Tuesday, September 07, 2010

A gate to the pasture, right in my back yard

Ever since we've moved out here behind the barn, I've wanted a walk-through gate close by, to get out to the pasture.  The way we've been doing it, you walk way out to the east and around a fence post.  If it's been raining, you have no choice but to walk through mud.  
A gate just hasn't been high on the list of priorities.  
Yesterday, though, it happened.  We already had the gate; it was no longer needed in the particular spot it was in.   Cliff actually did most of the work in the garage, framing the gate and preparing it for a latch that we haven't yet purchased.  


Next he had to dig a couple of holes.  Notice Iris, trying to get Cliff to stop his work and throw the silly ball for her.  "It's all about me," she thinks.


He's getting ready to measure the depth of the hole with his tape measure.  


After cutting the existing fence, he brought out the frame.  I don't know how Cliff would get anything done without a tractor.  


As it happened, one hole had to be dug a little deeper, so he moved the frame out of the way and dug some more.  Notice Bonnie and Clyde grazing nearby.  


That's much better.  The horses are hanging around thinking, "Oh, a new gate?  Perhaps we can make our escape."  


Here's how the gate looked this morning.   We went today and got seed for that fallow plot in the background ($140).  We found out there's a new farm store open in Odessa where Feldman's used to be, and we are so happy for that.  Unfortunately, they won't have the gate latch we want for thirty days; at present they mostly just have livestock feed.  We'll pick up the latch somewhere else.  We stopped at the veteranarian's office because I wanted to pick up some calf-scours pills.  Not for Clyde, but for the bobby calf I should be getting before long.  You can't raise bobby calves without having scours treatments on hand.   
Then we went on to Lexington and got some Sakrete, which Cliff put in the post holes to stabilize the posts.  While there, I dug into my "fun" envelope and got out enough money for a footlong sub at Subway.  Cliff and I will each have half of that for our supper tonight.  
It's an absolutely perfect day, and much has been accomplished.

8 comments:

  1. Really a lot of work but just look what you have accomplished. Love the pictures.

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  2. Sounds like a great ending to a perfect day for you! Cliff does good work for sure!

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  3. Glad that Cliff got that put up for you. No more getting so muddy. Helen

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  4. Nice job! I have been wanting one of those smaller gates now for years. Is there a trick on how to get one?

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  5. The gate is wonderful! Great job, Cliff. Now . . . did I miss the blog post which explains "bobby calf"? Blessings, Penny

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  6. Small Farm Girl, we got it at the local farm store or MFA, I don't remember which; they have them, anyhow. Penny, a bobby calf is a dairy calf taken away from it's mother at three days of age, usually a bull calf. Dairies want the milk to sell, and bull calves are of no use to them.

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  7. Your pictures make me long for the country Donna...I felt like I was there with you as Cliff put the gate in..I know you ahve to be so happy to have it nearer to you. I would love to drive that tractor!!! Have never driven one, but would sure try! lol
    love,
    carlene

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