RUG HOOKING BLOG

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I'm a mother of four grandmother of seven and great grandmother of three. I live with my husband in the house that we built with the help of my brothers and will have been married for 57 years this February.

Thursday, November 21, 2013

THE FARM GREMLINS HAVE MOVED TO MY HOUSE

This morning my husband did the milking and we were both a bit later than usual as we have been  tired because we went to bed at 11:00 PM last night. He was supposed to come get the mother cow to milk her so I could feed her calf but he was rushing to wash the system before the plumber came to replace the water pressure tank and he totally forgot. He had to wait till the milking washing cycle system was finished before he could milk her in the steel milk can but by this time the plumber had turned the water off and I had no way of warming the milk so I had to go home to get a hot pail of water. The big steel milk can is cold and  cools off the milk rapidly.  See what I mean, the gremlins are here. This meant that I had to return to the barn to feed the new calf after having breakfast.

The water bowls and water troughs have been getting plugged on and off lately at the barn and especially lately and we have found pieces of diaphragm from the pressure tank and pieces of lining that plugs up the  pressure nozzles and water bowls so today we had a new pressure tank installed. It holds 180 gallons of water at the cost of $1100. 00 and the new water pump  on the 7th of November  was over $1200. 00. We had the water tested twice and there is still some bacteria that is present but
not harmful to human so we still have to get the well shocked another time and one more test. We believe the bacteria  came from the old tank when the submergible pump was replaced. There was some black in the water if you remember.

When I turned the Halogen light on this morning, it burnt out and I had to work in dim light. I say Gremlins are at work...

This morning when I opened the cover on the calf feed bin I saw my first mouse of the season. I couldn't believe it with all those cats in there. They were sniffing under the bin and for a good reason. I hope they catch it or I'll starve them till they do the work they are supposed to do.


When I returned home to make a beef pot pie, as I was getting a small Corning ware casserole dish out from the bottom of the cupboard to store the rest of the beef pie filling in and I accidentally knocked two identical small Corning casserole dish off the shelf and they shattered on the floor. I got those as wedding presents in 1966. I like them because they are small enough for two people. I still have one left thank goodness.  I think that the gremlins did it...  Oh well... it's time to think of downsizing any way. lol...   I  made my own Cream of Mushroom soup from scratch to put in the pie filling instead of the gravy. It was real good. I used the pie crust  trimmings to make a small one for my son. At least that project went very well. The Gremlins are not having any...


This afternoon, I went to work on weed cutting and my new weed eater was giving me problem as I was cutting tall grass I ran into some hidden metal wires and it cut the small blue cords and my husband had to take the spool apart. It has two cords inside the spool instead of one and he removed one cord and I liked it better. After that each time it hit something hidden in the grass, I knew what to do.  The damed Gremlins were at my weed eater too.

I was doing real well when I got a call from my son that he had found a new heifer calf born outside.
I dropped everything and went over to look after her. The mother was due on the 29th of November.

I have absolutely no place for another calf and had to remove the one that was in the big pen and tie it to a post right in my work path. I see a Gremlin pattern... Oh I almost forgot, that calf I had to tie to a post escaped from the pen the day before and went missing for a while.

When George came to get the mother, he left the big pen gate wide open and then he also left the big gate open. The calf gingerly came out in search of his mother and he ran over to the first cow he saw in the dry cow pen, out of site.
It was a warm sunny afternoon and I opened the outside door to let fresh air in and noticed one of the calf had knocked his feed pail on the floor and I went to tie it down and it's then that I noticed the calf missing. I thought that he had escaped outside. My heart sank down to my knees.

I looked everywhere and I finally found him hiding behind the dry cows. He laid in some cow patty and I had to wash under his belly and dip his navel again.
My husband has had so much on his mind lately because there's so much going on  that he forgets little important things like closing gates. Or maybe it was the Gremlins again...

At this rate, I'll never be able to tell you about my weekend stories. It's a longer story and if I don't write it down, I'll sure forget it as there are always some more stories that crops up.

I don't know what to do to keep my stories short. I do apologize.  Maybe just pretend you're reading a book.

Thanks for stopping by. I really appreciate your comments.
JB

16 comments:

  1. my gosh, you DO have gremlins! and they're bring early calves, too! you can't catch up! glad the pressure tank was replaced.

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  2. It's too bad about those corningware dishes...I have some from when I got married and I'd be sad to lose them. You have a good attitude! Hope those gremlins stay away...you don't have the time left in a day to mess with them!

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  3. My, my, my, Julia! There is enough to do when things are going smoothly! Those gremlins just need to shoo!! Sounds like you have some slacking cats! I really hope tomorrow is a better day! Hugs to you!
    Nellie

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  4. I don't understand apologizing for long posts. You have mentioned a time or two about my ol long posts or extra long. You have lots to say ... say it.

    I always say ... read what you want and leave the rest...

    It is easier to read short posts and comments are usually relevant instead of ...you can still someone just scanned ... BUT I read your posts no matter how short or long.

    As always, you wear me out with all you do, Julia. and yeah... 1966? they're collector's items nowadays. But you still have George ... ;) Your marriage has outlasted the corning ware!!! yay ... not everyone's does

    Charlie is emptying the DVR basket ... maybe he'll put them back. ha... but WHAT fun he is having... little TOOT

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  5. as always I am tired just reading all you do. I have no idea how you keep it all straight.
    Cathy

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  6. Maybe the cats can scare all those farm gremlins away, after they're done catching the mice, that is! They've got to earn their keep! :)

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  7. You are a very good hard worker. Running all the time. Nice to see a new arrival.

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  8. There is always so many surprises happening at your place and the barn. I'm hoping those Gremilns move on to a different place soon!

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  9. I love reading 'the book'! You can add as many chapters as you want!
    Does sound like gremlins are invading your home and farm.
    Glad they didn't eat the pie. I would have!

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  10. My only question is, can I have some of that beef pot pie?? :)

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  11. Wow Julia, that is a lot of gremlin activity in a short time. You don't have one of those creepy "elf on a shelf" guys, do you? Sounds like something one of those would do. Lol
    I hope today and the weekend are better for you

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  12. You do have gremlins, Julia, and you work so hard! I love reading your stories, so don't stop writing them! If I lived closer I would come and help with the cows. Sarah

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  13. I believe you. It sounds like you do have gremlins there. My goodness! I hope they move on soon, you have enough to do.

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  14. Well I'll tell you this girlfriend-- there is never a dull moment in your life for sure! One adventure--(misadventure) after another! Have you ever considered writing a book?? It would be a page turner!!

    That pie looks fabulous-- oh I'd love to have that for my supper:)

    Vicki

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  15. If I did what you do all day, I would be in bed by 7pm every evening! Pesky gremlins - they make a tough day even harder.

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  16. For sure gremlins have come to your place, sure hope they have gone by now and all is going smooth once again. Sure glad you found the little calf and he is okay. Hugs

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