Party til the cows come home!

We may not be partying but we can pretend, right?  We have a new friend that is slowly but surely moving her way to the top of the momma cow totem pole. Her name, I'm sad to say, is Number 8!  I don't know why we, I, have never named this sweet, precious momma but for now she's Number 8. Dare I even say she's a bit sweeter than our beloved Lulla Belle?!  SHHHHHH!!!!  Don't breathe a word that I just said that. Lulla would probably pack up and leave town. Ah, who am I kidding that large, waddle walking momma ain't going anywhere!

Anywho, back to Number 8.  She's one of those cows you can just stand right beside and love on. She's mindful of you being to close to her baby but bring her some bread and you can do whatever you please. A few nights back we went out to check on all the gals in the pasture and I grabbed an old pack of hotdog buns to feed to 8.  She saw us coming and came in a hard trot!

Tucker was holding a bun in his hand and before we could get it to her mouth she had her head turned and was gobbling up that bread. She not only gobbled up the bread but had his arm in her mouth, up to his elbow!!!  His face was hilarious. As I was laughing she decided to lick me up the side of my face. Have you ever been licked by a cow?  Probably not. So let me just tell you it's like having a piece of sandpaper pulled up your cheek.  It definitely caught me off guard that's for sure!!!


8 more than got herself a belly full of bread that night. Her little bull calf was so cute running around trying to figure out why his momma was being so friendly with these outsiders, us. He wasn't quite brave enough to taste the bread just yet. Give him time.

There are some other old faithful gals that we know will take a handout if you find them. Little Red is one of them. She's just the cutest thing. Her baby is a pig. I know, she's really a cow, but indeed she looks like a fat, pudgy pig. Her rump looks more round than I can explain to you!



I'm sure your typical farm living, country girl doesn't get as wrapped up in her cows as I do. I know they have a "purpose" but can't we all just be friends and get along?!  Before I let you go you have to see this adorable little cutie that was hiding all alone in the grass as we headed back to the house. How stinkin' cute????

Critters, Critters, and more Critters

It seems like everyday there is a new calf born around here. Not that I mind that, it's just cool each evening to go out riding the pastures and discover a new little one lying in the grass.  I'm still trying not to get attached but it doesn't seem to be working so well. I name everyone of them, first no-no to not getting attached!



There's a little white faced fellow that I call Jughead. Not sure how I came up with that name for him, I just did.  Then there's Crybaby because she has a streak of white fur from her eye down her face. Then of course there's Chance, and Dusty and little Joe the donkies, LullaBelle... God love her. I seriously could name everyone of them.



There are a few crazies in the group that I've already given the okay to ship them to the sale when they deliver their calfs. They're pretty cows, just a little too nutso for me. When you drive by them and they get all antsy and start to blow and act like pure nuts, yeah I don't need anything like that around here. Only sweet mommas that want to come to the fence and be hand fed. You know, spoiled rotten cows.  :)


As my sister said last week while visiting us I can smell the slightest hint of Fall in the evening air. We all know what that smell means, right... it's almost time for the fair!  There's just something about the fall that makes me smile from the inside out. I could live in the Fall, year round.


If it's time for the fair, then that means it's time for local youngsters to get their steers and heifers ready to show. We have a young lady that just purchased a heifer from us this week to show in the upcoming fair. I'm excited to see her show, and so is Carter. I'll keep you all posted on how she places in the fair.  Travis would like to work with more local students that would like to be a part of 4H or the livestock show at the fair. If any of you reading this are local and know a child between the ages of 8-18 that would like to participate, let me know and we'll get you set up with the information you need.

As the critters on Cow Bird Lane continue to multiply, the more pictures I have to snap. Hope you didn't mind the cyberspace walk through at the country zoo! :)

It's been a bit muddy here lately, this poor gal looks a little stuck!

Lulla Belle and baby

***WARNING*** 

This post has pictures of a calf being born. Not for the queasy. :)

Yesterday was such a busy day. I had tons of stuff I really need to get done inside, housework, laundry, mopping (which I've put off way too long), and all the other little stuff. When I pulled out the driveway to take Carter to school I noticed that our dear friend, Lulla Belle, was off to her self a bit. When I got back home I got a call from Travis telling me her "bubble" was out. Okay, I don't think that is a technical term, but it's the term used around this farm to know that a momma is about to deliver her calf.

With this new tidbit of information, I grabbed my camera to go out and get pictures of the old gal. She's such a sweet, yet sometimes moody gal. She loves a handout of food, or a good scratch behind the ears and she always has pretty calfs.

She walked in circles, would lay for a bit, then eat a little, but you could tell something was up with her. Uncomfortable? Maybe, I don't know. Never really talked to her much, LOL!  It was around 9:00 and Tucker was starting to get close to nap time so we gave her some space and I brought him in to run off that last bit of steam. I scurried around doing as much as I could, but glancing out the window each time I passed to make sure I wasn't missing the moment!

Tucker finally went down for his morning nap, and I was out the door. Yes, the monitor was with me on the porch... no need to fret!  I walked to the fence and watched as I could tell she wasn't completely comfortable with me, so I kept my distance. She paced back and forth, then she came to the fence where I was standing for a good scratch behind the ears. After that she gave Lil Joe, our donkey, a few good head butts as if she were telling him back away buster, I'm in no mood for your shanningans.

I stayed outside until almost 10:30. Nothing. No baby, zip, notta, nothing. I normally leave at 10:55 to pick Carter up from preschool. The time came, I had to leave. I was so upset because as I was loading Tucker into the truck, she went and laid down... broad side. Lovely, Lulla Belle, just lovely. I've waited, and waited and now you're going to have this calf as I drive away. Thanks, thanks a lot.  I left frustrated that I would miss the moment.

After I picked Carter up I had errands I had to run. The whole time I kept thinking, she's had that calf by now, I just know it. 11:45 we pulled in the driveway only to find her right where I left her. Except she was standing instead of laying. I was certain she had given birth, until she turned. NOPE, there was the calf... in the process of being born. I couldn't believe it. It wasn't but maybe another 2-3 minutes and she welcomed her new little, long eared, black calf to Cow Bird Lane!!

Being the good momma she is, she immediately started cleaning her and keeping watch for us nosey onlookers! Some of you may think I'm absolutely goofy for being so excited about a cow giving birth. As corny as it sounds, I love this life. I didn't grow up on a farm so this is all new to me and quite frankly I think each and every time it's absolutely amazing.

Mom and baby are doing just fine. Lulla was right back to the hay ring within no time! She's not brought little bit up to close yet, she's a protective mammie!  Up close pictures of the new arrival coming soon!