9/365

Day 9...

It's been a noisy past couple of days here.  Travis has been pulling yearlings from their mothers and today was the day to finish that up. Our little cowboy in training was not going to be left behind. He made sure he was up by sunrise, ate his pancakes and bacon, and was out the door when Travis and Thomas started to work.  He thinks he's every bit of 16 or 17 years old but if I try to remind him he's only 5 I get quite the stare down and he tells me, "I can do this momma!" I watched from the outside of the corral as he walked down the lane with his arms held high yelling, "hey cow, hey cow!" Oddly  enough that's all those little babies needed to go in the opposite direction. He wasn't alone, Thomas was near by him. Thomas told me, "he worries me a little bit!" My response was the exact same words.  It frightens me a little to watch him with these creatures that are anywhere from 300-1200 pounds but he loves it. It's something he'll probably do his entire life. If he learns the proper way to do it now, prayerfully we'll avoid any accidents! ;)  I said, prayerfully!

Learning the ropes

I posted a few weeks back about our little friend, Chance, that we are bottle feeding. Chance is doing very well and the other night Carter had his first chance at feeding Chance.



 I absolutely adore this last picture. I think I might just print it big!! :)

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!

A new baby

Nothing sweeter then seeing a newborn calf right after it's born!  This little one made it's arrival just in time for Tucker's birthday party!