Poll Hair Poll

Some people say you can predict the sex of a calf by the dam's poll hair in the last weeks of pregnancy.  Neat, straight poll hair indicates a bull calf while messy poll hair means a heifer.  Last year was the first year I paid attention.

Here's Ebby's poll hair in early April of 2015.

She had a bull calf, Seb.

Here's Ebby's poll hair today.

And one from yesterday--or should I call it "pole" hair, as in telephone pole?

I'm hoping this year's poll hair is just a little messier and spikier than last year's because I'd love a heifer.  But let's take a poll:  What do you think Ebby's having this year?

Fall Fun on the Farm

The kids and grandkids were here last weekend, and we had a beautiful day to enjoy the farm.  One of their favorite activities is to go out and see the animals.  Siobhan loves the treats as much as the kids love handing them out.

This little wheelbarrow is just the right size.

We took a "six month anniversary" photo with Seb (at left) and Ebby six months after his birth during Eden's birthday party.

Sir Loin came up to look for treats and made everyone smile with the bit of greenery stuck under his ear tag.

Wellie struck a handsome pose, glowing bright red in the sunlight.

There was fun to be had indoors later in the evening as Jim swung the kids . . .

. . . sending them flying through the air to land on the couch.  Inside or out, there's never a lack of fun on the farm!

Cows on the Run

It's been pouring rain all this past week.  I wanted to get Siobhan out of the soggy barnyard, so she and Remy went out to pasture for the first time since he was a few days old.  I'll let them tell the story in their own way . . .

. . .

. . .

"Wait a minute, Mama, do you think she let us out by accident?"

"Hmmm, I don't know, son, but if she did--"

"Run, Remy, run!"

"Don't worry, Mama, she won't catch me!"

Proud to Be . . . an AMNCG!

One of my cattle forums was visited this winter by someone named "Taurus" who seemed to have it in for Dexters and women--on a board where numerous women truly love their Dexter family cows.

Taurus wrote that where he's from Dexters "are the exclusive domain of the amateur mentality nouveau country gals from the suburbs who have this misty morning and rainbows fantasy about farming."  (Note the misty morning above and the rainbow below.  I confess to loving them both!) 

He accused these "amateur mentality nouveau country gals" of buying into the propaganda about Dexters, of misunderstanding all animals (even their pets), of adopting poor breeding practices which have ruined the breed in his area, and of making all their decisions based on emotions, convenience and aesthetics.  Some of his last words were, "Life is not a Disney movie."

A few of us joked among ourselves about being "Amateur Mentality Nouveau Country Gals," which we soon shortened to "AMNCG."  The more I thought about it, the more I realized that, by Taurus' definition, I am an AMNCG!

A little over five years ago, I was living in the suburbs growing flowers in my neatly manicured garden.  I had never touched a cow except to pet one at a State Fair, much less thought of owning one, milking her, or raising our own beef.

Then, rather on a whim, we bought a house on 29 acres in the country, far removed from suburbia.  One day a visitor looked out at the grassy hills behind our house and commented, "You've got a lot of grass going to waste.  You should get a cow!"  And that was the beginning of my Dexter story.

From not knowing anything about cows, I have learned to recognize the signs of calving, to halter train young calves, to deal with mastitis and a self-sucking cow, to treat bloat (and better yet how to prevent it), to secure a cow for treatment when there's no squeeze chute, and to handle a bull.

But I do think that rainbows make everything a little brighter, and why shouldn't a cow be the next Disney princess?

I believe we can teach the world to sing in perfect harmony by teaching one child at a time where their food comes from, even when it's that cute calf they played with.

My granddaughter made me that rainbow-covered heart pillow for Christmas and my all-boy grandson wanted to hold the rainbow parasol, so it looks like they agree!

It's true--life is not a Disney movie--and when it's not, I'm a fierce protector of my cattle.  I can't do everything, and I know when to call the vet.  After all, I was 54 years old when we got our first cow, and I live with various physical limitations.  But I've taken on blazing sun, pouring rain, gooey mud and predators from flies to coyotes in defense of my animals.  I've gone from complete bovine ignorance to dealing with everyday life on a farm.  So yes, I am an AMNCG--and proud to be one!

Thank you to my daughter Jenny for the great photos--and to Siobhan for her patience when all she wanted to do was eat that nice, green grass!

We Had a Dream

In July 2010 we attended Nature's Harmony Farm Business School for a weekend seminar.  We came away realizing we already had the perfect customer base--our kids and grandkids.  We had moved to Zephyr Hill Farm on a whim, but that summer weekend the whim became a dream.  We dreamed of Zephyr Hill Farm as a place our children and grandchildren would love to visit, to experience God's amazing creation--especially His creatures, and to build lifelong memories.

On December 23, Jim and Monique arrived with Charis, who turned six on the 28th; Kol, who will be four in January; and Eden, who will be two in April.  Jenny, Jean-Marc and their dog Tai arrived from Ohio on Christmas Eve.  Kara had already been here for several days with her dog Bonnie, cooking, baking and decorating up a storm.  Katie and Cameron could not join us as they were heading to New Zealand the day after Christmas.  We missed them, but the celebration went on . . .

All kinds of fun were on the menu, like jumping off the Kubota . . .

getting horsey kisses . . .

and tickles!

Kol and Charis lifted Eden up for a horsey kiss, too . . .

while Julie was just her perfect size.

Not even big, tall Romeo could faze Eden, a truly fearless animal lover.

Charis discovered the fall leaves . . .

and everyone piled right in.

On Christmas Eve we sang Christmas carols around the table after our dinner of fresh Ohio tamales and homemade grass-fed beef chili.

Christmas morning began with one of our favorite traditions.  Everyone has to stay in their room until Dad and Mom (or Didi and Mimi) turn on all the Christmas lights.  Finally, when everything is ready, I give the cue to come downstairs by turning on Percy Faith's "Joy to the World" at 99 on my Bose player.  It definitely wakes any stragglers!

This has for many years been our way of beginning Christmas morning with the joyous announcement of the birth of Jesus.

Full of exuberance while she waited for the slow grown-ups, Eden raced around and around the room . . .

while Charis and Kol clapped their hands over their ears to dim the pealing music and followed suit.

Like the rest of us, Jean-Marc enjoyed a cup of coffee while Santa Herb distributed the presents, assisted by Aunt Kara the Elf.

Jenny kept her camera poised to capture Christmas memories.

Eden helped Jim open his gift of grass-fed Zephyr Hill Farm beef.

Charis and Kol exercised enormous artistic talent and generosity this year, and Aunt Kara was the beneficiary of an original Charis work of art.

Monique shared Eden's joy over a stuffed doggie from Aunt Jenny and Uncle Jean-Marc.

And finally, after a treasure hunt through the house, the children found Didi and Mimi's present in the basement, an HO train complete with an antique village from Mimi's childhood, a mountain tunnel studded with real West Texas rocks, and a little farm with a pasture full of animals.

We were blessed by five full days with the family, loving every minute (except the ones I spent sick in bed). Sunday found everyone heading for home, whether Ohio or nearby Chattanooga.  Before the grandkids left, they had a few last requests . . .  Eden got to say goodbye to the animals.

Charis got a birthday kiss.

Kol and Eden talked to the cattle over the fence.

And there was time for one last romp on the hay bale playground Jim and Didi had built in the hay barn.

Although we made many happy memories this Christmas, there's one I'll always remember.  Monique told us that when Kol woke up the morning after Christmas, he asked her, "Mama, is this a dream?"

"No, it's real," she reassured him.

But she was wrong.  It was a dream--our dream come true!