Preg Checkin’ Cows, Weaning Calves
A big day of meat deliveries to Marion and the Abingdon Farmers Market on Saturday. Riverside rest Sunday afternoon. On Monday Amy had a delivery to Chilhowie and Abingdon, so we were filling orders and coolers beforehand.
On Tuesday we got up our group of fall calving cows and calves. The vet came to preg check the cows. Then we weaned 32 calves.
No chicken processing Wednesday for a change. It was a good day to catch up on odds and ends around the farm. Mowed and weed-eated the cabin yards and around the barn.
After farming rounds, we sorted through almost all of our chicken inventory. It’s much less overwhelming to go in the freezers now, but we still have a lot of pork and beef sorting to do.
Hallie, Hasten, and Wren have been at church camp the past couple days, so it’s been a lot more quiet around without them. We’ve enjoyed some special time with just Carter and Leon, but Carter would tell you she’d rather be at camp with the bigs.
Amy keeping the broth simmering in the on-farm kitchen. We still haven’t gotten a stove replacement, so she’s doing one pot at a time. Lots of conversations about the future. Plans, dreams, decisions, prayers.
I’ve been listening to DO HARD THINGS by Steve Magness. I think I still prefer the DO HARD THINGS I listened to a few years ago by Alex and Brett Harris, but Magness offered some great insights in his book.
“Toughness has been hijacked. We’ve prioritized external displays over true inner strength, and there are consequences.”
“The old view of toughness gives him a hammer and expects him to bash his way through any problem, but truly being tough isn’t the same as being callous.”
“Real toughness is experiencing discomfort or distress, leaning in, paying attention, and creating space to take thoughtful action. It’s maintaining a clear head to be able to make the appropriate decision. Toughness is navigating discomfort to make the best decision you can.”
“Research consistently shows that tougher individuals are able to perceive stressful situations as challenges instead of threats.”
“Truly tough individuals don’t mind exploring their weaknesses. They develop the capacity to express vulnerability and pain without fear of being shamed.”
“We need to feel comfortable with who we are but be able to change. We need a secure but flexible identity.”
“Look no further than the simple lesson that your grandparents likely passed on: eat family dinners together, a tradition going back centuries that’s been shown to lower rates of depression and anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and early pregnancy. When we spend time together with those we love and respect, good things follow.”
Have a good week.
Will