At Long Last

Much grumbling has been uttered, and very few birdsongs have been heard, during these past unspringlike days of cold and wind. According to our thermometer, the early morning temperatures have been in the lower teens. Imagine my surprise when I discovered this tiny-but-tough viola, the forerunner of many, many flowers to come!

“The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” –SONG OF SOLOMON (KJ21)

Disgruntled

Shadow is much improved but still having trouble with his forelegs. Hubby and I have little formal training for our jobs as physical therapists, so we consulted with Dr. Miller before we began our administrations. 

First we gave Shadow two shots to help relax his tendons. Next, we splinted his legs with a combination of splints carved from PVC pipe and ground smooth, old dish towels, stretchy Vetrap, and duct tape. Shadow is normally quite affable, but he apparently took offense at being poked and held down for the procedures because after we let him up, he casually walked passed me and aimed a sideways kick at my leg. I suppose it’s not ethical or respectful to laugh at a patient, but we did so anyway!

Hubby, who always has football on the brain, said that Shadow now looks like an Oakland Raider.

“Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others].”

–1 PETER 4:8 (AMP)

Names and Numbers

I probably should give readers a break from my incessant cow-calf parables. I don’t want to leave people with the impression that my life revolves around cows. Oh, well, maybe it does, particularly during calving season, anyway.

At a recent trip to the hardware store to pick up sealant for the stock tank (aka watering trough for cows), I met a kindred soul named Susan who also loves her cows. Just like me, she’s often taken quite a bit of flack for naming her cattle.

Traditionalists give cows numbers in lieu of names. Ours have numbers, but numbers are too boring for me to remember them. By the time I get from the pasture to the house to jot down the number of a heifer in heat, 129, for example, I’m having to ask myself if it was 219, 192, or 129, necessitating another trip to the pasture. Besides, I can’t help it. If one is around an animal long enough to observe its unique characteristics and personality, the critter just ups and names itself!

Speaking of critters: I just happened to catch the cutest shot of these two little cherubs in the pasture today.

Dazzle and Wings

“He rode upon a cherub, and flew; and He was seen upon the wings of the wind.”                       –2 SAMUEL 22:11 (NKJV)

The Magnificent Seven

Annabelle and Isabelle have joined the other pairs in the back pasture. The two youngest calves, Shadow and Big Red, are doing well but we’re keeping them close to the barn because a winter storm is in the forecast. The back pasture is small, but its hills, trees, and brush—along with two few beds of straw that we spread out--provide a lot of protection from the elements. Best of all, we can watch them out of the back windows when we’re in the house.

The Magnificent Seven, as Hubby calls them, put on their best wild west show around dusk, which I’m hoping to capture on film. Cuteness combined with exuberance makes for great entertainment!

The Magnificent Seven taking an afternoon siesta with their mamas (one is hidden behind).

“He brings gifts into our lives, much the same way that fruit appears in an orchard—things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.”             –GALATIONS 5:22 (MSG)

The Big Little Brother

Because Shadow had such a rough start in life, nothing can make me prouder than watching him nurse by himself and cavort with his new brother out in the corral!

Daisy Mae brought our newest little guy, Big Red, into the world yesterday afternoon. Yes, he’s black, but if the light shines on him right, we can see the reddish stripes he inherited from his great grandma, Little Red. Red almost hit the ground running—right for his first meal! His avarice and aptitude for nursing, as well as his strength and vitality, are a blessing and relief, especially after all of Shadow’s recent struggles.

Nevertheless, I’ve noticed that those calves that badly needed our help aren’t wary of us like the others. They know that we love them. We love the others too, but they don’t know it yet!

Red, left, and Shadow

Shadow, right, showing off

“God takes the side of the helpless…” –PSALM 116:6 (MSG)

Isabelle's Ears

Leggy, high-stepping Isabelle prances around like a Saddlebred colt, but her most distinguishing feature is her ears—she has lots thereof! Isabelle’s mama, Annabelle, has normal-sized ears, as do all six of her half-sisters and brothers born thus far. She must be a throwback to some audibly-gifted distant ancestor. One can only hope that her ears remain disproportionately large because if she grows into them, she’s going to be one awfully big cow!

“God keeps an eye on His friends, His ears pick up every moan and groan.” –PSALM 34:15 (MSG)

The Best Place to Be

Although I knew that Princess was going to calve yesterday, the weather was so wonderfully warm that I left her down in the tree-filled lower pasture. As was her habit, she privately and handily delivered yet another bull-calf!

At first, all seemed well, but then we saw that his front tendons were contracted, so he could barely stand and was too unsteady to nurse. We put him in the back of the Ranger—thank heaven for that handy little vehicle which goes anywhere and doesn’t get stuck—and Princess anxiously followed our precious cargo to the barn.

Like many cows, especially Angus, Princess is of the opinion that mothering calves is strictly the job of their mothers. She tolerates our interference—she knows he can’t nurse without our aching bodies surrounding her calf, holding him up underneath her—but she’s quite stressed by the entire business, as are we.

On two different occasions, once in the pasture and once in the barn, I had this thought: Name him Shadow. I resisted because “shadow” doesn’t sound very fun and cheery, and besides, it reminded me of a dog a friend had when I was a kid. But then I was led to these two beautiful scriptures (italics mine):

“…In the shadow of Your wings will I take refuge and be confident until calamities and destructive storms are passed.” –PSALM 57:1

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty….” –PSALM 91:1

Later, after a late night feeding, I opened a book and found myself reading about staying so close to Jesus that our shadow is one with His. So, Shadow it is!