We've been really busy here on the farm this spring. The early spring weather had me on my heels. I stayed undecided about splitting my hives as the weather swung from a nice warming to well below freezing. When the spring weather broke, it was too late. The bees were swarming everyday. Two, three and four hives a day. Harland helped me as we pulled the swarms out of the top of the pear tree tree at least three times. We only lost one that we know of. After the swarms settled down it was time for the bee inspector to come and the hive got a good report. This past Monday and Tuesday we pulled frames out of the honey supers and I extracted about 20 gallons. There were so many frames that were just not quite enough cells capped, but so close. So now the supers are back on and ready for the Sourwood trees to bloom. If all goes well, hopefully we have a great Sourwood honey harvest. Wish me luck, please!!
Last night Harland asked if I wanted to go out for dinner. Of course I said yes! We rode to Sparta to see if we could find some place interesting to eat. We ended up at the pizzeria! It was very good. On the way up there and back we kept our eyes out for Sourwood trees. Especially near Calvin's house as we are moving some of my hives over there. We saw lots of trees, but none blooming yet. Harland found some here on the farm today that are nearly open.
It's been a roller coaster day on the farm today. Harland walked out to check on the cows early this morning. He came back in saying Sally and Locksey should both drop calves today (they are both some of Harland's new registered cows, Sally has only been here a short while). Sally was right here at the end of the house near the drinker. So I hurried to get dressed so I could keep an eye on her. Harland headed toward the barn. I've helped pull calves, but don't remember watching a cow go through full labor. I could stand on the porch and watch her with a clear view. This wouldn't make her nervous as it would if I was standing near the fence. Within just a short while, maybe less than 30 minutes, there was a calf on the ground. I called Harland on his cell phone...yeah she had it! But, unfortunately she was at the edge of the hill. So as she licked and cleaned it up and it was trying to stand up they made their way down the hill. Up,down up, down all the way down. Finally resting at the bottom near the dry wash. I didn't stay to watch it have it's first meal. So I relaxed a little and went around to check on Locksey and met Harland coming back to check too.
Locksey is cooling it in the shade behind the house, but her water bag is hanging. So it shouldn't be terribly long for her. I kept an eye out for her from the kitchen window. Eventually the herd made their way to the front of the house. So I went out on the porch. Harland was watching baseball. She walked a lot and finally dropped her water bag. Then she made her way over to the shade between the house and barn. After more walking she finally laid down and began to strain. When she got up she had a leg out. I called Harland to tell him and he came to check. Looked like a breach and she would need some help. She was having none of that. So we pushed her toward the barn and eventually Harland got a string on the leg and pulled the calf out. Ahh, it didn't move. It's dead. Harland tried everything while fighting off Locksey, but the little bull didn't make it. Locksey continued to clean it up. Harland said only a miracle to change the outcome. So sad to watch momma cows grieve their calves. We are sad. But, Harland always says if you have animals you are guaranteed to lose one once in a while. You just have to move on.
I moved on to chores in the barn to get my mind off of this. I think Harland was working between the barn and the garden. I fed and watered the chickens, then the pullets. Stopping to check water for the bunnies and filling their bottles. While I was putting on the last bottle, my little quail was running all around and caught my attention. I looked up and saw the black snake in their cage. I am yelling Harland, SNAKE, SNAKE, SNAKE! One quail strangled and dead. Only one quail left. I had one missing from night before last. I guess this snake came back for more! Dead snake!
So I am just so sad about the calf and my quail. I went on to feed water my chicks. Harland hollers from the front of the barn....Terri....She's had twins! I run to the front of the barn in time to see it hit the ground. I am holding my breath...is it alive? Did it make it, is it moving or is it moving because she is licking it? We can see it is breathing and finally it's head comes up. I'm jumping up and down. Not the miracle I would have expected, the lifeless calf is still not breathing. But the miracle God gave us..... Both momma cows have a calf. Bull calves! Thank you God!
