Raising Bottle Babies

We're not experts by any stretch of the imagination, but we're definitely learning a thing or two about raising bottle-fed calves. There's a dairy not too far from here where one can get newborn male calves for a song...

Now there's a few reasons why there's a market for Jersey bull calves. First, they're affordable. Dairies are not interested in bull calves. All the heifers are AI'd. Second, they make great organic fertilizer for your pastureland and garden area. Using a paddock system boosts the benefits. Next, as we have researched the beef markets, we've found that many consumers today are eating Jersey beef. Of course, they don't fill out like the beef breeds, but some say the meat is just as good. Another advantage to small scale farming is the experience and character building for children. Almost a dozen years ago, someone gave me a piece of wisdom I'll never forget; it went something like this..."Children need something to "give" themselves to.." Now that I've got children of my own, I realize just how true this statement is. They'll devote all their time to something. It's up to us parents to direct the ship into profitable, meaningful, even more eternal tasks than staring for hours on end at a tiny iPhone screen.

Live deliberately.

Peach Blossom

Wild Plums

~ delicious jelly...

Spike didn't make too long in captivity, but he sure was fun while he lasted.

Indian Paintbrush

Indian Paintbrush

Mustang Grapes in the making

At long last, Phillip now owns a tractor. It'll pay for itself in no time. He already has a side job mowing the neighbor's pasture. We've mowed our own pasture, and plowed more land for a bigger garden. For several years, Phillip has been researching agri-business, farmer's markets, and farming in general as a means to supplement our income. The Lord has found favor in his endeavors and continues to bless his efforts.

Not only that, it's our passion; something we both enjoy and want to do together as a family. I have put my cooking business to the side and putting my focus into the farm. It's what brings me the most joy. We are now searching for a few implements to make planting easier and more efficient, and a box blade to finally grate our driveway.

I think Phillip said our rows are 200 feet.

He'll plow and disc the rest of the land to the fence which is all the land to the left of this picture. Additionally, we lease the 16 acres to the east of us where we'll begin to cultivate and plant, as well. We've got about 20 acres of plantable land, total, if we really wanted to plant that much.

Saturday morning, we set out on a tractor quest. Phillip had been doing his homework for months and knew what he was looking for. He'd already looked at two, but wanted me to go with him so I could help make a decision. I'm always game for a ride, especially since I knew where we were going and I'd get some fabulous pictures along the way. Spring time in Texas is, by far, the prettiest of our seasons.

There's just something about the country that draws me in. I'm pretty sure it's the peacefulness and solitude I so deeply covet. I remember Phillip's Mom saying that being at the ranch in Llano "clears the cobwebs". It's really so true. Our lives are so cluttered with stuff that, honestly, has no meaning; especially no eternal meaning. I can't live off fluff for very long, truthfully. I'm just not wired that way.

Someday, I would LOVE to have a collection of barn photos and publish them.

Spring blessings from the country ~

Broccoli

Why am I posting a picture of a broccoli plant?

Well....let me just say that by tomorrow morning this photo may very well be the only memory I have of the eighteen plants I put in the ground several weeks ago. Over the course of about two weeks, the wild bunnies have been nibbling our promising vegetation as a midnight snack, it seems. As it stands this evening, I have two left.

I'm kinda sad.

We've never planted broccoli out here before.

Obviously, Peter and his family are glad we did.