Daisy needs lamby kisses. Poor Paisley Daisy. So large. So ripe. Just about ready to fall out of her tree.
She stands in the center of her straw bed pushing sheaves to and fro, eyeing the walls and the door, centering herself. Then she leans way forward and folds her long front legs right under her body, tipping forward, ungainly with her swollen body, she lowers her head and shoulders down carefully and just as she loses her center of gravity she allows her huge body to shift slightly to the side, lowering her mammoth haunches to the ground with a slow heavy twist that releases her, sighing to the ground.
She reaches out her head and calls a slow long forlorn foghorn of a moo across to me as I work in the pen next to her. The sound sways and drifts and carries itself mournfully through the falling snow out the door to Queenie. A ribbon of sound. Heavy and sad. Like blue. She whines, and blows air through her icy nostrils. Then she tucks her head back onto her left back hoof and with a great soft breath, sleeps.
Poor Daisy. My big brave girl.
The sheep have been shorn. The shearer offered to buy the fleeces from me and I agreed and took possession of my first wool cheque. The snow was falling and blowing outside as we bartered in the midst of another storm. I cannot see spinning and knitting in my future today. And I like my shearer man. And my sheep like him too. He has a way with them.
Last night I discovered an egg sized lump under TonTon’s chin, to the side of his throat. He has been eating and drinking well and minding his animals, jumping all the gates in the barn to keep up with everything. But I have taken to tying Boo up so I can spend more time with Ton. There has been a look about Ton that made me think he needed extra care. A niggly feeling about him. Twice in the last week he has refused to go on a walk with us, I put this down to the shoving from Boo, but even with Boo on his leash, Ton chose to stay with Daisy. Due to Ton’s long time connection with Daisy I just thought he was wanting to stay close by as she is soon to freshen with her calf. Then the last two nights Boo has lain down next to the food bowl and watched Ton eat, instead of trying to push him out of the way. I found this worrying. Boo would not eat until Ton had finished, which has been previously unheard of. Now I have found this lump. Could it have been there before? Hidden in his ruff? You would think I would have felt it. Or it is so fast growing that is probably a cyst of some kind and the vet will sort it out and soon Ton will be back on form.
Let’s hope that is it. We will wait until the vet has had a look before we worry. That’s what we will do.
And I was thinking the other day that it would be nice to know what State or Country you are calling from. If you want to tell us that is. It might be fun to know. In a very broad sense that is, no particulars. And maybe you will even discover some Fellowship neighbours. And this might keep our minds focused while we wait for news of TonTon.
I hope you all have a lovely day. Every day has some lovely in it.
Your friend on the farmy
celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
158 responses to “The Low Moan of a Cow”
Poor Daisy. It does sound like she will give birth soon! And poor Ton! I hope the vet has good news for you, Celi. Love your new header and theme!
I’m here in N. Alabama just 4 miles from the Tennessee border, and this summer I hope to be writing from my Mountain Farmlet in Tuscumbia, Alabama which is in the North-West corner (Factoid: Tuscumbia is where Helen Keller was born and lived).
Wishing all on the Farmy health and warmer weather!
Thank you, as always, for lovely words and photos. You are my usual early morning smile, and tear, and laughter. Central Texas is down right hot in comparison to y’all (through we’ve had our share of freezing blasts). Off to feed all the four leggeds (though not as varied as yours). Breathe deep, my friend.
Poor TonTon, I hope it is nothing serious. Somerset. 🙂
I’m in Michigan…not far from Detroit. I work on a farm in Pinckney in the summer…a CSA (Community Sponsored Agriculture) and we grow everything from seed…lots of lettuce, leeks, onions, kale, beans, peas, celery, potatoes, peppers…and the list goes on and on!!! It’s all organic. The only animals there are the infamous farm dogs and some cats and lots of birds and deer. How do you ever find time for all the work and writing??? Good job and I especially enjoy Marcel who graces me with his cute face every day when I turn on my computer!!!
I do believe you have the smartest dogs I’ve ever heard of. Thank you for some lovely reading this morning. I will send healing energy east to the farm and warmer weather to all – it is supposed to be 70 degrees here in Lafayette, Colorado today.
City girl from Portland, Oregon, where we’re having a wind and rain storm this morning.
Morning everyone, I am commenting using my FB personal page this morning as I can see you are on a roll and am thrilled that Equus (who especially loves to know where people are writing from and I hope she will get a wonderful surprise) and I, can get a visual idea of where you all hail from now. Excellent stuff. And beforeTon and I go to the vet I have to get the milking parlour finished and ready for its coat of paint; if I get a warm day!. So I will be in the barn all day. I opened the big doors this morning to let the sun in (the wind is still a NE so the South doors are perfect) and the naked sheep have collected little pools of warm and are sleeping in the sun while still inside the barn out of this stiff breeze. They will stay there ’til this mean wind shifts itself. I shall pop back in later to read your comments again.. thank you all.. c
I hope Ton’s lump turns out to be nothing serious, but I know you will worry until you know for sure. Poor Daisy, she is so big, but it wont be long now before her baby arrives and then you will be run off your feet again!
Sending you lots of sunshine from the Gold Coast in hot Quensland, Australia.
My sister just had her first child and her complaints could have been Daisies the whole time. Especially since she was 2 weeks late! I would be much more excited for a baby cow across the street, though, than yet another nephew… I am not too fond of children, and that is putting it lightly. Wishing I had baby cows from the suburban areas in Cleveland Ohio!
Hope Ton’s lump is something simply treated and that he’s back to himself soon.
I imagine that Daisy is very ready for her calf’s arrival and more comfort for herself.
Sending warm weather vibes from just down the road in Central IL.
Your header pic is ADORABLE!!! Just the most perfect picture C. Poor sheep must be quite chilly all naked. No, no worrying until we know the fact from the vet. Sending positive energy all the same.
Have a super day C from a lovely warm and sunny Sundays River, South Africa.
🙂 Mandy xo
Fingers and toes crossed for both Daisy and Ton from Washington state 🙂
Hoping all goes well for Daisy and TonTon. Tshwane(Pretoria) South Africa. Laura
I am sending prayers up for Ton—we wont’ worry until we know something for sure, right? Positive thoughts for all your lovelies on the farm–especially sweet Daisy who is so ready to have that baby. Love seeing where everyone is from—what a great idea to ask the question! Coming to you from snowy Mason City, Iowa. Brrrrr.
Love your site! Starts the day for me. Warm thoughts to all. -3 F this am here in Western NY.