January 3, 2013

Best medicine

On Dec 21 winter officially arrived. According to the solstice and the weather man.  We got snow for Christmas and the Cows.  They love being out in it, keeps their feet clean, they get exercise and bit less work on our end (by way of less bedding inside the barn and spreading of manure - they do it themselves how perfect!)

Cows out for the afternoon, Jan 3 2013 -8 Celsius

This is calf feeding on the milk bar in winter
This was the first configuration for winter calf huts...it didn't work, they had too much exposure to the road             
Second configuration for calf housing in winter.   Calves from 1 week -1 year. The small white huts are mixed in to seal up the solid wall and provide for the really little one's.  I have seen up to 3 small calves pack into a small hut to keep warm. They know what they need, its amazing to watch them. I will also add that we purchased these open front houses in kits from Weber Farm Supply in Elmira Ontario. They were delivered by a speedy Mennonite named Bobby on a rainy day in September one week from time of order.  The kits came with everything pre cut and explicitly marked with directions.  They are double walled and portable (they have hooks on the bottom for moving) and all we had to do was assemble.  Lemme tell ya a nail gun is a very very worthy tool when you have 4 of these things to build.  I would highly recommend them to anyone with animals.  Even Mamma and The Dolly Llama go in there. 

January 1, 2013

blessings

I went for a delightful run this morning. First trek out in 3 weeks. Yeah, the mile-a-day thing didn't work out. On account of a massive cold/flu/strep throat incident.  Here's to running a mile a day from Jan 1 to Feb 14.  land mark days people...its important to keep me running.  The footing was amazing on the roads today, snow covered and lots of frozen bits for grip. I could really embrace the "down hill, forefoot, lean into it training" and feel confident. 

                                                                         A NYE fire
                                                warm and cozy inside the windbreak (shed)