Erica Louder

We weaned our calves in October. It’s a transition period for the farm, a literal metamorphism as the juvenile animals prove themselves to be an independent entity. They were weaned, branded and weighed, and they entered the record as the baseline of our future herd. We are always hopeful that these animals will thrive, but like anything, there is no guarantee no matter how well we attempt to manage the variables.

My front window faces south, toward the highway. Between the house and the highway is a field they just chopped for corn silage. It was a strange year with a cold June and an early frost, and the corn didn’t yield as well as expected. I am sad about that, but I am glad to have my view back.

I have a 2-year-old son named Ethan. I’d describe Ethan as a little less than tractor obsessed.

Dogs are a staple of rural living. For some rural-ites it doesn’t matter if you are headed to the range or headed to town, your cow dog is sitting guard on the flatbed pickup or in the cab of a truck.

Weather is a topic I cover all the time on this blog and one, if you are a farmer, you think about a lot, almost to the point of obsession, at least I do.

As I’ve said before in this blog, I am a huge podcast follower. Recently I was looking for a podcast for writers and stumbled into a rebroadcasted radio show just perfect for word nerds like me. It is called A Way with Words.