Nov. 29, 2002 ~ Bathrobe and boots
Looking out the window this morning, we thought we saw Barbara Jean (cow) standing by the back gate with the herd. But wasn't she supposed to calve yesterday? Were we mistaken? What we didn't notice was that she was standing by the woodpile, and when she moved forward, there was a little bouncing bundle of red fur, solid red. I had declined Husband's earlier invitation to go for a walk (Too cold! Let's wait till later...), but this was different. I slipped boots on bare feet and trotted outdoors in my robe -- a lovely sight, no doubt. Husband was in the barn, getting ready to feed the animals, so I quickly shared the news about our newest addition. It's a heifer, a cute little thing. All newborn calves are cute, and they're fun to watch. They're just so... new. They bounce and hop and head-butt the grown cows, acting for all the world as if they're big, full-sized critters, instead of the little babies that they are. Don't tell them; I'd hate to spoil the surprise.
Flora Ruth had a heifer last week, so we have two little ones and a number of bigger babies. Some of them will be going to auction soon.
One of the older heifers is currently serving time in solitary confinement. I swear that girl is the most hormonally-challenged animal I've ever seen! Once a month she turns into a lunatic. She desperately wants to go visit the bull, and we very much want her to stay put until she's old enough for such things to be safe. So she's in the pen, under lock and key, mooing and complaining and letting everyone know just how hateful mean we are. Tomorrow she'll be all sweet and innocent again, and will look at us with those big brown eyes, bewildered, as if to ask what all the fuss was about.
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