It was getting pretty dry around here and our fire danger was up to a red flag so we kind of held our breath for several days. But because it was dry, Will managed to drag the big piles of manure he’d hauled to our north garden in the fall into the soil with our chisel plow and big tractor. As the soil is pretty much white clay, we figured it might still be kind of wet in the east end, where it’s lower. But it wasn’t and he got the manure spread nicely. There was still ice under and in some of the piles though. But now it’s ready to till after the rain dries up.

Boy, what a chunk. Frosty looks like the Hulk!

I said I’d show photos of our older calves so here they are: Frosty, who was born when it was -37° F, Tango when it was nicer, and finally Carmela who was born in a snowstorm (inside the barn) but when the temperature was nearly 40° F. Her full name is “Carmela Blizzard.”

Tango, our middle-aged calf, is growing like a weed.
Carmela is now snacking from three “mamas”!

I’m busy transplanting more plants into larger containers. Tuesday I did our morning glories and more peppers. Today I did a big flat of tiny fancy snapdragons. We were happy this morning when the Atlantic Giant pumpkins popped up out of the 5″ peat pots I planted them in. What monsters! And also, our muskmelons and watermelons popped up nicely, nearly all at once. As soon as it dries up, I’ll get at putting in the tomatoes. Yep, we’ll still get some frost and maybe some snow. But safely inside the Wall O’ Waters, they’ll be fine and they’ll be out of the house! Boy, I don’t have an inch of space inside.

I’ve even got pots of unsprouted cannas and dahlias all over the floor in the enclosed back porch. Come on, spring! — Jackie

6 COMMENTS

  1. For those of you who are asking, I just got this information on my newest Western, Spring of the Vultures. Those who read on Kindles and Kindle reading apps for their phones and devices can pre-order the book now for delivery on June 1st here: https://amzn.to/2KcWYE4
    Book aficionados can pre-order the trade paperback on our website at https://masonmarshall.com/ (I hear those who pre-order the paperback, there will be a 10% discount AND free shipping.)

  3. Miss Jackie, Unless you all plan on keeping that older bull calf as a potential breeder or to sell him for such, I see some FINE steaks, roasts and burger on the hoof come some butchering day about 2 years down the road! Yum!!!! Visions of a full pantry. We love canned beef,and chicken, and turkey, venison , fish, pork and wonderful stock from all kinds of meat. Oh yes I see great potential…..an abundant larder! If this is his future don’t make him a pet, but nice grass fed beef is soooooo good and valuable if you ever market it as such. Well it is expensive in my valley anyway. Rick

    • Yep, Frosty is going to be a steer. And he’ll provide both us and our meat customers with prime beef after living a nice life on pasture. We don’t make pets of our steers although all of them come for scratching and petting. It makes them so much easier to handle.
      We don’t make pets of our bulls nor do we pet and scratch them because that easily turns into them shoving and trying to “play” with us. Not so good when they weigh 2,000 pounds!

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