A Quick Trip to Northern Nebraska

Yesterday we got up early, DH got the chores done, I made a quick breakfast and then we got in the truck and headed north. We were headed out to pick up a 5 year old milk cow, we had finally found that was in our price range. I thought we were through looking for cows for now, but DH had other ideas, especially when he found this one because she was exactly what he wanted for a price I could live with.

I didn't really have to go with him, because I hate driving at the best of times and don't when we have to pull a trailer...which we did yesterday. I also am not much help yet, when it comes to cows, so there really was no reason for me to go except that I remembered how beautiful northern Nebraska was from those times we traveled there on business and I wanted to see it again. Naturally the trees were just starting to change there too...but it was still pretty with the mostly green leaves on the trees.

We got up to the farm we were headed to which was N.W. of Sioux City pretty close to South Dakota about 11:30. Mabel the cow was standing there looking at us as we talked to the owner for a little while till a friend of his got there then we pulled into the pasture and got ready to load her up. She isn't really lead trained, but she does LOVE food, so the owner led her to the trailer with food, then handed DH the rope through the front window of the trailer, and he and his friend got behind Mabel and started pushing as DH pulled.

I found out cows can be stubborn...


...because she wasn't real happy about going in, and I almost started wondering if that last couple of steps would ever be accomplished, but finally they got her in and the back door closed.


I took a photo of her from the front window...and could tell she wasn't real happy about the confined space of our tiny horse trailer. I have to admit I felt really sorry for her, knowing she would have to stand up in that tiny space for several hours as we drove home but we had no other choice if we wanted to get her home, maybe someday we can afford a bigger trailer, so there is a little more room for them to move around in...but I won't hold my breath, this trailer was the perfect price....FREE! LOL


We got back on the road, and after stopping for lunch in Sioux City headed south towards home. I took some photos out the truck windows, through the bug guts on the windshield and the dog snot of the passenger side window,(sorry I'm not to good at keeping windows clean! LOL) and while they do kinda have a few "smudges" on them I am happy to have some new memories of northern Nebraska.


We stopped at a scenic overlook that we had noticed on the way up, and I got a photo of the Missouri River. There are a few other photos I took of the beauty we saw on flicker, if you want to go see them. We got back home about 5:00 last night and then had to unload Mabel.



She proved to be a bit stubborn then to, and we just couldn't get her to the pasture we wanted to put her into, till I took the goats over by the barn and away from the gate. Then DH was able to get her into the pasture and we let her off the rope so she could explore. She was hungry and right away she started munching on grass as she looked around. DH couldn't get her to come back to him, even with food for a while. LOL


This morning DH worked with her a little and got to pet her and rub her side while she ate. She isn't used to a barn, the guy we got her from had a stanchion set up that was outside, so now DH has to work on getting her to go inside when we want her to, so she can be milked.


DH did get to milk her a little bit, just not to much as she wasn't in a stanchion and he didn't have a stool and can't stoop like that for long. But at least she did let him touch her teats. I can't wait till he actually gets to milk her!!! I'm really looking forward to fresh butter!

All in all it was a good day, and I wish we could go for long drives like that a little more often, and see more of Northern Nebraska now and then...especially in the fall when it's not to hot or two cold. It really is beautiful up there...not that there aren't beautiful spots other places too. LOL

God has been good to us this year with letting us see lots of nature's beauty and providing us with plenty of animals for our entertainment.

I'm sure glad I married someone who loves animals as much (actually probably more) than I do, cause what's a farm without animals? I do LOVE going out and watching them when I can find the time. :)

I hope I haven't totally slowed your computers down, making such a long post with lot of photos, but I just had to share our trip yesterday with you. Now I have to get busy, I've finished the first and last page of my 2006 book, so need to get the pages in order and then work on the cover, so it's all ready to order once I manage to.

I hope everyone has a great weekend. I doubt I'll be posting again till next week, unless something comes up...like maybe Mabel allowing DH to get her into the barn and into the stanchion although I won't hold my breath that she lets him this weekend. LOL Take Care.