Farm Livin' is Da Life For Me...

It seems I am not the only parent on the farm struggling to juggle a handful of kids at the moment. Our calves are growing quickly and soon will come the dreaded weaning. I am not sure why but I always feel sad about that. Weaning my own children was hard for me, perhaps I can sympathize with the cries of the Momma's as their babies are hauled off down the road....this itself creates a horrible symphony if bawling on both sides for several nights. I have never quite understood why we don't move the calves to one of the pastures that is a few miles away? They always end up across the road where they can hear Momma calling them, and Momma can hear their desperate cries. I chalk most of this up to fact the most farms are run by men who have never had to suffer from swollen milk glands! LOL!



My faithful readers might remember The calf named Nelly, who had to be renamed Willy . He has alluded my camera several times since that post, but tonight I finally captured a gorgeous shot of him. He is still adorable, and I don't know how I became so attached to this animal. I seem to search him out when the cows are near the house. He is a bit of loner and doesn't play with the other calves much. Unfortunately I will someday have to face the fact that Willy might possibly end up between a bun on my dinner plate...but for now I am choosing to be in denial about that harsh fact of farm life. I must be growing on him too....he allowed me to keep snapping pics

As the cows were making their way back to the barn at sunset, I had a flash back of our recent vacation as the lone bull in this pasture, and likely father of most of these calves, made his way back surrounded by youngsters....."Are we there yet Daddy?! Are we there yet?!" He looked right at me as I snapped this pic and for a moment we understood each other well..."Damn it I am tired and I just want to get home..."

Finally I had a nostalgic moment watching one calf get his bedtime snack. And my heart ached just a bit knowing that in a few weeks, life as he knows it is going to disappear.

Oh and I can't close this post without introducing the newest little addition to our farm. She showed up tonight, out of nowhere, seeminly very tame and perhaps even born a housecat. River named her "Sassy". She is skinny and full of cockle burs, but the boys and I are already in love.

She will be a housecat by the end of the week....I have an evil plan to bend hubby to my will...bwahahaahhaaaaa. In all seriousness, I have not had a house cat for 5 years. I lost my beloved pet Sunny then and I haven't had it in me to let another critter in my heart. But Sassy showed up today out of nowhere, full of love and affection, begging to get in our house. I think she was sent to us for a reason.....