Allis-Chalmers

 William has numerous projects he's working on at all times. He is truly blessed with the ability to do everything himself. He always amazes me with every new project he takes on, and how effortlessly he makes them look. His 1981 Allis-Chalmers, (78 Horse Power) tractor project started with a flat rear tire, which led to buying a set of new back tires, at 750.00 a piece, which is a great bargain if you're ever shopping for rear tractor tires! Since the wheels were off, he decided to have them sand blasted and repainted too. Then he decided since the wheels were off, he might as well give the Tractor a completely new brake system. So as you can see, one thing led to another and from the beginning of July to the end of August he completely restored his big orange tractor. From new paint, to brakes, to a new seat and hydrolic hoses, It's shining glorious on our farm now. I'm even enjoying driving it a lot more thanks to the new seat and brakes! Although I'll always be a John Deere Green Fan, I am very proud of all his hard work on this project. Now only 187 more projects to go...right Will?  

Annabelle's snake bite

Meet Annabelle. My favorite mess of a Jersey cow! This weekend she conveniently showed up at milk time with a huge swollen face and jaw. Thankfully, my veterinarian, (who is close enough to my family that we call him Pops,)  was visiting at the time and knew exactly what had happened.  He was fairly sure it was a copperhead bite. Being a Yankee, I know nothing of snakes or reactions of bites and this was a huge learning experience.  We gave her an anti inflammatory and I was up every couple hours throughout the night to make sure swelling didn't go underneath her throat and around to the other cheek and cut off her breathing.  Also kept watching for signs of shock and labored breathing.  The next day the swelling had increased up into her ear, down to her muzzle and further back to her neck. I loaded Annabelle into the stock trailer for a ride to Pops house for an antibiotic.  At this point preventing an infected abscess is our main priority. If you ever want to get your entire dairy herd riled up just take one away from the herd, put in a stock trailer (all cows know what a trailer is and the possibility friends don't return) and drive out of the pasture with them all bellowing at each other. Upon leaving the gate I actually spoke to the remaining girls and told them she'd be back after a trip to the vets. That did the trick. They understood.  All cows know that word.  Vet.

Upon returning there were licks and lots of sniffing between the cows, but I kept my word and she returned. It's amazing the bond they carry between them.  I'll write another post sometime about Annabelle's accident with a huge wild cat that took off a piece of her upper right lip. You can see the scar in the pics. She's had some hard knocks, but she's stubborn as a mule and tough as nails and I love her with all my heart. She's currently milking 6 gallons a day and she's raised three of her own calves and adopted another one in her short 5 years already. 

The following morning her swelling had decreased 90%  and I was thankful.  Three more days have passed and she's recovered completely and is back to whacking me in my face with her tail every single time I milk her. And yet, I will cry for days when someday I have to say goodbye forever to her. I'm so relieved that wasn't this weekend.

The Best Little Helper!

Everyday, twice a day we milk the girls and I load the milk buckets into the little red wagon and pull it over to the house for filtering and bottling. McKinley gives up her seat in the wagon for the second bucket and usually walks with me to the house.  Today, she insisted on pulling it herself, all 85 lbs of milk. She was content to push after awhile.  I am thankful for her willingness to try and her thoughtfulness to help. The tugging grunts that came from her pulling on the cart are etched in my heart. Thank you Lord, for our little girl.