The Riley Factor #46

The Riley Factor -- EXTRA EDITION March 8, 2010
(All the news that's fit to print, along with some unfit to print rumors, prognostications and bloviations.)

Fort Plain, NY, March 8 --  EXTRA EDITION --  The Herd of Five has become the Herd of Six, with today's noontime addition of Ari, a very cute red & white six-day-old Holstein bull, who was born March 2, 2010.  Delivered by Phil, who works for Lloyd's son-in-law, Steve, the newcomer weighs-in at about 50 pounds and is sharing a room (stall) with three-week old Zeke, who already dwarfs the newbie.  Susan commented that, "Ari is adorable, a real hot ticket.  He likes to jump around and kick up his heels.  Now, Zeke has a playmate".  Zeke had spent much of the morning being head-butted around the stalls by Michael, his 300-plus-pound mentor and leader of the pack of bovines, and should fare better with a mate of similar size and demeanor, much like the manner in which Gabe and Eli pal around.  Riley already spent a half hour in stall with Ari, getting to know the new bull calf.

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The Riley Factor March 8, 2010
(All the news that's fit to print, along with some unfit to print rumors, prognostications and bloviations.)

Fort Plain, NY, March 8 --  Over the weekend and today, Riley suffered and is suffering with a bout of diarrhea, having to visit the little dogs room every hour or two, and making it outside about 80% of the time.  He seems a bit lethargic, but otherwise well.  Yesterday, in between naps, he enjoyed a couple of walks with Nancy and Gabby around The Boulevard trails.  Rock Creek began flowing over the weekend, after a winter of frozen-solid (and recently snow-covered) state, as warm temperatures have melted the snow-pack from about two feet a week ago to about a foot currently remaining.  With full sun and temperatures in the upper 40s forecast for this entire coming week, snow may be a memory on Rock Creek Farm by next weekend.  Riley and Gabby still love playing as often as possible in the soft deep snow, but it is an exercise of love, since they finish their workouts breathing hard, tired and content.  On site visitors today include Ephrain Blank, with his welding machine, to work on the trailer plow and PTO rototiller.