Moving Ahead With the Cattle Chute

In the midst of everything else going on,

Luke and Ben are making progress on the chute.

 They got the base welded together yesterday.

The holes are drilled.

Luke had to use the torch 

because the drill couldn't do it.

They were discussing the final welds, I think.

The last thing for tonight was to move it 

to a different place in the shop.

Hannah and Jack carried the saw horses.

Now they need to do some fixing 

on the main body of the chute 

before putting it all back together.

Welding the Cattle Chute

There wasn't much time to work on the chute today.

But right before supper Ben cut the square tubing for the bottom,

and Luke welded some of it together.

Slow but steady.

Fixing the Cattle Chute

It is time to start a winter project.

The cattle chute was hauled over to the shop on Saturday.

It is past time for a new floor.

The boys welded on a brace to keep it squared.

Then they cut the floor off.

Now it will probably be 

at least a couple of days 

before they can get back to it.

Got 'er Stuck

I admit it...

I bust out laughing when I drove down the road and saw this.

Bad mom!

Ben, Hannah and Jack buried the Viking

four different times on this outing!

A Recap Of The Week

We finally got some snow.

Ben took Hannah, Molly and Jack 

out for a ride behind the Viking.

There were a couple of hours 

of moving snow 

at home and at church.

 The cows were not impressed 

with the snow and extreme cold yesterday.

 I'm sure they were even less impressed 

with the temperature over night last night!

I might be ready to go back to the dog days of summer.

New Calves & Snow

Ben brought some Shorthorn calves home Friday.

He's going to try a Shorthorn bull this year.

48 hours can sure change the landscape!

The cows are all huddled up by the little barn.

 Even Hershey and Tess are in favor of the new snow.

Sunday's Words

Sunday's Words

Happy Cows

We like happy cows.

These ladies and their calves are very happy!

Who wouldn't be with all the sunshine and warm weather?!

I'm sure they will be complaining

when the change comes tomorrow night and Friday.

(I know I will be anyway!)

Sunday's Words

Ready For Winter

There was work to do.

Hershey wasn't interested.

So she laid in the warm sunshine with her kittens

and supervised the work.

The oil needed changed and the tires needed rotated on the big van.

Ben got Elsie started on that.

Ben and Hannah worked on washing up

all of the equipment

to get it ready for winter storage.

Hannah liked the power washing part of it.

I think everything it tucked away for winter now.

Sunday's Words

A New Light

It was long past time to put a light out in the shed yard

so the chores don't have to be done in complete darkness.

Thursday was the chosen day.

After choosing the right pole from the pile

Ben moved the pole to the corn crib

and then Paul and Ben dug the hole.

 The pole was plopped in the hole.

They got it plumbed,

built the non-OSHA approved scaffolding,

and climbed up to get ready to cut off the top.

The top was cut off to make it the right height.

Luke had the rope that was connected to the top.

Tools had to be brought up.

The light was connected

and half of the wiring was done.

But we were short one somethingerother

so it will have to be finished today.

Sunday's Words

Slimey Plowing

The poor tractor is giving it's all.

It is not easy to pull the plow through this wet, slimey, slippery mess.

They are getting it done,

but it is taking much longer than usual.

Sunday's Words

New chicks

 Well, she didn't exactly pick 

the warmest time of year 

to hatch her chicks!

Five of them were discovered this morning 

during the great barn emptying and washing.

They were all moved to the shop

where two more hatched.

The proud mama had them all tucked in for the night

when I last checked on them.

Cleaning Time

Morning chores...

and then school...

and then time to clean the little barn!

The stalls were mucked out

and then Paul power washed the walls, ceiling, and floors.

The ladies have a secret next in the shed.

We usually find 4-8 eggs there every day.