November 13

Linda, now you've gone and started replacements for your herd - can't get out of it now!!

We had 5 calves on Monday, two sets of twins, one set born three weeks early and dead, the other live heifers, really sweet little girls that were sleeping curled back to back when I checked them last night. Oh, yeah, there was a big bull, too. We had to call the vet to pull the heifers. Stan put a sleeve on and checked and told me to call - there were 4 feet presenting. Everyone from the milk inspector to the vet and the hired boy yelled at Stan for even thinking that he might help. He's feeling better and we are getting into dangerous territory now. He also had to treat the cow that had the bull for milk fever Tuesday morning, but the young man who's feeding in the morning helped him with that so it wasn't too strenuous.

The milk inspector called to warn us of an FDA spot check possible today, tomorrow or Friday. We had Stan's neice come over and scrub down the milkhouse for us yesterday. They will just have to deal with everything else!

Last night, the water pump went into some kind of spasm and Stan called both of his brothers at 9 pm to come pull it for him. They found a broken wire and fixed that, but the pump is on temporary reprieve, it is not well. We are on the pump for the old dug well at the house now - that's our emergency back-up. This all comes under the heading of never rain but it pours!

I've been working on photos for the exhibition in December. Just realizing how close it is and in a panic!

Take good care, all
Kathleen