I hate posting titles to Blog entries.

Busy Busy-but not too busy to bug my Honey Bee about our approaching engagement. Very unconventional to know that someone will shortly be asking for your hand in marriage or that your father didn't heckle him upon asking for permission while at Aoumatsu.

I hate surprises for one. They don't upset, I just can't sit still before Christmas and to be honest I knew I got a Red Ryder BB Gun and new Cowgirl Boots before I ever opened them. I didn't peak I swear, I'm just good at guessing these things and as mother has always said, "Little pictures have big ears." Around Christmas time I am always a little picture.

So if you haven't already guessed knowing that I will soon be getting engaged is driving me crazy-a good crazy. He says that good things come to those who wait. He has no idea ;)

Of course I am sure Bee will probably kill me for blogging about it :) I don't mind. I am very excited and eager to be his fiance and then wife. We have great dreams to accomplish with our family and I'm loving every minute of it.

-Aimee

UPDATE!

Spring is chugging along-and dragging me with it! Our spring "break" here at C4 Farms was all but a break. Firstly I made it through winter term with a B in organic chemistry, a B+ in calving school, and a C+ in women's studies! HUZZAH!

I guess the best way to tell you how much work we did would be to make a comprehensive list. Here we go...

• build/install faux walls in the shop area of the pole barn
• build steer pen
• paint faux walls
• put up 176 linear feed of cedar picket fence around our 1664 square food garden
• build 4 4x8 ft raised beds for awesome garden
• buy 65 new chicks, 30 for the freezer ;)
  
• pressure wash livestock trailer
• build lamb pen
• demo shop area prior to faux wall building
• dump run
• load to metal recycling plant
• set blocks for new chicken coop foundation
• frame out chicken coop foundation
• pressure wash basketball court
• plant peas in newly fenced garden

Everything above is complete-but plenty more to go. Just a brief cap of what I have been up to, thus neglecting ze blog.

-Aimee

coming to a close

This term is starting to wind down, but the pressure is definitely on. I apparently did not do so hot on last weeks Ochem exam-a D. D for downer because that is how I felt yesterday. But I am pretty excited about the fact that I got an 85 on my Women's Studies exam. Very exciting.

I have 3 papers to write this term for finals, which I have never experienced before but at least the topics are all in advance warning. For one I just have to discuss what I have learned about Broadway musicals from the class as well as being able to apply that logic/knowledge to more current musicals. The next is an extensive paper exploring a topic that challenges Feminism, specifically how horizontal hostility is a huge part of the division among women as well as the institutions in our society that encourage and fuel these divisions leading to a stunt or lull in active Feminism.

Lastly I get to write a paper exploring a factor that affects calving or calf performance, as well as present this to the entire class in a five minute presentation. Got to say I am more nervous for the presentation than I am about writing the paper. Words are easy if you get a few minutes to think about them, but saying them is a whole other ball game that forces your blood pressure to skyrocket and your pale face to flush so that everyone watching you knows you are nervous. EEK!

The topic I chose was how nutrition of the dam(momma cow) affects the quantity and quality of immunoglobins in colostrum. This is crucial because we know that within the first 12-24 hours the passive immunity of calves decreases from 30-70% in a 12 hour window. The higher quality the colostrum the more likely your calf crop is to be protected against common diseases albeit bacterial, parasitic, or environmental.

I haven't started on this yet at all but the rough draft is due tomorrow and I really ought to work on it tonight. Oy ve, why didn't I bring my topic and peer reviewed journal source with me so I could get ahead. That's the downer to living outside of town.

On the upside it is supposed to get down to freezing, and if it stays dry/cold enough the cows might get outside for a few hours. However they seem to really enjoy their new rations. Go us!

Spring,

Where are you? Our pea plants have 2 more weeks then they are ready for the ground. Please warm up, I am begging you. Also, if you could rain a little less that'd be great. I got a little spoiled with the dry cold air these last few weeks and forgot how unpleasant mud can be. Thanks so much!

-Goose

Hey Hey

So it's February already! I am very much excited. The bulbs all over Corvallis are sprouting, and some even have buds already developed and ready to bloom. It truly is amazing, although this sudden cold spell kinda sucks. It could be worse though, it could be Houston or Ohio. Glad its not though.

We did get the cows AI-ed last Monday and now we play the waiting game. I'm keeping my fingers crossed and thinking good thoughts. Speaking of pregnant cows, their are 7 at school who are no longer pregnant-very exciting! I'm really enjoying my calving school class, and I got to help pull a calf-it got one of its legs stuck so she couldn't push him out. It was definitely an interesting night and we (Bee and I) were there until 5 am. What a long long night. LEARNING EXPERIENCES!!!

Also, Mum got me a fantastic book for my birthday recently. It is titled "Holy Shit! Managing Manure to Save Mankind", by far one of the most practical yet enjoyable books I have read in quite sometime. I learned so much, and it has sparked my own interest to look into the different manure handling practices that we could incorporate into our own farm that are much more environmentally friendly and efficient uses of such valuable fertilizer.

Two Weeks

I am stressed to the max with school, but I am trying REALLY hard to not let it get to me. My back has been bugging me for weeks, and the farm is a wreck right now.

I'm trying to stay proactive, quite literally too! I worked out quite a bit last term, but not much in the the last 2 months. I am on day two of working out-not much I know but the yoga felt good after rolling out of bed. And my bum is sore, because I pushed myself yesterday working out. Yay health as a life goal!

The cows are in the middle of an estrous synchronization protocol so we can hopefully/accurately breed these girls this weekend. Lots of things going on here and there. Plus the pressure of Spring's arrival is quite daunting. The greenhouse needs fixing, the raised beds need building, and the seeds need sowing. Yeehaw!

Much? Ok, you're probably right. There is just so much going on, but it's fulfilling.

Twenty

There is something very unspecial about turning 20. You have already used your right to vote in an election, and purchasing booze is still prohibited. But for me, I am especially grateful to no longer be called a teenager by my stepfather.

Gifts included a 50 dollar check from the grandparents, dinner and a movie with Honey, and 3 amazing books I can't wait to neglect textbooks with. The following day consisted of a kickass dinner courtesy of the many ladies of the house and the best tres leche cake I have ever consumed. I also earned a grand total of $43 at minimum wage over the course of the two days.

Between the happiness that surrounds me with family and "happy birthday" posts on my facebook from friends past, it was very enjoyable.

Winter Term of my junior year has commenced and I am very excited! Not only am I taking the next Organic Chem class, but I am also enrolled in women's studies, issues in sustainable agriculture, appreciation of Broadway musicals, and calving school!

Calving school is essentially a hands on course that explores the difficulties of calving and increases your knowledge of how/when to assist a cow in the process. This will be so far the most practical and useful class I have taken at Oregon State University. Plus it will put me in contact with more students who share similar interests, since that is an area in which I lack. I realize without socializing I am limiting my learning opportunities. Why do old folk always have to be right about this stuff? Huh?!

Plus I will most definitely rack up some vet shadow hours at work for my vet school requirements.

Oh and I got fired from my position at the vet school, however it was due to scheduling. Clearly the woman was a bitch otherwise she would have called instead of sent an email. It was a pretty lonely job without much contact with coworkers so I'm not too bothered by it.

Well back to learning it is!

Goose