* * * NEW FEATURE !!!! * * *

Please note:

I'd like to add a new feature to this blog.

1. Feel free to email me (coyoteviolinist@hotmail.com) any comments about the blog.

2. Also feel free to make requests of anything you would like me to capture with my camera. My toothbrush? A particular aspect of milking, driving a tractor, weather etc.. You name it, and with in reason, I'll try and get it fer' ya.

Joyfully in His Service,
Michael Thomas

Well Hello Hello

Hello All,

What an exciting week, processing cows, jet skiing, dairy issues worked on, rainy days, field work and lost electricity. Two things:

1. After receiving much mail along the following:

"It's too confusing",

"Can't you post your stuff online in such a way so that it reads from top to bottom instead of reverse?"

"Why"

"... kind of like Doug's blog or something?"

I have tried to post everything BACKWARDS so that the end result means you can just scroll through. So it it a little bit choppy that is why. I am trying to think backwards as I post. So please bear with me.

2. Please remember you can click on any picture for a larger more clear shot.

Joyfully in His Service,
Michael Thomas

Samuel and I take off Sunday afternoon to round up a few cows for the meat processors Mon. Morning.

Though we take a rest for a quick nap and smell of the fresh air. 

Come on cows! 

... playing following the leader ..

... and sorted ...  

... for the the finest beasts. 

The cows that weren't of the "chosen" were dusted with Diatomaceous earth to gaurd against flys and released. 

Art 1 

Steven showed me the results of a "hard afternoon's work" with Mr. Bab. 

Next Morning Mr. Hutchins and I were up bright and early 

... and brought a group of cows to 4-L meat processor ... 

... and unloaded ... 

... then weighed (then this was one of our best batches!) ... 

... and sent to their final rest before slaughter. 

Before we leave Mr. Hutchins signs an affidadive that states that he has not fed the cows any grain. He also leaves the processor with some final instruction. 

Next we went to the Dairy Health Services. 

Mr. Hutchins and the Dairy health folks discuss how to deal with our herd health issue. Basically, the goats have an infection you'll find out more about below. 

A couple bumps, could it be ... 

Noooooo! Poison Ivy. Waaaahhhhh! :-0 

I shall console myself with a good sketch. 

Mrs. Hutchins joins the ranks of Spider Solitair Die Hards! 

For those wondering what our milk problem was, and how it has been solved I present the following "Official report": Declassified at 1657 Central Standard Time: Attention! Invaders of our herd have been discovered. Their military unit is known as Coliform Mastitis. They are an aggresive guerilla unit known to hide in wood chips and shavings. They make repeated mission into the udders of unsuspecting herd members causing infection and bad test results. Our mission is to stamp out the risistance or get out of business! Move, move MOVE!!!

On the with those boots! 

The box scraper was rapidly attached. 

Battle Stations!!!