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Delightful Arrives!   Josh

8/8/2018

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Today, Delightful and her now four week old calf Bella made the journey from Kamiah to Garfield with minimal malfunction, but with plenty of stress for a family of newbies. This arrival was long anticipated. Our first cow ownership in 2009 was to precede property ownership, but alas, gratification would be deferred until today. Two weeks ago we mowed pastures and began watering.
Two days ago we modified the trailer with a calf crate and narrow stall - thanks for the help Scott. Last night, a friend arrived to return the tractor and drop off a truck able to pull the Lewiston grade with a horse trailer; the van was going to be a little under powered. And this morning, we left Garfield at 7:00, did some errands in Moscow, arrived in Kamiah at 10:00, and made it back to Garfield by 2:30.
So what caused the stress? The calf had doubled in size in the last two weeks and was liable to jump out of the constructed crates, so two boards were added to the top immediately before loading. Then, after loading Delightful, she showed that a cow can believe itself capable of exiting a horse trailer through a window despite the tethering suggested by the sellers. We then tethered tighter, and boarded the window.
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This allowed the trip to be relatively uneventful, though as the driver, my guts were in knots until Delightful finally relaxed after unloading. The image taken out the back window shows some images seared in my mind by the anxiety. To an experienced rancher with a proven stock trailer, this would seem trivial I suspect. To us it was pins and needles, with every bump triggering gastric constriction.
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But the final result is something difficult to describe, as I told Courage when she asked me, "How does having Delightful here make you feel, Dad?" It is like the feeling of holding a new baby. Delightful and Bella bring to our household nourishment for body (as we tasted fresh out of the udder while she ate crab apples and fresh grass) and an earthy, overwhelming sense of reality, like becoming a parent for the first time. Her tolerance to six kids grooming and ogling immediately after a stressful trip in 100 degree weather (with a chaffed tail) was astonishing to me, having worked with ranging beef cattle. She let us milk her while she nursed Bella, and she's never officially been a milk cow. She's as beautiful as she is sweet, and she is already a contributing member of the household.
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Big gloves, Sailor, Carpenter? - Ashleigh

8/3/2018

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Some boards need waterproofed, and three little boys are willing to help. For $10, a gallon of blue paint primer is the best deal. It's almost dark, but painting is fun. One to flip the boards with big blue gloves (Joseph), one to make touch-ups with the brush (Joshy), and one to paint with the roller (Kellen). Waterproofing is an important job. A night and a half day finishes the boards, with a little help from me. A little paint on boots, pants (or overalls) and hands is the outcome, but the adorable boys don't care. Painting in the dark! How fun!
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The Swim Meet - Courage

8/3/2018

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It all started like this. We were going up to the pool to swim, but we weren't allowed to because a "swim meet" was going on. Well, Dad got us kids involved, and now we go to swim practice every other day and some days, we go to swim meets, which is where the different teams of different towns come together and race in swimming. We are going to County, on Saturday, 8/4/18, in which EVERY town comes and races, and it is a big event! We probably won't win anything, but that is because we entered late. However, I intend to do well, and I think the others do to.
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Windows at last!   Josh

8/3/2018

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Deciding how to re-install 100 year old window frames attached to Anderson vinyl windows (vinyl flashing removed) is not simple. Not level, not water tight, and in some places rotten, we had a non-trivial challenge to determine the best approach.
Process:  Remove -> Grind nails off -> Wire brush -> Caulk -> Paint back of flashing -> Reconstruct window and door slots -> Remove nails all over wall -> Sweep off wall -> House wrap -> Blue tape -> Reinstall window -> Spray foam around window -> Frame wall interior around window
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Clothesline - Josh

8/3/2018

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No rustic living experience is complete, or efficient, without a clothesline, Kyra informed me. Temporary or permanent installation? Why not permanent. So, with 3 feet of concrete around 2 inch pipe, this line is going nowhere soon.
Note the house window removal during the project....

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Pasture prep for Delightful - Josh

8/3/2018

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Do stemmy August grasses support strong milk production and excellent bovine/human health? We suppose not. Can overgrown pastures be mowed and watered back into rapid lush greenness in August? We're finding out.
Process:  Mow very slowly -> Rake -> Put in trailer -> Spread over excavated area -> Water -> Sow
Results:  After 10 days, some green spread, no seed germination, likely inadequate feed.
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    Authors

    Josh: Founder, father
    Kyra: Founder, mother
    Ashleigh:  1st of 8
    Courage:  2nd of 8

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