Day-Old Calves

The calendar said that the first calves weren't supposed to arrive until next week - but here they are!  They were born Thursday, I took these pictures Friday.

This first little guy was born to one of the 2nd time calving cows - he seemed so tiny we thought there may've been a twin.

The kids were looking out the window and I was surprised to hear it said that both calves looked cute, as I had thought there was only one, but there was a Charolais cross cow who'd had a very nice black calf in the corner of the pasture.  

Neither momma wanted me aiming my eyes at their baby!  But I managed to get a few pictures at a great distance at least.

Come Monday I hope to show you more pictures of tiny day-old creatures!

Tuesday's sunrise

Is all the picture I managed, spring cleaning is taking up more time than I'd like!

Monday

First day warm enough to hang out laundry 

Thursday's photos

This little furrow on the road ditch was a mouse tunnel - here and there and through the tall grasses, hidden from view until the snow melted.

3/11/2015

For a long time this winter, the overwhelming sound in the background every time one set foot outside was the sound of the great masses of Sandhill Cranes as they migrated through the river bottoms.  Normally they don't stay as long but, I presume due to the unusually snowy and bitter cold late January and February and even into early March they are still hanging around.  In this photo are only 3, but usually they are just stalking around all over the fields, flying in large groups overhead, and always making that trill call.

Today, I heard also the sound of the frogs!  The spring peepers to me are a surer sign of spring than robins, which there have been a few, sad sorry looking robins wondering where the warm weather was.  Well, spring is on its way.

This little calf looked up at me while enjoying the evening's silage and feed (I didn't tell him he had some on his face)

Saturday

Of course she didn't pose!

Bringing silage to the cows at the red barn "move cows!"

All here and accounted for!

Wednesday, 3/4/2015

Snow melt running into the road culvert.

These hopeful day lily sprouts were uncovered by the sun's warmth.  Now this afternoon it is snowing like anything - they are covered over again.

She sits in the silage wagon so she won't get muddy.  Our dog was enjoying her good morning attention.

Monday's photos

Shadows and highlights on the barn roof.

I love the bright blue sky and the shadows on the snow.  The contrast between the pure white snow and the old fence is interesting as well.

"Hi, grandpa!!"  Notice how gleeful she is to greet him, and the tiny snowball she is clutching!  

Sunday's pictures

Well March came in like a lion!  About a 3" coating of snow overnight, but with temperatures between 30-35 it felt comfortable compared to highs in the 20's!

He climbs up that ladder every so often to throw down hay.  Then he stacks it all up in that nice stack you see behind him, then breaks open the bale as you can see him doing now.  I'll have to ask how many bales of hay is fed every day: they feed all the young cattle twice a day.

It was a misty, wintry mix coming down, but the air was still.  Believe it or not, the scene below is in fact a color photo!

And a bonus picture: