Shari’s Gone Country

For the past week, we’ve been securing stuff, and making sure all the animals have nice cushy shelters for the inevitable Utah high desert winter.

Here’s what things look like around here as of Friday (Dec 12) afternoon. I finally had time to take pictures.

The sheep have been without their “wind wall” all summer, as their little shelter gets too hot for them. So, we shoved it back in place. Don’t think it will get knocked around before we can tack it in place. There’s enough room for all seven ewes to get in, lay down, and keep each other warm. They’ve got enough head room, too.

Cows are pretty much okay with cold, and even snow, but wind is really hard on them. Sweetie Pie, the cow has a pretty short coat. Guess that’s part of her “Corriente” genes. Buttercup, the heifer calf is growing a beautiful winter coat. That’s the Herford genes in her.

Cindy and I cleaned the cow pen, shoveling all the manure into a pile for them to climb on. The pile (actually a compost pile) will generate a little heat, so the snow will melt off that area first.

Then, we provided a full bale of nice, soft straw, banking it up the north wall of their shelter. We also added a windbreak (some leftover paneling) that we tied into place. Gotta love the baling twine!

The chickens have always had the best shelter, with the horses having the second-best digs. Last week, Cindy and I got their stalls nice and clean, so they’ll have shelter. The only problem is that there is little to no southern protection for them. Their coats are pretty shaggy and we’ll give them extra alfalfa as it gets colder.

Back in while to show you what winter looks like around here… yes, it has arrived.

Yeah! Buttercup is 30 days old today.

Last night she was so full of piss and vinegar, she couldn’t even stay on her feet. I was topping off the water bucket as I watched her running and bucking in the pen. Mama was watching from a distance as if to say… you play, I’m too tired and would rather just chew my cud.

She made a dash into the shelter area, around that and back out, quickly cutting to the left only to slip and skid, all four feet flying out from under her. When she got up to look around, she had a really silly look on her face, as if to say… Yeah, I’m too fast for anyone… you stupid sheep aren’t supposed to trip me like that!

I’ve been working to get my hands on her more reliably, but haven’t really gotten her full attention. I can rub Sweetie Pie’s forehead and nose, being very careful to stay clear of her horns. Darn those flies! She goes to chase them off her withers, and if my hands are in the way… oh well… that’s gonna leave a mark!

This afternoon about 2:25, Buttercup slipped into to the world. Yes, even as we were watching from a short distance, Sweetie Pie gave out a big, long Mooo-o-o-o-o-o and presented us with the cutest little heifer.

When we got Sweetie Pie (previously named Cowgirl), we knew she was very pregnant, as in two weeks away the week before we got her home.

She joined us Sunday afternoon and we’ve given her quite a bit of space, letting her get acquainted with the sheep. Now, I didn’t really expect her to deliver today. I’d have bet on closer to the weekend.

She was a little “off feed” last night, and this morning. I was closely observing her and noticed her “pin bones” were really protruding. Later, a neighbor stopped by and we noticed “the shoestrings”, a light mucous discharge. At that point Bruno also saw a contraction.

I went on an immediate “calf watch”. Mom and I came out and she was laying against the fence towards our driveway. Soon she got up and moved into her little shelter and  pawed the ground a few times. At that point, I thought I’d better check the internet for some specific instructions.

Would you believe I got the instructions printed off, gave them to Cindy to read and headed back out in a matter of minutes. Upon arriving at our “patio under the trees” I thought maybe she’d let me get a closer look. After all, she was laying down about half-way into her shelter.

Imagine my surprise when I saw “front feet”… She was in full labor. I quickly called Bev, Cindy and Mom. My the time they got out with the camera, the head was just ready to come out.

Bev got on the phone to the previous owners while the rest of us continued to observe. We all decided to back off again, retiring to our patio. Shortly, she let out one big, long mooo-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o. That was about 2:24 and within less than five minutes I saw a head moving… The calf was on the ground!

Just like she knew what she was doing, Sweetie Pie began cleaning her up. We hadn’t added any straw as we figured  the calf would come tomorrow. Besides, we weren’t sure we could get into her pen without creating a problem.

Once we were certain she was intent on cleaning little Buttercup, we threw a fair amount of straw into her shelter. Sweetie Pie has done absolutely everything by the book… You’d have thought she wrote the book!

Within an hour, Buttercup was on her feet looking for dinner and that ever-important colostrum. My how she suckled.  You could hear her from about 15 feet away.

Already, we’ve had most of the neighbors over to see our little Buttercup. With her, we’ll now be able to raise her up, not re-breeding Sweetie Pie, who will become our dinner in about 9 months. This is exactly what was planned when we got her. She won’t make the best steaks and roasts in the world, but her burger will be outstanding.

For the first time in three years, we’ve successfully raised some veggies!

That had us “looking at our options”, since canning or freezing much isn’t really part of Mom’s plan. She is happy to put up a small amount (if she’s in the mood and feeling well enough) of things like jam, pickled beets, etc. Only one problem. We didn’t raise any fruit or beets.

We have successfully raised shallots; garlic; white, yellow and red onions; potatoes; a few tomatoes; broccoli, and soon we’ll have loads of squash.

Our neighbor, Jill, who’s a life-long resident here got us interested in the Cedar City Farmers’ Market. It’s an informal affair on Saturday mornings. Held in a local business’ parking lot, we all set up our tables and wait for the crowds… and they do arrive.

I’ve been selling our sheep fleeces as “garden mulch”. Ok, it’s not what you would normally think of… but think this way… awesome moisture retention, great insulation, and a long-term nitrogen source, as well as a good “soil conditioner”.

We’ve been taking several dozen eggs from “Mom’s Hen House” and never, ever come home with any. Of course, we keep her money separate and make sure she get’s it. Oh, also this past month, I had another article published in Small Town Living. This time, it was “Mom’s Hen House”!

With four lambs left, I’ve made up some flyers and hopefully will sell them privately (at the market) for custom butchering. If not, they go to auction the first Thursday in September. They’re about 80 lbs now, and that’s perfect for really tender, tasty lamb.

Besides that, I need their space.

Meet our new addition… who’s about to bring us another addition. We picked her up yesterday afternoon. We’ve been told she’s due anytime between now and the end of the first week of September.

Her original name is “Cowgirl”, but as soon as Mom settles on a new name, it will officially change. I’ve been calling her “Sweetie Pie”.

She’s a 2 1/2 year old Corriente/Texas Longhorn cross and is bred to a big ol’ Herford. “Curly”, the daddy weighs about 2000 lbs. Sure hope she doesn’t have any issues with calving… we’re really rookies on this one.

The plan is to raise her calf (assuming it’s a bull calf) for meat. We’ll re-breed her in a month, so we can get a “summer calf”. If we get a heifer, we’ll probably not re-breed her, rather take her to auction when we can. I’m not sure if we want to bottle-feed a baby as we head into winter, here.

Mom said today, our farm is now complete. She has no desire for pigs, ducks, turkeys, peacocks, guinea fowl, or cats. As for me, I still want a donkey to guard the sheep.

On a sad note, this past Thursday, we lost a ewe lamb to apparent bloat. She was fine in the evening, and I think I saw her early in the morning, but found her in the shelter, still warm, but very dead. That means we’ll go into breeding season with four full ewes being bred and possibly three ewe lambs. It’s always questionable whether or not a ewe lamb will breed before she turns one year old (next April).