He got it from his daddy

Real time on the farm:  here is a keyhole view into what is going on at my house as we speak.  My sweet little boy, "technically" got a 4 wheeler for Christmas.  He got his gift about a month ago so he'd actually have time to use it while it was still nice outside. Today, when I woke up, he was no where to be found, but I did hear the steady buzz of his...

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A Farm Funny

Since some of us folks around here are products of divorce, our Christmas can go on for quite a few days.  Which is a good thing.  Thankfully, our families understand that our work has to come first and we try to get together as soon as we can, but it won't always be on Christmas Day.  Thankfully, our families aren't the kind that say "We HAVE to see the glorious faces of our grandchildren, bright and early on Christmas Morn as they open each and every one of their presents."  They don't say that.....and we are grateful......and by the way....that's what...

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The Circle of Life

Christmas came and went here at Brechland Farms (well....we are still "Christmas-ing" with the family- number 4 today with my mom, sister, bro-in-law and the cutest daggum toddler in the whole universe).  But, on a farm.....the world keeps on  spinning.   Thank you to all who offered up a Peace Prayer for things to go well on Christmas day. ...

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Happy Birthday, Jesus!

"I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all the people. The Savior- yes, the Messiah, the Lord-has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David! And you will recognize him by this sign. You will find a baby wrapped snugly in strips of cloth, lying in a manger." Luke 2: 10-12. Merry CHRISTmas to all our family, friends and  blogging  fans.  Enjoy your...

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SANTA! OH MY GOSH! SANTA'S COMING!

I am not sure if you are aware of this little fact, but in two days, SANTA IS COMING!!!!  I KNOW HIM!  I KNOW HIM!    This is the real deal, people.  Dress rehearsal is over, you better make sure you're ready!  I certainly hope at this point your stockings are hung by the chimney with care and you've been watching out and not crying...

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THAT'S IT!

I do believe The Dairy Farmer has had it with PA weather.  It is too cold, too quick.  He pulled his boat out of the garage and I do believe he is Florida bound.  Hello, Intercoastal Waterway!  If you see him heading south, can you tell him we miss him and to please come back...and quick....like a bunny.  He is the meat that holds this sandwich together. ...

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39 years ago today....

My best friend was born.   We went to the same elementary school, we lived 1/2 a mile apart growing up, my best friends were his cousins and we tried for years to figure out how I could become a "Brechbill."  He remembers the first day he met me and in jr high, I had a vision that I would marry him.  He was a pain in my ass and made me crazy growing...

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Love Languages

A few years back, The Dairy Farmer and I and our besties decided to do a small groupish thing and read the 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman.   If you haven't read this book, I do recommend it, even if you're experiencing calm waters and peaceful seas in your marriage.   Sometimes a little storm does come along and rock your boat, and it's always good to have some Love Language in your back pocket.  If you aren't familiar with the 5 love languages, here they are, in no particular order: Words of Affirmation Quality Time Receiving Gifts Acts of Service Physical...

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Meet The Fockers

So, remember way back when....or, maybe....like....yesterday, I was telling you about my new interrogation tactics?  Well, I took a video of it.   Now, it was WAY better today, because I had the Dairy Farmer helping me and not the punks.  But, even last night, he went in the pen and ran out screaming, "this is too much, even for me!"  This is the the maternity pen, which normally has 1-3 calves at time.  It's like a holding area....they normally aren't in here very long.  We prefer to move them into a hutch as soon as possible. ...

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A Sunday Shout Out

To the hardest workin' punks on the planet!  They were nestled all snug in their beds, when their big ole mean momma came in and woke their scrawny butts up at 5:45am.  She made them put on 15 layers of clothes and go outside in the dark, in the cold, in the rain and help her do her work.   You see, we are at maximum calf capacity around here...

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It ain't Christmas until......

The soft glow of electric sex appears in your window. Oh, look at that! Will you look at that? Isn't that glorious? It's... it's... it's indescribably beautiful! It reminds me of the Fourth of Ju...

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Real time on the farm....

So, it's cold, we can handle it.   So, it's snowing, we can handle it.  But, the wind.....WE CAN'T HANDLE THE WIND!  Aren't they the most miserable bunch you've ever seen?   It almost brings  a tear to my eye.  I say almost because about 10 feet to the right is a nice, warm, dry barn.  Idiots.  Now, this here is another story.  This...

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Toot your horn!

One question we are often asked is .....why aren't your cows horny?  To that, I say.....oh, honey.....you have no idea.    Wait....huh...what?  Oh, horny!  As in.....why don't your cows have horns?  Well, they do.  All our dairy cows are born with little teensy weensy nubbins.  They grow bigger as the calf grows bigger.  ...

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We still aren't done feeding calves.....

This job takes FOR- EV- VER!  There is a little surprise in this video.....see if you can spot it! If you look at the gate fartherest away....you'll see a very muddy cow and she has a tiny black calf with her.  She delived early in the alleyway.  The punks call them  "street babies."  That concludes are video series......at least I warned you it was dry.  The whole process takes us about 1 and 1/2 to 2 hours total with cleanup.  Some days are longer depending on how many bottle calves we have and how cold it is. ...

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Oh yes.....there's more.....

I cut the Dairy Farmer off.....I thought he was going to say something dirty and this project was on the up and up....extremely professional.....so I cut him off.  What he was really going to say was "I always have my sexy on."  And, he's right, he does.  ...

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Now we're cookin'!

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I know you're hoping I forgot.....

Just in case you are a teensy bit interested in what we do...here is the next installment of "calf feeding....the early years"  video series: ...

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It's Been Awhile

It has been along time since I posted on ye ole farmin' blog.....life has been keeping us busy.  When the weather starts to change, it's time to "winterize" around here.  We have to make sure our water is gonna keep on flowing through the cold months, the fans are turned off and the sides of the barns are put down (they are really just big curtains that we can roll up to allow air in or close to keep the girls toasty warm in the winter).  We need to make sure we have enough feed for everyone as well.  Crops are winding down now....basically, we just have...

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It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

Even though the weather is getting "crispy" and for us outside working types, it is only going to go downhill from here, one thing can be said for this time of year.   Fall evenings in PA sport some of the most fantastic sunsets evah!  Even though it gets dark at, like, 4 freakin' o clock, I am privy to seeing God's best work every evening.  Tonight, as...

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This is how we do it

The Dairy Farmer and I worked last weekend and I took the opportunity to snap some random photos around the farm. I caught the DF doing what he does best....feeding cows.  Here is my description in farm wife terms:  he drives the tractor down through the center of the barn.  In the mixer behind is all the "stuff" the cows eat....all mixing and churning-nice and...

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Birthday Calves

Down on the farm, we kinda have a tradition.  If a calf is born on a loved one's birthday- we name it after them.  It's the least we can do....and the least you can do is send us a couple bucks a month for their upkeep.....know what I mean?  These suckers like to eat!  So, here is our newest addition to the "name game."   This cutie patootie...

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A Good Friend

This picture was taken in our maternity pen.  These two ladies were laying down, side by side, commiserating about their pregnancies and discussing the ensuing births.   I guess it became a little too real and Bertha decided to take a little nap, by resting her big ole head on Rose's strong shoulders.  It reminded me of that Leeann Rimes song......a...

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When Boredom Sets In......

I fed this little bull one afternoon last week.  He was fresh and clean and white.   I returned the next afternoon to feed him and low and behold, someone broke into my barn and defaced my bull!  He was spray painted all over with bright orange paint! Why, I asked....why would someone break in here and paint this dear, little guy orange????  I was seriously...

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Mr. Sandman

This is how I feel today.  I would like to curl up in a sunny spot and take a siesta. ...

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Color Blind

Sometimes, when you live in a world that is black and white......it's always nice to see a little color....

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A Morning Musing

I have been neglecting Farmin' in the Ville for awhile and if there are actually people out there who have been lying awake at night wondering if I'm ok and missing your daily dose of farm life- I apologize. I am busy with "school"....or as some call it "volunteering the heck out of myself."  But it's worth it.  I'll be back in full swing (or at least a partial back...

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So........this is a magazine that The Dairy Farmer gets.  It makes me laugh......because I am childish and immature.&nb...

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What the ????

Ummm, hellooooo Autumn?   Where fore art thou, Fall?  You are supposed to be here today.  It is supposed to be crisp outside and smell like apples and pumpkins.   I should be enjoying a nice cup of tea in the mornings.....in my warm fuzzy robe.  My calves said they are longing for the day when they can see their breath- not be sweating their butts off.   They want to see me coming up the hill in my sweater and skull cap griping about how dang cold it is and ticked off that it gets dark at 4pm.  Yes...that's what...

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Chickens on the Brain

I read somewhere that a chicken lays an egg every day. That seems like a lot of work to me. I mean, I can't imagine shoving a baby out every day. Anyway, that got me to thinking that if our 4 chickens lay an egg a day, my punks will collect 1460 eggs a year. That's a lot of eggs for a family of four. And that got me thinking about how we got in this crazy chicken business in...

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Happy Nipple Day!

Now, that there's a holiday you can get on board with, huh? It's New Nipple day here on the farm....a day that comes with muchangst for our calves and for myself as well. You see, those little suckers, well, they suck. And their suck is a powerful suck and over time, the holes in the nipples become larger and larger. Now, this works in my favor, because those bottle calves....they...

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What's that smell?

I ain't gonna lie to ya.....cows poop and poop stinks. The Dairy Farmer has grown tired of the stink around here. He's ready for a methane digester, so if you have one in your attic or basement or maybe in your Aunt Gert's garage, we'll take it. Or, perhaps if you have a spare mill laying around and you're looking to help make the world a better place....c'mon over for coffee and we'll talk poo.Seriously, folks, not only would it control the odor that tends to waft around the Ville (and it ain't just us, by the way) but we could use our manure to create our own energy that...

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Mental Health Day

Every now and then, it's good to let the Dairy Farmer leave the confines of the farm, let the wind whip thru his hair and watch the worry lines on his forehead disappear for a few hours. We had Date Day at Raystown- for those of you wondering what "date day" is....it's a miraculous day, when you dump your lovely little punks on some unsuspecting grandparents and you run....run,...

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Here We Go........

I have convinced myself that we need a blog. The Dairy Farmer - he isn't so sure, but I am. I know I have a lot of useless information that I feel compelled to share with the general public. If you like cows and manure and useless information, we are the blog you've been waiting f...

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