Rolly Molly

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Guess who's "lookin' piggy" again? If my guess is right, Miss Molly should be giving birth in December. That's just a month away, folks! (Have you started your Christmas shopping yet?)

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Miss Molly

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Winter Cover

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Jim (JLOR Farm) recommended getting a calf hutch to cover our well's pressure tank to protect it from the freezing cold of winter. We picked it up from the farmer's co-op today. This is how it looks:
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Calf Hutch for our Water Well

This is what it looked like, uncovered, this last summer:

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That Floats On High O'er Vales and Hills

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There are many pleasant days like today at Aurora Farm when it's nice to sit at the back porch and watch the clouds.
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Remember the first few stanzas of the William Wordsworth poem, Daffodils, that we memorized as kids?
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"I wander'd lonely as a cloud,

that floats on high oe'r vales and hills

when all at once I saw a crowd,

a host, of golden daffodils."

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Contentment

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These girls looked content grazing near our fence at sundown. (Click to enlarge)

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Contentment - "realizing that God has given me everything I need for my present happiness."  (from the Institute in Basic Life Principles)

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Theodore

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I found a new tenant living inside the coiled utility hose east of our barn. It is my pleasure to introduce to you, "Theodore The Toad". We didn't sign a lease so he's living there on a month-to-month (maybe a "day-to-day") arrangement. No,  we didn't require a security deposit, either!

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Hello, Fella!

 Theodore the Toad

 Smile!

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Blue Sky, Green Grass, Black Cows

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I would like to put out winter seed but the summer grass in our pasture is too tall for the new seed to make contact with the soil. So, our neighbors brought 40 or so of their cattle to graze down our West Pasture. This will give their pastures a rest while the cows are here, cut our grass down quickly so we can seed, and put some organic matter in the soil.

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This formula seems to always work: 

Blue Sky + Green Grass + Black Cows = A Nice View

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Click the photos above to enjoy the view
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Country Cuisine

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I've driven by this joint near Lindale many times and have seen a lot of cars parked outside during lunch and supper. I'm not sure if it draws customers because of its chicken and burgers or its house specialty (click photo to enlarge and see the "special of the day").
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Hmmm, this might be a good place to bring visitors from the city to, so they can experience some country cookin'! I wonder when these guys will be opening a branch in Irvine, California?
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The "Special of the Day"
advertised for all to see

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Easy Drive

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I drove to Tyler this morning and took some pictures along Highway 37. They're not really nice pictures but I thought it would give you an idea of what the surroundings look like, and how little traffic we have out here in the country. But you've got to watch the speed limit!
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Just south of the Wood County Courthouse  

South Main Street, Quitman

The price of gas has gone up in the last 2 days

Approaching Farm-to-Market Road 779

In Mineola

I encountered some fog on the

approach to the Sabine River Bridge

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No. 1

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The "mystery heifer" on the September 24 post is Heifer # 1 -- click the second photo below to enlarge. Along with the other nine heifers that were bred to Abraham (FC Mr Ichiro 604), she now resides at 4-C Farms in Crockett, TX.
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Heifer No. 1

Expected to calve around Apr 2011

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Adios, Chicas Bonitas!

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There are many happy days at Aurora Farm. But there are sad days, too -- like when we weaned Li'l Red, Joshua, and Vicky from their Mommas last June and then took them to the sale barn last September.

Today, was another one of those days -- Abraham and I said goodbye to our ten heifers. The girls are going to 4-C Farms in Crockett, TX, about three hours south of Quitman. They will be well cared for there.
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Here are several photos from today. (Click to enlarge)
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Sarah (#7) - Jim's Favorite Heifer

The Most Gentle of the Bunch

Calving around Apr 2011

Heifer # 5

She'll eat range cubes out of your hand

Also calving around Apr 2011

Heifer No. 6

A little shy but gentle

Calving around Feb 2011

Heifer No. 8

She'll be calving around Feb 2011

Cookie - Heifer # 10

She practically grew up at Aurora Farm
 and was never shy about asking to be fed.

Calving around May 2011

Heifer No. 3

Calving around Apr 2011

The Heifer Limo  

Backing up the trailer to the gate

Klay walking the girls to the trailer

Adios, mis chicas bonitas!

William watching the heifers leave the pasture

William and Klay

The cowboys who picked up the girls

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Howdy!

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Two days ago, I walked over to JLOR Farm to check on their water troughs. I noticed Howdy, Cinderella's calf, whom we had sold to Jim and Lori last August. See how much Howdy has grown! The first photo was taken on July 3 when he was two days old; the second, on October 7.
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Howdy at Aurora Farm - 2 Days Old

July 3, 2010

Howdy at JLOR Farm - 3 Months & 4 Days Old

October 7, 2010

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Walkaround

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Here are some photos from today, October 7, 2010 (Click to enlarge):
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The tractor needed diesel

DeWalt in front of the hay shed

 Pearl

 Martha (L) and Mary (R)

 Foxy and Blessing

Molly

The Pond - Still Low on Water

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