A Question-Cattle and Minerals

So here's my question.  I would like to be able to raise our beef cattle from foods we've grown here-if we have to.  I realize that I can't get my own salt for them, but what about mineral supplements?  What vegetables and grains would be wise to grow that would include the minerals that the cattle are now getting from the loose mineral we purchase?  What did Pa Ingalls give his cows?  Our soil is lacking selenium here.  Would the grains and vegetables grown in it be lacking selenium too?  Is there a way to add selenium to the soil?  Any extension agents out there?
Thanks...

He's Baaaack--

With all of the headlines today, blogging about my cat seems so trivial, but I wanted to share God's answer to my son's prayer.

This is Chester-

This is Chester's normal state.  He's a stray that my honey picked up on his way home about 6 months ago.  He was matted and lonely.  He has only three legs that work, and since we took his mats off, a few bald spots.  Honey gave him to our son. 

Chester disappeared about three days ago, something he's never done before.  He was gone in all of that snow and we kept praying for his return. Honey and I had already figured he was gone for good.  Shame on us. I heard his lovely cat howl this morning and jumped out of bed to let him in.  

God answered our prayers in a great way. 

Our prayers today are for all of those left devasted by the storms going through our nation.



Calving Time

We finally got our snow.  There's about a foot of it on the ground, which is a good thing, we needed the moisture.

It's also calving time on the farm.  Our cows calve outside but not usually in this much snow. We have a couple of new heifers-first time calvers- that I'm a bit concerned about.  One girl is very 'petite' and she's ready to drop any day now.

So it's up and outside early every morning to check and then in three or four hour intervals until 10 or 11 at night.  I dread crawling from my warm bed, throwing some boots and a coat on and going outside.  My honey and I take turns, but I'm thinking I'm pretty lazy.  Once outside it's actually pretty nice.  The cattle are so big and pregnant that they let you scratch them under their chins and rub their ears, it's easier than trying to move away from you. :)

Our only milk cow should calve sometime in the next two weeks.  Fresh milk again!  Our daughter is getting a couple of pigs to raise on the milk.  We go through a lot of bacon and this might be a way to save a bit of money while eating "healthy bacon"?  Is there such a thing?

I think I'll call it a day a bit early. 
Good night.

A Celebrity in the Neighborhood

Saturday morning my honey was on his way to work and look who he ran into-

R2D2 right here!!!
Okay, so it's just an impersonator, but still pretty cool.  This guy is actually a custom made snowmobile.
Didn't get an autograph.

Bits and Pieces

We're getting a bit of winter, crisp and cold this morning.  The sun is deceiving-so bright and warm coming in through the living room window and still the temp is a balmy -10 outside.

I finished my shawl!  From this-

To this-

It took me almost a year, but it's done.  Next project?? :)

Do you do Pinterest?  I don't, but a friend does and she found these great hearts to make for Valentine's at http://www.bluevelvetchair.blogspot.com/2012/01/forest-glam-diy-valentines-day.html .  We have these red bushes all over around here, we call them red Dogwood.  Anyways, here's a picture of what I worked on last night for the Valentine's dinner at the church.

  I think I'll use these hearts for decoration all year. I like the way they turned out.

Enough show and tell. 

I hope your days are getting longer and the promise of spring has brought it's enthusiasm to your home.

From Glory Farm