SarahGrace and company arrived with her young heifer, Buttercup, late yesterday.
While BP and Glory Bee are at SarahGrace’s farm with the bull, Buttercup is coming here.
Originally, Buttercup was going to come when BP and Glory Bee came back. She’s not quite old enough to be bred yet and probably isn’t cycling yet, so it was okay to wait until– SarahGrace caught her nursing her mama. And she thought she was weaned! (Sound like anyone we know?!) And Bessie is due to calve in a few weeks, so that’s not good. Buttercup’s move to Sassafras Farm was pushed ahead–and then pushed ahead again. She was going to come today, but with a downpour in the forecast and fears of weather interference, she arrived yesterday.
I stood in the driveway telling SarahGrace that I thought maybe Buttercup would be happier in the front barn yard where she’d have the company of the sheep and donkeys. The back barn yard, with its higher fence, is more secure, but if she wasn’t too rambunctious, the front barn yard would be fine.
As I blithely carried on, my back to the barn yard area, SarahGrace said, “You have a sheep out.”
Not to mention a couple donkeys. As if on cue to my explanation of the lower security in the front barn yard. Farm animals live to make me look like an idiot.
Turns out the gate had been pushed up off its hinges. I suspect the donkeys. After all, there’s some tasty grass out there. Jack probably said to Poky, “Come, my beloved, let me take you to the grass.” Then he picked up the gate with his wayward weener.
Anyway, Buttercup was tucked into the back barn yard and the donkeys shoved in with her to keep her company, after the gate was put back on its hinges and everyone was rallied back in place.
With all the moving done, I got a glass of wine and told SarahGrace I had some celebrating to do and don’t worry, sure, I’ll watch your cow. And she didn’t even load her cow back up and drive off! But then I did tell her my secret. (Now leave her alone!)
Buttercup set to mooing, reminding me of Glory Bee whenever I tried to wean her. With my cows gone, I have missed the sound of mooing, so it’s like music to my ears. I found it sweet and funny when I realized she follows me along the fenceline when I’m walking around out there. That is so like Glory Bee. Mama-raised heifers are all the same–sweet and spoiled and bratty and needy. Buttercup will be staying until SarahGrace is ready to breed her, so she’ll be here for awhile. I’m not sure exactly when BP and Glory Bee are coming back. I want them to stay with the bull for at least a couple cycles each.
Meanwhile, fencing is high priority starting today. Unless we’re rained out, I’ve got fencing with the superboys planned for the entire weekend. If we can’t get enough done this weekend and/or are entirely rained out, I’ve got Dave and Matt lined up to break from the studio to help with fencing until I’ve got at least enough done to move the sheep, donkeys, and Buttercup onto pasture. (The superboys are usually only available on the weekends.) At this time of year, when grass is growing, animals will break out even when they wouldn’t normally break out–to get to the grass. I can’t blame them.
And P.S. I am so close to being able to tell you about my news, but a few finer details didn’t quite get ironed out yesterday so it will be (hopefully) sometime Monday when I can spill.
StuckinMiami says:
After a sleepless night of itchy allergies I needed a laugh. Donkeys and wayward weeners. Ha!
On March 24, 2012 at 6:53 am
Diane says:
Ugg Hate surprises! Cant wait until you spill.
On March 24, 2012 at 7:06 am
STracer says:
Oh the sound of a weaning calf. That is always kind of sweet and sad at the same time. It is nice to have animals around though.
Regarding the gate: Is there any reason the gate “needs” to be removable? Because I am sure the Super Boys can fix that problem. The top hinge just needs to be turned upside down. The hook part on the gate gets loosened, lowered, and then slides back up to the hinge and gets tightened again. Then no more lifting it off the hinges. Easy, unless everything is rusted into place anyway.
On March 24, 2012 at 7:22 am
lavenderblue says:
I have never guessed one of Suzanne’s surprises yet, so I’m not even gonna try.
We love this show that used to be on Canadian TV, back when we could get that around here (pre-satellite), so we ordered all the DVD’s. The background music on the “select/play” page is mooing cows and crowing roosters. Sometimes I just leave that playing for hours.
On March 24, 2012 at 8:04 am
lattelady says:
Beautiful heifer, AND halter/lead broke. Wow. Sorry Suzanne, could not pass that up.
Hope all goes well this weekend and the fencing gets done on schedule.
On March 24, 2012 at 8:46 am
Glenda says:
Willow’s calves usually don’t even bawl by the time I wean them; Willow does but not the fat babies.
Good luck with the fencing project. We still have some more repairs to do from previous storms dropping trees, etc.
I am getting excited about the ‘good’ news. I am thinking maybe a lucrative writing project….you have such skills in that area!
On March 24, 2012 at 8:47 am
shirley T says:
I can only guess two things~~the old house sold or patriot is coming or maybe something to do with your book deal~~sorry I just have to keep guessing~~the only way I stay sane while waiting. It is storming here and raining hard. Good luck with your fencing
On March 24, 2012 at 9:04 am
easygoinglady says:
Wonderful that you and SarahGrace can work together and help each other out with your cows. :moo:
Great to hear you have an exciting surprise you can’t quite tell us about yet (even though we are all dying to know!) Just means more wonderful things happening at Sassafras farm, and you deserve it!
On March 24, 2012 at 9:24 am
Remudamom says:
Yes spring is here! We’ve got cattle getting out and horses leaning waaay over their fences.
On March 24, 2012 at 9:45 am
Lana says:
When we were kids mom loved “teasing” us with our Christmas presents – she would say, “What do you you think is in this package? Did you shake it? Do you think it is something you will really like?”. SUZANNE!! You are being my mother all over again and driving us crazy! : )
On March 24, 2012 at 10:09 am
willsahna says:
“Then he picked up the gate with his wayward weener”, made me laugh out loud. Thank you.
On March 24, 2012 at 10:20 am
CindyP says:
Do you suppose Glory Bee was an instigator with Buttercup nursing her mama again? I can just see GB showing her it could still be done!
Hope the weather holds out for you this weekend!
On March 24, 2012 at 10:51 am
bonita says:
I’m down with lattelady’s astute observation about a good looking heifer being led, with loose rein, to a new, unfamiliar location. You might hope that when Glory Bee returns, she’ll pick up some manners from Buttercup. Sara Grace, on the other hand, might wonder if Buttercup will grow a bit headstrong… Hope it’s dry enough to fence this weekend.
On March 24, 2012 at 10:56 am
Joell says:
:woof: I have been thinking about your secret—is Stringtown sold?
It is so nice to see the animal on your farm enjoying the early sSpring, they look at home and content.
On March 24, 2012 at 11:07 am
Karo says:
Buttercup sure is a pretty girl.
On March 24, 2012 at 11:36 am
SarahGrace says:
Thank you all on the comments about Buttercup. Believe me in that Buttercup does NOT lead that well for me. hahaha She is getting better about letting me catch her, but I still rely on my friend leading her to get her to go anywhere. He is a Master Whisperer of Animals, and seems to get them to do anything he wants them to do. I never walk away from him without learning something new.
On March 24, 2012 at 11:47 am
outbackfarm says:
I just talked to my friend who has Jersey cows. She has a heifer that is being bred (or they are trying to get her bred) and sometime in a few weeks, she will be coming here! I told her I need to borrow a cow for my sheep. They don’t seem to be eating the tall grass so I thought a cow will do that, why not see if I can borrow her? I have plenty of room and not enough sheep apparently. So I am sort of excited about getting a heifer here again.
I hope the rain stays away so you can get the fencing done this weekend. There is always so much to do on a farm. And I can’t even imagine what your news is. Hopefully one of the 3 guesses already mentioned above. Have a great weekend!
On March 24, 2012 at 12:02 pm
DebbieInMemphis says:
Buttercup is so pretty and she looks awfully at home there at Sassafras. She might let you lead her around and practice for Glory Bee if you feed her some cookies :moo:
On March 24, 2012 at 12:18 pm
beforethedawn says:
Hope the weather holds out to do the fencing. Buttercup is adorable!
On March 24, 2012 at 12:34 pm
GrammieEarth says:
These photos tell me Buttercup should have been named ‘One Hoof on Ground’ :devil2:
And then there is Suzanne McMinn – mother, romance writer, blogger, farmer, teacher, “inspire er”, cheese maker,baker, milker … and now she adds MYSTERY WRITER to her long list…again!!
I refuse to guess… =)
On March 24, 2012 at 12:50 pm
wanda1950 says:
Suzanne you are torturing me!
On March 24, 2012 at 3:28 pm
knchock says:
‘wayward weener’……..Hilarious!!!
On March 24, 2012 at 3:29 pm
princessvanessa says:
I nearly snorted my tea when you pinned the un-hinged gate on Jack’s wayward ‘ahem’ “member”. Okay, okay wayward WEENER, there…I said it!
I must say that I am learning patience from your blog. You do have a way of keeping me on the edge of my seat in anticipation of the latest CITR secret news.
On March 24, 2012 at 5:10 pm
joykenn says:
Suzanne, I’ve decided you’re an EVIL TEASE . I hope it is some REALLY good news!
On March 24, 2012 at 6:23 pm
leneskate says:
First of all thanks for the laugh poor Pokey!!
Second I can wait it will be hard but I can wait!
Third just love your site I smile everytime!
Hope your fences are all done soon!
On March 25, 2012 at 3:20 am