Surprise!

Life is full of surprises. Three weeks ago, we welcomed “Miracle” who was born strong and healthy after spending at least 12 hours in the birth canal with only her little foot sticking out. Today we went in search of one of our replacement heifers, Named “Moonshine” by our niece’s daughter, Laura. She was missing when we returned home on Monday from ten days at the Fort Stockton and Junction Sheep Dog Trials (more on that in my next post.), and we didn’t see her on Tuesday.  

At first, we weren’t worried.  Moonshine and one of the other heifers (named “Sparkle Lily” by Laura) have had their differences over who will be boss cow of the heifer herd.  Moonshine lost that battle and often doesn’t hang with the others.  We thought she was just keeping to herself…but not for two days.  We drove around the pasture Wednesday morning, dreading that we might find a sick or dead cow.  Near our west fence line, we found her.  She looked a little leaner than usual, but we thought the other heifers had just been keeping her away from the hay ring.  We had no idea of what was really going on.  

We had planned to turn the heifers in with the bull and other cows in April, but it turns out Moonshine didn’t want to wait that long. Wednesday afternoon she strolled up with a beautiful black baldy calf.  We don’t yet know if it is a bull, or a heifer, but its name is Surprise!

Miracle!

The first week of February was cold and wet and ICY!  Not as bad as last year or the year before (Snowmageddon!) but certainly disagreeable.  We prepared for the predicted weather on Monday of last week by giving the cows an extra ration of hay and cubes.  While the cows were chowing down on their cubes, I walked around them, as I usually do, to see that everyone looked healthy.  I immediately noticed that B1, age 13 and the last of the Bonsmara calves that have been such good mothers, was clearly expecting a calf.

Based on when her red, white-faced heifer (G1) was born, she should have calved several months ago.  We assumed that, due to her advanced age for a breeding cow, she wasn’t capable of again becoming a mother.  We were clearly wrong; her udder was the size of a laundry basket, and her vulva was clearly ready to birth a calf.  John observed that, because of the expected freezing precipitation, she was about to give birth.  (Cows are sensitive to the changes in atmospheric pressure that occurs when a cold front arrives, and often calve in very inclement weather!)  

On Tuesday morning, the roads and trees were covered with a thin sheet of ice and the temperatures were in the mid-20s.  John went down to check the cows, and, sure enough, B1 was brushed up by herself several hundred yards away from the others.  She had clearly been up and down in labor, as the ground under the cedar tree where she stood was disturbed.  But, there was no calf.  On the contrary, B1 was standing calmly with a small foot protruding from her back end, encased in its amniotic sac.  

We didn’t know what to do.  The roads were icy, and we had no way of taking B1 into town to the vet.  And, no vets were making ranch calls in such weather.  We took a bucket of cow cubes, and B1 was only too happy to follow us back to the lot.  We gave her food and water, and called on God to take care of the situation as He saw fit.  

We checked on B1 several times during the day.  Other than being aggravated because she was separated from her friends, she showed no signs of distress or concern.  We were convinced that her calf…being half-born for several hours, was dead.  One of John’s veterinary friends speculated that the calf’s head was turned backwards, and the only solution was for a vet to surgically resolve the situation.  We were distraught.  There was nothing we could do, and we feared the cow would die along with her unborn calf.  

I guess God had another plan.  Just at dusk, John went down to check the cow one last time.  He called me with the message, “You better come down here now!  We have a calf!”  When I got to the barn, B1 was licking a strapping black baldy heifer calf.  Thank You, God!

The following day was bitterly cold.  The calf seemed lethargic, and we were afraid she wasn’t nursing.  We tried several times to feed her a colostrum supplement by bottle, but she only suckled a couple of times and refused the nipple.  Finally, we spoke to God again and went home to bed.  

Miracle of miracles!  On Thursday morning we found a strong, lively calf bounding around the lot and periodically nursing the cow.  We will call her Miracle, or perhaps Glory, or maybe Blessing, as Laura suggested.  

As I write this, Miracle and her mother are with the other cows and calves, and Miracle is in the care of her older sisters and brothers.  We are truly blessed!

Goodbye to a "Good Ride"

We had some sad news this morning.  Radius, my cousin Kathy’s twenty-six-year-old Dutch warmblood gelding, passed away overnight.  In his previous life, Radius was ridden in dressage, and was given to Kathy over 10 years ago.  I believe an injury had made it difficult for him to do some of the moves dressage requires, so he got to retire early.

The horse and Kathy formed a special bond. 

 

He would take walks with her like a dog, and came running when she called.  With him, she traded her western saddle for English, and learned a new skill.  She stabled Radius in Fort Worth for several years, but when she and Eric bought their “micro-farm” outside Cranfills Gap, Radius got to enjoy a new freedom and horse friends at home and next door. 

He is shown here with Kathy and Eric and Eric’s horse, Cow-Savvy, who passed several months ago.  

Radius loved people, and was especially good with children.  He took care of his riders, and was a gentleman in every sense of the word.  Kathy always called him “a really good ride.”

Radius had a wonderful life and a great retirement on the farm with Kathy and Eric. He brought much joy to many people during his long life.  Fly high, my good boy.  You will be missed.

Out and About with Friends

January has been full of fun with friends and family.  Rick and Linda paid us another visit a couple of weeks ago.  The guys set up the new deer blind and Linda came along to watch me work the dogs.

Then the four of us spent the day at Homestead Heritage near Waco.  This community is agrarian and craft-based, and offers not only neat stuff to buy, but a place to take classes in many crafts.  The guys checked out the woodworking shop while Linda and I investigated the pottery, quilting and cheese-making shops.  Then we toured the working gristmill where you can buy stone-ground products made right on site. 

Unfortunately we were unable to have lunch at the excellent restaurant on the grounds.  It burned to the ground on Christmas Eve and had not yet reopened.

But even better than our day at Homestead Heritage, on the way home we stopped in Clifton so I could pick up my new Chevy Equinox.

It’s predecessor was totaled by a whitetail doe back in October, and we have been looking forward to getting a replacement.  “Pearl” is just like our previous Equinox…just six years newer.  John and I are both happier campers now that we are not sharing one vehicle!

I wasted no time before heading out to work dogs, first at Jack and Vivian Christensen’s place in Meridian, then at Allen and Kay Mills’ in Goldthwaite.  Cody and Bo are on the right, patiently waiting their time to work.  There were 5 handlers present, and 17 dogs.  Lots of fun!

From there, we went on to Richland Springs to sharpen our herding skills on Charly Kronberger’s beautiful ewe lambs.  Here is Charly working some of them with her young dog, Floyd. 

Bo and Cody got in some good practice on a big field, with fresh sheep.  The lambs were a challenge, as they have been lightly worked and never penned.  I was proud of both the boys; each was able to pen his sheep twice.  

Between runs, I was able to get a couple of shots of sandhill cranes flying overhead.  Charly says they roost to the west of their place and feed to the east, so every winter she and Paul are treated to daily fly-overs.  

And not only did I have time working my dogs and taking pictures, I got to spend some quality time with Charly’s Melba and her litter of three-and-a-half week pups. I was especially smitten by the little tri female with the red right foreleg.  Her name is Dot, and I think she looks a lot like Cody...but without his blue eye.

I haven’t had a good “puppy fix” for a couple of years, and look forward to going back before these youngsters go to their new homes.   

Back on the home front, John processed the last deer of the season, and we made an additional 25 pounds of bratwurst. In spite of the continuing drought, it was a good month.