[Diana in Wisconsin]

'The Halcyon Days of Summer' are over for Stew and the Heifers. Today was 'Round Up Day' - the Heifers are about ready to calve, so they need to get back to the barn in case they need medical attention other than what Farmer Dan can give them.

Stew is back in the barnyard, kicking up his heels and driving the hunting dogs nuts - they think he's a black bear - he LOOKS like a bear!

So now Stewie gets to hang out in the barn eating all the sweet oats and grains and hay he can stuff in his face. Warm beer, massages - it's a nice life! Then *Insert Ominous Music Here* he goes to The Spa come April.

I'll be taking primary care of him (and every other living thing around here) when Beau leaves for Mule Deer hunting in CO next month. (I thought it was Elk, turns out it's Mule Deer this year.)

'Stew' is lower left corner. The Girls are all Holstein with one Jersey in the mix. And, Yes! That IS the bottom half of a toilet hanging on the back fence gate. *Rolleyes*

[Qiviut]

The Cow Chronicles:

This week has seen some changes. The girls are now in the pasture right next to the road so I have gotten a good look at them. They are looking h.e.a.v.y!

The farmer gave them supplement feed twice this week. He’s also driving the fence & wood line, looking I presume, for any cows who have gone off to calve.

I found a gestation calendar & based on when they had their calfs last year & giving them 50 - 60 days until bred again (the norm), it looks like early November is when they could have a calf .... like last year, it will probably be around Thanksgiving & into December. First time mamas tend to have their calfs a little on the early side. He’s got more cows than last year, so there could be some heifers in the herd & that’s probably why he’s checking for calfs already.

My two favorite girls are still in the herd (White Face & Funny Face). I don’t know how old they are, but they both had a calf last year so still “productive” & worth keeping.

[Pete from Shawnee Mission]

Diana; Great picture of mostly happy cows! (And your steer!)

For your friend Stew....a link to some more Frugal Wisconsin barley beverage products that will make Stew Mellow, Marbled, and Wa(y)Goo(d)! At these prices you can join him for a drink when you feed him! Fun!

10 cheap but tasty Wisconsin beers

The only one I have NOT had at some point is La Crosse Lager. The Joseph Huber Brewing Company made IIRC the Beer for The BlackHawk restaurant in Chicago and sold it for a time after restaurant closed!

(Drinking slide.....I drank water from an historical roadside spring in Whitewater WI where Abraham Lincoln had his horse stolen when he was returning home from the Blackhawk War. He had to walk all the way back to Salem IL, no small walk and living rough along the way! slide over!)

Humm.....When your significant other goes bear hunting with the boys do they drink Hamms Beer? )

The Hamms Bear

[Qiviut]

"Funny Face", giving me the eye while I was working on the mailbox.