Highbinder crossed over. Never be forgotten, Running things solo on farm

[LadyDraco]

And back from shoveling the two strips down the driveway, down the neighbors  turn.

2h 10m... I love my wide metal snow shovel.. It's 40yrs old  and still sharp ...

  Hasn't warmed up much still 9* and I'm sweating !

BTW I have done this before  on this driveway. So it's not new to me .

I use it like a plow lift and clear the shovel  when needed. 

I saw a 'Yote trotting across the neighbors upper field...

It is still snowing just very fine.

I enjoyed  myself.. I know most find that hard to believe..

      Don would shake his head when I did stuff like this.

But he also understood...

Yes freedom.. most don't understand the life we/I lived/live...

[LadyDraco]

Now  The SHop is  not going to stnd behind  it...
    And  wants  me  to drop more $$$$ with them..
SOB !

[LadyDraco]

This storm is up to 8" so far.

For the 25/26 season drum roll   40"
A far cry from our season best, but the season isn't over yet...

[carolinarider09]

Snow at our home at about 2:30 this afternoon.  Snow started around 12 noon.

[LadyDraco]

Nice... 

Tomorrow I'll get out the roof rake .
It's on a 25 or 35'  adjustable pole.Being I have a metal roof, It's a neoprene foam blade.
That tool really works your necl,shoulders and back out..

[Jess from VA]

Snow at our home at about 2:30 this afternoon.  Snow started around 12 noon.

I suppose snow is rare where you live Jim.  That stuff looks like fluffy powder (unlike our icy concrete), and when I get it, I use my backpack blower and start at the house and just move it right off the deck and walks with ease, before the temps and sun come up and turn it to ice and slush.

We get a lot of complaints up here in NoVA about all the 2stroke noise they make and efforts to ban or tax them out of existence (by Donkey people).  The reason they are so popular is they save a tremendous amount of hard work in raking leaves, sweeping walks and decks, cleaning out gutters, and shoveling snow.

I have three of them and I'm not giving them up either.

It doesn't look like you have a lot of neighbors close by (lucky man).  

Sorry for the drift Tracy.

[LadyDraco]

Morning it's 1* and the winds have showed up..

BTW 12" total so far from this storm..

[Jess from VA]

Morning it's 1* and the winds have showed up..

BTW 12" total so far from this storm..

It's a balmy 16* with 20mph wind up here Tracy, and not fit for man nor beast outside despite the bright sun.

It's supposed to finally get above freezing for 5 days starting tomorrow, but freezing every night and I'm hoping for some kind of thaw so I can clear my walks and driveway so I don't fall on my azz anymore. 

[LadyDraco]

LOL Have warmed up to 2* ... At least it's 12" of  fluffy snow.
     Today will be a very full day, hand Shoveling the driveway to my neigbhors gate.
Did that 2x yesterday. And ya'll saw how long my driveway is.
Have to roof rake and put hay out. And check water , bust the ice in the dead trough,so the concrete stays healthy.. I don't have stock there , So I'm not worried ,The half of that trough has a 12" of thick ice
now. This is why I must keep half of it opened, so the fresh ice has a place to go.
LOL soon there will be NO water in that trough, as I take what I bust up out.
My main trough was  fine  last night,as was the house.
Ya'll that don't get your water from a spring ,have no idea what one must do each day in the winter.
Don use  to take  of  the water . I would  just bust up the ice.
     LOL and droughts... This snow will be outstanding for the deep water table.

But my life is way more fun and exciting, tracking bob cats, 'yotes,deer, and a trail I had never seen before!  I was very strange, I wish I could have seen the foot print.

[LadyDraco]

The drifts were thigh deep in my driveway, yes I dug them out.

[Farside]

The drifts were thigh deep in my driveway, yes I dug them out.

   Got to be in pretty darn good shape!   

[LadyDraco]

   Ok I guess for my age .
2 days of shoveling my driveway and walking all over in almost knee deep snow has worn me out..
And I have corgie legs ,I'm around 5' something
I never go to roof rake , tomorrow is another day,,,

[Jess from VA]

Tracy, you impress the heck out of me.  

There are very few women who would or could do the hard physical work you describe on here almost daily.

I like to work, and try to do some every day.  But this frozen ice storm has me licked... until we can get a few days of thaw and I'll go at it again.  

Two young men showed up a while ago looking for work (with their shovels).  I told them this ice and wind is pure murder, but we will be above 30 the next few days.  If you come by tomorrow afternoon and see me out there, I'll happily pay you cash to throw in with me.   I'm looking forward to some help.

[carolinarider09]

Tracy, you impress the heck out of me.  

There are very few women who would or could do the hard physical work you describe on here almost daily.
.

 

I fully agree.  I do not think I could handle that work load. 

[NewValker]

Tracy, last storm,  I worked 41 hours plowing, got home and did a quick plow so the barns were open for turn out by owners.  Took a much needed shower, and a 3 hour nap.  Then spent the next 2 days plowing everything out, snow blowing what I could and shoveled the rest.
Took the rest of the week to recover and feel normal. Well, as normal as I can be, and I think you out worked me hands down.
Slow & steady, be safe

Craig

[LadyDraco]

For us all that are in it every day ,Snow just means more work.
     It sure would have been easier  for me if the winch ,didn't go belly up
at the last storm!  That's what made this 3 day storm such a pain in the you know what..
      I just say  it's  like winter of 1717 or 1949 just not as deep...


Watching the cavles playing this evening  ,makes it all worth it.

and I have a cow springing , greatttt ...

[cookiedough]

surely impressing me for sure 12 inches of snow shoveling by hand long driveway is not for me anymore, got a snowblower for much of anything over 5 inches nowadays in one snowfall. 

be careful and take it slow not overdue it heart attacks are fairly common shoveling snow that long and that heavy.

[LadyDraco]

I use my old alum, snow shov like a plow..
And this snow was fluffy thank goodness.
    only toss whenit is needed...
Don and I use  to do snow removal for a living in PA.
 of course that was over 44yrs ago..
     
      That was taking it slow. 10 yrs ago I was faster...LOL

[Jess from VA]

10 yrs ago I was faster...LOL

Weren't we all. 

I only walk now (every day).

I tell people.... "If you see me running, you better run too."   

[LadyDraco]

Happy Whistle Pig Day,,

Our GroundHog Concord Charlie  Did not see a shadow !!!

[LadyDraco]

I do not want anymore  days  like  today.

It realy is  feeling like  1717 all over.

Today needs  to sod off  Big Time..

I'm tired and  turning  in .....

[LadyDraco]

After I saw that Concord Charlie ,did not see his shadow,
Stuff on the farm went south fast!

Well just as I suspected a calf...
Sissy had a still born bull calf.
Why do I say I suspected ,this cow doesn't spring for so long.
She had been springing for weeks.
It never moved,via body placement. She had it in the one hay strip from yesterdays
Haying... I finally got it dragged to my area that things vanish fast.

She isn't even acting like she calved, so she must have felt it not moving inside her.
I still feel for her....

Oh wait there's more..
I started to feel like Tommy in Landman, (what else are you going to throw at me!)

The Ugly, The Bad and the Good Of the 2nd.!

I found that the still born calf had a twin..that was mummified.
I found it as I was putting the chain on Charro's hind legs.
Charro (Cancer Cow) Died had also died on the 2nd !
I was stunned she lasted this long , Charro was 14yrs old.

Yeah today was a real suck of a day!
She was fine when I saw her as I went to the neigbhor's ,
and when I came back up an hour later Charro was dead!
(Oh can't dig a grave yet, so dragged her to a spot that was away from where the stock hangs)
Neighbor said once we get warmer temp and some of the snow n ice drops,He'll dig.

Well Kolpin winch company Would not honor their 5-year warranty.

The only bright light . For the 2nd....
So when I called the Neighbor and told him what Kolpin said , he said come down,
I want to try something! He had been watching youtubes.
And found one where the fella had a new winch that stopped working,
It would click ,and that was it. Just like mine!

Neighbor and I did fix the winch!
We took it apart and looked at it , NO burnt wires,
Cleaned the brushes and I guess the commentator? I think thats what it's called.
Slapped it together and bam! It worked , he hooked up that box again.

This was a huge leap that worked out.
And now I know the steps to fix it ,IF this happens again! YAY !!

So yeah  lost 2 calves, and a cow all in 1 day .
That was why I didn't want to ever repeat that day.

This deep cold does take it's toll on man and beasts...

My other  live 2 calves are fine loving life.

It's always something on a farm....

[Jess from VA]

Tracy, it's absolutely none of my business, but what is the purpose of your cows?

It's not a dairy herd, do you sell them for beef (14 years old)?  Big pets?

They seem to be a tremendous amount of work and responsibility for you, and expense.

Please forgive my ignorance, and curiosity.  I mean no offense.

Everyone should do what they want. 

[LadyDraco]

And you are correct, it is none of your business.

You only picked up on the fact that she was 14 years old, completely overlooking the part about her having cancer. 

But I'll give you a short lesson

We keep some old cows around as herd watchers proctors and baby sitters. As long as they have horns.       
This one cow was known as a freemartin ,she was a twin ,the other twin was a bull.
The heifer is sterile. She was the prettiest calf ever born here. Don & I agreed she would never be sold.
She has a lovely matched set of horns. A cow with cancer will NOT bring in any cash. THERE is no meat on it that's safe.And I wouldn't do that . She had farm value.. That was enough to keep her.

The other thing  , is the LH cattle eat almost anything, they eat brush, brambles , poison ivy, low tree limbs , they teach it to their calves ,this is something domesticated cattle don’t know. LH browse in areas that rigs can’t reach.They are in my  land management. Domesticated animals will stand in feet of snow and die of thirst. LH will eat the snow. They are survivors. Act like deer .
They are an incredible animal. We had raised domesticated cattle ( a very dumb animal) for over 20 years prior to these LH The smartest bovine  I’ve ever encountered.
But folks need to know critters have souls they are more then $$$$ on 4 legs. They are living beings.

   Most of the young stock gets sold from time to time,  
They are a more natural, and they don’t always give birth to calves every year.

[Jess from VA]

Thank you for your answer.

I again apologize for my curiosity.

I only had your health and well being in mind in my asking.  

One of my old neighbors fell and broke some ribs on our terrible ice.  I went down there and offered to help shovel his driveway, and took him a good back brace I had.  I had his heath and well being in mind too.  

[LadyDraco]

I have been working with livestock my whole life since I was 5 or 6 yrs old.
    I have lived  in icy locations , and do know how to handle it.

For yrs Don and I had  large herds  40 head in horses and 20+ head of Angus.


So working the way I do is NOT new. If I didn't have the stock to keep me working and in shape .
I would get to see Don sooner..

So yes I understand , but You really don't know me and my true life style.
Only the little tidbits I post...
     I have not been living this life style for 3 yrs...
The only new thing is I'm doing it all alone , just  as I did in my youth.

Do I forget I'm closing in on 70  .....yup..
Do I care .....nope

I'll keep lifting 50lbs  and 80 lbs sacks , lifting and luging , pushing and pulling.

[Oss]

Tracy, you represent the best of so many qualities  in how you live your life

It has been my (and Bonnie's) pleasure to know you and Don over the years

Wish we could get down to your slice of paradise more often (when it is warmer    )

[LadyDraco]

  I hope ya'll get to visit soon.....

[HayHauler]

So sorry to hear about the calves and cow.  It takes a toll on everyone involved.  Just like losing a dog or cat that has been raised as a pet.
Keep on working just like you need to.  It keeps us young.

Don't let the old man/woman in.

Hay 
Jimmyt

[LadyDraco]

Amen Jimmy !

[carolinarider09]

I think what many of us don't know (and I am speaking for me only) is farmers (the entire family) get attached to the animals on their farm. 

My only experience with "farming" was visits to my aunt and uncle's dairy farm in PA when I was in my early teens.  It was interesting and informative.  I always wondered (in later years) if farmers got "connected" to their "stock". 

It seems that the connection is there (just as I sort of guessed but never verified). 

And that brings me to other thoughts. 

Because I have thought about the things that Tracy has experienced and mentioned above (not those exact things but similar) and how I, as a "person" would respond. Could I make the determination about keeping some of my livestock and letting others be taken for slaughter.  And yes I know that we all eat meat and it does come from once living creatures.

And, it always flummoxes me as to what I would do.  I do not have an answer. 

So, I have great respect and admiration for what Tracy and her family did and what Tracy still does on a daily basis.  The decisions one has to make on the farm would probably cause me to kneel and pray frequently to have help in making decisions. 

So Tracy, thank you for your work, for all the things you do and thank you for your faith.   Your words, your thoughts, speak volumes of who you are and what you believe.  And that is so very, very  special. 

It is also helps me to keep my faith (which I have just sort rekindled in recent years) moving forward.  Knowing that brighter things always lie ahead regardless of what today brings us.

Thanks again Tracy.   

 

[LadyDraco]

Sigh it's snowing ... 3" so far ...

[LadyDraco]

And we are up to 49.5 " of snow for the season 25/26

[LadyDraco]

Still a far cry from a season record in the 20 yrs. We have lived at this location.

132" was the record here for us...

[LadyDraco]

Having a  good  melt off...

[LadyDraco]

Well I never want to do that again on the mountain ,ever !
I got lucky didn't hit any trees !
LOL holy crap! What a feeling of complete helplessness.
When I started going up I looked behind me and I saw my tracks so I kept going..
In the snow , but the higher I got , My tracks weren’t breaking through unbeknownst to me.
When I got just a few feet from where I normally park , the quad just started going sideways then backwards !
Then did a spin ,so at least I was now facing ! Finally got it to stop a little sideways.
Walked up and cleared the spring... I had to sit and slide back down to the quad.
Sat there a sec and look at my best path down...
Once I get to the middle junction box it was ok the rest of the way..

Yuppers never want to do that again ...
Full flash backs of winter in PA.

I'm glad I wasn't sliding faster than my G.A. could keep me safe!

[Jess from VA]

Tracy, my American flag flies from the forward peak of my house roof (with a light on all night).  The high winds and gusts of the big storm tore it off the top grommet, and it was sadly hanging from the lower grommet the next morning.  It cannot be reached with a ladder and the roof was a solid sheet of 6" ice.  The pitch of my two split level roofs is not steep but the sun kept that ice slick and there was no way I could get up there without sliding off the roof.  It was days before the slow melt created a narrow path of exposed shingle in front so I drug my extension ladder out there and managed to crawl up to make a repair. I took a pocket full of tools with me so I would only have to go up there once, but lacked one thing I needed so I had to throw it off the roof, crawl down and fix it and climb up a second time.  I probably fell on my butt 15 times on the ice from this storm.   

Be careful out there young lady.      

[hubcapsc]

I called Keith the other day during the worst of the ice, I figured he was
really getting hammered up where he is. He answered from his "side by side",
which I rode in back in September. He was headed into town for supplies.
When I would see those things I always thought they were just golf carts
with knobbies. I know now what they are capable of. Tracy needs one of them...

-Mike

[LadyDraco]

Chit happens I got very lucky.
So glad I had taken the plow off before I took the quad up there.
It would have surely wrecked ,if that big heavy plow was on , and it doesn't fit inbetween some of the trees.

Nope no side by sides for me , They can not  fit threw some on my trees ..
Jason has  had his up my mountain , and he could scrape the sides of the trees...
And he has flipped  both of his a few times!  He slid off his field in his sidebyside.
And that was on dry summer , They are just a tad two wide ..and can't sneak under low limbs.
And lets not talk about the price !
My 4x4 quad is fine it  can go any where on the farm.

[hubcapsc]

Tracy, I concede to your knowledge of your farm... I've only been as
far as the house. Keith rode me all over his 100 acres with his. Straight up,
straight down, off-camber, 3 foot drop offs into a creek, single track.
The space between trees is an objective limit, but we spent a bunch of
time in really tight really steep woods. Anyhow, that he was chatting with me
on his phone in the ice on the way out of his place made me think
of you when you posted your sliding in the ice story...

-Mike