The day started out really hot and humid and still. That combination is not good for cows. Joe was here to help and he and Bruce started milking and then Joe and I milked so Bruce could plant corn. We could see a line of storms on the radar and with the heat and humidity combination we wanted to atleast get the ground planted that was ready to go. Bruce barely got started and a finger pick up unit broke on the corn planter. He called the dealership and they confirmed they had 32 of that piece on hand so Bruce headed off on a 50 mile round trip to get what he needed. He arrived at the dealership to find that the person he talked to was looking at the wrong thing and what we broke they not only didn't have in stock, they had never sold one before. Bruce's next thought was of a neighbor that has the exact same planter as ours and perhaps, if he was done planting, we could use the part off his to continue planting. Bruce made a phone call and they had finished yesterday and could help with our problem. By noon Bruce was home and the weather front came through without rain and the humidity dropped. Along with the drop in humidity was a bit of a breeze so the day was much more pleasant. We are now down to 25.1 acres left to plant with all of it ready to go for tomorrow.
Bruce had left a dry cow in the pasture this morning because she was comfortable there and walking home has been a struggle for her. As he was getting ready to go for the parts he could see a calf walking up by her so I went out and gave it its rotacorona virus vaccine. The calf didn't want to get up for me but I assumed since Bruce had seen it walking around it was just tired. This afternoon Bruce went out to move the cow and found that she had a set of twins. The one he saw had gone and hidden in the hay field and the one I saw was the other one. Both are bulls but healthy, big (I never even considered that there was twins), 12 days early and very good drinkers tonight.
I think we can get used to having extra help this summer. Joe washed the last 2 sections of pipeline, pressure washed my car and also the milkhouse walls and mowed the lawn. It will take some practice making a list of things for someone else to do but I think we can handle it!
Bruce and I were talking in the barn tonight about Ed finishing our corn planting while he gets the hay equipment ready to go. He made a statement that only a farmer to the core would make and it made me smile...."after we get hay done we will have 3 weeks with nothing to do".
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