Another Late Night Lesson in Farming

Today we moved the cow and her calf out to the pasture with the rest of the herd.  It was pretty scary for me because the calf is so much smaller than the others and doesn't know anything yet.  There was a lot of running and heel kicking among the group but it all finally settled down and everybody seemed okay. I must admit that I was near panic most of the time. But I finally remembered that God made these magnificent animals perfectly and their instincts would take care of everything so I need not worry.

Around 8:00 pm when we were watching television and winding down after a crazy manure filled day, the thought popped into my head that the calf just might need a drink of water and I knew she couldn't reach the water trough yet.  So I asked Tim if he knew how old a calf is when they need water.  He didn't know for sure so I Googled it, of course, and learned that a calf drinks water between feedings from as early as one week old. It went on to say that the fastest way to kill a calf is to withhold water from it. OH NO!!!

So I got dressed and out we went to the barn where we had the water bucket set up in the manger where the calf and her mom had been living up till today.  Tim turned off the water, disassembled the automatic float and emptied the bucket while I dragged the hose to the pasture.

We found some bailing twine to tie the bucket to the fence and Tim reassembled the whole thing as the cows came running. They are the most curious creatures!

Anyway, now the calf has a bucket of water that she can drink from and the automatic float will keep it full.

I don't think the mom is happy about having to sleep on the cold damp ground tonight. I think she prefers that nice bed of straw in the barn.  If I had my way she would still be in there.  But Tim is right, they need to get used to being back out in the field because we have another calf coming soon.

Ah, farming....

It's as good as it gets!


Blessings,

Dyan

If You Could See Me Now

It has recently occurred to me that I have changed in ways that are not always flattering. I was the type of woman that would never be caught dead in public without full makeup and my hair curled perfectly.  My appearance was of the utmost importance - seriously. I was raised that way.

Lately the most important thing is to be warm, stay dry, and remember to always have a pair of gloves in my pocket, if not on my hands.  I have found myself inside of stores with my hair in a ponytail, boots on, jeans rolled up, no makeup and my dirty Carhartt jacket zipped up to keep me warm. And I was as happy as a girl could be.  The freedom of simply living without that fear of rejection has been something amazing.  When I find myself in public looking a fright, I just have to laugh and celebrate the moment.  I think God is laughing with me.  My cows, dogs, and chickens don't care what I look like, and apparently my husband thinks I look beautiful in my Bogs with manure on them.  There's just something sexy about a farm girl :)

It's been a wild ride, this little farm of ours, and if it all ended tomorrow I wouldn't regret a single moment of it.  I feel so blessed that we have be given this opportunity so late in life.

Now I better get back outside and help Tim with the frozen water troughs and feeding time.

And, by the way,  that "other" cow that we thought might be pregnant???  She is due in about two weeks.

We are dang blessed!!!


Blessings,

Dyan