I meant to go to an ice cream social last night, but it turned out that I was too tired to walk across the farm. I chalk it up to getting only four hours of sleep a couple nights before. It worked out for the best, because I needed lots of sleep for this morning.

Today, Keegan and I spent our morning at LEF (Living Energy Farm) clearing the weeds from the orchard. And by "weeds" I mean "mostly small trees." LEF is all about using manpower instead of motor power, so it was tough work. Keegan was working primarily with a scythe. I was working with a weed cutter. They both involve swinging things from above your head and lopping off the tops of the undesirable plants. In full sun, with the heat index well over 100 degrees. We took some breaks and drank lots of water. Eventually, the orchard crew decided that we'd done everything we knew how to do, and we found our way to the creek at the back of the property. The creek is in the shade and freezing cold. It was lovely.

After returning home and taking showers, we headed to the dairy barn to help Rick move some hay and play with a week-old calf. (Her name is Rosalind; all of the calves this year are being named after Shakespeare characters.) There was a cow in the birth pen who was expected to give birth today, maybe tomorrow. One minute she's hanging out, and the next... boom! Is that the amniotic sac hanging out? Holy crap! There are the front hooves! Rick rushed off to call the other dairy folks, instructing Keegan and me to keep an eye on the momma. Which means I got to see the whole thing. Calves are born in sort of a diving position: front legs first, then head, body, and back legs.

Keegan and Rick carried the newborn calf to a separate pen and I rubbed her down with towels to get the gook off of her. Rosalind came to the fence to see what I was crooning about. Rick milked momma's colostrum out, and Keegan gave the little lady her first meal. She's adorable. She has dark brown fur with white socks on all four legs and a little white tuft above her left shoulder. Best surprise ever.