1.14.07
 
We had our first calf today--an N Bar Prime Time heifer calf out of a Rock’n D Ambush/ND878 daughter--3 generations of ABS AI.
We had not yet moved the heifers closer to the house. They caught up with us, as usual. But I did win the intra-family bet of
“when will the first calf come?” I was betting on the 17th, 12 days before the due date of the 29th. That has been my experience. However, she was 15 days early. Not only that, but there was another born after I fed this AM, and yet another calving tonight as I write this. So, I hurried them home where we can “watch” them. We don’t generally watch them as closely as some cattlemen, but the first calves tend to get better care before the calving season drones on and we feel somewhat overwhelmed. We also like to wait until the last minute to see how many are “bagging up” or “springing,” so that we can sort the early ones off for a separate group. That way, we don’t have to drive as many acres to see the lion’s share of the calvers.
 
Her ears were frozen, and she had not nursed yet, so got our leftover-slim-pickin’s of colostrum from the freezer.
Again, the first calf gets special attention. Here is my pic, taken against the blowing snowflakes.
 
At least she is not in Colorado!

 
 
 
January 14th,
 
Some good news today that encourages sponsors, like me, of alternative power. Texas, of all places to look anywhere BUT at oil/gas, has decided to develop geothermal energy sources.
 

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Texas is known for oil and gas, but the state said on Friday it will sell its first leases for development of geothermal energy.

Tracts totaling 11,000 acres in state-owned coastal waters in the Gulf of Mexico will be up for lease on Tuesday as part of an annual winter oil and gas lease sale, the Texas General Land Office said in a news release.

The areas to be bid on are known to have hot geologic strata below the surface, the agency said.

The state hopes the land can be drilled and water circulated through the geothermal layer and turned into steam to help generate electricity.

"We're finally making the Texas heat pay off," Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson said in the release, referring to the state's hot weather.

Some companies have expressed interest in the specific tracts being offered, and may start developing them by going through existing, played-out oil wells to reach the hot strata, Land Office spokesman Jim Suydam said.

All proceeds from such lease sales go into a state fund that helps pay for public education.

Minimum bids for the geothermal leases have been set at $2 an acre, much less than the state typically gets for oil and gas leases. A company last year paid $8,750 an acre for the right to explore a Texas tract for oil and gas.

Jan 13, 2007

Anticipating much snow and ice today, but not as much as predicted. The recent blizzards in Western Kansas and Eastern Colorado have put the fears of old into play in our community. People are “over-preparing”, IMHO.

I plugged all the essential farm vehicles in, parked them under cover for ice protection, and braced for the worst. I think it has gone east of us. I read the news on Yahoo yesterday, as I am truly a “Yahooligan.” The weather reports mentioned a term that grates on my nerves…”rain event.” An example is “areas of Missouri are expecting 1-3 inches of rain locally, which will put additional pressure on creeks and streams, already flowing heavily due to the last several ‘rain events.’”

I got up very early this morning to make sure the feed truck was still running without overheating. And I had a dream of being late for an appointment. I woke up much relieved that it was just a dream.

Here are some lyrics from my current favorite pop song. Intriguing. Wish I knew what they meant. I am going to put it on my iPod, so I can be puzzled whenever I want to. I need more of that, since I am always on top of things (ha!).

FIVE FOR FIGHTING LYRICS

World

 
Got a package full of Wishes
A Time machine, a Magic Wand
A Globe made out of Gold 
 
No Instructions or Commandments
Laws of Gravity or
Indecisions to uphold 
 
Printed on the box I see
A.C.M.E.'s Build-a-World-to-be
Take a chance - Grab a piece
Help me to believe it 
 
What kind of world do you want?
Think Anything
Let's start at the start
Build a masterpiece
Be careful what you wish for
History starts now... 
 
Should there be people or peoples
Money, Funny pedestals for Fools who never pay
Raise your Army - Choose your Steeple
Don't be shy, the satellites can look the other way 
 
Lose the Earthquakes - Keep the Faults
Fill the oceans without the salt
Let every Man own his own Hand
 
What kind of world do you want
Think Anything
Let's start at the start
Build a masterpiece
Be careful what you wish for
History starts now... 
 
Sunlight's on the Bridge
Sunlight's on the Way
Tomorrow's Calling 
 
There's more to this than Love
 
What Kind of world do you want
What Kind of world do you want
 
What Kind of world do you want
Think Anything
Let's start at the start
Build a masterpiece
 
History Starts Now
 
Be careful what you wish for
Start Now