Adoption on the Farm

 Adoption on the farm actually means that something sad (or bad) has happened.  However, as in "real" life, adoptions usually ends up pretty positive. Earl lost two cows in a  lightening storm...one had a brand new calf and the other one had not calved yet.  He mourned for a couple of days and wanted to me mad or sad or something, but I told him my Grandma Bisel used to say, "as long as it stays in the barnyard and away from the back doorstep..." so to stop moping and move on.

Earl brought the little calf home since he didn't have a mama to feed or care for him.  Rick offered him a new home in his goat shed and the kids all offered to feed the motherless baby.  So, today was the first day of training for the kids.  Not everyone was there, but enough to learn a few facts about calf care.

Luke got to be first, since he was the oldest there.  Grandpa had to coax the baby by letting him suck his fingers.  The baby was a little scared of the kids, but he obviously was more hungry than scared.

Noah was kind of an expert, as he had run out with Grandpa yesterday and learned how to put his hand under the calf's mouth (Noah is kind of a go-getter anyway).

Eli enjoys every second of every experience he has.  He loved bottle-feeding this calf.

Evan is a careful, detail-oriented little guy.  He is worrying if he is doing everything right.

Rajko is eager and "up" for any new experience.  With his Dad's help, he can do anything.

If the "boys" can do something, Emmie can do it too!  Now the little orphan's tummy is full and I think he likes the kids coming to give him love and nourishment!

Next on the agenda, feeding the cows is something the kids love doing with Grandpa.  Playing on the haystack is always fun.  Emmie is just as big as the boys!

Moving the cattle from the top of the bench to the river bottoms was a necessity, since the alfalfa is coming up and we don't want to loose any more cattle.

I know I say it all the time, but farm life is grande!  Farmlife is a way of life, which involves as many of the family as can be available at any given time.  I live for the time I can get outside and see the beauty of the land and the animals and breathe the fresh, clean air.  One has to be flexible to live the farmlife....thank goodness the little calf knows this and has accepted his new mothers.