I've been using gestation tables for my cattle for years and years. They more often than not peg their due date with 2 days prior or 2 days after being relatively common and 4 days before/after being rare. At the very earliest possible date I shouldn't be seeing calves yet. Today would have been the first possible actual due date. There have actually been 5 births, but the first one was too early and didn't survive. There are a lot of things that can cause it including that it's a normal occurrence 1% of the time. Because the last four calves are so lively, I can rule out a couple of things, but it's still worrisome. If it turns cold, the ones I have will be fine. I just wish the cooking time would stay turned on a bit longer.

Edit to add: Yes, a happy, lively calf is cute!!

@needrain And I thought worrying about my plants, if the weather turns cold again, was stressful. You may have to move your plants out of the garage and set it up as a nursery!

The weather guy said the last time we had a winter where the temperature didn't dip below 30 was 1994/95. We turned all the outside heaters on only one night when a freeze was expected, and that was before the holidays. It hasn't frozen up on the hill here that I'm aware of. And I'm not complaining! Still, it's strange that the temperature has been all over the chart. The high today was 61. Thursday, it's forecast to be 80. I think I can put my wool coat away!

@Bubbles the girls wouldn't like the garage! At all!

We are having spring temps here for sure. It was originally supposed to dip to 31F tonight, but they've changed that prediction to 35F. The 10 day forecast doesn't have any lows below freezing and at least one overnight low of 50F in the forecast. 50F for an overnight low is very, very warm for February. But there hasn't been even a drop of rain since December and it's not in the forecast either .

We have had several mornings below freezing, but it warms up as soon as the sun comes up. Sort of a non-winter; most of the pastures are still green. Fine by me!

I'm going to remember to revisit this thread in March. I just hope by then we haven't had a late freeze after I have taken down the hoops and everything has leafed out. I seem to remember a really cold, wet Easter years ago. Had covered the garden beds with row cloth. Most everything under the cloth froze and turned to mush.

@Bubbles, I'm sure it is right around the corner, after all the Tx armadillo and the Pa groundhog predicted an early spring
My GF never took plants out of his greenhouse till his mesquites leafed out

@Jolana a lot of people say that in this area. Pecan trees are even later to leaf out. Usually it's a pretty good indication that frost is probably not going to happen, but I have seen both get bit by a late freeze. They don't do well when it happens to them. Elms and others take it in stride, but Mesquites and Pecans end up with some dead growth.

I agree and have seen it also in your neck of the woods, which you might remember is where my GF lived
Do you remember the first time you saw a mesquite nipped after leafing out?
I think GF still went by that info since it happened once in a blue moon

I think those are just myths. I'm pretty sure the last freeze is right before the Easter bunny comes and hides the eggs, and I get to wear my new Easter outfit.

Hahaha, yeah, that's THE true way of knowing spring is here for sure!
BUT...it could be when we are in the first week in June

OH, I hope not!

@Bubbles, looks like it is spring like for at least 10 days

Y'all are lucky to have anything resembling spring. Our lows don't get above 32F until Monday.

I think every gardener around the world is aching for spring (or the northern hemisphere atleast)...Here's it's been raining every day for weeks on end; really it's rediculous. Everything's either rotting or drowning and I'm sick of it! God I hope spring and summer are warm and above all DRY

@Jolanna I had to open the hoops out back. It was 85 this morning in the little greenhouse. @drdawg I'm sure you're enjoying that new sunroom!
@Arico isn't amazing that the very thing you're hoping for...warm weather and no rain...is the exact opposite of what we in the middle of Texas are wishing for...cool weather and some rain this spring and summer.

@Bubbles, it's nice but crazy! I haven't been to a nursery since June. Have you ever been to Barton Springs nursery this early? I wonder if they have plants out. The ones close to me don't usually. I just need to get out to see plants,

@drdawg, it is nice but it just makes you want to do more, I lok at the things that have died back and I want to clean everything up but know if I do and growth pops up a freeze could/would get it, lol

@Arico, I remember having times like that here and it is miserable, I hope you have dryer weather soon

@Jolana I live about 5 minutes from Barton Springs Nursery! Last year, I was so tired of winter, I went over there in the rain and walked around in the front where they had enclosed the area with plastic to keep the 4" starter plants warm. I spent about 30 minutes and $45., but I felt like that was good medicine!! DH just shook his head when I got home.
I'll run over there in the morning and see what's out. @Esperanza and I planned to hit three nurseries in one day last year. We made it to two and ran out of steam (and money)! We went to Barton Creek and The Natural Gardener. 'Too tired to hit The Great Outdoors. I'm pretty sure Esperanza would come into town for a plant run!

Yea!! @Bubbles, I would gladly go. That is my favorite nursery. I LOVE their $2 tables and small trees
I'm having withdrawals
I know what you mean about the Dh's head shakes or rolling eyes

Bubbles said:@Jolana I live about 5 minutes from Barton Springs Nursery! Last year, I was so tired of winter, I went over there in the rain and walked around in the front where they had enclosed the area with plastic to keep the 4" starter plants warm. I spent about 30 minutes and $45., but I felt like that was good medicine!! DH just shook his head when I got home.
I'll run over there in the morning and see what's out. @Esperanza and I planned to hit three nurseries in one day last year. We made it to two and ran out of steam (and money)! We went to Barton Creek and The Natural Gardener. 'Too tired to hit The Great Outdoors. I'm pretty sure Esperanza would come into town for a plant run!

Oh this early spring has me all in a tizzy. I got chickens laying overtime and some going broody already and I am trying to get ready for a Valentines day event. Im trying to juggle spring time signs with reality or what used to be reality for this time of the year .

Shopping for plants did I hear you say @Bubbles ? Heck ya... I'm in!!!!!!!!!!

If y'all should dare to start early I will be in Round Rock on Vday selling cut flowers, succulents, and tillandsia, . There will also be soaps and many other goodies.

@Donald I can not imagine how stressful that would be to have calving this early on. The birds, bees, and wild flowers seem to think it is spring already. I am going with maybe it is and am thankful that the forecast of a extra cold wet winter has so far been wrong for a lot of Texas other than a few events up North.

My peaches have no sign of blooming yet. Whew!!!!! I hope to see my mountain laurels bloom this year. Last few years have been

@ Jolana and @ Esperanza I'll check out Barton Creek tomorrow and report back. I'll try to run over to The Great Outdoors also. They have a tropical greenhouse that is always tempting. And tables of every kind of perennial, succulent, and veggie. Lots of Monrovia stock too....but expensive.

I will report back tomorrow.