A Bull Market

We're in a bull market here at Zephyr Hill Farm.  Ebby's calf was born today, a black, horned bull.  He may not be the red, homo-polled heifer I was hoping for--but he is healthy and lively and sweet, and we're very thankful for him.

Last night at the 3 am check I could tell Ebby's pins had gone, so I figured today would be the day.  Ebby's restless pacing of the pasture all morning confirmed it.  By 2:30 all she had done was get up and down in various places for the last half hour, so I went into the house to verify how long the various stages of labor should take.

I came back out at 2:53 to see bare hooves, quite a different sight from Ebby's calving last year.  Concerned that with the water bag broken the calf might aspirate amniotic fluid, I called the vet.  It was possible, he said, but advised me to let her push the calf out by herself if she could.  Ebby could--and did.  By 3:04 the head was out, and I could clear the calf's mouth of fluids.  By 3:05 the calf was on the ground.  Nine minutes later it was trying to stand, and by the time it was eleven minutes old, it was on its feet.

Although Ebby's poll hair predicted her calf would be a heifer, and my first glimpse of its sweet face made me think it was, it soon turned out that "she" was really a he.

Unlike many bull calves, this little guy was quick to find the udder and nurse--and even quicker to begin exploring.

He came over to meet Herb and me . . .

. . . checked out the grass, took a brief nap, and started exploring again.  He didn't just walk, though--he bucked his way along.

It was a lovely to sit in the green grass watching a healthy, lively calf interact with the warm, sunny world.  A gentle breeze blew over us--a perfect April day.

Looking at his face now, it's clear this little calf is all boy!  However, between his birthday being close to April Fool's Day and Ebby's trick with her "heifer poll hair," I decided to name him ZH Royal Pretender.  We're already calling him "Bucky" as it seems to suit this happy little buckaroo.

Rain and thunderstorms were predicted for tonight, so before it got dark we walked down to the bottom of the pasture to fetch Ebby and Bucky.  Herb packed 55 lbs. of calf up the steep hill with Ebby following anxiously along.  Bucky cooperated surprisingly well, without struggling to escape.  He and Ebby were safely ensconced in a stall about five minutes before the lightning and rain hit.  That means a good night's sleep for me, knowing our bull market will safely weather the storm.

My Favorite Things

This evening I got to enjoy three of my favorite things:  Springtime, a beautiful sunset . . .

 . . . and a friendly Dexter coming up for a scratch.

What a perfectly beautiful evening!  

Seb's Big Day Out

It started raining Sunday night and rained hard all day Monday and that night, so Ebby and Seb spent his first 24 hours and then some in a stall.  Today the rain stopped, and it was time for Seb to see the world.

He quickly found his "sea legs" and took off running.

Poor Ebby went racing behind him in an extended trot that would do a dressage horse proud.

As she followed her wayward son, she emitted constant plaintive moos.  I'm sorry to report that Seb completely ignored his mother and continued to gallop all over the field.

I think he even surprised himself with his speed.

He was very serious about having fun.

When he'd worked off some of his high spirits, Seb came up to get some petting.  What a sweet little guy he is!  (Even if he does worry his mother.)

Several times during the day he wouldn't follow when she wanted him to, so she stood there and bellowed for him until he came.  Mothers and their boys seem to be the same through all time, whether they're human or bovine!

Who could resist that adorable face?

Spa Day for Cows

After a winter of rain, mud and eating hay, the girls were all looking like they could use a makeover, especially Siobhan (right) because her harness keeps her from rubbing her winter coat off.  So today was spontaneously designated Spa Day for Cows.

A metal curry comb does a great job of loosening the dirt and dead hair.  A good bristle brush then lifts out the dirt and brushes it off.

While Siobhan's harness hung to air after its cleaning, she luxuriated in some neck-bending scratches and licks.  While I brushed her she arched into the curry comb like a cat being stroked, obviously loving every minute.

There's still some winter coat left, but there's also a bit more sheen to her coat.

Decked out in her custom fly mask, she's a new woman, sexy and mysterious.

Next the mobile spa went over to Macree and Ebony in the Home Pasture.  They were both lying down in the shade shack chewing their cud, so I stood over Macree and brushed what I could reach of her while she stayed right where she was.

By the time it was Ebony's turn, my back was ready for a break so I sat down next to her.  She didn't mind me . . .

. . . and when I started to stroke her neck, she stretched out like a cat and leaned into the curry comb.  I ended up laying over her back to reach her other side, and we stayed like that for several minutes.

Jet wandered over to join us.  Ebony doesn't chase him off like Siobhan does, so he felt safe enough to lie down nearby and hang out with the girls while they got gorgeous.

Ebony went off decked out in her fly mask looking shiny . . . and almost ready to be a mommy!  Stay tuned for Ebony's Calf Watch coming up!

Ketchup: March Goes Out Like a Lion

I've gotten SO far behind in my posts for a really great reason:  The weather is gorgeous and I'm outside so much!  But today is a nice rainy day with a soggy pasture that doesn't need to be driven on, so it's perfect Ketchup weather.  I'll try to make sure all the Ketchup Posts get marked with the original date the photos were taken.  And while all the photos take their time uploading, I'll be a good girl and Ketchup on housework, too.

March came in like a lamb this year with some lovely sunny days, so I guess it was natural that it turned the old adage on its head and went out like a lion!  These photos were taken March 29.

This last one was taken just a couple days earlier, so it seems there was at least a bit of the lamb left in March!

Somebody Feed These Poor Starving Horses!

Angel and Brandy are apparently so hungry that they have been reduced to eating bark and birdseed. (Although if Angel thinks she can eat this giant oak, I'd say she's barking up the wrong tree!)

Somebody feed these poor starving horses!  Just look at their emaciated rear ends!  (Note that Julie's almost in the Fly-Swatting Club.  Brandy now lets her get just close enough to get in on a little piece of the action.)

Poor Julie is obviously so hungry that she's considering eating the roses instead of smelling them!

Well, maybe she's not quite that hungry, but Brandy sure was! (Too bad I missed the photo!)

Hopefully my readers are feeling well-fed enough to enjoy these roses without eating them.  You'll just have to take my word about how sweet they smell!

A Week Ago

This photo was taken a week ago.  A lot has happened in the past week.  It was comforting to look back through my photos and remember the evening this was taken in a kinder, gentler world.  And I remind myself that the same God who gave us this peaceful evening is still in control.

It's Good to Touch the Green, Green Grass of Home

A little over a week ago, I got a phone call that our daughter Jenny had dislocated her right shoulder.  Was she doing something brave like diving in front of a speeding train to rescue a stray dog?  Or was it a patriotic war wound sustained in the defense of her nation?   Neither, I'm afraid!  It happened when she tried to hit her husband with a throw pillow!  (Although I guess a wound received in starting a pillow fight could possibly be considered combat-sustained . . .)

As a good mother, what did I do?  Did I tell her to pick on someone her own size--or at least aim better?  I did not!  I hopped in my car and drove to Ohio to help with cooking and cleaning and driving.

Tuesday I drove back home and arrived in the late afternoon to a warm welcome from Misty, Zephyr, Hero and Herb, in that order.  (In Herb's defense, he was in the office.  The dogs were all in the driveway.)  After patting, hugging and kissing everyone (depending on their species and hairiness), the first thing I wanted to do was go out and see all the animals.  Here, for your enjoyment while you read, is an oldie-but-goodie about how good it is to come home.

Elvis - The Green, Green Grass of Home

Here's my welcoming committee trying to get their act together.

We'll just have to settle for three out of four.

The turkeys (in front) have obviously abandoned their suicidal behavior and begun to grow and get more feathers.  The keets (hiding in back) are just as shy as ever, but much bigger and more guinea-shaped.

The barnyard gang is enjoying a bit of grass that has bravely raised its head.

As soon as they heard us come outside, the Home Pasture gang began clamoring for food.  They make quite a racket of "mwak, mwak, mwak, mwak" from Ping and "baa, baa" and "bleah, bleah" from Rambo and Obama.  It truly does sound like one of the wethers is turning up his nose at something, saying, "Bleah!"  It must be the nice, green grass because it sure isn't the chicken crumble!

Walking through Kara's Pasture I was greeted by a cluster of daisies under a cloudy sky, promising more April showers and more May flowers after the 4+ inches in the past few days.

The creek is running full coming in from the hunting preserve to join the pond overflow.

Sara and Siobhan were over by the cabin when they saw us coming.

Siobhan came hurrying to greet us, already licking her lips in anticipation of treats.

The horses came to meet us at the electric gate, but when Brandy shooed Julie away to a respectful distance . . .

... it turned into a mad gallop around the pasture.

While Herb started the grill to cook us some lovely grass-fed steaks, I went out to enjoy the heavenly evening light that sets everything aglow for just a few moments.

Carpe diem.