Spring-dandy!

This is simply a beautiful morning! The birds are so happy today and the air is so still. Yum...just love springtime!

I stepped to the backdoor this morning to check bulging heifer #104; while I was on the phone with dad who was asking me if I could see her. Reluctantly for a moment as I had just placed my glasses on my face for the first time today, I moved through the house. I got to the back door, peeped out the window and laid my eyes on a brand new life - a charcoal gray little dot!! Still trying to wake myself I told dad, "yep, she's got it," and that was that. It wasn't until after I hung up the phone that I was more awake. Then I was able to witness God is His greatness..that little dot was jumping and bouncing all over the place; all the while making its momma a nervous wreck. Sweet, sweet morning indeed!
(see the grayish colored cow in the middle of pic? her new charcoal baby is laying right beside her)


So, if my count is correct, that is 15 babies...7 more to go in this patch. Shortly after dad called he came up to inspect the new arrival. In a matter of moments that little dot was complete; being adorned with her new #104 3/24 yellow ear tag...so cute!!!
My dad and Tucker-the pup after they came up to inspect the new baby and give it it's new ear tag.


Have a spring-dandy day everyone!

Until next time . . .

Spring has Sprung in the Ozarks

With temperatures near 70 today and we're past the Spring Equinox; I think it's safe to say that Spring has sprung!!! Oh, there may be a few more cold days and nights here and there, but Spring is here. YAY!

The daffodils, aka jonquils, aka easter lilies are in full bloom. One can see hints of yellow bursts all along the way. The birds have also been singing loving, "Good morning Lindsay," tunes. What a wonderful way to be greeted. My yard has been full, I mean full, of big ole fat Robins and little blue birds. I think I counted 50 robins the other morning. I haven't seen any Martins yet; hopefully they'll make their arrival soon.

The little black dots have slowed down a little on the arrivals. We haven't had any new babies for the last few days. Hopefully those mommas will get in gear and start popping again. The little dots we do have are starting to feel their oats; all the while bucking, running, and jumping across the fields. They are just so cute!

Of course one is busy year round on the farm, but this time of year gets exceptionally busy. Dad is starting the fertilizing of the hay fields and pastures. It'll be time to cut that hay in no time...hopefully God will bless us with good rains to have a good hay crop. We've already talked about farming being busy right now with all those babies arriving, and it's time to put in all those cross fences..uggg gaucho wire is not very forgiving at all!!! Not really what I want to spend my weekends doing, but I feel obligated to help mom and dad; plus that fencing will be so nice once it's finished.

On a totally different note....it's now officially election year again. My dad, Gary Lee Collins, filed as a candiate for the Ozark County Presiding Commissioner. The past 20 years dad has been in county government; 4 of that serving as Presiding Commissioner. Not that I'm biased, but dad is very good at what he does for the county. He has a financial mind set and a sturn head on his shoulders to work and do what is necessary to run a productive, in the black, county. I won't say all those years were easy, but he has the know how to make it work. He works for the people, not a political agenda. So, don't forget to vote in Ozark County, Missouri on August 3rd, 2010.

Well, guess that's enough for now.

Until next time . . .

Springing Forward & 365

Well, daylight savings time 2010 has arrived, although I think I'm a little spring-lagged. Normally the time change doesn't affect me, but I was tired going into this one. It's weird...I can't go to sleep at night because my mind is telling me, "it's only 10 pm," when now it's actually 11. Then in the morning, I can't get up because my mind is telling me, "it's only 6 am," when it's actually 7 and I've got to get up for work!! Strange how our mind tricks us. Anyway, I always welcome daylight savings time because that means for more daylight in the evenings for walking and just being able to be outside.

Last night dad and I were driving steel pipe posts for our corral fencing. Before we knew it it was dusky dark, thinking it was around 6:30 and it was after 8! Wew, time flies when you're having fun. I hadn't even been in the house yet from being home from work and it was after 8. But, we got all the post drove so dad could go back today and get them all perfectly level and the same height. We got a couple of them a tad bid off the straight line, but dad said, "In 100 years it won't bother me." That got me to thinking, "who will own our family farm in 100 years? Will it be my children's children and their children; pending I ever have children?" Pondering thought!

The little black dots have slowed down a little. For the first couple weeks in March a steady stream of the little calves were arriving. We are now up to 12 calves with 10 heifers yet to calve. They are so cute. They are getting big enough now that they venture off from their mommas and buck across the field....so cute.

Even though the heifers behind the house have slowed down, the older mammas in the back have kicked in. I think we've had 4 calves in the back pasture just this week. So there are little black dots everywhere on the Collins Ridge Farm. That's one of the things I love about spring; the new baby calves! It never gets old, I don't care how old I am. Love it, love it!

On a totally different note, today marks the real countdown....in 365 days is the 2011 Mediterranean Journey to Italy & Spain!!!!!!!! Yahoo!! I'm not at all excited, can't you tell? haha. That's 365 days to mentally prepare...365 days to physically prepare...and 365 days to healthily lose XXX number of pounds. We'll see.

Happy almost Spring everyone. Have a great day.

Until next time . . .

Sunshine, Sports, Travel & Black Dots!

It was a busy weekend on the farm. To start the weekend off, my sister and I along with our friend Debbie from church traveled to Poplar Bluff, MO for the 2010 Maximizing Ministries conference being held at the First Church of God. It was an awesome conference w/Steve Rennick serving as guest speaker. He spoke on holiness. GREAT JOB!!! On Saturday we each attended two break-out sessions. We all attended the Seas of Change conference by the speaker. Then Renee and I attended the youth ministry session: Daycare Part II? and Debbie attended the children's ministry session: Fun with PVC. After the individual sessions we all met together again for a final worship service with the awesome praise and worship band from 1st Church an the speaker. Great time!

Since I wasn't home Friday night or Saturday I missed out on the new black dots being born. It was a busy night for dad. Friday there were three new baby calves: #145, #114 and #141. Saturday there was one new baby calf: #138.

We had to hurry back on Saturday because both the Lady Falcons and Falcons from Dora were playing in the District Class 1 Championship games. I think we got back around 4:30pm. I took a brief nap....guess I was really sleeping good because my family honked at me for 10 minutes and I never heard them. Finally my dad came in my house to see if I was going. I was SLEEPY. It took me a while after I got to the game to wake up. Anyway, this isn't about me. So, the girls played agains Bakersfield and brought home the victory; 45 to 40. Then the boys played Eminence and brought home the victory; 62 to 47. What a spectatular night for Dora Falcon Basketball. This is the first time in a long time the Dora boys have won the district title, but the first time in the school's history the girls have won the district title. Plus, it's very rare that both teams from the same school win the district title...PLUS, we were on our HOME COURT!!! Great night!

Sunday morning was active for dad as he had to pull another calf before coming to church. #110 delivered this morning. I might add she is very proud of her baby and extremely particular. As dad says, "She's a little ronchy and would like to get my hip pocket if I get too close to her baby!"

Had a great service at church this morning. Everyone seemed chipper with the lovely weather. We had an awesome service with Justin F. filling in for our pastor. He grew up attending the Needmore Church of God, but has since married and moved to Springfield; serving on the police force and actively involved in the First Church of God. We are so proud of Justin and his work in the Church.

I grilled out today on my BBQ. YUMMY is all I have to say. Mom and dad were checking cattle when I was grilling and wanted to know if dinner was ready. I told them they weren't invited, but I was just kidding. They thought I was kidding when I hollared at them later and told them dinner was ready. It was nice having mom and dad up. As always, we had a lovely visit. Had contata practice today for the Easter Contata. It is a very pretty piece and arrangement of music. I just hope we can pull it all together in the next few weeks. I'm sure we will.

Sunday evening I made my normal 10 pm cattle run with dad. One of the soon-to-be mommas was showing signs that she would calve soon. We figured this particular girl would be a bit salty..aka she's somewhat on the sassy side, so we decided to go ahead and put her in the corral for 'just in case' she needed help getting that baby here. Of course this would mean coming back in a couple of hours to check her, but I'd rather try and put her in the corral at 10 pm when she's not hurting as bad than chasing her after midnight when she's really hurting and doesn't want anyone to mess with her. So, that's what we did. We didnt' have too hard a time getting her in the corral. Dad picked me back up just after midnight to go check her. Still no baby. So to help her out and insure the calf was ok we ran her in the runway of the corral and assisted in the delivery. I really got to help on this one. I held the tail for a while, but dad needed help with the pulling. So, dad and I both were in there behind that cow, pulling chains on the calf's front feet, dad had one hook and I had the other and away we went to pulling. It didn't take long (about 15 minutes maybe) to pull the calf, but she sure needed help. That calf hit the ground with a thud and we then went to tickling it's nose with a stick of straw to get it to sneeze give. It's so funny when those little babies are all gooey and shake their heads and blow snot so they can breath. New life is awesome to experience!!! Soon after we let new momma #108 out so she could meet her baby. She looked at it a minute like, "what is that thing over there?" Then she went to smelling it and mooing like crazy at her new baby. Needless to say, she's a proud mamma. But, much to our surprise, she wasn't salty at all. She just stood there until that baby hit the ground.

So 11 babies in 9 days = 11 more to go!!

To top off this wonderful, yet extrememly busy weekend....the weather was sunshinny and BEAUTIFUL!!! Windows are up a little and the heat is OFF!!

Until next time . . .

Little Black Dots & Sunshine

We were blessed with sunshine yesterday....I have so missed the sunshine. Even though the sun comes up everyday, thankfully, it is not always visible and covered by chilly weather clouds. So it's exceptionally sweet to see it!

Another black dot arrived on the Collins Ridge Farm yesterday; a healthy strapping bull. It arrived in what is becoming the all to familiar fashion; needing help and having to be pulled. Although this sometimes is a common thing with first calf heifers, it can be stressful because you don't want to lose any or the momma. I wasn't there for this birth :( because he made his arrival in the daytime instead of his momma waiting until after 10 pm!! Whew, those births make for some late nights!

This particular black dot needs a few days of pampering. He was so cramped in tight quarters that he needs a few days to <::S::><::T::><::R::><::E::><::T::><::C::><::H::> out so he can stand up on his own. Last night was church night so I didn't get to help dad bottle feed him (had to give him colostrum which is the first most important milk and nutrients for a newborn calf), but did participate in making him a lovely, warm place to sleep. He and his momma got to sleep in slumber inside the nice warm barn complete with a fresh hay bed.

Momma #147, birthed on 3/3/10, with some help - loves her baby because she would just lovingly moo to him. Plus, she really doesn't like anyone messing with him. She'll give a snort and a head butt if you're not careful. Oh, she's not a mean cow, just protective.

Oh, and since he is a special black dot he has been dubbed the name Chief! Since he's the biggest calf naturally he's going to be the big Chief when he gets to go outside and romp and play with the other black dots! Hopefully Chief's front legs will stretch out and he will be okay.

Let's see if more black dots arrive today. So far dots have arrived everyday since 2/28.

Until next time . . .

Little Black Dots; numbers 3, 4 & 5

So far the spring calving season has been consistent and hasn't left any room for dull moments. Babies number 3, 4, & 5 have arrived and more are expected today.

Here's the rundown thus far:

Momma 109 birthed, on her own, the first of the black dots on 2/28/10 - a heifer
Momma 137 birthed, w/some help from us, on 2/28/10 - a bull
Momma 136 birthed, w/some help from us, on 3/1/10 - a heifer
Momma 114 birthed, on her own, on 3/2/10 - a bull

And, in the other batch of mommas, my cow had a shinny black dot on 3/2/10!!! YEAH!!!! I was so excited. Dad and I were making our 10 pm baby check last night checking the mommas and making sure they were okay. When we got to the back field we discovered a new baby back there!!! We drove up close to the cow and calf to see which cow it was. As soon as her number was visible I was like, "Yeah, that's my cow!!!" Doesn't take much to excite me. lol

The heifers are always interesting. Since they are having their first calf you never can tell about them on if they are close or not. Momma 136, from above, is a perfect example. During the day on the 1st she wasn't showing any signs of being sick. But, on our 10 pm run we discovered she was trying to calve and needed help as she was barely dilated. So at a little after 10 pm dad and I were trying to get her into the corral so we could give her some help by pulling the calf. Had to go get mom for this one....needed a tail holder! She was not a happy camper with us. She tried jumping over the corral runway and would not help us out at all. Can't say that I blame her though. How would you act if you had something pushing and pinching on you like that and it wouldn't come out?! Anyway, after a little excitement of containing her to the head shoot we finally got her calmed down and pulled that baby. I think the baby arrived somewhere around 11 pm or so.

It is amazing to me how those mommas instantly start mooing to their babies and immediately know what to do once that baby hits the ground. This is natural born instinct. God's creations are amazing!

We'll see what's waiting when I get home from work today. Can't wait!!

Until next time . . .

Little Black Dots are arriving!

I just love, love, love spring; for so many reasons. One, after long gloomy winters it is refreshing to see color and breath crisp air. Two, my morning greetings usually come from the sweet splendor of the singing, chirping birds. And three, spring brings new baby calves on the Collins Farm.

This year I am exceptionally excited because 22 heifers are in the lot right behind my house. Ok, here's my back door, which goes into my yard, which is separated from the lot by barb wire fencing. You get the picture on how close that lot is? Yep, it's close. I go to the back door every morning to see if anything is out of the norm. Spring calving season also means for a late night stroll on the 4-wheeler w/my dad. He checks those girls like a hawk! Anyway, back to the babies.

You might be asking, "Why do these heifers bring more excitement?" You see, we raised these baby girls and now they are fixing to be mommas for the first time!! They are so special when you raise them and have seen them grow up. Sunday morning, February 28th, 2010 started all the excitement!! I was taking my morning trip through the house to the back door to check out the girls. Down in the far corner of the pasture I saw something that looked a bit unusual; unusual in the sense that it wasn't there the day before. It was early so my eyes were still adjusting. To see if that unusual spot was really what I thought it was I gave out a hollar, "Good morning Girls," to the heifers. To my surprise that unusual spot moved followed by the spotting of ears! I was so excited. I ran, got the phone, and dialed my mom and dad's house. See, dad usually calling me of a morning to see if everything looks ok. Well, I beat him to the punch. He picks up the phone and w/o me saying hello I said......"Get up, get up, get up, we have a black dot!" His response was, "REALLY?!" Yay, #109 gave birth to a beautiful little heifer calf; so black and shinny!

Yesterday was such a beautiful day so I was outside much of the afternoon painting my storage building. Have to have it painted before Tuesday because my car canopy is being installed in front of the building. YAY! Anyway, while I was enjoying the sunshine I kept my eye on the heifers. This one fat girl kept pacing the field. Knew she wasn't feeling good. After a while I noticed one of the heifers balling continuously, a distress call, so I decided to check it out. Much to my surprise baby number two was on it's way. But, she was needing some help. So I hollared at dad. Yes, we don't usually need phones at my house cause I just hollar across the hay field and they hear me if we're outside, and he was on his way. Got the expecting momma into the corral and runway to help her out. Ten minutes later a strapping black shinny bull calf made is entrance on the Collins Farm. His momma loved him instantly as she began mooing to him and cleaning him up.

Jasmine, Renee's youngest, was there for the excitement as I held the tail (and pulled on skin, but no need for graphics here) while dad and Renee pulled. Jasmine was in awe! I asked her when I was washing my hands if she'd ever seen that before. She gave me a quick grin of amazement and said, "No." I told her that was her initiation to farm life!

So an exciting weekend on the Collins Ridge. Two little black dots made their arrival. I suspect there will be more by the time I get home this evening. Hopefully I can get my camera out there and bring you pics!

Until next time . . .

No Thunder...No Frost!

One of my favorite 'wise tales' or folklores is this: Thunder in February, Frost in May. Meaning, if we get thunder in the month of February then we will see a late frost in May. Well guess what? February 2010 was very quiet and no thunder rolled across the hills and hollers in my neck of the woods. So keep your eye on May and let's see if this rings true.

Until next time . . .