It’s a day to celebrate mothers and grandmothers and those who’ve simply mothered us even though they weren’t the ones who brought us into this world. I think, too, that it’s a good day to recall the joys that come to those of us who play that role in one way or another. Here at the
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Even the chickens huddle up close to the fireplace when the temperature drops and the snow flies. Really, there’s a fireplace in this picture with the chickens — the back of one, at least. The wide base of the chimney is the barely visible section of concrete wall jutting out behind the pile of straw
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It’s morning. It’s time to eat. They’ve been waiting for hours. HOURS! They don’t get much, just a can of sweet feed to share between the four of them. There’s plenty of grass for them out in the pasture. I feed them that bit of grain to keep them tame and cooperative, always willing to
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The view from the hayloft at feeding time. This photo was taken a few weeks ago, while the snow fell outside and the wind whistled around the eaves. I’d just given the cattle half a bale of prairie hay and was spreading a thick bed of fresh straw. Notice the chickens scratching through the straw
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The bull arrived a few weeks late for his conjugal visit, thanks to mud issues. His owner was rightfully nervous about getting the stock trailer stuck while moving him from the last harem . . . err . . . herd he serviced. The big boy’s here now though and settling in nicely. In case
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Two weeks after the due date, Rosalie finally gave birth to her first calf. Rosalie’s a grade Jersey and was born here on the farm. She was bred to the same Limosin bull as Lottie. Unlike her mother, Rosalie chose a nice shady spot at the edge of the pasture that’s easily accessible to the
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This one’s not mine. I spotted this cow and her newborn calf while en route to the feed store. Since I had the road to myself, I parked the truck for a moment and snapped a few photos of the calf taking its first few wobbly steps.
About 4 p.m. every day, the Jersey cow leaves her grazing spot at the other end of the pasture for this clearing near the old barn. Early weed sprouts grow thickly here. Chickweed seems to be her favorite, and she’s keeping it trimmed short.