It’s been a pretty exciting week on the farm as far as births go. Since I can remember, I’ve been fascinated with calves, especially cows giving birth. Nothing could get me out to the barn faster on a cold, January night than a cow in labor. Like any birth, it can be a gory sight if you’re not used to it. I’m not usually a blood and guts kind of person, but a calf being born is a pretty special sight. There’s nothing more precious on a farm than watching a wet, blood smeared creature taking it’s first breath.
This past week we had one exciting birth and one not so exciting except for me. It started Thursday night. After Nate came home from chores, he told me they’d treated a cow expected to calve that night for milk fever. Usually, cows only get this after they calve, but this stubborn bossy got it before. Although she had the tell-tale signs of being in labor, Nate said she didn’t seem to be making much progress.
“I don’t know,” he said. “Maybe we should have called the vet.”
Since she hadn’t been trying very long, they decided to give her the night to work on it herself. Cows are shy creatures when it comes to calving, and in all likelihood, she would have her calf overnight. But the next morning when Nate and his dad got to the barn, she still hadn’t gotten any farther. When the vet arrived, she checked the cow and discovered she was carrying twins. Although many farm animals have multiple births, twins usually mean trouble in dairy cows. Unfortunately, both calves had died before they could be born.
The calves were a little tangled up and one had it’s leg back which was why the cow couldn’t have them herself. After getting all the parts in the proper places, she helped the cow deliver one heifer calf, then another heifer calf. But when the vet checked the cow one more time, she got a shock.
“There’s another one in there,” she said in bewilderment. The young vet had never seen triplets before. The third heifer calf was delivered. Triplets are rare in dairy cows. Experts at the University of Texas estimate it only occurs once in 150,000 births. That’s about the same odds as Jacob becoming a professional athlete. Even more rare, and sickening for us, these triplets were all females.
On a less exciting note, the first of my heifers calved Sunday afternoon. Nate and I transplanted four registered heifers, two Holstein and two Ayrshire, to the Northwoods last spring. After months of waiting, one finally joined the milking herd. This heifer, Tasha, had a bull calf. He was really cute and reminded me of a badger. But, since bull calves don’t have a place on our farm, he was sent on his way today. My other three heifers are due in the spring and early summer. Thanks to ultrasound technology, I know I’ll have at least one heifer calf to spoil.
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Friday, November 17, 2006
A view from the voting booth (11/8 column)
I voted Tuesday. How many of you did the same?
Mid-term elections have a traditionally lower turnout than presidential elections. In 2004, 55.3 percent of the voting-age population made it to the polls. Compare that with 37 percent in 2002. Although it might not seem like that much percentage-wise, that’s a difference of nearly 40 million people. To put it into perspecitive, George W. Bush won the popular vote by just three million. In Wisconsin, we are even better than average. In 2004, 71.4 percent came out to vote Bush or Kerry.
All indications are present for an usually high voter turnout Tuesday as well: controversial issues, hot topic referendums and two parties struggling for control of Congress. Even the little country town halls were buzzing Tuesday. In my township, I was the 40th person to vote, and that was shortly after 8 a.m. Since this is only my third November election I’ve been eligible to vote in, the novelty of voting is still there. However, after casting my ballot a few times now, I can see why people purposely don’t vote.
It’s hard to ignore the fact that it is election day. Political ads have been screaming at us from every TV channel and radio station for months now. “I didn’t know,” is no excuse. Some might blame long lines or a long wait. My first experience at the polls Tuesday (other times were via absentee ballot) was quick and efficient, especially considering I didn’t pre-register. Other people might ignore politics because they don’t care. Everyone should care, even if they don’t like it. I care enough to pay my bills even if I don’t like to. Before today, I couldn’t figure out why people didn’t vote. But now I think I know a little better. Choices. There are not enough choices on the ballot.
For weeks I’ve been agonizing over which way to vote for one particular office. The truth is I didn’t like any of the candidates. The nasty political ads I saw didn’t help either. I don’t think I saw a single positive ad from either candidate. Every single one said the world would end if I voted for the other candidate. Not wanting the world to end, when I filled my ballot in I skipped that section and picked the rest of my favorites. With my number two pencil, it was like taking a test all over again. Especially since I did it like I always did: skipped the question I didn’t know. After the rest had been completed I came back to that office. That’s when the old test anxiety, a condition I thought I would never have to face again, started coming back. The thoughts racing, I stood there waiting for the right answer to come to me. After a minute or two I got frustrated and used an old strategy: I picked the first one my pencil came down on, turned it in and left.
Then I got in my car to head to work. A political ad screamed not to vote for the person I just cast my ballot for. Turns out in elections there is no right choice, only wrong ones. No wonder people don’t vote. Who likes to be wrong?
Mid-term elections have a traditionally lower turnout than presidential elections. In 2004, 55.3 percent of the voting-age population made it to the polls. Compare that with 37 percent in 2002. Although it might not seem like that much percentage-wise, that’s a difference of nearly 40 million people. To put it into perspecitive, George W. Bush won the popular vote by just three million. In Wisconsin, we are even better than average. In 2004, 71.4 percent came out to vote Bush or Kerry.
All indications are present for an usually high voter turnout Tuesday as well: controversial issues, hot topic referendums and two parties struggling for control of Congress. Even the little country town halls were buzzing Tuesday. In my township, I was the 40th person to vote, and that was shortly after 8 a.m. Since this is only my third November election I’ve been eligible to vote in, the novelty of voting is still there. However, after casting my ballot a few times now, I can see why people purposely don’t vote.
It’s hard to ignore the fact that it is election day. Political ads have been screaming at us from every TV channel and radio station for months now. “I didn’t know,” is no excuse. Some might blame long lines or a long wait. My first experience at the polls Tuesday (other times were via absentee ballot) was quick and efficient, especially considering I didn’t pre-register. Other people might ignore politics because they don’t care. Everyone should care, even if they don’t like it. I care enough to pay my bills even if I don’t like to. Before today, I couldn’t figure out why people didn’t vote. But now I think I know a little better. Choices. There are not enough choices on the ballot.
For weeks I’ve been agonizing over which way to vote for one particular office. The truth is I didn’t like any of the candidates. The nasty political ads I saw didn’t help either. I don’t think I saw a single positive ad from either candidate. Every single one said the world would end if I voted for the other candidate. Not wanting the world to end, when I filled my ballot in I skipped that section and picked the rest of my favorites. With my number two pencil, it was like taking a test all over again. Especially since I did it like I always did: skipped the question I didn’t know. After the rest had been completed I came back to that office. That’s when the old test anxiety, a condition I thought I would never have to face again, started coming back. The thoughts racing, I stood there waiting for the right answer to come to me. After a minute or two I got frustrated and used an old strategy: I picked the first one my pencil came down on, turned it in and left.
Then I got in my car to head to work. A political ad screamed not to vote for the person I just cast my ballot for. Turns out in elections there is no right choice, only wrong ones. No wonder people don’t vote. Who likes to be wrong?
Friday, November 10, 2006
Disgusting photo
As seen from Abbotsford High School at 11 a.m. this morning. Keep in mind we had no snow at all at 8:30 a.m.
I'm not a jinx! (11/1 column)
This past weekend seemed to last forever. Come to think of it, the extra hour given to us on Sunday morning (or Saturday night, depending on what you were doing at that time) did make it the longest of the year. Since teacher convention put plenty of students (and bus drivers) on vacation for a few days, my mom and dad decided to take a vacation. They left the farm in the hands of my bus driving and school-age siblings and headed north.
Since my mom had a school board meeting Wednesday evening, it was a little later before they reached the Northwoods. Luckily, but unluckily for the parents, Jacob was full-out hyper so he was ready to greet them when they finally arrived shortly after 10 p.m. The following morning, after they rolled a groggy little boy out of bed, they kidnapped Jacob for a few days and ventured farther north. They visited my great aunt near Hazelhurst, then settled into a hotel with pool for the night. Jacob had a big time tearing around the kiddie pool. The best part about having him in a shallow pool is he can’t move very fast, but it took him a little while to realize that. He took off on his typical dead run the first few times only to falling flat on his face after two and a half steps.
Meanwhile Nate and I were at home going about our normal routine. He waged war against the combine while I returned home to an awfully quite house Thursday night. Then again, it was nice to watch Grey’s Anatomy without little fingers turning the screen on and off.
On Friday afternoon the ragged-looking grandparents returned back to the area, but weren’t quite ready to hand the kid back over. I took a ride with Nate on the new-to-us combine while Grandma entertained Jacob. We enjoyed a nice evening out with a couple from Edgar Friday night. It’s been a long time since Nate and I had a night out without the child. It was nice to enjoy a meal without having to split it with a hungry toddler.
On Saturday Mom and I headed to my grandparents with Jacob and my brother for a short visit. Dad stayed back at the farm to help with the corn harvest. Nate even shared combine driving duties for a little while. While everyone else was out enjoying Halloween parties Saturday night, we all turned in early in anticipation of the Big Game. Thanks to my mom, we came into possession of four tickets to Sunday’s Packer game. What a game it was. Although the weather forecasters had been rather wishy-washy all week, it turned out to be a beautiful day, just right for jeans and a sweatshirt. For some, a cheese bra was all that was needed.
It turns out I’m not a jinx, and the Packers turned in a convincing win over the Cardinals. Brett Favre even got in on the scoring action, running the ball in for the first time since 2001. He even did the customary Lambeau Leap in celebration. It was a busy weekend, but with the extra hour, I almost felt like I was sleeping in Monday. We should add an hour every weekend. Or just make it an extra day.
Since my mom had a school board meeting Wednesday evening, it was a little later before they reached the Northwoods. Luckily, but unluckily for the parents, Jacob was full-out hyper so he was ready to greet them when they finally arrived shortly after 10 p.m. The following morning, after they rolled a groggy little boy out of bed, they kidnapped Jacob for a few days and ventured farther north. They visited my great aunt near Hazelhurst, then settled into a hotel with pool for the night. Jacob had a big time tearing around the kiddie pool. The best part about having him in a shallow pool is he can’t move very fast, but it took him a little while to realize that. He took off on his typical dead run the first few times only to falling flat on his face after two and a half steps.
Meanwhile Nate and I were at home going about our normal routine. He waged war against the combine while I returned home to an awfully quite house Thursday night. Then again, it was nice to watch Grey’s Anatomy without little fingers turning the screen on and off.
On Friday afternoon the ragged-looking grandparents returned back to the area, but weren’t quite ready to hand the kid back over. I took a ride with Nate on the new-to-us combine while Grandma entertained Jacob. We enjoyed a nice evening out with a couple from Edgar Friday night. It’s been a long time since Nate and I had a night out without the child. It was nice to enjoy a meal without having to split it with a hungry toddler.
On Saturday Mom and I headed to my grandparents with Jacob and my brother for a short visit. Dad stayed back at the farm to help with the corn harvest. Nate even shared combine driving duties for a little while. While everyone else was out enjoying Halloween parties Saturday night, we all turned in early in anticipation of the Big Game. Thanks to my mom, we came into possession of four tickets to Sunday’s Packer game. What a game it was. Although the weather forecasters had been rather wishy-washy all week, it turned out to be a beautiful day, just right for jeans and a sweatshirt. For some, a cheese bra was all that was needed.
It turns out I’m not a jinx, and the Packers turned in a convincing win over the Cardinals. Brett Favre even got in on the scoring action, running the ball in for the first time since 2001. He even did the customary Lambeau Leap in celebration. It was a busy weekend, but with the extra hour, I almost felt like I was sleeping in Monday. We should add an hour every weekend. Or just make it an extra day.
Monday, November 06, 2006
Ooops, getting a little behind here...10/25 column
I’m a person who gets bored with routine fairly easily so I change things up quite a bit. I take different driving routes when going to work and to the farm. I switch types of shampoo every two weeks or so (which results in lots of half-full bottles in the bathroom cupboard) and I never buy the same type of ice cream twice.
So that’s why leaving my living room furniture the same for almost eight months is starting to grate on my nerves. So far in few years of cohabitating, Nate and I have managed to do at least two things right: we didn’t compromise on our must-have list when rental property hunting and we bought new living room furniture. When Nate and I began house-hunting a while back, we each made a wish list: on top of mine was a washer and dryer, and for him it was a dishwasher. Now that I think about it, it’s funny Nate selected a dishwasher as one of his requirements. He has yet to use it.
Also on our list was a garage (my addition), not more than 20 minutes from the farm (his request) and heat included in the rest (both of us). Luckily, after a few weeks of browsing the classifieds and visiting a few sub-par, and one rather disgusting, rental properties, we found the place we now call home.
In addition to all our requirements, it came with in-floor heat, which is good for little bare feet, and an open floor plan. I think the open floor plan is really what sold me on the place. I like the no-walls feeling, and that I could watch Jacob play in the living room while I worked in the kitchen. However, I’m starting to realize something about this open floor plan: furniture arrangement is rather limited. Even though it’s “open,” it does have borders. A carpet-tile line borders the hall kitchen/dining area and living room. Until I want to recline in the kitchen (where Nate would appreciate easy access to the fridge) I’ve only got a small area to work with.
Also unusual about this space is it has no usable corners. In one corner is the front door that opens into the living room. Going around clockwise: the next is prisoner to the television since that’s where the satellite cable comes in; the next is the hall to the bedrooms; and the last corner is the hall to the bathroom, laundry room and garage. The walls aren’t useful either. One is taken up by a large set of windows, and the other is pretty short. Besides, the short wall has no view of the television. So pretty much the couch and recliner, along with a pair of end tables, has to float within the confines of the island of carpet.
Last time I rearranged, right after Christmas, I merely swapped the couch and the chair. It made me feel better. To satisfy my boredom, I might just have to swap them back in the next few days. I do have additional motivation to make the swap. There’s also only one good place for a Christmas tree, and it happens to be the space the far end of the couch currently occupies. I don’t know if the swap will satisfy my need for change. As a back up plan, I’m asking for a house for Christmas.
So that’s why leaving my living room furniture the same for almost eight months is starting to grate on my nerves. So far in few years of cohabitating, Nate and I have managed to do at least two things right: we didn’t compromise on our must-have list when rental property hunting and we bought new living room furniture. When Nate and I began house-hunting a while back, we each made a wish list: on top of mine was a washer and dryer, and for him it was a dishwasher. Now that I think about it, it’s funny Nate selected a dishwasher as one of his requirements. He has yet to use it.
Also on our list was a garage (my addition), not more than 20 minutes from the farm (his request) and heat included in the rest (both of us). Luckily, after a few weeks of browsing the classifieds and visiting a few sub-par, and one rather disgusting, rental properties, we found the place we now call home.
In addition to all our requirements, it came with in-floor heat, which is good for little bare feet, and an open floor plan. I think the open floor plan is really what sold me on the place. I like the no-walls feeling, and that I could watch Jacob play in the living room while I worked in the kitchen. However, I’m starting to realize something about this open floor plan: furniture arrangement is rather limited. Even though it’s “open,” it does have borders. A carpet-tile line borders the hall kitchen/dining area and living room. Until I want to recline in the kitchen (where Nate would appreciate easy access to the fridge) I’ve only got a small area to work with.
Also unusual about this space is it has no usable corners. In one corner is the front door that opens into the living room. Going around clockwise: the next is prisoner to the television since that’s where the satellite cable comes in; the next is the hall to the bedrooms; and the last corner is the hall to the bathroom, laundry room and garage. The walls aren’t useful either. One is taken up by a large set of windows, and the other is pretty short. Besides, the short wall has no view of the television. So pretty much the couch and recliner, along with a pair of end tables, has to float within the confines of the island of carpet.
Last time I rearranged, right after Christmas, I merely swapped the couch and the chair. It made me feel better. To satisfy my boredom, I might just have to swap them back in the next few days. I do have additional motivation to make the swap. There’s also only one good place for a Christmas tree, and it happens to be the space the far end of the couch currently occupies. I don’t know if the swap will satisfy my need for change. As a back up plan, I’m asking for a house for Christmas.
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