One of the best games we get to experience on the farm is hunting for baby calves. Each spring, 9 months after we turn our bull in to the herd we start marking calenders for calving season. Usually we (meaning mostly Scott during winter months) stroll thru the cattle farm once daily. This daily procedure is to check to make sure all cows are healthy, have enough feed/hay, and the farm looks secure. Normal process is just a drive thru the farm checking fences and counting heads. But come February/March the trips usually end up in 2 a days when the mommas milk bag become large and swollen. It is amazing how the body like ours can change with in hours. Sunday afternoon we took a family drive to count and talk to the herd. The girls like mooing to those that like to talk and feeding from their hands the friendly ones.
And in most cases like this picture they are easy to find and count. This time of the year too with the trees still naked it is easier to view all parts of the farm. So Sunday afternoon was a normal visit......all were accounted for. But hours later, the next morning for us............the first calf of 2013 hit the ground.
Scott checked the farm early like normal, and when we he came home later than normal we knew he had found an egg!!! As Easter approaches, this hunt of calves not eggs reminds me of my girls frantically searching Easter morning for the eggs the Easter bunny had left. He none the less does the same when he enters the gate on his search but not for eggs.
Monday morning Scott was 1 cow short and to his surprise, off in the woods a momma licked her newborn calf clean! The hunt had begun............but not was he off by 1 cow, he was off by 2. On the way out he counted again and found another new calf waddling alongside his momma in the distance.
When he came home, we knew there must be news. Not by his lateness but his pant-less body................Sayler and I both guessed he must have been wrestling new babies and tagging their ears. Yes, muddy poopy pants stay in the garage not my house!!
Below is the picture the girls took as they got to go to the farm after school and meet the new babies.
The search reminds me of Gods search for us!! Doesn't matter where we try to hide he will find us, clean us and stand by our side as we stand to walk!! Another example of the gift God has given, NEW LIFE!!! Just another day in the life of a farmers wife................
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