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”
Ceci, I’m so concerned about everyone this morning! I’m feeling for Daisy. Poor girl. And Ton–like others have said, probably a cyst or a fatty tumor. I know a dog that gets rather alarming fatty tumors on his belly and the vet says they’re nothing. Good to get it checked out, of course. And, now I’m concerned for the sheep! Please help me understand why they were shorn so early when it is still so terribly cold out! They’ll be shivering and freezing! 😦 Ah, I care about your farmy creatures. Coming to you from Lafayette, California (close to Berkeley).
I have to take advantage of the shearer when he comes past, he is very much in demand, as he is the only shearer for miles and miles. My sheep are very lucky as they have a big central pen in the barn, that is presently full of sun and they are just fine. Not at all shivery. They will not go back out until it is warmer.. So don’t you worry at all kerry honey, they are all well.. c
Oh, thank you for your reply, dear Ceci. I am relieved for the sheepies and for Ton. Crybaby Todd, a cat I once had, got a big cyst on his hiney and I put a very warm compress on it for 15-20 minutes a day for about a week and it pretty much healed itself. Ton’s had progressed a lot so maybe a combo of the antibiotics and compresses would be good. I just love your blog and all the members of the farmy. Best to you!
Basking in the warm sun in Queen Creek, AZ.
Your blog gives me so much pleasure every day.
From a small village near Colchester, England.
I’m coming to you from the torrential rain of Portland, Oregon. Ton will be okay, it’s probably just a cyst or a fatty blog. My dog gets them and they come and go. Or maybe his thyroid? My dog has to take thyroid meds. Thank you for brightening my day every day.
I hope Ton is okay, love your photos. Hailing from Kentucky, military globe trotted until settling here in Iowa Park, Texas.
In Ladner, British Columbia (a hop,skip and a jump from Vancouver) the morning ritual begins. Computer on. French roast coffee beans ground then steeps in the French press. I read aloud the news from THE Farmy. Filling the room with words and with the words the friends tumble into our life. Marmalade crouches high on the bookcase. Marcel clatters across the floor. Boo and Ton Ton curl up in front of the fireplace. Your weather is outside our window. We can see the barn just across the yard. The Farmy, Celi and her subjects are apart of our life.
I hope it’s nothing to worry about. Marcel looks like he might be pulling his nose up, perhaps missing the warmth of the Ritz Carlton Sunroom?
Good morning from warm and lush Murwillumbah, nestled in the Mt Warning Caldera in northern NSW Australia. Nose kisses for Ton and Daisy, and Boo for being a smart lad…and love the little Yoda lambie blowing kisses too. Fun to read where everyone comes from, a great idea Equus.
Thank you!
Lovely early autumn morning here in Whitby, Porirua, New Zealand. I read along every morning. I am currently watching and learning about Tui fledglings who spend a lot of time in my garden and enjoying the sugar water feeder. I’ll look out for news of Ton Ton….peace of mind is the best thing ever.
As I do most mornings I’m checking in from Sydney, Australia where I think most of us are relishing the hints of Autumn subtly, very subtly, vying with the last of summer. Putting places and faces to the names of the Commenters Lounge is fascinating, as we congregate to wish Daisy & Ton well… Despite the chilly weather I believe the sheep would be enjoying the freshness of their haircuts, knowing spring isn’t far… surely it’s not.
Oh, don’t know how I managed this but finally found the “leave a reply” place. Gremlins are afoot on my laptop perhaps! Sending a wee prayer for Ton to be just fine – a simple cyst the vet can fix or says is nothing to worry about. Yes, that’s what we want. Spring is coming, blue skies are ahead, and all will be well. I’m holding everyone to that! Just so.
Boo sure is special, he has a sense for others in need. He’s a valuable asset to the Farmy!
I have loved reading where everyone is from! No one yet from my area: County Mayo, Republic of Ireland. But I’ve lived in South New Jersey, NW Florida, and all over NE Ohio so I recognise a few places mentioned 🙂
My best friend is also letting out those low moans – she is due any day now and just as impatient. I wonder will they get their relief on the same day? No, she wouldn’t be offended by being compared to a pregnant cow, either!
Hello, a lurker , Tina,here I have only been reading you for a few weeks and have come to love your animals and your way with words.Thank you so much for sharing your Farm home with us all.Northern California near Sacramento.We had thunder and lighting and warm rain last night.Every drop of life giving water is precious for us.Mamma grey squirrel is sitting in the bird feeder outside havin a munch.I can see she is nursing so feed on girl!Best withes for your pup and Daisy.
Hello, from Somerset, California – Gold-Rush country – the Sierra Nevada foothills. Thank you Celi, for the beautiful pictures and words. Your blog is my first digital destination every day! I’m sending positive thoughts and wishes for TonTon and for Daisy.
Good afternoon everybody. So fun to see where everybody is, all spread out but getting together with you Celi, on your farm. Praying for Ton and Daisy, and Queenie, don’t want to forget her. I live in the Red River Valley (our Red up here flows to the north up into Canada), near Grand Forks, North Dakota. We are supposed to get above freezing today, that hasn’t happened for a while.
On our little farm here we are waiting patiently for our ewe Marzipan to lamb for the first time. Spring is around the corner!!!!!
we need to wish Marzipan good good luck too–what a darling name for a lamb!