Paige the Cheergirl

Here is my beautiful daughter cheering at a game with her friends. They held a cheer clinic for the girls in elementary school. They practiced cheers and then performed at half time during one of the varsity boys basketball games. They were all very cute and full of school spirit. I don't think I have ever heard as much school spirit at one of our games as I did from this bunch of little girls. They were awesome!!!!.

New baby calves

Have you ever seen a baby born?
Any baby?

A calf?
A colt?
A baby?
Not a chick, it's not the same. Although that is still cool.

We have lived on our farm in rural Missouri for 6 1/2 years now and this is the first calf I have seen born. Usually the mama hides somewhere in the woods on the hill out back of the house. We have had so many calves born there we call it birthing hill. I was smart enough to keep the cows down by the house once the first one came on 2/9/2008. We named that one Floyd because it was born on my brother-in-law's birthday and, obviously, his name is Floyd. We have no idea if the calf is a boy or a girl. But in the end it doesn't really matter.
We also have one named after my sister because it was born on her birthday. The cow's name is Andretti with a nickname of Andi after my sister. Andretti's mom was named Car Driver. Jaren named the mom that. Anyways, the bull in the picture is Andi's son born last year. His name is simply Babe. He is the younger of our two bulls, hence, the name Babe. The other bull is named Elvis. Sorry the pictures aren't so great. I will try again tomorrow when it gets light.
I should have taken pictures as it was happening but I didn't think about it. I came home from taking the kids to school. (I had to take the kid with the tuba today.) And I saw this cow laying in the field with her head down. And this little bull was bothering her. I watched her get up and realized there were black feet coming out her back side. She proceeded to head butt this bull a few times. Some of the other cows came to her rescue. They weren't aggressive just stepped between the two. And then she laid back down and started pushing. Within seconds the calf was out and she stood up and starting licking it like any good mother cow should. I was holding my breath hoping it was okay. Then I saw an ear twitch and a breath come. I actually watched it take it's first breath!!! I knew it was going to be alright then. She is a good mama. Very attentive and loving, licking it often and keeping track of it.
This is the third one this month. Our brown Charolais cows are always the first to come and they seem to be really good mamas. I think we have one more from a Charolais and one from one of our black cows that are due soon. Hopefully, I will get to see this miracle of nature happen again in the near future. I don't want to wait another 6 1/2 years.

Making Pens

Today I am trying to buy a mandrel for my lathe so that I can make pens. Making pens is a new hobby of my dad's. And it has spread to me and all my siblings.
My mom and dad came to our house for a visit and dad casually asks if we want to see his pens. So we say," what pens? Sure we'd like to see." And he brings out this black case and opens it up and shows us some of the most amazing pens. They are so pretty and you can't help but pick one up and Dad proceeds to tell you all about the pen, what kind of wood it is made of and where the wood comes from and how he got a hold of the wood. And then he tells you how simple it is to make a pen and asks innocently,"Would you like to make a pen?" And of course you can't resist and you say,"Sure." So he pulls out his lathe and his drill press and helps you make a pen. By then you are hooked and asking how much it costs to buy a lathe, etc, etc. And the whole thing is is it's just fun. Like my dad says, he's not making them to sell them really, although he has sold a lot of them. He just wants more money to buy more parts to make more pens.
And it has been amazing for my dad's happiness. And my mom, too. Although she doesn't really make pens like my dad does, whenever he makes one and shows it to her if she likes it she takes it and keeps it. Then when he makes one similar that is better she takes that and gives him back the other one. So she like has her own little horde of pens. They are funny together.
So me and my sister Sandy each have a lathe and I think my brother is going to get one. And I guess it will be a family business. We will flood the world with cedar pens. I will have to tell you about the cedar later.

Have a great day!!! And happy pen making.


Yvonne