Today it’s nearly the beginning of July. The summer solstice has passed and it’s shorter days from here on forth for another half year. On the farm here, we have a litter of piglets nearly ready for weaning, our first calf of the year was born a few days ago, Rosie our Great Pyrenees dog is about to give birth, lambs are almost all at the target weight of 90 lbs, and the grass is ready to cut if only we had a few days in a row of sunny, dry, and windy weather for the hay!
I’m definitely starting to feel more like a farmer. I think we all are here. We have chores that definitely involve animals. We have learned a great deal about fencing and the importance of it to keep the animals where you want them to be and safe. I watch the weather religiously and keep an eye on animals for any symptoms of something wrong. I also sweat through my shirt on the regular and enjoy a cold beer on the patio at the end of a day.
It’s been quite a test of my devotion to photographs these last few years as I learn to re-integrate the camera into my arsenal. Most days I’m covered in something that I don’t want to get on the camera. This means carrying a camera has been a challenge for me. It’s also a challenge carrying all the things I like to keep on me, my every day carry stuff. As of right now, I have started to put everything into a ruksack that I take with me everywhere. Inside there is my Lowepro camera bag keeping my camera behind a second wall of defense. It seems to be working, but also quite heavy! But I use it like one would a jacket: I take it to where I’m working and hang it on some hook I can find and then go about my work.
Perhaps these photos will show some of what we’ve been up to where my words cannot elaborate.
Shawna our Highland cow with her new calfNorth Country Cheviots in the Upper Right Orchard
Daisy
Shawna, one of our highland cows, being curiousour young Highland bullFresh lambsA lamb getting a feedingNorth Country Cheviot lambTwo North Country Cheviot lambsRosie and Gunder playingA lamb who has learned the view is better ontop of her motherLambs who made friendsTwo lambs caught in the sunlightEwe and her lambTwo lambs enjoying the warmth of the sunRosie guarding the barnCharring fence posts as a method of preserving, an old Japanese method called Yakisugi. It is supposed to keep the logs in the ground just as long if not longer than pressure treated posts. Time will tell.Swallows have returned. They do make a mess of the siding, but come fall the rain washes it all off.Gunder, one of our Great Pyrenees livestock guardian dogs, still a puppyDad with our multi-lamb bottle feeding lambsHighland CowsShawna and her bull calf from 2021Howie, our North Country Cheviot ram and Mahone, our boer buck. Best friends both anxious to meet their ladies for the year.7 new Berkshire PigletsFresh baton on the barnGunder, our young livestock guardian Great Pyrenees growing so quickly.Pogo, our Great Pyrenees sire and livestock guardian dogThe grass is almost ready for making hay!Some say weeds, I say variety and biodiversityRosie, our Great Pyrenees damGuinea fowl in a standoff with Maggie the kittenMeadow buttercupNorth Country Cheviot ewes with their lambs coming in from pastureNewly transplanted hops survived!Bart the shepherdLuna on disc harrowsOur Berkshire sow (right) ready to birth and her daughter, a durok cross.Grazing North Country Cheviot sheep before the fence posts were put inNewly pounded fence postsLuna the cat on a shelf in the barnFreshly welded disc harrows1 week old guinea keetsBerkshire piglets with her mother eatingA scared Berkshire piglet by her shelterBerkshire Piglets
Us Tobin’s sure do try to talk the story out though! Don’t we? It’s nice to be able to share with you from afar, though it sure would be easier if you came for a visit!
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