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Solving the problem…Pt 2…
…well it’s a band-aid anyway. The numbers are in on using our own trees to make-up for the shortage of board fencing at the local coop. Thanx to a neighbor with a portable sawmill we were able to turn six trees…oak, walnut and cherry into high grade lumber. Garrett Heydt was the man with the saw and he did an excellent job. When finished we had 700 feet of oak boards and six 4”x6” twelve foot beams…just those beams paid for the fencing we won’t be needing not to mention the beautiful walnut and cherry we sawed into planks. The cherry in particular seemed to us to be furniture-grade. But…
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Solving the problem…
…of the fence board shortage. With fence boards almost impossible to find, Curt has solved the problem by cutting down a dead oak tree. We estimate it’s about 80 years old and the main trunk measures 19 feet by almost 3 feet around. A neighbor has recently put out a sign advertising he now has a portable sawmill. And we have a half-dozen oak, walnut and cherry trees down and waiting. Inexperienced as we are, we’re not sure we can say “problem solved” but there’s every reason to hope we’ll be able to continue board fencing with our 300 acres of aging forest. David
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The dogs of Thistle Hill…
…deserve a little credit though none are typical herding dogs. But all three are important in the daily life of our farm…have good rapport with the cows…and are wonderful companions on our daily Rina. Nala (left) is a very energetic and athletic Rhodesian razorback. In her native African environment she’s used to hunting lions. Pochahantas (center) but you can call her Pokey is the oldest in the group and right now is away on assignment…accompanying Church to veterinary school at Cornell. She’s an English Shepard. Emma (right) is a Black Labrador Retriever. She made the move from Dallas when Curt took up residence at Thistle Hill. David
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Making history postscript…
…includes selecting the “cover bull”…that’s the bull that checks for open cows…the ones that didn’t take in Artificial Insemination or Embryo Transplant. Selected for the job this year is Prince…the son of the last cow Wooz selected on our final trip to England. Prince is from Ashott Barton’s Tulip line. His sire another favorite Cutcombe Jaunty. We generally wait at least a week before bringing the bull to the herd. Many breeders release the cow right out of the chute to the bull but Church feels traces of heat can remain. Whether AI or transplant, we think it’s best to allow the embryo to firmly settle. It also provides separation in…
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After the storm…
…a mother and son relax on the comparative warmth of an unrolled bale of hay. It provides some insulation against the frozen ground below. David