More babies

To my surprise, a young heifer had a calf. I have been expected the big black/white cow to calve any day, so I have keeping an eye on her. So when I got home and felt something was different, I noticed a precious new calf in a low area of the ranch. I saw the young heifer near and thought, "what is she doing so close to the calf"? Where is the momma? Then I realize, SHE is the momma. Incredible how these animals handle everything alone. I am so grateful for their Independence and self sufficiency but it still amazes me. This new calf is a little bull.

 

And his young momma

 

 

I am keeping my eye on the older cow and wait to find another surprise. I hope and pray everything goes good....again. I never take for granted the miracle of birth.

Then there is the chickens! Again I thought I had a missing hen. For a few weeks I did not see her. I was still getting eggs from the hen house so I wasn't too worried. But to my surprise, the missing hen made her debut on a bright Sunday morning with 8 little chirping chicks! So very cute.

Life on a farm is full of surprises, work, happiness, sadness, excitement.....did I say work? ALL of this and more.

A New Addition

          After a full moon, a big storm and a double rainbow

                                ....look what showed up!

I looked out the front window across the pasture and did a double take. At first I thought to myself, "how did Yogi get over there?". Then I notice Yogi on the porch. So I looked again and realized...Holy Moly....a new calf. The black/white cow (Spudz) is the proud Momma. That is always sooooo exciting. I got close for a better look and everything looks fine. I am 99% sure it is a heifer calf. For those who don't know... a heifer is a female who has not yet calved. Once they have a calf, then they are cows. A male calf is a bull. If they are stripped of their manhood...they become a steer. This new calf brings my herd to a whopping total of 5! Funny I know. But that is alot for me.
Since the little one is mostly white, I have named her "snowflake". That is in honor of a white bull my grandfather had as I was growing up.
Just last year at this same time (actually the end of May) Spudz had surprised us again with a heifer. At the time, John was in chemo treatments about 2hrs away and staying with family there. I remember he was so excited and had a dozen questions. That next weekend I went to pick him up and bring him home just so he could see it. I know he must be watching and is excited again.

Another affirmation that life goes on. Day after day, week after week, month after month. Soon it will be year after year. Life keeps happening...until it doesn't anymore.

Chick Update

It has been 3 weeks since I built the area for the momma hen and the chicks. No chicks have been lost and all seem safe and sound. 8 Chicks!

If they all survive and are hens, I am going into the fresh egg business!

The proud Papa deserves some recognition too!

Isn't he handsome?

Surprise!!

Around 3 weeks ago, one our hens was missing. That left us with 3 hens and 1 rooster. I searched and found no evidence of an attack. No feathers - no nothing. Just a missing hen. Then about 1 week ago,as I was sitting at the computer desk (which overlooks a window to the front yard) there appeared the missing hen! I went outside to look at her and she was gone again. She never went to the coop at night and and I never saw her again.....till today.

Since it was raining this morning, I decided not to open the chicken coop before I left for work. So when I returned from work, I went straight to open the coop and let the chickens have some roaming time before dusk. I noticed a lot of chirping. It really sounded like baby chicks. I walked around the outside of the coop and on the other side - there in the brush was the missing hen! She was sitting low but I could tell something was under her. Then I realized it was what I thought it was....chicks. I was thinking maybe 3.

Take a look at the pictures....in order as I saw it.

I counted 16 chicks.....16 CHICKS!!!

I immediately wanted to run and tell John what I had found. Again I am reminded...no John.
For a while I felt that when John’s life ended, so did mine. I know that is
not true but “OUR” life was over. I am beginning to see and understand that “my” life will keep going. It is not over. One season of my life has ended and another is beginning.

Sometimes I feel so lost and without a direction. Just going day to day. Then things like today happen to restore my happiness in this country life that John and I built. It may seem so small but I feel God's hand in every amazing moment on this farm. We should all look around and see the miracle of God...every day. God is good and I am thankful for his mercy.