| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| sherrye |
Posted - Sep 22 2010 : 4:45:42 PM
since i moved here 17 years ago i had a dream. it was and is a very personal one. when i was 6 i was sent to a foster home. it was a huge dairy with black and white cows. i was so impressed. when i went in the front door i was given raw chopped garlic. a big huge spoonful. to be followed by a warm fresh glass of raw milk. my new adventure began. my mama was sick with the porphyria all her poor life. she truly suffered. when we she would have bad spells i would again be sent to the dairy. it became a safe place for me. i learned to love the smell of cows in a milk barn. i remember sucking my thumb with the soft silky hair on the neck of an old cow. i felt very safe in the milk room with the girls. we would chase each other and jump off the hay bales. i never knew till i was 45 that it was a foster care place. so from then on i wanted a milk cow. now the dream has been fullfilled. i left home at 15. i never went back. i raised 4 sons. i cared for my mama for 11 years till she died just before the Katrina. NOW IT IS MY TURN> belle as you know is my rescue cow. she is a jersey. she has one front teat and one back. i am joyously getting 5 gallons a day. jersey cream. yum now we have her set up to go across the road to pasture. when we went to move her yesterday she did it like a pro. so last night she came home. she milked she did not poop or pee on me. she went to the barn. TODAY she milked went across the road happily waited for a car and went to pasture. so i went out and called her from 7 acres away. she came to me to come home. oh my what a dream. she is a poor old tired dairy cow with 2 teats and a great place to live. thanks to neighbors sharing their land with us. we trade food and farm stuff for land use. i am so happy i had to share a dream came true for a 6 year old farm girl 43 years later. happy days sherrye.. thought you might enjoy me sharing this with my sisters here.
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| 19 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Cindy Lou |
Posted - Oct 01 2010 : 7:21:38 PM
Sherry,
I love hearing about you and Belle. You wanted a cow but it sounds like you got a four-legged angel. You deserve the happiness you are feeling and I'm sure that your DH's kindness in sharing it all is the icing on the cake.
Susan
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"
Mary Oliver |
| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Oct 01 2010 : 7:07:39 PM
Sherry, it looks like you have the routine down nown. And so does Belle. Cows are smart and creatures of habit. That's great that you have a hubby that helps and wants to make life a little easier for you.
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Alee |
Posted - Oct 01 2010 : 5:52:01 PM
Sherry- I bet eventually Belle will come home on her own at milking time!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
Put your pin on the farmgirl map! www.farmgirlmap.blogspot.com |
| sherrye |
Posted - Oct 01 2010 : 5:21:31 PM
oh farmgirls, my next experience with belle. some of you know i have a disability. since power is not my strong suit i have a golf cart. it is electric. i cannot tolerate exhaust. so papa took the tractor across the road. he cleared a path for belles hooves and my cart. we took the lead and i held it in one hand. i drove the cart with the other. she followed me across the road with itty bitty (yorkie) and sloopy ( rescue dog) all the way down to 6 acres again. wow. she was used to the cart since i use it ALL the time. she knows its how get around. she is really learning to stop and wait. i pull down on her lead and she stops. so yesterday i started throwing the rope over her neck and leaning to the right. she turns right. this old goofy eyed girl is so SMART> she has learned to learn. when i go now i have a bell. i am teaching her that i am coming when the bell rings. i hope she will come up to the gate and i can get her with the golf cart.i have to cross a busy road so having a button outside our place gets me in quicker so>. papa even hooked up a button on the outside of our electric gate so i can open it from outside the gate. it makes it so easy for us. i so know that my papa loves me. he also made me a dolly to carry the 40 pound milk can when it is full. he makes farm life happen for me. it is such a fine thing. it is such a great life being dirty sweating and scooping poop and milking.i am going to get belle now happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| gypsy goat |
Posted - Sep 29 2010 : 08:31:30 AM
sweet grandbabies that you have, how wonderful to be able to make such great memories with them. they will never forget-i know i haven't forgotten about the many "farm" things i did with my grandparents
farmgirl#1362 whatever you are be a good one-abe lincoln |
| sherrye |
Posted - Sep 25 2010 : 08:05:29 AM
hi christine, welcome to a fine farmgirl home. you will love it here. milking TOD is ok for me. some go to OAD milking after the cow settles down in milk production. there is a web site for keeping a cow also. it has good hands on info for you. i LOVE LOVE LOVE my cow and milk. so for me it is part of my daily things around the farm. it all fits nicely. if you get a mini jersey you would have less milk but easier to go to OAD. well gotta feed sophie the calf.at this time i have no relief milker but have posted on craigs looking for one. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| bellaboo |
Posted - Sep 25 2010 : 07:54:29 AM
I love it!! Those are wonderful memories you are making with your grandchildren. I am still researching about getting a jersey milk cow. I just bought the book Keeping a Family Cow and am trying to be wise about this,cause I know I tend to romanticize things and the thought of milking twice a day every day is daunting to me. Do you have neighbors that are willing to take over for a couple of days if you need to go out of town? You sound like a wonderful grandma!
be yourself everyone else is already taken! |
| Marcy |
Posted - Sep 25 2010 : 07:42:19 AM
What a wonderful story. You just made my day.
Farmgirl #170
Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give...Eleanor Roosevelt
http://marcysworldofcreativity.blogspot.com/ |
| sherrye |
Posted - Sep 25 2010 : 07:26:03 AM
i wanted to share the way she was last night. my kids had their wedding anniversary dinner out last night. so i watched the kids. we needed to go get belle. i have to go in and open the gate. so here we go across the highway down 7 acres of pasture. there was nana (ME) lol and kisten who is 3 and a real farmgirl boots and all, then bjorn he will be 5 nexy month, the yorkie and the cow dog. so we get her on lead and are walking jome. belle notices the kids are lagging behind. she stops and turns and looks for the kids. when they get caught up she drops her head and starts walking again.. we get across the road and in to milk. the kids rub her udder on the bag to see how soft it is. they pet her belly and say sweet things to her. she loves it. so they helped with chores and then we hung out till 12. whew i am a tired girl this am but filled woith love. kissie said nan you are my favorite grandma and i love you so much. another of those pristine moments in time. i felt full loved and complete. a fine farm day for sure. happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| texdane |
Posted - Sep 25 2010 : 06:55:34 AM
Sherry,
You brought tears to my eyes with your beautiful story. Sending you a virtual hug, wish it was a real one! Thank you for sharing and for giving Belle such a wonderful home.
Give Belle a pat on that soft warm neck of hers from me.
Hugs,
Nicole
Farmgirl Sister #1155
KNITTER, JAM-MAKER AND MOM EXTRAORDINAIRE |
| rschaaf |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 7:40:54 PM
Beautiful!
"There is beauty, there is grace, in my peaceful country place!"
See what I'm up to at: http://www.lifeonctfarm.blogspot.com |
| Mama Jewel |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 08:26:53 AM
Sherry, that's a beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it, Sister. xoxo
Farm Girl Sister #1683 Living Simply & Naturally on our lil Sweet Peas Farmette
"Do Everything in Love." 1 Cor 14
http://www.piecemama.etsy.com |
| sherrye |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 07:18:44 AM
thanks for the positive responses sisters. she is a sweetie for sure. so is her calf sophie. today sophie gets a halter. yipee. since belle has been on green pasture her cream line and color have greatly improved. they say you need good green grass for rich milk. i sooo believe it now. today butter and mozz. making happy days sherrye
the learn as we go silk purse farm
farm girl #1014
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| gypsy goat |
Posted - Sep 24 2010 : 05:52:27 AM
beautiful story-i think it is very interesting how the good memories we have as children-when our lives are not quite what the should be- have a very powerful effect on us and shape us into the people we are if we allow them to. thank you for sharing yours and letting your beautiful memory turn you into the wonderful person you are
farmgirl#1362 whatever you are be a good one-abe lincoln |
| Candy C. |
Posted - Sep 23 2010 : 06:08:59 AM
Great story Sherry, thanks for sharing!
Candy C.
Farmgirl Sister #977
Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. |
| grace gerber |
Posted - Sep 22 2010 : 8:10:20 PM
Sherry thank you so much for sharing with us your story. I often tell folks that four legged souls come into our lives to heal a part that two leggeds could never do - you are her answer and she yours. Give that sweet soul a hug from me and YES, please be careful crossing the road...
Grace Gerber
Larkspur Funny Farm and Fiber Art Studio
Where the spirits are high and the fiber is deep
http://www.larkspurfunnyfarm.etsy.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.blogspot.com
http://larkspurfunnyfarm.artfire.com
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| kristin sherrill |
Posted - Sep 22 2010 : 7:01:25 PM
Sherry, thanks for sharing that part of your life with us. How something kind of sad has turned into something good for you. I love that you had a dream and now it's real. Belle is a wonderful cow and very lucky to have found you. Just be careful crossing that road!
Kris
Happiness is simple. |
| Annika |
Posted - Sep 22 2010 : 5:18:10 PM
Diane said it far better than I could.
I'm just glad that you and Belle have a home and each other.
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Palouse Prairie Girls Chapter
http://palouseprairiegirls.blogspot.com/
http://prairiegirlsjournal.blogspot.com/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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| Fiddlehead Farm |
Posted - Sep 22 2010 : 5:06:30 PM
Sherrye, I love that story! It is so interesting, the things that call us home. So wonderful that Belle has a home and she helped you find yours.
http://studiodiphotosite.shutterfly.com/
farmgirl sister #922
Happy to be a "Raggedy Ann" in a Barbie World! |
