Thursday, June 9, 2011

Hello and boy is it hot

I know it has been a long time since I have posted anything. It's hot out and I don't want to go outside again yet.

First thanks for checking in to see if I have posted anything. 

It was great to meet our fans and followers that were able to get tickets for the Garden Festival tour.

I think I will just post about what a day in the life of Farmer John has.

Most mornings I am up at 2:30 am, Thursdays is 2:00 am.  I wake myself up and am in the barn by 3:00. Bah-Bah greats me with his loud BLAAAAT. and then the kids and Chance all chime in.
I get the milking equipment ready and carry to the milking room.  Wheel the bags of grain from the garage to the feed bins, feed the kids their grain and the barn is quiet again, somewhat. The yearlings are anxiuos to get theirs and to be milked. They are the first group, there are 20 in this group. They get milked, enough is saved and pastuerized for the kids that are still on milk. That is set aside and cooled for when I am done with milking. Next comes the older girls they are 2 years old to 8 years old. There are 62 in this group. It's now about 7 am. Feed the kids I feed, Jason has fed his last group of kids just about weaned and has started doing the "dishes" as he calls washing up the milking equipment. I feed hay and make sure all is well with water, feed the laying hens if Jason hasn't and the chicks. Now it's time to feed me.

After breakfast I usually try to take a nap for at least an hour. Check my e-mails write checks for bills.

Now it's time to do any lawn mowing or weed whacking or barn cleaning.

When we need to Jason and I go to town to get groceries and any supplies from the local feed stores.

Then by 2:30-3:00 pm it starts all over again. I do have my fathers help and most afternoons my nephew Jacob comes after school to help. This cuts out about a half hour to 45 minutes of my work load.  Some nights I'll do a little more mowing or weed whacking if it really needs it. Otherwise we go in for dinner and some down time.

Thursdays I am up earlier to make sure I have enough milk for the Cajeta milk run. Brent and Stephane need it ready by 6 am to get to Kingston on time.

There are other things that get done in between too. Milk pick up days requires washing the milk tank. Fence may need repair, vaccinations, dehorning, etc.......

I hope to get my kids for sale list out there at some point.

Thanks for staying with us.

John