First REAL snow of this Winter

We received about 8 inches of snow on Saturday night through Sunday.  It is VERY fluffy and will blow like crazy if we get a lot of wind.  It is no fun trying to walk through this stuff to check cows or move pairs up to the big barn.

This weather made a few more calves drop.  Sometimes pressure changes in the weather encourage labor (in cattle and people)!   Mark & I were up for three hours (3-6 AM) tending to new calves.  One little one only weighed 52 pounds (a nice average for a newborn calf is 75-80 lbs) so we put that one in the calf warmer for an hour.  Hopefully "we" don't loose any ears or tails with the cold weather.  We have about 36 calves running around now. 

This morning was the first trip to the vet.  A heifer was calving but one leg was down.  The guys tried to help put things in place but no luck.  She kept pushing til the head was coming.  So, there was a c-section with a dead calf.  Bummer.  But the heifer will be okay after she heals up.

Guys were busy moving snow today.  There should be lots of snow piles now.  I remember when the boys would look forward to that.  Now, they like to make them - not play in them!!

Another storm is brewing but it sounds like we should miss most of the snow.  We sure hope so!

We have a busy day tomorrow with appointments so the weather better hold out!!

Winter 2011-2012

WOW!!  This is the best winter ever!  We have had very little snow.  I had to look up the average for North Dakota.  The National Weather Service states that our average is around 24 inches.   Currently, it is zero!   The only snow at this ranch is in the shade - and we aren't complaining! 

I don't think that I have ever been able to check cows (at 3 AM) without snowboots.  However, this year, I can go out in my tennies (sneakers, whatever you call them)!  No need for heavy coveralls, coats, boots, and all since our temps have been above average too.  Yes folks, this is the life - healthy calves being born and this wonderful winter!

Here is a bit of photo evidence of the winter:

2012 Winter Wonderland

This photo was taken the afternoon of 4 Feb 2012 in North Dakota, USA. We have NO snow!! It is very rare (never in my lifetime) to have no snow in Feb and the temp was 40 degrees. No winter parkas, just a sweatshirt. Beautiful.   Shortly after taking this snapshot, the little boy on the far swing was stomping in the water puddle below his swing!!

Home

This photo was taken 5 Feb 2012.  The only snow is along the  shrubs and what was packed in (ice) on the driveway.  Notice the water in the lower right corner.  (As of 20 Feb, the snow/ice is gone from the driveway and most of it along the shrubbery has melted as well!)