Dean's List

As stated by the title of this post, yes, I made the Dean's list this past semester at school.  My mom sent me a picture of my name in the paper today.  She was searching and searching for my name to find out that I am officially listed under CONDE!  

Since it is in the paper, I guess it is official that I no longer live in Watertown or Aberdeen, but Conde!  

Farm Girl Tip # 71: All I have to say is ...city girl to farm girl...FOR REAL!

Mr. Bull

I got home from school today, and as I was driving into the farm, I noticed that there was a cow out- or so what I thought was a cow.  I thought the guys were around the farm so I just left it and eventually they would notice.  I was wrong. 

I was talking on the phone with my mom and putting groceries away when I noticed Josie, our dog standing on a snow hill staring at the road.  So I looked out the window to see that "cow" sniffing the mailbox.  The "cow" started walking around and that is when I realized it was a BULL!  Now, I am not necessarily scared of bulls, but I have heard stories and I am just nervous that they will pin me to the ground or something! HA!

So I hang up with my mom and call Logan to ask him where he is at.  He says they are just finishing up at his dad's place working cattle.  I tell him he has a bull that is out, and he is like oh yea, we forgot to close the gate...OBVIOUSLY!! (What kind of cattle men are these people??!!)  So he asks me if I can go put the bull back in.  I told him uh are you kidding me?!! No, he definitely wasn't!  I told him that if I die it is all his fault! :)

So I walk outside, walk around the bull--giving myself lots of room incase he decided to charge me--and walked down the alley way to close a gate.  As I was walking down the alley way, the bull decided to go back into the lot.  So I quick walked over and closed the gate behind him to lock him in.  I am SUCH a good cattle girl!!!

Here is the little fella back in his pen.  He really likes me because he came right over to me for a picture!

I called Logan back to let him know which lot I had put him into so when they got back they would know.  I was just about ready to hang up when Logan asks me if I want to be a really good farm girl helper.  Um no, but sure..what do you need?  He asked if I could go out to the lots and check to see if there were any new calves.  So I walk out there and no new calves, but I did notice that Miss Pinkie was in the group to "calve soon!!"  So of course, I had to take her--pre miss pinkie baby picture!  Here she is!

I am hoping she has little pinkie on a day that I am around! :)

Farm Girl Tip # 70: If there is ever a bull that is hanging out in your yard sniffing your mailbox, you will be the one to put it back in.  Don't even try to put it in and he will go right in for you!  But when someone asks if you got him back in...tell them you worked really hard to get him back in the lots!

Babies!

Well as you can see from the title, it's baby time at the farm!! We had our first two calves yesterday and this morning!  These little fellas are just too cute! This is probably one of the best reasons to live on a farm! Calves!!

These two pictures are of the same guy.  He is a bull, and he is cute!

This little one is even cuter! She has a tint of brown to her, a baldie looking face, and a pink nose! My favorite so far!!

Farm Girl Tip # 69: It's the most, wonderful time, of the year!!!! Calving!!! (Until I have to get up at 2 am to pull a calf...)

Livin' The Life...Of Snow Days

With all of this lovely SD weather we have been having, I have just been living the life....of snow days!  Last week I had a snow day, and all morning today I had a snow day.  I wake up to complete white out, try to drive to the highway and can't see a thing, so I turn around and come back home for a snow day.  Not going to lie though, it's getting quite old...especially this windy weather!

Here is my view from the front door this morning.  Looks like paradise huh?

Farm Girl Tip # 68: When you can't even see the barn in your own driveway, you probably shouldn't go anywhere!

Blizzard

Well if you live in SD or anywhere nearby, you know that today was a good ol' South Dakota blizzard!  Snow days on the farm are much different than snow days in the city! Snow days in the city consist of sleeping in and being lazy.  Well, ok I do that on the farm too, but snow days on the farm consist of feeding cattle!

Logan went out this morning and did chores here, but got a call from the hired man and said that we would have to go do chores at the other farm later on in the afternoon.  Well, the afternoon came, and Logan convinced me to come along to help him do chores.  I agreed, partly because I just wanted to get out of the house for a while.  So being the farm girl I am, I put on my long-johns, coveralls, boots, hat and gloves and out I went.  We drove up to the other farm--which was nasty the entire way--  and did some cattle feeding! Oh, the life of a farmer!

Here are a few pictures from the day:

This was the huge drift that was right in front of our door!!

Yes, this really is ME! 

Farm Girl Tip # 67: Even if it is a blizzard, you will probably get suckered into doing chores, but it gets you out of the house for a bit!!

It's Better Than Christmas!

Well everyone, we have less than a month until calving starts! Last night I was cleaning up from supper and I see a vehicle pull into the driveway.  It was dark out, so I couldn't see who it was.  It looked like a hudderite van with one headlight that worked.  I kind of got a little freaked out, because who would come to our house in a van with only one headlight at night when it is dark out.  Logan and I were both peaking out the window, and finally Logan reads the side of the van and it says SpeeDee.  So then Logan starts asking me what the heck I ordered...Nothing!! haha!!  Well Logan gets the boxes inside and guess what! It is all of his NEW calving camera equipment! Needless to day, he was a little kid in a candy store! It was even better than Christmas! :)

Farm Girl Tip # 66: When a creepy van with one headlight pulls into your yard in the dark, it is just the SpeeDee guy delivering your Christmas gifts!

Lovin' Farm Life

Last night we came back from sunny Florida where it was 80 degrees.  We were coming off of the plane, and once we hit the walkway it was cooler.  I thought to myself, I love this weather! I would almost rather be in 30-50 degree weather than 80-90 degrees! This is how I know I am a TRUE South Dakotan!  This is besides the point, but it had to be thrown in here! :)

Today was a beautiful 40 degree day in sunny South Dakota! I went for a walk with the dogs, and found myself admiring the beauty of the outdoors! This is why I love farm and country life!

Farm Girl Tip # 65: If you get a nice 40 degree day, go for a walk! You never know when it will be

 -40!!

Baby It's Cold Outside

Well today was one of the coldest days for a while reaching close to -50.  But when you live on a farm and are a farm girl with a cow, you can't let that cold weather stop you!  I was inside with my sweatpants, fur jacket, and slippers on when Logan called me and told me to bring out hot water because the water tank was frozen.  So I go change into long johns, jeans, sweatshirts, hat, gloves, boots and my coat, fill a few water jugs up and walk outside to the water tank.  I stand out there while Logan pours the water on the frozen heater.  The first jug didn't work, so I give him the second jug and walk back to the house to fill up a few more jugs.  Walk back out, deliver them, and repeat.  This went on until FINALLY it cracked and the water started running again!  

I guess I am now a hired woman because I have my own cow now and I have to keep her happy! She was out there waiting for the water to be unfrozen so she could have a drink!  I just have to tough the cold for Pinkie!

Farm Girl Tip # 64: If you ever get your own cow with pink ear tags, just remember that you will have to go out when it is -50 to unfreeze the water tanks!