Friday, March 23, 2012

Recovery -- An Update on Jetblue

Two months and one week ago, my blue roan filly, Jetblue, underwent emergency, life saving colic surgery at Oregon State University. Since then, she's been on stall rest with twice daily hand walks.

Today, under a brilliant blue sky, Jetblue got to go out in a small, 12 x 32 foot paddock. As I stood there, snapping a photo of Jetblue hoovering up the bits of alfalfa I'd left on the ground for her, it occurred to me that Jetblue looks like a horse.

My, how time flies.



"There is something magical about saving the life of a living thing, if you can do it. It is an affirmation of life itself, a bow to humanity, connection in a time of fragmentation, an affirmation. We can't do much, but maybe we can do this, and that makes it a sweet little miracle." ~Jon Katz

Happy Calf

A Mother's Touch

Our Charolais cow, Daisy, used to scare me. Timid and difficult to catch, Daisy never trusted anyone.

Seeing Daisy with her calf is like looking at another creature. Daisy is an attentive mother, one who takes her new role seriously. At the same time, she willingly allows us to handle her baby.

Lorenzo taught me how to catch and halter Daisy today. At first, the cow was nervous, but with Lorenzo's excellent help, she settled down and began to trust me. I'll be able to move her and the calf into the temporary manger at night.

Watching Daisy with her calf makes me realize how important a good start is, how wonderful it is to experience a mother's sweet touch.

Calf Nap

First Snow Day

It might have been the first day of Spring yesterday, but the Pacific Northwest has yet to get the memo. Late in the afternoon, it began snowing and kept at it most all night, resulting in a couple of inches of the white stuff.

This morning, Lorenzo opened the temporary corral, the manger, that we have set up for Daisy and her new little calf. The duo had overnighted there, nestled in the warm, dry straw. Here's a step-by-step photo essay of the calf's first snow day. Enjoy!


It snowed all night long. In the morning, Lorenzo opened one of the panels to the temporary manger, the one where Daisy and her calf had spent the night nestled in the warm, dry straw.


At first, the calf did not want to go out into the world. Daisy , in the way that cows do, talked to her son, encouraging him to follow her.


The calf tentatively worked his way to the edge of the corral, but when his hooves touched the snow, he bolted back into the safety of the manger.


Daisy was persistent and soon, her calf ventured into the pasture.


The calf moved slowly at first, sniffing the snow.


Then, he began to pick up speed.


Suddenly, the calf was running huge, lovely circles both up...


...and down the pasture.


He ran with such joy that the people watching him chuckled.


Then, it was time to stop and...


...make a new friend.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

A Mother's Touch

Daisy is a wonderful mama to her new little bull calf. She's always checking on him, urging him to suckle, licking him. It's a treat to see these two together.


Daisy and Her New Little Bull Calf


Snow this late in March is uncommon for our part of Oregon, but that's what we have tonight. Thankfully, Lorenzo constructed a temporary shelter for Daisy and her baby earlier today. Come see by clicking on this You Tube video link:

It's a Boy!

Daisy's first baby, a bull calf, was born late last night. Here's some video taken right after the little guy hit the ground:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkbBTTWasts

Thought you would like to see a couple of quick snapshots from today, so here they are.


Daisy's brother, Tad, Daisy, and Daisy's Beautiful Bull Calf

The above snapshot is sweet, but I really love the textures and tones in the following photo. What a gift to have a calf born here at Sweetgrass!


Daisy is a Charolais Cow and Her New Bull Calf is a Charolais/Black Angus Cross

We're getting a temporary shelter ready for tonight since the forecast is calling for freezing temperatures and possibly snow. More photos later...