The Assistants

Cleaning the barn isn’t the onerous chore that people might think. It offers me exercise, a sense of accomplishment, and the satisfaction of making life for the animals healthier and more pleasant. And if I allow the heffies to “help”, it’s even fun!

Izzy and Glory offer their assistance

They only knocked the wheelbarrow over once

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped;
therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.” –PSALM 28:7 (NASB)

There

A dozen years ago when the puppies were born, Jenny couldn’t have known what was ahead: tumult, a daughter's illness, fear, and anger that would ultimately rip apart her marriage, her family, her world. But the God who loves Jenny knew her future, so He arranged for Rilee to be one of eight little golden retrievers born under Jenny’s porch. Throughout the dark days and years to come, Rilee would always be there for Jenny, a cheerful, affectionate, beautiful ray of sunshine.

As time passed, the God who loves Jenny gave her many more wonderful gifts—a new family, her daughters back, a granddaughter, a painting career—but Rilee and Jenny remained devoted to one another. When age and infirmity caught up with Rilee, Jenny was there for her: medicating her pain, taking her on the car rides she adored, spoiling her with extra treats. Rilee is gone now (and will the tears ever stop?) but the God who still loves Jenny is still there.

Rilee, as painted by Jenny

Stocks in tennis ball companies plummeted with Rilee's passing

"He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces….” –ISAIAH 25:8 (NKJV)

“God will prepare everything for our perfect happiness in heaven, and if it takes my dog being there, I believe he'll be there.” –Billy Graham

Fall Falling

Yesterday’s Indian summer sun had cows lounging in the shade, windows thrown open, and arms bared to catch any breeze. Today’s snow and wind has goats bundled up in the barn, heffies bedded in fresh straw, wool blankets at the ready, and thermostat adjusted upwards!

Yesterday

Today

“The first fall of snow is not only an event, it is a magical event.  You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another quite different, and if this is not enchantment then where is it to be found?”  ~J.B. Priestley

Comfort Foods

The clamor from the corrals and pasture has subsided somewhat, but the noises are decidedly weird! The heffies have nearly lost their voices from calling their mamas. When they open their mouths to bawl, only piglet-like squeaks and squeals come forth. Poor Liza sounds just like a bull elk in rut. Hope she doesn't call in any elk or hunters!

Annabelle decided that the best way to alleviate the emotional and physical strain of weaning Izzy was to crawl under the fence and visit her favorite eating spot, the back yard. Bluegrass, fescue, and clover must be comfort foods for cows because Annabelle seemed decidedly at ease, so much so that I let her stay there for an hour.

Annabelle's comfort

“Comfort, comfort My people, says your God.” –ISAIAH 40:1

Milk Madness

Precious little sleep was had last night by animals or people, due to the din of weaning cows and calves (see yesterday’s post, Empty Pasture Syndrome). The heffies are now more than ready to trade their grown-up hay-feeder privileges for a big swig of mama’s milk. We’ve been cheated! Duped! Robbed! they caterwaul, over and over again. Fueled in part by their filled-to-capacity udders, the mamas’ sad bawls have increased in volume and intensity to angry, unrelenting bellows.

If our cows manage to get quiet for a few seconds, I can hear the distant roar of bawling cattle yonder over the river—more sufferers of insufferable separation, no doubt.

It’s not Mad Cow Disease, but the bovines in this neighborhood sure are mad.

Sparkle, in non-violent but very loud protest

“…Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” –ROMANS 8:38-39 (NIV)

Empty Pasture Syndrome

My ears are ringing—no, wait—that sound is real. It’s weaning day, the saddest--and loudest--day of the ranching year. The mama cows are bawling, over and over, so much that some are hoarse.

The steer calves are gone, but the replacement heifers (hereafter referred to as heffies) are in the corral. While cleaning the barn, I noticed that the mamas seemed to be far more distraught than the heffies. I thought about all the people-mamas (yours truly included) suffering from empty nest syndrome while their kids are out having the time of their lives on some life adventure or the other!

The heffies weren't too upset to eat!

To console those who mourn in Zion,
To give them beauty for ashes,
The oil of joy for mourning,
The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness….  –ISAIAH 61:3 (AKJV)

Goat Good-byes

Early this morning, I scooped up Jack and Tonto, packed them into the stock trailer, and cried as Hubby drove them away. I wasn’t crying for myself—I knew they were headed back to Arnie, Betty, Kolton, and Hunter (see most of this past summer’s posts)—but because of their heartrending calls to their mamas and sisters who were answering from the barn.

It’s been quieter here than I expected. Since Minnie and Moey were triplets, they still have each other. But Jubilee seems to be at loose ends, and when she bleats, it's as if she’s asking, Where’s Jack? As for Blueberry and Meels, they’re just looking and wondering.

Thursday is calf weaning day, so there’s much more noise and drama to come!

At least Jubilee hasn't lost her appetite for Russian olives

“…God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.’” –HEBREWS 13:5 (NIV)