20/365

Day 20...

It seems like every time I go out the backdoor there is a new baby calf not far in the distance. This little guy was not far at all. He was right up against the fence behind the barn. I was cautious as I approached him thinking his momma was near by, but no one ever claimed him so I sat down and just enjoyed loving on him.  Cowboy was curious as well and was even whimpering, it was cute.

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!

Saturday Morning Farm Work

Saturday mornings are lazy for most folks, but not my group. Travis and the boys are all up before the sun even graces the sky. Unfortunate for me who prefers to sleep until it's high noon. HA!  Who am I kidding, that hasn't happened in over five years.



This Saturday morning was a typical morning for us. Rise with the sun, breakfast made by Chef T-rav, and then he and Carter were going to go work some cows. Not this morning, Tucker and I were going along for the ride.



The boys love watching Travis. Carter would prefer to be in the middle of things 'helping' but he's just too little still. Tucker, he is content just climbing gates, fences, four wheelers, or digging in the dirt. Travis was not even finished with the first cow before I noticed that Tucker was covered with black dirt all over his face. That's my boy!!



I love our Saturdays together. I'm still learning the ropes, and I'm pretty sure you'll always find me behind the camera!!!  There's too much to remember, you have to have eyes in the front and back of your head and I have trouble not tripping over my own two feet. So, all in all, it's best I stay on the outside of the fence and watch from afar!


T-rav giving me his Grrr! face!!  Hilarious.

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????

It's steer time

There comes a certain time around here when the young bulls have to reach their destiny of becoming steers. For some of these little fellows, that time came this past weekend. I hate it for them, but I love watching Carter get in the middle of what's going on. I can't dare tell you what he calls this event. It's just too funny.  I'll have to keep that one a secret for a bit longer!!!  A few of the shots from the day.

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!

Jr. Cowboy

Watching Carter learn the ropes of farm life makes me happy, makes me smile, and sometimes I just have to laugh. He puts his whole heart into and and sometimes more. If I could record the way he talks when he's helping Travis I can promise you it would make you laugh hysterically. He talks like a grown man.



He's sometimes a little apprehensive about the task, but at other times he's fired up and ready to go. A few weeks ago Travis told him he could put the lead rope on Chance and lead him for a bit. He had his rope in hand and was ready, once inside the gate with Chance he started having second thoughts.  That night, it just didn't happen. A few days later, they tried again and he played the part of Cowboy for sure!  Granted this time he wasn't in his "cowboy pants", but in shorts and flip flops. We consider him the modern cowboy, LOL!!!



Chance wasn't the most cooperative little fellow, but Carter wasn't giving him any slack. He was going to walk on that lead rope and Carter would make sure of it!! Watching him lead Chance made me realize he'll be showing cows at the fair before I know it.  He has to be 8, but in all reality that's just a blink away.  He's so grown up, he makes me proud!!!