Eleanor Has Arrived!

Funny how you wait for something, and figure it is just not going to happen. Then one day, BAMMO! There you are, done! It was sorta like that with Flossie and Eleanor. We had been looking at Flossie, staring at her Lady Bits, ogling her udder, and still nothing. Blogging, posting, perusing all sorts of forums, diligently searching for the answer to the continual question. How would we know when it was "time"?! Flossie was surprisingly quiet over the whole ordeal. Then, she was suddenly NOT so quiet..
That, is how we knew it was time. Flossie, who rarely, and I do mean rarely makes a sound, started making a low, soft moo. Not a loud pained moo, but an ever so easy, almost comforting sound. Like she was calling to someone..or something. Come to find out, she was, she was telling Eleanor that it was indeed time. Time to start her journey into the world.
Eleanor was listening, and that afternoon when it was time to feed we saw a change in Flossie that was unmistakeably progress toward something. But we still were not sure, there had been too many false alarms. She was nervous, and kept being way less than ladylike. Even for a cow..Every few minutes, the tail came up, and she would leave a little present. Flossie seemed way to anxious about such a tiny little plop.."Hmmmm" we said. 
And then she laid down...and we knew!

 It WAS time! Flossie got down to business, and before we knew it we had feet!

By now Flossie had an audience, and I must say she was a real trooper! It was a full observatory so to speak and even Payton and Kaeli got to see little Eleanor make her debut! For your viewing pleasure, here is a video of the happy moment!

It was absolutely beautiful to experience the miracle of life. Somehow birth never seems to take my breath away, and strengthen my faith. A totally new little being, wet and slippery. Flossie was also amazing, she is the sweetest Mama. If you ever think, that an "animal" does not have feelings, just watch a Mama cow..

"I Be the Pappy!"

Ok, so I have watched Eddie Murphy in "Life" too many times..lol But, I thought since Flossie gets so much attention that I would give a shout out to the bull with the Mojo! The Incredible, the persevering, the ever so handsome  Mr. Moogurgles!

Ok, Ok, hold your applause, lol Is that not the finest specimen of a bull that you have ever seen?! Well. in the last 10 seconds at least?
The happy couple met almost two years ago at a small farm in Graves County Ky. Mr.M. was a mere calf and Flossie had just given birth to her first son. They arrived here after Pud'nin, Joy and I had found out that a very nice man just happened to have a milk cow for sale. We rushed over and came home with Flossie, Mr Moogurgles, (who had yet to be named) and Flossies newborn. Unfortunately Flossies baby got sick and passed away to that big pasture in the sky within a few days of their arrival.
Without her baby Flossie mourned, and was very sad, but she continued to give yummy milk and barely paid Mr. Moogurgles any mind at all....He was just a wee lad and she was no masher! So, lady that she is, she waited patiently until he was of age.

Here is Mr, M as a baby!

Then it happened! Mr. M. became a man, err, bull!! We knew it had finally happened when he started making this odd moo gurgle sound, tongue out, giving us the "eye" . Hence, the name! This was just what Flossie had been waiting for, patiently, all these months. We were actually concerned that since he is pretty small, and Flossie is taller, that we might have to find a nice big hill for him and Flossie to spend an afternoon...Ahem..But, where there is a will, there is a way!
The rest is history, always the picture of discretion we never saw a thing. One day the Dr. Chad, our Vet, came and told us that Floss had a little bun, well, a roast, in the oven. We were thrilled! Who knew that the little calf that arrived with Flossie that day, would become such a regal creature and give us a new little calf!? And to think, it all started with a breakfast at Spankys!

The Return of Ace

After walking a billion miles, driving just as many, we have found Ace. He had followed some people walking and just stayed. Why they didn't call, or bring him back to his home, we may never know. He had tags, with his name and number, and they knew where he called home. We had actually driven by him yesterday, and even pulled into the driveway of the house where he was found. Melissa happened to see him outside, and drove up and brought him home. He is skinny, and tired, but so, so happy to be home.

Even Pooter the cat was happy to see him home! Now he has had a bath, good food, plenty of water, and has been smothered in hugs and kisses! As I type this post, he is sleeping peacefully in his bed, dreaming out things that only a dog can understand. Every now and again his paws will twitch, and a quiet "burf" slips out between his flappy lips. Peace has been restored here at the homestead.
I do want to take a minute to thank all the people who shared, posted, prayed, and kept an eye out for our big baby. I am always amazed at the true goodness that is in the human heart. So many times we get hung up on the negative attitudes and  hateful actions in the world. But again, like when we lost Blu, friends, some who I have never even met in "real life", had our back. You are ALL the best!

Still No Ace

 I keep telling myself he may come back, but it gets harder and harder to stay positive. Ace has been a fixture at the farm for many years. Josh and Melissa brought him home while they lived up the yard from us and he was just so tiny! Blu dwarfed him, but not for long! Before we knew it he was rolling all the dogs like they were completely weightless. Throughout the years we have praised him and even shook our heads in disbelief at him, but still outright loved him. Through every hole dug, chicken killed and flower smushed we were putty in his paws.

I sometimes wonder why in the world I get so attached to these animals, but my heart just does as it pleases, without any forethought to how hard it will be when and if something happens. But then again, I see people post on Facebook, read their tearful pleas, and see the posters tacked here and there asking for the return of a beloved pet. Then I know that I am not alone. Somehow, a pet manages to worm their way into the inner depths of your heart, and there they stay, asking very little in return.
I know that he is a dog, and that it not comparable to losing a family member, but that does not make my heart feel any better. I still imagine him laying somewhere alone. Hurt, cold and feeling abandoned. I just want to know where he is, and if he is not with us anymore, and he has crossed the Rainbow Bridge, then I at least want to bring him home where he can be laid to rest beside his best friend Flash.

One thing is certain, we will not give up looking for Ace. I still look for his blundery self running up the driveway, or listen for the 'Whoof, Whoof, Whoof" of his flappy jaws while he is running across the field to come in for supper.  Every jingle I hear is the sound of his tags as he runs home...Don't worry Ace, there will always be a place on the porch for you, we'll leave a light on for you...For as long as it takes.

First Flossie Post!

So here we go! Flossie is plugging along and hopefully soon we will actually have a little baby! I know she is even more ready that I ever am, because she is the one that is going to have to push out a big ole calf! We have had so many things on the farm. Donkeys, rabbits, goats! but, never a cow! I am really excited, I just cannot believe that it is time already. It seems like yesterday that we were wondering if Mr. Moogurgles was going to be able to do the job! Now look, he is gona be a daddy! Although, he does not seem as excited as he could be, even for a bull!
Here she is, in all her glory!!