Pancho

If a calf’s appearance doesn’t readily lend itself to a name, we wait until the little one’s personality surfaces. It turns out that Panda’s calf and Hubby are buddies. The calf likes to be scratched and petted, but he especially likes to bounce up to Hubby and butt him! Hubby named the personable little outlaw Pancho (after Cisco the Kid’s sidekick).

“I have called you by your name; you are Mine.” –ISAIAH 43:1b

Wings

Angel has wings—a pair on her nose, one over each eye, and another pair on her brisket. Angel also has Wings, her new little heifer, so named because she’s so often flitting and hopping around, trying to get airborne. It doesn’t really surprise me that Wings has a touch of sky blue in her eyes!

“Is there any place I can go to avoid Your Spirit? If I climb to the sky, You’re there! If I flew on morning’s wings to the far western horizon, You’d find me in a minute— You’re already there waiting!” –PSALM 139:7-10 (MSG)

Interlude

Since calving started, I’ve done most of my sleeping in the recliner in my long johns, so that when the alarm wakes me up for the next cow-check, all I had to put on was the winter layers and boots waiting by the door. But we knew that last night would be a zero-calf night, so I had the supreme luxury of wearing flannel pajamas to bed where I slept all night.  Hubby informed me this morning that I tossed, turned, and fought the covers last night, a fact of which I was blissfully unaware. In my defense, I can only say that I’m out of practice!

Liza 

“My sleep had been very sweet.” –JEREMIAH 31:26 (NLT)

Red-Eye Specials

Our ranch’s population increased by two last night.

Angel’s calf was small but for some reason was reluctant to make her grand entrance into the world, so she had to be pulled because Angel was wearing out. There were a few tense moments—which seemed like eternity—when Angel fell down while we were pulling the calf. The handle of the calf puller got wedged into the bottom frame of the maternity pen, but I couldn’t help Hubby. I was busy pushing on the headcatch with all my might, so Angel wouldn’t choke to death. Gravity and some of Angel’s 1150 pounds were working against me, but adrenaline and prayer are amazing things! (My back and shoulders are rather sore today, but it’s all for a good cause.)

Despite the shaky start, Angel and her baby, a yet-to-be named heifer, hit it off right away. Both of them act like they’ve done this all before and know exactly what to do!

Panda’s subsequent delivery was timely and assistance-free, which was a relief. Although the calf was strong and sturdy, it didn’t look like he’d nursed when we next checked. Hubby kept directing the little bull udderwards, but he showed not the slightest interest. Since most of the vital antibodies in colostrum can only be absorbed within the first six hours after birth, we decided to err on the side of caution by milking Panda and tubing the calf. But by the next check, he’d already taken care of his own breakfast and was be-bopping around the barn. Hubby thinks he may have been sandbagging and knew what to do all along. It just had to be his idea.

The wind has quit and the sun is warm, so everyone’s outside in the corral. Thank goodness, the cows have settled their differences (see yesterday’s post) and calm is restored. The next wave of heifers to calve are at least days, maybe a week or so, from delivery, so we’re looking forward to the first full night’s sleep we’ve had in 11 days. It’s a good thing, too. Our eyes are so red that Visine won’t even help!

Panda and calf

Angel and calf

“I’ll refresh tired bodies; I’ll restore tired souls.” –JEREMIAH 31:25 (MSG)

Hullaballoo

Trooper’s legs and lungs are much stronger, and he’s growing like a weed. No casual onlooker would ever guess the ordeal that he went through a week ago.  He’s ready to join the other pairs. But there’s just one problem: the other mamas.

First of all, Cupcake’s calf, Dazzle, has a blaze face. Every time that Cupcake sees Blossom with the blaze-faced Trooper, she bawls in anger, thinking that Blossom has stolen her calf. Dazzle is considerably smaller and a heifer to boot, but Cupcake jumps to conclusions before assessing the facts! Hubby had to break up a fight between the two mama cows.

Yesterday, Hubby tried to put Blossom and Trooper in with Flame and Liza because we thought Flame was more rational and easy-going than Cupcake. Wrong! Flame lit into Blossom like an Angus bull lights into a rival, which is quite violent. Hubby sprang to rescue Trooper from the fray and get him into the barn, but both the fighting cows followed him inside! Fortunately, Bodie heard the commotion and sped down to the barn. He bit Flame in the nose, sending her outside and saving the day.

Hubby thinks the other cows are jealous of Blossom because she, by virtue of Trooper’s fight for life and subsequent recovery, has been getting all the attention and perks. I don’t know, nor do I know how to restore peace to our formerly tranquil barnyard. But I do know that all this drama reminds me of the 6^th grade!

Trooper

Dazzle

“But the wisdom from above is….peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.” –JAMES 3:17-18 (NLT)

Glorious Day

Yesterday afternoon warmed up nicely, so Blossom and I took Trooper out for his first outdoor excursion. He had so much fun running and playing that, after a half an hour, he took himself back to the barn and plopped down to rest for a while. Trooper was so worn out last night that I worried that he’d overdone it, but this morning he put on a bucking bull show nearly worthy of the NFR (National Finals Rodeo). I was more than reassured of his well-being!

“But unto you who revere...My name shall the Sun of Righteousness arise with healing in His wings and His beams, and you shall go forth and gambol like calves [released] from the stall and leap for joy.” –MALACHI 4:2 (AMP)

Layoff

Blueberry has kept Lolli at a polite-but-cool distance for exactly 30 days, and she’s eating and resting much more than she previously did. I think it’s safe to give Lolli a pink slip and send him home. His work here is done. We’ll certainly miss his jolly presence but not his smelly essence!

This morning I snapped this shot of the two of them engaged in synchronized napping.

“No wonder my heart is glad, and my tongue shouts His praises! My body rests in hope.” –ACTS 2:26 (NLT)