So where was I again????

I'm not sick hoomans now giz leg to claw nowz
Why me? Sasquatch got me on the leg while I was feeding out soooo unfair..mean kitteh
It seems that Mr Sicko has been really hammering my family these last few weeks. I get the flu and it's taken forever to go. Inaya got sick with gastric virus, and now yet another of the family is sick. Such is life though. I've been looking after sick people and feeding out hay and hard feed to the hungry bunch of bovine and equine vultures out there still glaring at me from the paddock next to my house. My life at the moment seems to be a surreal Dali painting. I want my life back thanks. I hate winter always will hate winter, but I suppose nature says that's how the cycle of life goes.

So what's been happening on the Mad Bush Farm...nothing. Shift stock, feed out hay, clean up poo and do it all over again the next day. Boring boring boring..but I get to talk to my creatures I suppose. Last year poor Sasha was suffering from terrible illnesses and infections. This year she's a different picture all together. Not bad for rising 23. She's now galloping to her feed instead of struggling to make it there. No more weight loss she's actually put heaps on.

And then there is the Terrorist...This month on the 29th of July the Terrorist will turn one year old. Yes she has grown a lot but she is still the tiniest Jersey I have ever seen. She thinks still she should be inside my house rather than out in the cold paddock in the rain with those moo things she still can't stand. Hay has become her friend - but as usual it is still not good enough that the baby of the Mad Bush Bovine Crew is being treated as a..........COW. Totally unacceptable in The Terrorists view. Moo has not yet developed. I still get meeeeeeeeee but no moo. NO CALVES THIS YEAR TO RAISE I FLATLY REFUSE!!!! No more!!!!!!!
All things considered today is the first day I have actually felt close to 100% like my old self again. Maybe for once I can actually sit down and find a chance to go and visit some blogs without feeling the need to go and lie down or have to go and take care of yet another sick family member. I've just realised as well that River will 3 years old on the 10th of July. Another small calf I raised but she was much bigger than the Terrorist and that was the day she was calved. She was 18kg - the Terrorist weighed around a mere 6 or 7 kg. Tiny very tiny.
Looks like our calving dates were all up the shoot. River is now so huge she looks like she is going to explode. Being a first calver usually means their udders start to fill in the 3rd of 4th month of preganancy. She still has a wee while to go. We are hoping she is not carrying twins. The bull we have now may carry a gene that causes twins. Our previous bull seemed to father a lot of twins when he was out tailing off on dairy herds. I do not want twins - not with a first calver. So we'll see what happens there. Calving time for the Dairy Herds will be later this month. The cows will start calving and it's back into the shed for the next season. One thing people should watch out for if they're planning to breed cattle and that is a nasty disease called Rotavirus. Last year a farmer I knew of lost 12 calves in two days to Rotavirus. It pays to vaccinate the herd against it to save a lot of heartbreak and calf mortality on the farm. Worth a consideration if you are on a small farm like mine as well. Don't take chances. Better to vaccinate then end up with dead calves.

Onto some other stuff....

NOTES FROM THE LAND OF GONZO

This time it's Amy's turn to share some insight into Asperger's Disorder and how it has affected her family. This is a great post and well worth taking the time to read. Check out Amy's post here

MORE STORIES OF INTEREST

Story 1: Lugan Zoo Argentina

4 year old Alan has to tolerate being treated like a plaything

I've seen some really bad things in my time but this just has to top the list of bad things. A friend of mine Natalie who is an animal behaviourist sent me a link to an article in the Daily Mirror.
Lugan Zoo in Argentina is run not by logical conservation minded people - but by a bunch of certified Village Idiots. I kid you not
. According the the Daily Mirror Lugan Zoo near Buenos Aires in Argentine allows visitors to literally man handle the animals. Children have been allowed to enter the enclosures of adult tigers and worse still, a four year old male Lion named Alan has been subjected to the worst kind of humilitation any animal could have. In my eyes this Zoo should be shut down. It does not deserve to even have the animals. This is nothing short of absolute and utter inhumane cruelty - not to mention careless and reckless endangerment to public safety. Read the article from the Daily Mirror here


Story 2: A positive new start for Zion Wildlife Gardens


Imvula, Timba and Tamba have a morning lie down after the excitment of the weekend. - Caption & Image Credit: Sara Reid Zion Wildlife Gardens

The tragic death of Dalu Mcnube on May 26th had left the staff at Zion Wildlife Gardens reeling. The park was temporarily closed while an investigation was undertaken by MAF, the Department of Labour and the Police into the tragedy. MAF allowed the park to re-open once further safety measures had been satisfied. The appointment of Tim Husband of Zooworks has seen a positive and fresh new start to the park with new intiatives already been put into place for the benefit of the 42 big cats residing at the park. MAF have put a stop to the hands on contact of the adult Lions and Tigers to ensure staff and public safety. Despite this ruling Zion Wildlife Gardens had a very successful re-opening with over 500 people turning up during the course of the weekend of the 27th & 28th of June. Local businesses in Whangarei have also chipped in by sponsering the big cats.
Frank 'the Fiend' in the clink
(Broken out of jail by Amy)

Well that's me for this blog post. Early night tonight so I can get up tomorrow and do the same old routine and finally catch up with several weeks worth of blog posts from all of my fantastic blogger friends. I have some more news to share including an award I received from Diane at My Gemstone Box and I won some pink earrings as well. THANK YOU DIANE!!!!

AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU DEAR WONDERFUL PEOPLE WHO HAVE CARED SO MUCH ABOUT ME AND MY GIRLS. I WILL BE CATCHING UP WITH ALL OF YOUR COMMENTS AND ANSWERING EACH ONE INDIVIDUALLY AS WELL AS VISITING YOUR BLOGS TO THANK YOU ALL.

Comments

  1. Don't you hate it when the kittehs scratch? Usually they climb up my leg when I'm doing dinner, luckily I'm usually wearing jeans but it still hurts - ouch! Frank looked so cute then, gosh he's grown since. Thanks for the link chickie too :-)
    It wasn't so long ago you were complaining about having to get up to River and give her a bottle at 4am - time flies!

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  2. Well goodness gracious, I had no idea you and your clan were suffering so! I am glad that you have struggled back onto your feet, however, but be careful. Relapses are terrible. I hope that you get to 100 per cent soon.

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  3. Glad you are beginning to feel back to normal again - it is hard to imagine it being winter as we sit here sweltering in hot sun.

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  4. Aha! River and I share a Birthday, hope she has a safe pregnancy. I have been pretty busy recently,
    re-cluttering my life. Glad you are feeling better.x

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  5. Oh Liz Sasquatch is looking increasingly like a minion of Basement Cat cleverly infiltrating the ranks of Ceiling Cat followers... always pays to be careful..

    Things have indeed been a little preoccupying for you guys it seems. I hate it when I get a 'chronic' flu too. And am really glad when it goes away.

    Disturbing to see those pictures of people with wild animals in the Argentine zoo. Animals are always unpredictable and if God forbid some untoward incident happens it will change forever the lives of the animal and its victim. I hope there is some overseeing body there in Argentina that will look into this matter.

    Good to see a positive start for Zion. Wishing them and their precious cats the very best for times ahead.

    Sending well wishes your way. Hope you all stay healthy and well at the farm :)

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  6. HELLO EVERYONE!!!!!

    Amy..Sasquatch is becoming evil. Minion of Basement Cat for certain. He bears Basement cat's hallmarks..6 black hairs on his head...This time it's my hand he has.OUCH

    Frank the Fiend is soo cute. No worries on the heads up for your Aspergers post it's great..Thanks Amy awesome

    Patricia- It seems everytime I wanted to get to blogger something else would come up. Or I was sick or someone else needed to be taken care of. Finally I'm over the flu. Nice fine morning and I'm enjoying it. so much to catch up on with everyone. Worth every moment.

    Weaver- At last the flu has gone!! Yes I am finally better and able to get to blogger and catch up with everyone. Lots of blogs to read and to catch up on. I like what you've been up to. I will be over this week to visit your blog. As well as everyone elses.

    Twisted Sister - I will tell river she is privileged to share her birthday with yours.LOL Busy...yes I know the feeling. I need to visit your blog!!!!

    Omer - Oh NOES Sasquatch is truly a Minion they have turned him for certain. I have to hide from him or he gets me..Ouchy ouchy ouchy. Perhaps I should get a Basement Cat Kitteh to become a Celing Cat follower..

    I hate flus too they are such a pain. At least mine at last has gone. My girls are still iffy but better.

    Lugan Zoo is a travesty and should be shut down. the animals are well feed but used liked playthings so so sad. Zion has made a remarkable new start. Lots of new things are being put in place for the enrichment of the animals. All good. And they are putting up photos and videos every few days. Great news there.

    Purrs, love and hugs to you Omer

    Lots of love and hugs to everyone!!!
    Thanks guys you are all awesome!

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  7. Hope you're feeling better soon, Liz, missed your posts :)

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  8. Glad you are back! It is understandable that you were away, I am glad you are starting to feel back to normal. I am sure the animals are excited to have you back full of energy. :-) Man, your critters are growing up. I think you need a young something again. Perhaps another frisky kitten?? There are plenty of toes to nom on. (hehe)

    Jennifer

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  9. Hi Liz, sorry to hear you haven't been very well. I know what you mean about winter, I hate it too, it seems like its never going to end sometimes. Bob.

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  10. Sorry to hear you've been ill, Liz - I haven't been blogging much recently so am catching up. Hope you're completely better swiftly.

    The animals look great - River does look huge and so adorable!

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