Cow Cams

Yes, I've been MIA lately.  We headed south to Daytona Beach for a bit of fun on February 19 and spent four days at the speedway.  We made the decision (pricey decision) to stay near the track this time so we could walk back and forth and not have to pay for parking, etc.  Turns out it was a wise decision since there was rain on Friday and Sunday.  We were able to go back to our room and dry off and get dry clothes.  Not sure what we would have done during that 6+ hour rain delay during the 500.  We really love it there, and this year was more spectacular when our guy, Dale Jr., won!

We had a bit of Dale hangover on Monday--not alcohol related, just emotionally spent--so went to a movie and walked the beach.  Tuesday we went back to the Kennedy Space Center and spent most of our time at the Atlantis exhibit.  We also took a tour to launch pad 39 which was really cool.  Marty has always been obsessed with the space program, and we never have enough time at the center.  He had a chance to feel like an astronaut (not space cadet) when we did the launch experience.

When we planned the Daytona trip it was with the intention that we wouldn't go to the Vegas race like we usually do because it gets too close to calving time; however, we received a lot of pressure from family to go so we caved.  I was thinking we would have two weeks at home....wrong.  The RACES were two weeks apart but with travel time we were only home a week, and a busy, quick week it was!

We had a good time in Vegas with M's sister and husband, brother and wife, niece and several friends.  The race was exciting again for the Junior fans!  It was good to get home, and we probably won't get away again until fall.

R had been pushing us to get cow cameras so while we were gone a guy came and installed the cameras.  R made it worth his while by getting four other ranchers in the area on board also.  We have four cameras; two in the barn and two in the corral.  R installed the app on his phone and on my IPad.  We've been thinking about putting it on M's dad's Kindle so he can watch what's going on, but we're a little concerned that he'll push some wrong button and mess something up.  It would be fun for awhile because he'd be calling R every time a heifer twitches.

Today, R went to a chemical meeting put on by the local co-op.  M went late and wasn't planning to stay long but wanted me to check the cow cam periodically.  I was checking it and noticed some heifers lying down and was panning through the crowd when I saw that one was starting to calve.  I texted R at the meeting who checked the camera on his phone and told his dad, and he headed home.  I could see that she was making a little progress and just when M arrived to pick me up, she delivered.  We moved her into the barn where she won't be bothered, and we can watch with the camera to make sure the calf is nursing without getting her stirred up.  Handy little gadget.

We've had warm weather and water running and now a baby so it's really feeling like spring.