Farm Life — cows

It was Thursday evening. I was tired from a long day of baking and bread delivery and a long week of calf checks. A few nights of midnight alarms to run out to the barn to check on Charlotte and see if the calf was on it’s way. Cyril was looking for something to do and Mike and I hadn’t even finished eating supper. “Go out a check Charlotte. That will give you something.” I told him. He wasn’t thrilled but it was something to do. He grabbed a flashlight and headed to the barn. We watched from the kitchen...

I didn’t even say it out loud, I just thought it! “It’s been a rather uneventful week. What farm story do I have to share this today?” So all week Louie has went to his overnight pen without too much work. I was able to finally do it myself so Mike didn’t have to come out to the barn each night to help me put the calf to bed. As I had every other night I went out to the barn to do evening chores. Mike was working late but I didn’t think too much about it. I opened Louies...

For years I have wanted a family milk cow. Lucy, whom I lovingly called Big Mama on most days and some unmentionable names on a few not so great days, was our first cow. I worked with her getting her used to being haltered, lead, tied, and walked but we never got to milk. Every spring since she came home her and I were due at the same time. It was always deemed unsafe for me to start training and milking her.   Along came Sweet Caroline. She is so sweet. Finally a spring that she is due and I’m not....

I started the day with cow shit in my bathrobe pocket and ended it with a bottle calf named Ole.I was in the kitchen just waiting for the coffee to finish and trying to get the kids out the door on time. One of my favorite views is that out the kitchen window, looking out to the front yard, the barn and corral. This morning the corral didn’t look well.I slipped on the first pair of shoes I came to and headed out.Lucy was down. Not laying down like she just hadn’t got up for breakfast yet but laying down...

“Oh no you didn’t big mama!”We were already late, like later than the usual late, and there she stood staring at me as I was flying down the driveway. I hit the brakes and slid a bit on the ice, then put ‘er in reverse and was up to the barn in seconds.The kids were curious about what was going on but not too excited. They’re used to ma’ skidding to the barn anymore.Lucy doesn’t have a set due date but by the looks of it it was to be soon. She usually looks ready for a good month or...