Spot and Cameo

Brownie believes that her first calf, Spot, is the cutest, most wonderful creature this world has ever seen. 

Pearl begs to differ. She's loudly informed everyone on the place that her new little Cameo is the most marvelous of all. 

"God is busy making you someone no one else has ever been." ~Beth Moore

Grace Day

"Precious as it is to proclaim, Christ died for the world, even sweeter it is to whisper, Christ died for me." ~Max Lucado 

George

My sweet Marigold needed help delivering her tall, dark, handsome hunk of a first calf, George. 

Hubby has been taking radiation treatments in a town 90 miles away, so I was thanking God that she didn't go into labor until he was nearly home. Before long, Marigold was as grateful as I for the assistance!

"Faith says, God can do it. Worry says, God isn't able to help me." ~Joyce Meyer

Lightning Flash

I don't know if lightning has ever struck in zero degree weather, but I do know that Sparkle had Lightning in said elements. 

Lightning flashes, of course, and shortly after Lightning's birth, Flame gave birth to Flash. 

"Our storms can be canvases for God's lightning glory." ~Ann Voskamp 

Sunny!

Angel's little heifer, Sunny, was one of three calves born in the wee hours of the coldest morning we've seen this calving season. Zero degrees Fahrenheit + wet newborns = Trouble, even with attentive mamas and straw bedding. 

Sunny, the smallest, had a tough go of it until she was snatched from Angel and carried into calf ICU. A sizable dose of HPL (Heat, Pray, Love) proved quite therapeutic, and Angel has been trying to keep up with Sunny ever since. 

"The Lord make His face shine upon you [with favor],

And be gracious to you [surrounding you with lovingkindness]."

~Numbers 6:25 Amplified Bible

Bunny and Lily

Cold wind not withstanding, two little Easter people arrived today. First, Izzy had Bunny. It was the ears, of course. 

Not to be outdone, Liza had Lily. 

"Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and Hallelujah! is our song." ~Pope John Paul II

Griz

Glory, our smallest cow, gave birth expeditiously, but the big calf's hips may have hung up a bit. Griz couldn't stand, walk, or nurse without much back-straining assistance. 

Glory, usually unflappable, was beside herself. Two dear friends were dispatched to pray, and soon Griz was able to get to his feet and wobble to supper. After drinking his (sizable) fill, Griz even tried to buck. He wound up sprawled beneath Glory, but we loved his moxie. 

Thankfully, Griz is now as sturdy as he looks. 

"Courage is found in unlikely places."~J.R.R. Tolkien

Lucy

Since Panda lost last year's calf, we were doubly delighted when she had a healthy, active little heifer. Hubby christened her Lucy (as in Lucy van Pelt) after she kicked and bunted him just for moving her to the barn. Apparently he was supposed to have asked Lucy for her permission. 

"...He will give beauty for ashes, joy instead of mourning, praise instead of heaviness." ~Isaiah 61:3 TLB

Buttercup

Blossom had Buttercup, her fourth calf but first heifer. Blossom is one of our sweetest, best-producing cows--she's a multi-year winner of the Dairy Queen Award--so we're as happy as she is to add a second generation to her family. 

"Family life is a bit like a runny peach pie--not perfect but who's complaining?" ~Robert Brault

Winnie!

Wings had some heavenly help when she had Winifred. Even though it was a breech birth, a dozen (really, I counted) small and large miracles synchronized to bring Winnie safely into this world with no ill effects. In fact, she was up, running, and nursing in record time. 

"The Lord your God is with you. 

He is a hero who saves you. 

He happily rejoices over you, renews you with his love, and celebrates over you with shouts of joy."

~Zephaniah 3:17 GWV

Shermie and Cinnamon

Penelope had Sherman. Shermie was running and bucking before Penelope could get him cleaned off. One can only assume that Penelope's womb had cramped his style. 

Cupcake had Cinnamon out in the pasture. Cinnamon seemed quite content to catch a ride in the back of the Ranger. Hubby sat beside her to hold her, but it wasn't necessary. 

Cinnamon, who's inherited the Cupcake family spunk, has already kicked Hubby--just for the fun of it. 

"This is a wonderful day; I have never seen this one before." ~Maya Angelou

Prince and Bubba

Princess had Prince. 

Prince has inherited the royal ear-span. 

Then Bubbles had Bubba. 

I almost changed Bubba's name to Possum. 

No mamas have ever been prouder than these two!

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"If we all had love to the degree that we should, we would have no other problems." ~John Wooden

Wilson!

The world became a little more wonderful last night when Winky brought Wilson into it. 

"We are perishing for want of wonder, not for want of wonders." ~G.K. Chesterton 

Zeke!

Our first calf arrived last night, courtesy of--surprise--Dazzle. (Those four cows on the short list? We're still waiting on them.)

The first cow to introduce herself to little Zeke was none other than Cupcake, his granny. 

Zeke was an even bigger hit with Sugar, who stood watch over him for half an hour. 

Zeke quickly found the best place to get out of the wind, but he's no sissy: he's already kicked Hubby.

The Short List

Four cows have been voted most likely to calve in the immediate future: Winky, Bubbles, Princess, and Penelope. (My money's on the P's.) They've been brought in from the pasture and are resting beside the barn, primarily for night-checking convenience. 

"Life is always a rich and steady time when you are waiting for something to happen or to hatch." ~E.B. White, Charlotte's Web