Thursday 6 November 2014

A busy day

Yesterday the first of the Summer eatage cattle went back home to the farm opposite.  They went with no trouble at all, following friend and farmer G, who had a feed bag in his hand, which he kept rattling.   They went straight into their Winter quarters and began eating.

So today the farmer has hired the big muck spreader from friend M and is spending the day leading the muck out of the loose housing and spreading it on the fields above the farm, which now have no stock in them.   He is hoping to have it all finished before dark and then he can lay the straw bedding down and as soon as some dry cows are ready for coming in it will be all ready for them.   I love it when the dry cows are in - they will all be in calf and they are a pleasure to watch as they sit around chewing the cud, rising now and again to eat the silage and then sitting down again in the nice clean straw.   Not a bad life (while it lasts!)

There is no doubt here that the weather, although still very pleasant and sunny, has turned very Autumnal.    There are night time frosts and the temperature barely rises above around twelve degrees.   So you can be sure there will be cattle in any time soon.

And the farm cats, Blackie and Creamy, are at the back door every time I go out, asking for milk - they don't bother in the Summer but once the cooler weather comes - they are here.

12 comments:

Gwil W said...

Cats know a thing or two. They'll keep you posted regarding the weather. I've just started reading James Bowen's books about him and his cat Bob. Well, when I say reading I mean listening to them on a set of 6 cd's which I bought here in Austria, so they are in German.

MorningAJ said...

Is it slightly whiffy around you today then? I imagine muck spreading has a distinctive aroma!

jinxxxygirl said...

Hi Weaver,

We've actually warmed up around here this week and will be pushing 80 by weekend... sigh it should be raining as this is the beginning of our rainy season. The Halloween decor is put away, left a few pumpkins here and there for a Fall decor....

Jinx is an inside cat. But he knows as soon as our eyes open in the morning we are suppose to feed him and he NEVER lets us forget. :)

I think i would like having the cows around too. I think i would find it calming and relaxing to watch them.

My grandfather had two huge veggie gardens. I cannot remember a time when he didn't garden... He used chicken manure on his gardens. And it was usually my job to go with him to get it and help spread it. I STILL remember the huge mistake i made of deciding to ride in the back of the pick up with the manure on the way home from the chicken farm...whew! And i remember why i decided to ride back there....It was just my grandpa and me and i didn't know what to talk about on the way home so i opted to ride with the manure instead of sit in silence in the front of the pick up... lol the things we do as kids... Hugs! deb

Joanne Noragon said...

I so enjoy hearing about the routines; it's so peaceful when life is proceeding normally.

Doc said...

Odd but I always loved the smell after the fields had been prepared like this. I have never been able to give our adult cats milk as it makes them very loose, if you know what I mean.

angryparsnip said...

I so enjoy reading about the seasonal changes of your farm.

cheers, parsnip

Heather said...

When there are so many uncertainties in our lives these days, it is comforting to read about the cycle of activities of the farming year. No doubt the farm cats will also welcome the warm straw in the cows' sleeping quarters.

Totalfeckineejit said...

Where there's muck there's brass monkeys?
:)

Terry and Linda said...

I love your country side and seeing life on your farm. In some way like ours and also very different!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/?s=The+Adventures+of+Fuzzy+and+Boomer&submit=Search
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com

Cro Magnon said...

Lots of McSpreading and Ploughing going on here too. The countryside has suddenly come alive again.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I was brought up on a farm so the smell of muck spreading always has a whiff of nostalgia to me. Incidentally one of our tractor drivers was called Martin Cook - an excellent Spoonerism!

The Weaver of Grass said...

Muck-spreader has gone back home, all the fields are smelling 'healthy' and it is raining heavily, so it will be washed in quickly and the lane will hopefully be washed clean. Thanks for the visit.