Shehadababyit'saboy!

Clara delivered her calf last night at right around 10:00.

Joe took about four hundred pictures, hugged me, and said, "We're parents!" And I thought, "Hmmm, was he this excited when I pushed Brilyn and Cade out?"

I'd like to think that he must have been. LOL.

The kids were in bed when the calf was born, so I sent them out to see it right after breakfast this morning.

Brilyn came running back to the house to let me know that, "Cade is in the pasture! Isn't the fence on? He's hugging the baby!"

So, I hurry (not run, exactly) out to see what's going on, and there is Cade all spooned up to the baby, and Clara, calmly chewing her cud next to them. I am sad to say that I forgot my camera, and I did not feel comfortable "hurrying" back to the house to get it while Cade snuggled the newborn next to it's thousand pound mama.

I told my boy, "Cade, it's dangerous to go in the pasture with Clara when mommy is not outside to watch you."

And he told me, "Nuggle baby dangerish?"

I love that boy.

So, here are some pics:

Last night

This morning
Oh, and, apparently, Brilyn got ahold of the camera the other day. Here are the first fruits of her photographic career:

Here comes the baby...

We are holding a late-night vigil waiting for Clara's baby to arrive. (Yes, quarter after nine is late-night for us).
So far, we have a first bag of waters and front feet.
See this article for more info. If you want, feel free to come over to watch.
XOXO
Joce

A - N

Hey! I hit th 12 week mark on Monday. That means I am feeling better. Just hungry. So, I should be able to post....just as soon as I catch up on, oh, about 5 weeks worth of work around here. Indoors and out, my duties are totally in arrears. Even the laundry. Who knew we had that many pairs of underwear? Good thing we do, that's all I'll say about that.
Quick updates and then I gotta go lie down. Lay down? No that's what I have to do with my kids..."Lay down the law." So, when speaking of flopping my tired butt down on the couch, I think I should say "I must lie down."
Anyway.
Asparagus is up! Yum.
Berry bushes are growing.
Cow is mangy, but soon to be treated with Pour-on Ivomec.
Daffodils are on their way out.
Eggplant is on my list of things to grow in my garden.
Frogs are all over the place in the back.
Garden is rototilled.
Hog is ordered, ready for pick-up May 19th.
Igloo-building is out for oh, the next 4 months or so. YAY!
Joe went to the doctor today because he keeps coughing and coughing. Honestly, we (I) just want to get some sleep.
Kara is huge. www.bugro2.blogspot.com
Lilacs!
Making some dandelion jelly, I'll let you know if it's edible.
Not able to think of anything here...must be time to quit for the day. I'll finish the list soon.

XOXO
Joce

Here I am. Just grumpy.

So, I keep checking in on my blog, and it is not posting on its own. So, I guess I will post here, now.
The only trouble is that I can't think of anything to write. Why? Because I am so so so so tired. Exhausted. Really really sleepy. And sick to my stomach. And lacking in energy. And nauseated. Alright. That's enough of that.
Hmmm.
Oh! It's because there's a baby in my belly. FYI.
Just in case the baby growing in the top right hand corner of my blog didn't give it away. I am very excited about it, I just can't work up the appropriate affect through the nausea-haze.
Hmmm.
Oh! Here's some news. We planted some trees. One each pear, peach, nectarine.
And raspberry bushes.
I got a tan today. Reading a book on the deck, and also transplanting some hyacinths and grape hyacinths today to make room for the raspberry bushes.
My cow is great, we bought a stake so we can tie her out on the lush grass on our lawn. She seems to really like that.
We bought some meat chicks at Tractor Supply. 12. They are eating/pooping machines. Luckily Joe just finished the chicken tractor, so we won't have to shovel their refuse. Which is good. Because shoveling chicken poop, just the thought, really, is making me sicker. More sick. Yeah, sicker.
Well, Brilyn is ready for bed, and really? So am I.
So.
XOXO
Joce

OH! I went to my parents' house on Monday and Tuesday, and I took these pics in their driveway on Tuesday morning. I was glad I brought my camera. It was invigorating. :)

Do it NOW!

From http://www.radiantlifecatalog.com/page.cfm/cid/39/ :

"USDA COMMENT PERIOD ENDS MARCH 16

In January, the USDA proposed a rule to require farms and other properties where animals are raised to be registered in the federal NAIS database for existing federal disease control programs. The rule also sets the stage for future mandatory animal identification. If you haven't already submitted comments on this proposed rule, please be sure to do so before March 16! An easy way to comment online is through the Organic Consumers Association's automated system, at
http://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/642/campaign.jsp?campaign_KEY=26665

SUBMIT COMMENTS TO THE USDA BEFORE MARCH 16The USDA has proposed a rule to require all farms and ranches where animals are raised to be registered in a federal database under the NAIS for existing disease control programs. The draft rule covers programs for cattle, goats, sheep, and swine. It also sets the stage for mandatory NAIS animal identification in the future. It is CRITICAL that the USDA and Congress hear from the hundreds of thousands of people who will be adversely affected by the NAIS program. This includes not only animal owners, but also consumers who care about local and sustainable foods, taxpayers who object to wasteful government programs, and advocates for a safer food system. TAKE ACTION: Submit comments to USDA online or by mail. The comments must be received by USDA by Monday, March 16, 2009. You can submit comments online at the USDA's official site:

http://www.regulations.gov/fdmspublic/component/main?main=DocketDetail&d=APHIS-2007-0096

Please be sure to personalize the letter! It can be as easy as a couple of sentences at the beginning stating who you are (for example, a farmer, consumer, property rights proponent) and why you care about NAIS. "

So, here's what I did.
I wrote my letter:

Dear soandso,
I am writing concerning the USDA proposal of a rule to require farms and other properties where animals are raised to be registered in the federal NAIS database for existing federal disease control programs. As the owner of a small farm with 10 chickens and 1 Jersey cow, I am concerned that this law would infringe on my rights. I am also concerned as a consumer. I prefer to buy locally and from small scale, sustainable farms. I am concerned that this type of law would interfere with my ability to do so. Thank you for your consideration of my perspective in this matter.
Sincerely,
~Jocelyn Rebisz

Please go to the USDA, http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?edeployment_action=changenav&navid=FEEDBACK_FORM
and email the secretary of agriculture.

Write to Gillibrand, kirsten_gillibrand@gillibrand.senate.gov
And to Schumer, http://schumer.senate.gov/new_website/webformdeplist.cfm

Okay.

So I made really really easy for you. So do it. Really. If you care about this even a little, do it. For more info: www.FarmAndRanchFreedom.org

XOXO
Joce

Happy March.
So Here's a story for ya. And, it's gotta be quick because I want to make ice cream. So.

Ah, let's see...it was 3:30 Wednesday morning. Joe, who was awake from severe abdominal pain, heard a car pull into our driveway. He figured they must be turning around. About 5 minutes later, our phone rings. He runs downstairs to answer it, and there is car sitting in our driveway with the lights on. So Joe runs back upstairs to tell me (really, to put pants on) and then goes back downstairs, where someone is knocking on our door. It's a Genesee County Sheriff guy.

"Do you guys have a cow?" (Shines huge flashlight over near the barn.) "Is that it right there?"

Turns out that this poor deputy sheriff had been tracking our cow all over the county for about four hours. Or, at least, he had gotten a few reports of a cow spotted near our home. Yeah, Clara's Big Adventure. Good times, good times. We keep finding cow pies in the strangest places. "She went over here, too? Really?"
How many times can a cow poop in a few short midnight hours? The answer is a lot a lot.

That's my story. And now, for a commercial I keep hearing about from people who watch TV. They say, hey, there's a little girl on TV who reminds me of Brilyn. So I went to youtube to watch the commercial. And so, now, you can too.



XOXO
Joce

And also? A meme.

This meme:

The six one- sixth folder, sixth picture, six people, etc. But I already did it, so...

I am changing it to 12/12 and I am not going to tag anyone. Sorry. But other people I know are doing it, so go there to see them.

Dayton Time (go here first, cuz she memed me, see her Monday post)

Simple Life (and also go here because she got memed too)

But, anyway, here is my photo:

It's my barn! In the summer. BC, that is to say, before Clara. This picture makes me feel happy and reminds me to remember to trust to hope that this frigid (and by frigid I mean frickin freezin Mr. Bigglesworth) weather will not stay forever. And that reminds me to remember that every season in our lives comes to pass. Whether you find yourself in winter, spring, summer, or fall, be aware that is fleeting and one day you will have a hard time remembering the details. So.

Enjoy the summer barn while it's here, and don't hurry the winter barn, because life passes quickly enough.

XOXO

Joce

Words this Wednesday

So, I can't find the camera. My guess is that it is in Joe's hunting bag somewhere. But he keeps it out on the front porch, and it is just too cold out there for me to do a thorough looking. So no new pics for you today.
Good news though. The guys are here to install our new woodstove.

That's a picture of our stove model, but ours is green. And that's not our dog.
Speaking of dogs, Clara has a new nickname- Puppy. Because she is the happiest little cow you have ever seen. Each morning as Joe leads her out the pasture, I run ahead with her little grain bucket complete with a garnish of 3 apples. As soon as she sees me put that grain dish down, she starts trotting. And by the time they near the gate, she breaks into a full run and throws her head. This is very funny in real life. Remember this is a full-grown cow we're talking about here.
And, if one of us should take a walk near her fence, she runs over, lets out a big friendly moo, and proceeds to follow us as far as her fence permits. And then she looks at us with big cow eyes. But, I ask myself, what other kind of eyes could she possibly use to look at us?
Anyway. One more thing. Cade likes to talk. And he says just about everything. If you can decipher it. Keep in mind he is only 18 months as of tomorrow. So this morning I put his little amber necklace on him that is reputed to have analgesic properties that could ease his pain of teething. And, as we walk down the stairs, he pats his little neck and says, "Po diddy."
After a few seconds of processing the syllables uttered within context, I say, "Oh. You think your necklace is so pretty." Emphasis on the correct letter sounds.
To which he responds with vigorous nodding of the head and the reiteration of "Po diddy."
And, I hate to gender role the poor child, but I did. I said, "You look very handsome today." And I have ulterior motives on that one. Because, if Joe finds out that Cade thinks he is Po diddy, Joe will make me cut off his golden ringlets. Because, the truth is, Cade really is po diddy.
But, honestly, he's gonna have to be handsome for the rest of his life. This is his only opportunity to be pretty. So indulge me.
And po diddy is a really cute thing to hear a pretty baby say about himself. So to heck with the handsome bit. I'm gonna go kiss my baby's curly head, because he's po diddy.

But, as you can see, the pretty baby doesn't really like his picture taken. LOL.
XOXO
Joce