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”
Your pictures are looking great in this new format…love that first picture of Daisy. Hope TonTon’s Ok…
I am so happy to read and record where everyone is from. thank you, Cecilia, for asking your worldwide friends to let us know where they live. It’s just amazing to me.
I feel especially close to TonTon because my Blackjack was a border collie. And the first dog I ever had was also a border collie name Terry.
. I love that you are so attuned to your animals, are so intuitive. For instance, your noting Boo letting Ton finish eating. Most people might think BOO didn’t feel good instead of crediting the quite extraordinary sensitivity of Boo.
—-from just outside Chicago, Il
Oh we need to thank you for giving me the idea! And what wonderful comments today, just stunning to know where everyone is from and how they are doing today.. seems the sun is popping out a bit all over the place.. c
Will be awaiting the news on TonTon and on Daisy from our 10 acres in southeastern Kansas USA where the sun is showing its face now and then.
Checking in from the Ozark mountains in North Central Arkansas! And I think spring may just be on its way. Our last weekend snowfall is melting and will hopefully be gone by the time the clocks “spring’ forward (Get it? Spring!!!) on Sunday here in the USA. Sending healing energies to Our Ton Ton, and Daisy Girl. xo
Hoping for something light and easy to cure. Fuzzy had a fatty tumor that they removed. Magic thoughts for Ton-Ton from a farm in Western Colorado.
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://handcraftedbyus.wordpress.com
♬♬♬ Happy Saint Patrick’s Day ♬♬♬
Perhaps a bad tooth?
Ooooh! look at all the potential customers near by 😉 We’re about a 3 hour drive north of Toronto; an hour north of Peterborough, in the heart of cottage country.
Actually I have been thinking about the possibility of you doing a guest post for us one day Peter. Many of us have sour dough starters but not many of us are bakers OR have a beautiful bakers ovens like you do and it might be nice if you were to show us how to make something special but simple.. Let me know if you would like to and we can arrange it through the email..
Waving from Austin, TX. We’re in that strange transitional weather pattern, so if you don’t like the weather, just wait a minute and it will be different. Fingers crossed that Ton has nothing to worry about.
As a spinner, weaver and knitter, I understand the daunting task of preparing fleeces, so I applaud your decision to sell them. But your post reminded me that every bit of wool used around the world was shorn off the animal by hand. Be glad that you found a shearer that respects your animals and has a place for their wool.
Like everyone before me, I am sending good thoughts and wishes to Ton Ton from Gig Harbor, Washington (state) where we are having what they call a pineapple express, weather pattern. At least it’s a wee bit warm, if not incredibly wet! My thought too that Ton has just a cyst or fatty tumor that is so common in dogs. We just had one removed from our Sophie. Poor Daisy…having had children, I know that feeling…she’s getting ready! Can’t wait for the new calf…and I bet she can’t wait to have it! 🙂
Can’t wait to see the new calf when it comes. Another baby for Boo to look after. Sorry to hear about Ton….hope it is nothing serious. Spring is just around the corner, Celi…never doubt it. Here Spring is starting to fly in on the wings of returning songbirds. Loving thoughts from the high desert of eastern Oregon.
{{{{HUGS}}}}} For Ton and a pat on the head for Boo My second Belgian Turvuren could read me and could tell that some thing was wrong even before I would have one of my headaches.
I was born and raised here in Jacksonville, Florida. The Sunshine State is NOT right now. Spring took a U turn. We had a record low for March 5 yesterday and we will have another one today, PLUS lots of rain
Love hearing about Daisy and am impatiently awaiting her calf! From Alexandria, VA where I read your posts daily!
I do hope Ton is ok – sending positive thoughts from north of San Francisco.
Boo rocks, he’s such a nature caretaker. Sending positive thoughts for Ton and I hope Daisy does well. I’m from England but live in NH. Love seeing where everyone is from!
Good morning!!!!
Love that “a slow long forlorn foghorn of a moo” excellent for a landlocked sailor like me! 😀
Great photos!!! I love this new place all spruced up and beautiful! Nice and comfy cozy!
I would not want the job of a sheep shearer… back breaking work…uffda…no more sheep here. 🙂
But the lambs are soooo cute it is almost tempting!
Saying a prayer for Ton…sigh…I am worried. I pray that it is just a cyst. Best to have an ultrasound done to make sure.
Boo is one of the smartest pups. He is extremely sensitive. What a good boy to watch out not only for kitties and lambs but for old Ton as well. 🙂
Good to see everyone’s comments today! Missed all of you! Summer takes a lot of time and I also had paperwork to catch up on for taxes. Oh lovely taxes….don’t you just love to pay taxes????? Not! LOL
Summer is in a photo contest! She is doing pretty good with the voting and is in the lead! I hope she continues!
Lots of work getting votes! But she is my girl and I am doing what I can for her!
If you would be interested in voting here is the link! Would appreciate anyone’s help!
Please vote for Summer Frost (Captain x Mya) Just scroll down and you will see her name and a circle, just click on the cirlce and then on vote! Thank you Celi!!!! This would really help us out!
http://muddymeadows.weebly.com/muddy-meadows-photo-contest.html
Love, Summer and Mere
Just checking in from Long Beach, CA where I have the ocean at my back and the city right in front of me. Your posts and photos make my day every day and take me back to happy days on the family farm when I was a kid. Marcel’s kiss is definitely going to be my new screensaver and I am not at all worried about Our Ton, nope, not a bit.