Had a break today......SLED RIDING!!

I finished my salting by 9am today so I came home and wrapped up a few odds and ends and then went out and packed the hill for sled riding!  Neighbors came out after lunch and we went out for a little while.  Gonna take a nap and then I will go out and run the tractor again tonight after they all get done with barn work.

Little man was helping drive and direct traffic!  After he watched from there for a while he sat on my lap and helped steer.  He is learning so quick.

 Picture of the hill.  We start on the top of the hill in the neighbors field and go down and across my field.  The goal is to see who can get closest to the trees without hitting any!!  Longest run was down, turned to the left and made it almost to the road.  We will see what happens tonight once the snow refreezes and is much faster!!  Total length of the hill is about 300 yards.  Total length of time for a run is 20 seconds or less.  When it is good and cold is about 15 seconds, but that to the time the sled or tube stops.  When you go down that fast you actually turn and end up down toward the road so you are actually going about 400 yards!

Steven found a new seat.  

 

 Picture of the return trip.  Anyone who was at the customer appreciation party will recognize this.  Works pretty nice and keep the operator warm and happy!!

 

Daisy came out to play as well.  She would ride up and then chase everyone down.  She is now completely worn out and is sleeping next to the heater vent here in the house.  

 If you look closely you will see Alex looking out the back corner window watching everyone getting the sleds and themselves on the trailer.

 All in all it was a beautiful day and everyone had a good time.  The little kids will all be in bed later and the older ones will all be back over to go again.  We build a fire at the top of the hill to warm up by and it keeps everyone happy.  Hopefully no one gets hurt and everyone has fun! 

Piggy update; feeder upgrades are working so far.  We will get a new feeder this summer after we get the birthing pens built.  Till then we are stuck with what we have.  Also reduced the size of the pen by 40%.  This was to take away the indoor restroom (or at least that what they thought the space was for) and force them to "GO" outside.  So far it is mostly working.  A little bit of poo in the barn but not nearly like before.

Cow update; everyone is doing well.  The calves are growing so fast I am blown away.  Precious, born 4/23/10 is already pushing close to 800 lbs.  The two July calves are upwards of 500lbs.  What is most amazing is to see precious stand next to the two Angus heifers I purchased at auction last year that are a year and a half old and realize she and they are the same size and weight!  I am so anxious for summer to get here to see my new calves, it is gonna be great!

All in all it is going to be a busy year once the weather breaks.  Pig lots to build, pens to construct, hay to make, calves to be born.  And to think just five years ago all I had to do was bale some hay and didn't have any where to sell it or cows to feed it to.  Now I don't know where I am going to get the time to get everything done.  But hey, that's a good problem to have because the opposite is no fun at all!

Kenny