We have anxiously been awaiting the arrival of my friend Linda's cow to have her calf...it seems like her Jersey cow Annabelle has been pregnant just shy of forever, and I was beginning to wonder if the baby was ever going to make an appearance. So when Linda called me a few days ago, and said the baby was on the way, I about fell over in excitement. She asked if I thought we could make it out there to watch, but we already had plans so we had to settle for a play by play of the delivery via text message and cell phone pictures. Turns out we wouldn't have made it anyways, because within 45 minutes of Linda's first call, Annabelle was the new proud mama to an adorable little bull calf. We were able to head out to the farm just a couple days later to spend time with the new baby, and what a great experience that was. Neither the kids nor I had ever seen or touched a calf that small....it was really exciting!
Here is Annabelle, the proud mama:
And Annabelle with her little baby:
And my ecstatic kids petting the tiny guy:
After checking out Linda's milking station, we went for a walk around the rest of the farm. We passed Tucker on the way - who is quite possibly the cutest farm dog puppy this side of the Willamette:
Tuckers job right now is to keep an eye on these little ones:
But I have a feeling they don't need any help in that department - big mama Ruby definitely keeps those babies away from danger (and knowing how protective she is, I kept well away from her when she headed my way)!
We headed over to the beef cattle next, which is where I discovered Rowans true calling in life. This girl is a genuine cattle whisperer! She immediately had a connection with this little beef steer (yearling? I am not up to date on my cow terminology):
And it was difficult to get him away from Rowan long enough to snap a picture of Killian saying hello:
I snuck in for a quick pet and picture too - I love that little spotted nose:
Finally we were able to tear Rowan and her buddy apart, and we went to visit a couple of my favorite animals on the farm - Linda's Large Black pigs, and their impossibly adorable piglets. Looks like those two in the middle are telling secrets!
I just love those little floppy ears and teeny tails. Piglets...what could be cuter than them!?
Well, it definitely wouldn't be these next guys - although they are probably a whole lot tastier than baby piglet!
These are Linda's free ranging turkeys - I think they are Bourbon Reds and Broad Breasted Whites, but I can't remember for sure. I only know that 3 of them are coming home with us this fall, and I am super excited to get them in the oven. I think its safe to say these guys have a much better life than any Butterball turkey ever did!
Our last stop was a visit to Linda's other two dairy cows. Babycakes who hasn't calved yet, and Maggie Moo, Linda's new Milking Shorthorn and the cow that is currently supplying us with delicious fresh raw milk. Babycakes was eager to come over and say hi:
While Maggie Moo quietly munched on grass in the distance:
Babycakes quickly said Hello to Killian:
And then began her love affair with my little cow whisperer. These two were practically inseparable - Babycakes would NOT leave Rowan alone, and stood smelling her, nuzzling her and giving her googly lovey eyes the whole time we were in that paddock. It was pretty stinking cute.
Why hello there:
I think I like you:
No.....I think I LOOOOOVE you!
And really, with a face like this, I am pretty sure the feeling was mutual for Rowan:
The ladies escorted us out when it was time to leave:
As we headed home I reflected on how good it feels to have my kids know exactly where their food is coming from. They have met the chickens that lay the eggs they eat, they have met the turkeys that will be their Thanksgiving dinner, they have met the pigs that will become their morning bacon, the steers that will become their hamburger, and the cows that make the milk that they drink. They certainly wouldn't be able to get that same connection and respect for their food and farmer if we were buying all that from the grocery store. I believe its an invaluable lesson for them to be experiencing first hand - they are learning to support their local farmers, to use their food dollars to demand the humane treatment of those animals, and just how important it is to be involved and personally responsible for the life cycle of the food that they choose to eat. It has also sparked many wonderful conversations between us about why we eat the way we do, and its my hope that they will do the same for their children in the future. Its an exciting thing to know where your food is coming from and how it was raised, and we are eternally grateful to all our local farmers (and especially our farmer friends!) for giving us the chance to do so. This wouldn't be possible without you!
Here is Annabelle, the proud mama:
And Annabelle with her little baby:
And my ecstatic kids petting the tiny guy:
After checking out Linda's milking station, we went for a walk around the rest of the farm. We passed Tucker on the way - who is quite possibly the cutest farm dog puppy this side of the Willamette:
Tuckers job right now is to keep an eye on these little ones:
But I have a feeling they don't need any help in that department - big mama Ruby definitely keeps those babies away from danger (and knowing how protective she is, I kept well away from her when she headed my way)!
We headed over to the beef cattle next, which is where I discovered Rowans true calling in life. This girl is a genuine cattle whisperer! She immediately had a connection with this little beef steer (yearling? I am not up to date on my cow terminology):
And it was difficult to get him away from Rowan long enough to snap a picture of Killian saying hello:
I snuck in for a quick pet and picture too - I love that little spotted nose:
Finally we were able to tear Rowan and her buddy apart, and we went to visit a couple of my favorite animals on the farm - Linda's Large Black pigs, and their impossibly adorable piglets. Looks like those two in the middle are telling secrets!
I just love those little floppy ears and teeny tails. Piglets...what could be cuter than them!?
Well, it definitely wouldn't be these next guys - although they are probably a whole lot tastier than baby piglet!
These are Linda's free ranging turkeys - I think they are Bourbon Reds and Broad Breasted Whites, but I can't remember for sure. I only know that 3 of them are coming home with us this fall, and I am super excited to get them in the oven. I think its safe to say these guys have a much better life than any Butterball turkey ever did!
Our last stop was a visit to Linda's other two dairy cows. Babycakes who hasn't calved yet, and Maggie Moo, Linda's new Milking Shorthorn and the cow that is currently supplying us with delicious fresh raw milk. Babycakes was eager to come over and say hi:
While Maggie Moo quietly munched on grass in the distance:
Babycakes quickly said Hello to Killian:
And then began her love affair with my little cow whisperer. These two were practically inseparable - Babycakes would NOT leave Rowan alone, and stood smelling her, nuzzling her and giving her googly lovey eyes the whole time we were in that paddock. It was pretty stinking cute.
Why hello there:
I think I like you:
No.....I think I LOOOOOVE you!
And really, with a face like this, I am pretty sure the feeling was mutual for Rowan:
The ladies escorted us out when it was time to leave:
As we headed home I reflected on how good it feels to have my kids know exactly where their food is coming from. They have met the chickens that lay the eggs they eat, they have met the turkeys that will be their Thanksgiving dinner, they have met the pigs that will become their morning bacon, the steers that will become their hamburger, and the cows that make the milk that they drink. They certainly wouldn't be able to get that same connection and respect for their food and farmer if we were buying all that from the grocery store. I believe its an invaluable lesson for them to be experiencing first hand - they are learning to support their local farmers, to use their food dollars to demand the humane treatment of those animals, and just how important it is to be involved and personally responsible for the life cycle of the food that they choose to eat. It has also sparked many wonderful conversations between us about why we eat the way we do, and its my hope that they will do the same for their children in the future. Its an exciting thing to know where your food is coming from and how it was raised, and we are eternally grateful to all our local farmers (and especially our farmer friends!) for giving us the chance to do so. This wouldn't be possible without you!