Thursday, March 14, 2013

Sign of spring

When driving over to my stitching group
I couldn't help but notice
all the fresh little faces
with big eyes
and of all different colors.
 It’s that time of year again:
spring calving for area ranchers.
This little one has already outgrown his wobbly legs,
as they learn to walk and run in no time.

The mother stayed close to her calf,
as she looked at me with a watchful eye.
I just zoomed in from across the road.
Didn't want to disturb them.

I remember back when my kids were little,
we raised orphan calves,
bought at our local livestock auction...
bottle feeding them ourselves.

This is a photo taken
way back when,
 of my girls,
Amy and Jessica,
out at the barn, with their calves.
Sometimes we had up to 30 calves at a time.
My husband rigged up a bottle feeding station
for all of the calves to feed at once,
 so it made much less work.
I couldn't find that photo,
but it's somewhere.

Yes, having orphan calves was a lot of work...
but I enjoyed it...
now I just take photos of them. LOL

Hope you are savoring
your early spring days.

Yvonne






5 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

A bottle feeding station is a great idea! I imagine the calves were quite lucrative in the long run, eh?

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

They do have the sweetest faces and the most trusting brown eyes. :) How wonderful that you used to care for the orphaned ones and a great lesson for your girls. Best wishes, Tammy

Mary Helen-Art Saves Lives said...

Baby calves are the true sign of spring!!! We had our first born earlier in the week. Such sweet innocent faces with those big brown eyes. Peace, Mary Helen Fernandez Stewart

Unknown said...

You have led an amazing life! keeping cows is soooo much work!!! I remember your story of having lots of fresh milk for your kids - very cool!

I love going on a baby cow hunt in the car. I saw one in a field all by his lonesome the other day which is so unusual ...

Halle said...

Fun old photo! I have a my "Little J" shares her name with your daughter. :) Although we don't call her by her given name....unless she's in trouble. HA!