Gratituesday...Cows

One of the things that we do to be more self-sufficient, is to raise organic beef. There is something so satisfying in knowing where our food comes from.


The problem? Look at this beautiful face...





This is our very first cow, who is now 12 years old and hopefully expecting again. Her name is Miss Bailey's & Cream. She is a Hereford/Brahma mix and throws the most gorgeous calves. We've had her since birth, when her Mama died giving birth to her. Everyone (including a life-long farmer named Grandpa), thought "she" was a "he". And since nobody wanted to bottle feed a bull calf during the summer months, we became her new parents. Bailey spent the first few months of her life, cohabitating with our chickens and drinking from a bottle. During the day, we would tether her up in the front yard (even though we had 5 fully fenced acres and a barn!), where the kids could play with her.



She doesn't know that she's a cow.



Bailey will NEVER see the inside of the freezer.

This is Bailey's special friend, Lil' Hoop. He visits us every fall. Actually, I don't think he gives us a second thought. Trying to win Bailey's affections is one of only 2 things that he thinks about. The other is eating. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but we don't actually love him for his mind.

This is our newest calf, Angus. He used to be a male. Now he's just plain ol' suspicious of everything. Even though he doesn't let us near him anymore, we still think he's adorable. I'm looking forward to him growing out of that phase however. It makes it much easier to farm.

From the field to the freezer, and from the freezer to the pan...

...From the pan to the plate....

Oh, how I love our little farm!