Not much has changed on the home front. Plumbing was started about a month ago and is still not finished.
Upstairs plumbing is complete. Master bath is close to being done and kitchen plumbing has yet to begin. One wall was added in the upstairs framing and ALL joist (floor, wall, & ceilings) are now reinforced. We should be very secure upstairs.
We had hoped to be done by the 1st of the year, but don't think that will happen at this point. I have learned over the years it doesn't do a bit of good to dwell on things you can't control or change. It will be finished when it's finished. We have picked out and purchased all plumbing fixtures and appliances.
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A couple of weekends ago, we went to Monterey, TN to buy one last cow. We bought a 4 year old Jersey named Iris. Iris is very energetic and seems to be quite the escape artist. Paul sent me a picture one day after work and said, "Do you see anything wrong with this picture?" It was a picture of Iris in the field with the Highparks. She pushed a gate open at the barn and managed to entered the field the highparks were in. Paul tried to move her back with no luck. The following weekend when I was there we both tried to work together to move her. Between the highparks running to us for food and Iris running away from us we had no luck. She stayed in with the highparks for about a week. Then we noticed that she was hanging out at one particular gate. We decide we could get her through the gate but we had to block off the area because it was unfenced. Paul pulled the truck over and blocked one area and then we pulled a cattle panel in the other area.
We fed the high parks so they wouldn't bother us. I had a bowl of food just for Iris to help persuade her to come on out the gate. At one point we were having a tug of war over the bowl. Since, I was having no luck getting her to take those 3-4 steps out the gate. Paul and I swapped. I entertained the highparks and he worked with Iris. When I saw he had Iris halfway out the gate, I left Brantlee in charge of the highparks and I walked up behind Iris to get her to go on through the gate and closed it. Paul opened the gate to her field and I walked up to her and she took off running into the correct field. Success FINALLY. Then Monday morning, Columbus Day, we pulled into the farm and saw a cow standing by the tool shed that is falling apart. It was Iris!! We had to block off the area so she couldn't run out into the open. I got out of the truck to close a gate. Paul position the truck at the other open area so she couldn't get by it. I walked around the back of the implement shed. Once the truck was parked, Paul came around the front of the implement shed. When I got to the other side, Iris saw me and I started talking to her. The gate was laying on the ground, so as I was talking to her, I walked over to the gate and opened it up. Then I walked toward her. She started to run, but Paul was in the opening she was headed too. She then backed up and ran into the correct field. Paul and I were amazed and still cannot figure out how she got the gate off its hinges. Paul has to turn those hinges with a steel pipe and they were turned enough that the gate fell off the top hinge.
The cows need to be dewormed and 2 need to have a pregnancy test, so we have been working hard, or I should say, Paul has been working hard to get the corral ready. We went to Kentucky Sunday afternoon to pick up a cattle head gate. It was about 1/2 the price of what new ones are around here. A big brand name I see in cattle equipment, especially at tractor supply is Tarter. We drove passed the Tarter headquarters in Kentucky. There were probably 5+ buildings with all kinds of Tarter Equipment.
They even have a 2nd's store that we got the phone number to for future equipment we might need. When we arrived where the head gate was located, the man had all kinds of equipment and most items at really good prices. He let us walk around and answered all of our questions about "what is this?" We ended up getting a 4 ft gate for the corral and 2 mineral buckets that can be mounted and protects the mineral from the rain. I always love our little road trips. We have met some very nice people!!
Paul got the Headgate and 4 foot gate installed. So now we just have to get a 12ft gate and install it and the corral will be ready to use. I am hoping to stain the corral black soon!!
And, I hope to have a vet coming out in the next week or so. Pray we can get those cows in the corral and that it is still standing afterwards!!! While we were working on the corral a Maury County HWY Department worker stopped and started talking to us. I have been wanting to find an old street cleaner brush, to mount so the cows can rub up against it. It was a Pinterest idea I found.
So, I said, "Hey, I'm looking for an old street cleaner brush. Does Maury County have any they throw away?" At first he thought I wanted to buy a street cleaner. After mentioning it again he said, "Oh we have some of those. I will ask my boss and if he says I can have them, I will bring you some and just throw them over your fence!" Keeping my fingers crossed we will see some laying in our field soon!!
Side Note: I'm a little concerned Candy may not be pregnant. I have not heard her moo the whole time we have had her as much as she has the last 2 days. Also, I have been looking for someone to AI Iris. It is just so overwhelming and I'm not sure where to start. Who do you buy mini cow semen from and where/how do you store it until cows have a cycle. And how do you learn the timing of their cycles? So much I have to learn!!
A funny little story about our Donkey, Ariel. The donkeys are not scared of the cows, they will chase after them with teeth flaring in a heartbeat. The cows are scared to death of the donkey's. So when feeding time comes, the donkey's will run all the cows off so they can eat all the food. The other day, I was trying to block the donkey's from my jersey calves, so the calves could eat. I hollered at Paul to bring the donkey's some treats. Paul brought the treats over and Jasmin started eating right away. Ariel would not open her mouth. Paul was talking to her and said, "Here, I will help you out and pushed the treat in her lips. It was still sticking out her lips and Paul said, "Well, let me help you some more." He pushed the little treat all the way in her lips. We stood there a few minutes thinking she would start munching on it any minute and then....then she spit it out!!! She was so mad at us. We have laughed and laughed about that. If she couldn't have what she wanted then she just wouldn't eat at all. Jasmin picked the treat up off the ground and enjoyed it...momma Ariel just sulked.
My husband is a horse trader. We all know when Paul buys something, it doesn't mean we will still have it next month or even by the end of the week!! I give him a hard time about it, but he is pretty amazing in figuring out how to get something when finances are not available!! Through a variety of trades and
selling the go kart, we now have a Polaris Ranger.
Paul was in TN, so Dad, Mom, Brantlee and myself went to Birmingham to pick it up last week. It was fun little trip and Brantlee and I enjoyed visiting with mamaw and papaw. The Ranger will be a big help on the farm!!
Although not much has changed with the house the last couple of months, there are lots of changes taking place around us. The most beautiful change is the seasons. It is 100% fall in Tennessee. The leaves are changing colors and falling. The temperature has changed, I don't think I broke a sweat this weekend!! Changes can bring excitement and energy to your life. While other changes can be hard. I personally have always been resistant to change. I get comfortable where I’m at and don’t want things to change. I've had a whole bucket of change dumped on me in the last year. Changes with my home life, changes at my work, and my sweet baby changing into a teenager. In many cases, change is thrust upon us without our consent. But the truth is that God uses change for His purpose. He sees the bigger picture… the one we can’t always see ourselves. God uses change in our lives to position us for our future and His ultimate purpose here on earth. Life is change. The only thing constant in this life is change. Whether our changes seem hard or make us happy, change teaches us that life is fragile, uncertain and temporary. Nothing lasts forever. Well, something lasts forever..... God...and He does not change. Malachi 3:6a says, "For I, the LORD, do not change …”. We serve a God who stays the same. He is the same yesterday, today and forever. Whether we move homes, change jobs, experience relational, physical or emotional changes, God is a constant and dependable anchor. (proverbs31.org)
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