~ Wordless Wednesday ~

~ Our New Arrival ~

At 3:20 today, this precious little jewel was born. The boys just can't catch a break around here. Another heifer calf (not that I am complaining), chocolate brown in color. I am pretty sure it is my turn to name a cow and I think I am going to call her Brindle. She has the most beautiful coat, rich espresso chocolate brown with caramel undertones that shine through in the sun. 

Moments after birth.

  This was twenty minutes later, her first nursing session, lasting a good 20 minutes. Three hours later she was up and running and bucking, for about 30 seconds at a time and then she would collapse in exhaustion.  

Cutie Pie!

~Our Farm ~

Right now our farm consist of three horses, one Arabian (B), one Appolosa (Bandit), and one pinto pony (Duck). Two Scottish Highland cattle, our family milk cow (Myra) and her calf (Carmel) with one on the way, we think! Two cats, one we found in the barn (Tinker Bell) and one we got from another farm (Tiger Lily). One Blue Heeler/Catahooi mix cattle dog (Roscoe). At last count we have about 45 chickens and 12 ducks.
We are hoping to add another milk cow in the near future, a Jersey and some more Scottish Highlanders. We would also like to add at least one milk goat (I have a friend that would be over the moon) and some Icelandic Sheep along with another breed that would have wool qualities better suited for homemade wool diaper covers and leggies.

My husband has turned into the crazy poultry man so the chances of adding geese and turkeys to the mix is highly likely. We managed to plant four apricot trees and four cherries last spring, fingers crossed that they will come up again this spring. We had to replant last spring because they didn't make it through the winter. We would like to add a Belgian Fence of apples, maybe even pears, peaches, and plums. I have access to grapes so the urge to plant those isn't has high but they do take awhile to get going to the sooner I started them the better. We are looking at planting a u-pick patch of aspargus, strawberries, rhubarb, raspberries, and cranberries. We have new fences to put up, a barn to repair, a huge garden to plant (would love to be at the farmers market and sell produce at a price people can afford), starting medicinal herb patches and a million other ideas brewing in my head. I get butterflies just thinking about it, both from the excitment to see things get done and the incredible work load it entails.
I am living my dream and I feel very blessed to start out 2011 with such an incredible vision. What are your dreams, goals, aspirations for the coming year? Shared at: Monday Mania Tuesday Twister