I thought I would share

some pictures from the barn.   I help a neighbor now and then with his small scale dairy cows.   Here are pictures of the newest calves.This is the bull.

This is the heifer.  She is my favorite!

And this is the newest edition, another bull!  Not so good for a dairy farmer. 

I had my first experience with trying to get a calf to take a bottle.  He did very good for it being the third time to try.   Now, I have had a chance in giving older calves milk in bottles, and then having them make the transition to open pail.  Not as easy!   They are so excited to get a drink , they have their heads all over the place.  They don't know enough to suck from the pail so you have to start by letting them suck on your finger first.  Their tongues are rough as concrete,  let me tell you!  After you get them to suck on your finger, you have to immerse your hand into the pail until they get the sucking reflex going.  This may take a few times, but when they get the hang of it you better watch out.   The pail goes flying just trying to get their nose in there.  It is latched on by a short rope and clip, but they get it on their heads and when it's empty they tend to "Fling"  it over themselves and over the stall gate.  

Well, as well as helping down there,  I also made time to make some bread and sweet rolls for my oldest daughter to take with her when she went to the Penn State game today.   I made four pans, and sent two.  I think these were the best yet .

Decided the goats needed a hoof trim this morning.   I think I worked off the rolls I had for breakfast!  They are pretty good at getting trimmed, but it takes a lot out of Tom and I.

  I had stopped and picked up about three bushel of apples yesterday to start in on and noticed the sweet smell of grapes as I pulled in.  No time then, but today  I had wanted to go pick white grapes and try my hand at some juice.  I hear it is very easy and it seems to me that at .30# (you pick)  it might make sense to give it a try.   Time flew by to fast to go today, though. As of now,  I am very, very, tired.   My mom and dad were nice enough to go to her friends house and pick pears for me to can.  So that is what I did today.  I canned a few regular for them,  then I canned a few with almond flavor in the syrup for a change.  I have what was left in the crock-pot simmering with a bit of pectin, sugar, and cinnamon.  I will can this as a mock apple pie filling. 

I just might be done for the day.   Check please!