a pain in the neck to have around. You just have to learn to deal with all of them. However maddening it may be. So, that gives you an idea of what we are all about. I hope you come back and check up on us every now and then. I write about anything from cows, calves, dogs and cats….to all my gardening and flowers and even some farm food. It’s nice to be back……………..Carol
Pretty Faces
30 Tuesday Oct 2018
Posted in Dirty Work
We are in full swing of the calving season. We might have 4-5 calves in one day. It’s a crazy and hectic time of year. So many faces to feed. Every morning and every night. I’ll share with you some of my favorites……. 
I have a fairly short row of hutches for now……it’s growing daily. This is where I get my walks in…..all winter long. Raising calves is complicated. There’s so much to do every day. I can easily spend hours and hours working on the whole operation. 
When the north wind is howling and it’s freezing cold……these hutches are nice and cozy. Maybe a calf hutch could be the “timeout” place when the “boys” are naughty. Earl included. Just a thought…….. 
Don’t kid yourself…these calves are the biggest photo bombers. If I wait around long enough I can get some really crazy pictures. This is “Tongue out Tuesday”….but I can’t remember if it actually was on a Tuesday. Does it matter? 
They always like to give me a “pretty please” look to try and get more milk or an ear scratch. Or they start “screaming” at me to make me think that they haven’t been fed yet. They ain’t nobody’s dummy…..smart calves. That’s why I sprinkle a little bit of milk on their nose so I know who’s been fed. Smart Milkmaid! 
And yes, I try to teach them to always keep their nose clean. haha A wet nose is a healthy calf. Watch their eyes. Their breathing. Look for droopy ears. All signs of sickness. It’s called cow lingo. I can have a full on conversation with a cow/calf. My life in a cows world. 
They have attitude just like humans. They hold their head up high and give you that look…..I dare you! It’s pretty cute when they’re little, but when they get to be older…it’s not at all funny. Then it just gets to be annoying. So, that’s my life right now. Cows, calves, cats and dogs. And tons of cow poop. I need a vacation…………………………Carol
Pumpkin Season
08 Monday Oct 2018
Posted in Dirty Work, Uncategorized
I wish I had more time and energy. I’m so behind in my “story telling”. There’s so much to say, but so little time. And when I do have time…I’m too tired. It’s a vicious cycle I’m living in. Things are looking up though…it’s football season…..and pumpkin season. 
This is our first “pumpkin” of the calving season. A cute little stinker-pie. We had 4 angus bulls with the herd since spring. So, you know what that means. Lots of black calves this year. I’m kinda excited and overwhelmed all at the same time. I know what awaits me for the next 6 months. Help! 
Here’s Momma. She’s proud as a peacock. She’s a first time heifer which means this was her first calf ever. She did a fantastic job as first timer. Young heifers don’t always cooperate. They’re young and dumb. Cows and humans are so much alike. I remember being young and dumb. I’m not young anymore, but still dumb at times. 
Black angus calves are so much easier to take care of than any other breeds. Holstein calves tend to be frail and weak. Little Jersey calves are stubborn and tiny. Black calves are stout and strong. That’s just my personal opinion after feeding calves for 25 years. Feeding calves is an “art”.
It was quite a rodeo getting “momma” into the barn. First time heifers have never been milked before and they have no idea what to do. It takes lots of patience (which I don’t have) and time. It’s maddening. Some don’t have a forward…just reverse. Some are wild and mean and others are stubborn as a mule. Once they realize they get to eat though, you can’t get them to leave. They eventually figure it out and behave like the rest of the herd. So, we’re getting geared up for lots more little pumpkins to come……………………….Carol
Happy Fall
01 Monday Oct 2018
Posted in Dirty Work
I love fall! Welcome black cats, scarecrows, and pumpkins. So, amidst all the chaos of stacking the barns full of hay I had a few free hours one afternoon. What should I do? 
My front porch was in desperate need of some TLC. So many cobwebs and big fat spiders. All due to summer long neglect. I got out the ladder and a bucket of soapy water and went to work. I scrubbed from top to bottom. My Mom would’ve been so proud of me. She loves to clean. Too bad she doesn’t live close by. 
It was time to get all fall decorations out. I always like to have my front porch decorated for each season and holiday. The only problem is….everyone comes to the back door. I don’t even have “trick or treaters” that stop by. We live too far out in the country. But I still like to be prepared…just in case. And you can forget about the carrot and celery sticks. That’s not happening at this farmhouse. I’ll pass out the real deal! 
I’m in love with fall plants. Mums, pansies, and all colors of pumpkins. By summers end some of my plants are looking like death so these make everything look cheerful again. The little black kitten is my photo bomber. 
So now that everything is nice and clean….the farmer can safely open the front door and shine his spotlight all around when the dogs start barking. My “farmer” is scared to death of spiders and will scream like a girl if one gets too close. It just so happens that I have a few rubber spiders that make for great entertainment. I need to put them to good use this week…………………….Carol
Slamming the Door
23 Sunday Sep 2018
Posted in Dirty Work
Ok…let’s get this show on the road. We’ve got 2 truck drivers…a tractor in the field loading the wagons…and a tractor at home putting it into the barn. Hop in and come along. I’ll show you how it’s done. It’s actually not too bad…if you can stay awake. Grab some caffeine…turn your music up loud…and speed down the road. It’s late…you’re the only one out and about. 
We did get half of it hauled off before dark. Then we had to stop and do the evening chores. Several hours later you’re finally ready to go at it again. Michael is the “loader man”. He’s a machine! He’s got it down to a science. 
We like to have them all bunched into piles of seven. That saves so much time when we pull into the field. Marshall did the bunching. That’s a perfect job for him, and he’s very good at it. 
And finally….this is me. The truck driver has to pay attention and pull up at just the right angle…and make sure you have a full load before you take off. Otherwise the tractor driver will shoot daggers your way and be flailing arms like a wild man. Not that it has ever happened…maybe. I’m the one that gets all the crazy hand signals…screaming and hollering…and evil looks. I’m left handed…everyone else is right handed. They think I do everything backwards. I’ve learned exactly what to do and what not to do. 
Dixie Chic rode up front with me while the big dogs rode on the back. She’s got the best seat in the house. 
This is Earl’s job. Stacking hay in the barn. He’s a pro at it. I’ve done it before, but it takes me forever and it gets very frustrating. Marshall and I were bringing them home as fast as we could and he had them put up by the time we came back with more. 
On Thursday morning the hay barn was empty….by Friday morning it was full of hay. What an awesome feeling. It smells so sweet when I walk out to the barn. We finally finished and walked into the house around 12:30 Thursday night/Friday morning. A nice hot shower and a soft comfy bed….never felt so good. And then on Friday when it was raining….I had myself a nice long nap. It was so rewarding. Now we can finally slam the door on the hay barns. If we had doors…………………Carol
Farm Girl Birthday
22 Saturday Sep 2018
Posted in Dirty Work
Another crazy week on the farm. So much happening. Our 25th anniversary…my birthday…and all kinds of hay to get in the barn before the rain. Guess what we did to celebrate? Work, work, and more work! Farm work and cattle have no respect for holidays/celebrations. So, I’ll give you a quick rundown of my special day……………… 
Marshall was alarmed when he realized I was turning 48. He told me….”Mom, you are almost..?” and then he stopped. He couldn’t say 50. So, I have officially declared war on “old age”. The gray hairs…under eye bags…arm flab…and the most dreaded of all…the chicken neck. This is not my finest moment here, but wanted to give you the “real”. I was feeling a lot of sleep deprivation at this point. I wasn’t quite sure what was happening…….. 
I was running from the milk barn to the hay field all day. At some point I looked up and saw my personal message that Michael wrote on my chalk board. What a lovely surprise. That was better than an actual gift. It’s still there. I’m not going to erase it for another week. 
On my special day….we mowed more hay…raked…and baled. Oh yes, and we hauled late into the night. I also went to the dealership and had a hydraulic hose fixed and got some “lug” bolts for the tractor. When I go to the parts counter I give them the farmers instructions and sometimes a few of my own. For example…the big round thing that fits on the little thingy. You know….the whatchamacallit?! Then I try to get a free cap because I know how much money we spend at that counter, and they just laugh at me. Nothing is free anymore. 
I did not have time to smell the flowers on my birthday, but I have big plans to celebrate next week. What matters is that we got the hay in the barn before the rain hit. I ate a bowl of cereal at 11:30 that night and hit the hay. It was an exhausting day. Then up and at ’em the next morning. To be continued……………….Carol
End of Season Hay Crop
17 Monday Sep 2018
Posted in Dirty Work
This is through the tractor window….nice and dusty. Not to mention the itch. It gets into your clothes and slowly drives you insane. So, when I pull into a field to get started…..I want the “baler man” right behind me for the first 3-4 rounds. I like going around the whole perimeter of the field about 4 times to pick up all the corners and clean up the end rows. Then it’s full speed ahead. Back and forth back and forth. Nice, clean rows that won’t leave slobbers or skips. (hay that the baler can’t pick up) 
The boys always help with everything, but now that school started it’s back to the farmer and I. It gets pretty “hair-raising” at times. Friday was a tough day. The morning chores need to be taken care of before you head for the hay field. Then it’s all day baling hay. 
Sometimes I get ahead far enough that I can take a short break under the shade trees. I get stiff and sore from sitting in the tractor all day. It feels good to get out and stretch. Farm girls always head for the back corner with lots of tree cover. Read between the lines. 
This particular field was heavy. (means lots of hay) So, I could only take a half swipe with the rake. A full swipe made the windrows too fluffy and the baler couldn’t pick it all up. The field is huge and it seemed like I wasn’t getting anywhere. I had my music turned up loud….drank lots of cold water….and wished my boys were home. 
It gets pretty tight, but we’ve never hit each other as we pass. Sometimes we’ll give each other hand signals…the look…or no look at all. Depends on how long we’ve been working. If we’re still feeling fresh and feisty or dead tired. 
I confess my mess…..I had 2 iced coffees on Friday. How else was I going to get it all done. The boys have to march at the football games and don’t come home until midnight. I ate my supper at 10:30 that night. Thank God….the boys were home on Saturday! We finished that field, but are now moving to the next one. Ahhh…..yes. The hauling home. We’ll probably have to burn some midnight oil. Any volunteers to be a midnight rider?! Your pay will be a hamburger and milkshake. That’s it. I’m a “milkmaid”….I don’t pass out cash……………………..Carol