The Sleepytime Corner

There is a corner of the farm house kitchen with a number of dog beds and a double sized floor pillow. It is the main gathering spot for most of the dogs and cats who grace my life. They look so sweet and peaceful when they're sleeping. Come to think of it, my mother used to say something similar about us kids, that we were so very good.........when we were sleeping. Anyway, here's some photos from the "Sleepytime Corner:"

Seamus, Daphne, Fergus, Clover and Jack:

Clover and Daphne:

Daphne, Fergus, Seamus, Rocky and Clover:

Fergus, Seamus, Clover and Daphne:

Daphne:

Seamus, Fergus, Daphne and Clover:

Rocky, Daphne, Clover and Bugsy:

Rocky, Jack, Seamus, Daphne, Clover and Fergus:


Rocky, Daphne, Bugsy and Clover:

Seamus, Clover and Daphne:

Rocky, Clover, Daphne, Seamus and Fergus:

Clover, Bramble, Fergus, Daphne and Jack (with a little bit of Rocky showing):

The Red Polls In October

I got four of six cows bred in October and am closely watching the remaining two for signs of heat. The two heifer calves, Tabitha and Maggie, have grown like weeds:

They were all obese so I stopped giving them grain in the evenings but continued to do so each morning so that I could monitor them and keep them tame. They began resisting leaving the barn after eating, though, so I had to go behind them and push, prod and poke with a cane to get them to move:

The apple supply mostly ran out in October but they all enjoyed them while they were available:

Tabitha began running in circles but Blue wasn't interested in chasing her. She didn't care, for running was enough reward:

I've had suspicions that both calves were nursing off Rosella, whose udder and teats remained small. Scarlett's udder and teats stayed swollen although I suspect the calves will drink more from her as they get bigger and require more milk:

Rosella, the last cow to calve, was inseminated again 45 days after giving birth:

One day I moved the cattle (but not the horses) across the road to the north field, where the grass had been growing for a month:

The trees at the edge of the field were becoming colorful and I also enjoyed taking photos of the cows with autumn trees in the background. I put some of the photos on the farm website:

And the cows were ecstatic about the new location. There was a lot to eat and it was free of cow manure, though I sure can't say that anymore:

The calves ran and played, then took naps. The moms ate and then chewed their cuds:

It was an idyllic scene:

As October came to an end, the Red Poll girls were happy and healthy, though not yet all pregnant: