Visiting a pumpkin patch

On Tuesday afternoon, we went to visit the pumpkin patch that belongs to some friends. Carl had had the opportunity to visit last year (https://journeyinamazinggrace.blogspot.com/2020/10/a-visit-to-pumpkin-patch.html), but this was my first opportunity to go.

Paul had told us generally where to go, so we started in field 1 -- pumpkins all over the place!

Paul came along to give us some additional guidance on where to get pumpkins (there were piles of them that he wants to get rid of as the tiller/disk won't be able to chew through piles so well) -- while he was there, he gave us an explanation of the pumpkin growth -- this is a female flower with a small fruit under it. I think he said that this fruit was a couple of days old...

... this is a male flower (no fruit)...

... a slightly larger fruit -- a couple of days more mature than the first one.

This fruit may be about a week old!

After Paul's lesson, we let him get back to his work, and we went to the piles to help him get them removed...

There were a lot more than we would be able to use (Jimmy's church was having a "carve a jack-o-lantern by using it for target practice" event on Saturday, so we got plenty for them to use!). I was moving them around so the guys could bring them from the piles to the side of the truck bed and I would try to stack them so we could fit more in...

... that's probably enough pumpkins!

Then we headed over to where the squash and gourds were located...

Wonder how he keeps the weeds down?

After adding squash and gourds and a couple of watermelons!

Yummy squash!

The fall decoration that Marion created at the sign -- she gave me inspiration so I collected some of the gourds...

These are what I collected -- they aren't arranged, but aren't they pretty?!?!?

So much fun to go and collect pumpkins and squash and gourds! We're looking forward to some pumpkin bread and squash soup!

Weighing day

On Tuesday, we went along with Jimmy as he was weighing the "beasties" across the road. He tracks their weight as he is feeding them out to eventually process for beef.

He first puts up temporary fencing to funnel them into the barnyard (Jimmy was placing the stakes and Carl running the "tape".

They are looking at us suspiciously as we approach in the field -- Jimmy got them moving, I just provided a scary presence so they wouldn't head down where I was.

The handling system allows Jimmy to push one at a time onto the scale, and, if/when they eventually stand still, allow us to read their weights. It also allows him to treat them for internal parasites and fly preventative (some of them have clouds of flies on their backs - I'm sure they appreciate getting relief from that!) -- knowing the weights allows him to appropriately measure the treatment.

In the handling system awaiting their turns.

These are the 4 largest -- they will be going back across the road with us and eventually to the processor in the next few days or weeks.

Mark and Sissy own the property across the road where the "beasties" are pastured -- he came out to chat with us briefly.

The stock trailer with the 4 loaded to go across the road.

A report from last year's experience during the weigh-in: https://journeyinamazinggrace.blogspot.com/2020/06/time-to-weigh-in.html

Some pictures from the woods

A few days ago, Jimmy took Carl back out in the woods for some more squirrel hunting...

Carl says that it is so quiet and peaceful there...

Jimmy got a squirrel! Carl said one waited for him (Carl) to shoot it for about 30 seconds and when Carl finally pulled the trigger, the bullet wasn't in place... oh well, that squirrel got to live another day!

They also saw a terrapin or box turtle...

Can you see the terrapin camoflagued in the leaves?

In case you're wondering about turtles vs terrapin (and maybe vs tortoise), this article might be interesting: https://loveandfeathersandshells.com/bruce/bruce-explains-box-turtles-turtle-versus-tortoise-versus-terrapin/

A Sunday afternoon visit

Jimmy gave me a call Sunday afternoon and said that "the Doodlebugs" were here and to come join in the front yard for a visit -- that means that the grandsons (great-nephews) are visiting!

Ashby and Brent -- 2 months old

Ricky and Christopher (almost 4 years old!)

Regina and Joseph (just past 5 years old!)

Brent and Regina

After Brent started crying, Carl tried to comfort him...

... but it wasn't happening (look at that turned out bottom lip!)

Christopher was plenty happy though!

All three of the boys with Regina and Jimmy

Ricky rubbing Christopher's head

It was good to have time with "the Doodlebugs"!

A new calf

On Sunday at about noon, I saw an eagle land in the produce patch a little ways from where we are parked. When I walked over there, I saw that the eagle had "encouraged" some buzzards to leave... and while I was watching, a hawk flew by -- no pictures unfortunately (I didn't want to get close enough to disturb the eagle). When I told Jimmy, he thought that maybe one of the cows had given birth and they were "arguing" over the afterbirth. So, a little later in the afternoon, we saw Jimmy heading to the cow pasture to see if there was a new little one, and we tagged along.

What a beautiful pastoral scene!

The Hereford coloring against the (still) green grass makes a pretty picture!

Some of this fall's crop of calves down in the woods.

That's the momma cow lying down on the other side of the waterer.

And... lying down there between the red one on the left and the black one on the right is the new baby calf - looks like a reddish smudge on the ground.

Jimmy approaching the new baby:

Measuring around his hoof to get an approximate weight -- 77 pounds

One of the other momma cows was very concerned about what was going on!

Banding to make him a steer (not a bull)

The new calf's momma cow is still lying down (on the left side of the picture), while the primary photographer (Carl), the new calf, and Jimmy are in the middle of the picture (along with another calf and another momma cow).

About to put the ear tag in (the calf isn't sure he wants to have a pierced ear!)

Jimmy does the application of the ear tag quickly and then rubs the calf's chin to take the sting away:

 

All done, he is ready to get up (he had probably been up and nursed earlier, but had been bedded down when we arrived).

He wanders over looking for his momma...

This one smells to see if he belongs to her... nope!

"Do you know where my mother is?"

Jimmy got the momma cow to get up to encourage her to go mother her baby...

She went to look where she had left him bedded down -- and he wasn't there anymore... Jimmy picked him up (all 77 pounds of him!) and carried him over closer to his momma...

... and the calf found her and eventually got a snack too!

She looks like she is picking up on mothering her new baby.

Some more pictures of the momma cows and their calves...

The babies are so cute!

This particular calf was born a few days ago, but I think Jimmy said that she was only 45 pounds when she was born - so she is still quite small! He said that he thought that she may have been premature.

 Some of the fun activities we get to participate in here on the farm!