After the Turkey is Gone

Our Thanksgiving dinner was pretty much like everyone else's.  It's what came next that was different . . .

While much of the nation was being inundated with rain and cold, we were blessed with a sunny day of shirt-sleeve weather on Thanksgiving and again on Black Friday.  So Herb blew a huge pile of leaves to make the perfect photo backdrop.

Monique and Jim and the grandkids . . .

. . . Jean-Marc and Jenny and Tai . . .

 . . . and Kara and Bonnie.

Later that day the grandkids wanted to visit the horses.  Julie was happy to see the kids and generously gave out pony kisses.

The horses haven't been ridden in a year, but Romeo, Angel and Brandy stood so still while the kids sat on them bareback.

On Saturday we saddled the horses and went for a real ride.  Well, some of us rode!  Herb led Brandy for Kol to ride.

Jean-Marc led Romeo with Jenny up bareback.

Jim led Julie and Charis.

I led Angel with Monique and Eden riding, although Jim took over for the photo op.

Notice that every rider wears a helmet.  We are firm believers in the importance of wearing protective riding helmets and teaching the kids to wear them, too.  They may not be pretty or "cool," but they're an indispensable part of horsey fun on our farm.  Helmets have kept various members of our family safe on multiple occasions throughout the years.

We have much to be thankful for this holiday season--family, food, falling leaves, and fond memories made on this beautiful farm.

A Dexter Calf is Born

Ebby was due April 4 with Royal's first calf.  After she was a week late, I began to jokingly call her unborn calf "Crock Pot" . . . because it was a slow cooker!  Finally, this morning I realized today would be The Day.  Ebby's pelvic ligaments were "gone" when I checked on her at 7 a.m.  By 9:00 a.m. she was visibly restless.   She came up top in her shelter, then went down to the bottom of the hill.  Back up top and down again, till she finally seemed to settle in her shelter.

We were celebrating our granddaughter Eden's second birthday today, so she could visit the animals--the high point of a visit to Didi and Mimi.  Of course . . . just as we were eating dinner, the calf decided to come.  I'd been checking Ebby's progress every 30 minutes, and I went out for another look at 2:45.  It was lucky I didn't take time to finish lunch!

NOTE:  Some of the photos are graphic. 

2:51 p.m.  The water bag.

2:51 p.m.

2:53 p.m.  Down and pushing.

2:56 p.m.  Up again.  The tip of a hoof (pale yellowish) beginning to peek out from the vulva.

2:57 p.m.  The second hoof begins to show, presenting properly.

2:58 p.m.  Down and pushing.

2:58 p.m.  Up again.

2:59 p.m.  At this point, it looked like everything was going back in.  That's when I called my friend Barb Netti, who has seen cows give birth, and as I narrated, she assured me that things were normal.  While we conversed quietly, Ebby cleaned up the blood-stained hay.

3:01 p.m.  A pale hoof tip clearly shows.

3:02 p.m.  Pushing hard.  Ebby was groaning, which was hard to hear.  Barb could even hear her on the other end of the phone.

3:10 p.m.  The left front leg is visible.  This suddenly looked like progress.  (Note Ebby's distended udder.)

3:11 p.m.  The calf is born, twenty minutes after the first photo.

3:11 p.m.  Ebby hadn't gotten up yet, so I pulled the membrane off the calf's face and used a couple fingers to clear mucous from its mouth, then stepped back.

3:12 p.m.  The calf was breathing and blinking; Ebby started eating the membrane.

3:15 p.m.  The calf sat up as Ebby licked it all over.

3:16 p.m.

3:17 p.m.

3:22 p.m.

3:22 p.m.  Eleven minutes after it was born, the calf tried to get up.

3:22 p.m.   Oops!  Gotta figure those legs out!

3:25 p.m.

3:26 p.m.  Fifteen minutes old, the calf tries again.

3:27 p.m.

3:27 p.m.

3:27 p.m.

3:30 p.m.  Nineteen minutes, and he made it to his feet!  (That's Sir Loin the steer looking on.)

3:31 p.m.  Twenty minutes old, and he's nursing.

3:34 p.m.  Meet ZH Royal Celebration, out of NewHope Ebony Belle, our first calf by Mrald Crown Royal.  He's named in honor of Eden's birthday celebration, and we'll call him "Seb."  He's black, horned (those feel like horn buds, and he likes having them rubbed!), and obligate A2/A2.

3:39 p.m.  Yum!

3:40 p.m.  More yum!

3:40 p.m.  Maternal bliss and baby bliss.  I wish I could post the gentle "mama moos" Ebby was making as she licked her new son dry.

3:48 p.m.  Our son Jim looked on from a distance with Kol and Charis.

4:01 p.m.  Ah, that feels better!

4:02 p.m.  Being born works up an appetite.

4:10 p.m.  Trying out a little buck.

4:10 p.m.  And again.

4:10 p.m.  And again.

4:16 p.m.  Charis got to pet the brand new calf--all soft and wet!

4:16 p.m.  Knowing Seb had a tummy full of colostrum, we headed back to the house, leaving mama and baby under the watchful eyes of the two steers and sire Royal (on the right).

How's that for a double birthday celebration?

Credits:  Many thanks to Eden, for sharing your birthday with Seb; to Monique for cleaning up the dishes while I attended the birth; to Herb for hauling warm molasses water to Ebby and weighing Seb (59 pounds with a tummy full of colostrum); to Jim for chaperoning Charis and Kol; and to Kara for being my milking buddy.  And a special thanks to Barb Netti of Legend Rock Ranch for talking this new grandma through her first birth!