Meet Nellie

The most B-E-A-UTIFUL Jersey girl in all the land!

Miss Nellie

 Miss Nellie is 3 years old, a registered Jersey from some wonderful bloodlines. Grandma was a prize winning show cow in her day.

Nellie had a small show career with her former owner. She traveled a bit and did the local show circuit.
She came to me already halter trained, leads wonderfully. Used to being touched and handled in close quarters. Which is ideal for my small set up.

I did tell her she would have to be patient with me. I can only milk one cow at a time. Nellie is used to the large dairy set up, with many cows being milked at once.

 Nellie was accepted right into my little herd. Some sniffing and checking each other out, but they settled in rather quickly.
I'm used to all the fuss of horses. There is a lot more hustle and bustle when you add a new Equine herd member.

 But not the sweet Jersey Girls! Now I can say "Whoa Nellie"! Hahahaha, I crack myself up.

She is a few inches taller than the other girls. With a nice deep heart girth and good spring of rib. And lovely feet. Along with the most petite, feminine head I've seen yet!

We picked her up from a fair sized dairy in outside of Homedale, Idaho. They still had GREEN GRASS. And flying bugs.
I feel somewhat bad for Miss Nellie, all slicked out. Pretty, but not very warm! She's growing a fuzzier winter coat now tho.
Soon she may look like little Cinnamon!

Thankful Thursday

Well, I missed Wordless Wednesday. It was a very busy day! so here's a little pic to make up for that...

I just love the perfect heart on April's forehead! Her forelock has grown a bit to cover the top.

Back to Today.
I've been trying to post on FB, when I get on there, what I'm thankful for each day of the month. Coffee is mentioned at least once. A warm pellet stove gets some mentioning.
I'm pretty sure I've mentioned how very thankful I am for my dear Hubbs,yep pretty sure.

As he was browsing his FB last night, while I finished dinner, he mentions how sweet a friend's Thankful post about her husband was. Which got me thinking..Wondering..I DID post something like that on my page didn't I?
(Side note--Crazy how this "social media" crap has gotten so...Crazy! I hate feeling at times that FB and other such sites are running parts of my life! I should just delete the whole thing! But then my Momma would wonder what's up, what's wrong, yadda yadda yadda....so I just don't get on there that much anymore..)

Ok..Back to Thankful Thursday....

I am incredibly, extremely Thankful for my dear Hubbs. The crazy hours he has worked, in all weather conditions, to ensure that his family is taken care of. Thankful that he has such a strong work ethic, desire to work and PROVIDE for us.  It has never mattered much if I worked outside the home or not, he has done what needed to be done, taken a few crazy jobs (firefighting in the back woods of Oregon for one), to ensure that his family had a roof over our heads, food in our bellies and has indulged me with my crazy animals.

He's learned to enjoy cooking, even has his own specialty dishes. I'm thankful for that for sure!! 
It's not a big deal if I am sick, out side with animals, or just plain sick of being in the kitchen. If I have something set out, a general idea of what dinner is Hubbs is very willing to take over! I'll have a big mess to clean up later (he's getting better at that part too), but I'll take it!

I have never had to choose between selling a horse and making ends meet. For that I am extremely grateful! And now he is ENCOURAGING my crazy Jersey cow adventures!

I LOVE THAT MAN!!

Jack-o-Lantern Recycling

Pumpkins are Sunny Belle's favorite treat. I missed the free after halloween pumpkins from the local grocery stores this year. But I have lots of leads on Jack-O-Lanterns that are done with. So instead of going in the garbage, they will go into Sunny Belle's tummy.
Cinnamon is still getting used to the idea of eating pumpkins. But so far she enjoys watching Sunny eat them.

Edited 11/27/2012

Cinnamon learned to love pumpkins just as much as Sunny Belle! She decided that watching Sunny have all the fun *and* the treats was, well...No fun!

Sunny loves pumpkins!

The boys also have a grand time holding pumpkins high over their heads and SMASHING them into the ground. Everyone laughs and has a grand time.

     
 Especially the cows!

You didn't think I was going to let her have ALL the fun, did you?

She has learned the art of eating pumpkin.

Less than an hour later you would never know there was ever a pumpkin in that field!  Unless you can distinguish between a pumpkin stem and a dried up twig.
At which I've gotten pretty good!

Apples

2 weeks ago I got a case of granny smith apples. Some went to school for the Halloween parties. Hubby made apple slices in RedHot sauce/syrup that we canned up. A fair amount have been eaten by little boys for after school snacks or in school lunches (they love apples).
Tonight I am going to make crockpot applesauce for the first time. I've made home made applesauce plenty of times, but usually on the stove top. And there has been no point in canning it, since said little boys eat it faster than would be monetarily sensible to can.
I'm going to try the recipe I found on the feelslikehomeblog.com. Here's the link http://www.feelslikehomeblog.com/2012/10/how-to-make-applesauce-in-the-crockpot/

Skins and cores will be kept to try juicing for apple jelly. That can be another post =)

And if there are any left I'll be making an apple bake for desert =)

I'm Back!!

It's been a crazy few months around here!
 I got a J-O-B to get out of the house in January of 2012, JUST part time. A little time away from the laundry, dishes, vacuuming, etc. of the stay at home life.
Part time turned half the time Full time, due to other coworkers quitting, training new hires, filling in. And still coming home to the dishes, laundry, chores...I'd like to be under 20 hours a week Mr. Manager. This job wasn't about the paycheck (although pizza and movie money is nice). I just wanted out of the house a little bit. Now I want to go home!
Oh! And milking...Late at night, later than I like. Poor Sunny Belle.
And when can I ride my horses??
 Did we remember to gather eggs today? Yesterday? At all this week??
 Homework...Is it done yet? Where is your spelling list? How's the book report coming along?
What do you mean you missed the bus? Guess I'll lock the store and you can come sit with  me.
 Assembly? At 1? We'll see if I can get someone to cover the store.
Field trip? I want to go! I've never been to fossil hill! Sounds fun!

AND THEN....I bought a second Jersey! Cinnamon, a 4 year old registered Jersey. Now there are 2  cow to milk. I HAVE to stay home! Milk my cows, make cheese, sour cream, butter, yogurt...and crochet..

I've had NO time to crochet! The shame! The HORROR!

And so....I gave my 2 week notice. I can't LIVE at my "part time" job anymore!!This J-O-B has got to go! My REAL JOB needs me! My HOME needs me!
 My COWS miss me!
My BOYS want me to help in their classes, come to parties, field trips...
We should eat before 8 pm!
 I should be able to sit with my boys and help them with their homework, before everyone gets tired and cranky.
Ahhhhh, Home..I missed you!