Sunday, April 10, 2011

The Newbie on the Block


Last week I shared a picture of what I had hoped would become our family milk cow. Butterball was her name and I had high hopes for her.

Funny thing about life, all the wantin' and wishin' in the world isn't going to make something happen that's not meant to happen.

This has been a hard concept for me to learn.

A few years ago, after my morning prayer time in which I casually mentioned at the end, just before the "amen", that I would really like to have a milk cow, I looked out my front window and watched in awe as a Holstein-cross started walking up the driveway. In fact, I was so shocked that I called my mother to tell her that God had just answered my prayer IMMEDIATELY and wouldn't ya know, I now had a milk cow.

God doesn't usually work like that. But He does have a sense of humor.

That cow was not a milk cow. She was in fact, in heat. And we had a bull. She also belonged to a neighbor, who we didn't know had cows, and was scheduled to be picked up by the butcher in 2 weeks.

She was a cow on the run and I was left a blubbering mess.

Fast forward to last week and my hopes were high again for a milk cow. All I needed was for the owners to contact me with the information of where we should pick her up.

They never called.

Note to people using Craig's list to sell items, livestock or services...if you place an ad, please take it down when the item sells. It's very rude to leave it up and get people like me all worked up for nothing.

Then the unexpected happened. As I was looking around Craig's list in one last desperate attempt to find that ever elusive Jersey cow, a new ad popped up. In fact, it had just been posted a few minutes prior to me stumbling upon it.

And that my friends, is how God works.

Meet Waltzing Matilda Mook.

Very stylish farmgirl in p.j.'s and muddy barn boots with Tilly who doesn't seem to care what a farmgirl wears.
 
Tilly-mook, for short, is a 14 month old, registered 3/4 Jersey, 1/4 Angus heifer who came from an organic dairy farm. She may or may not be bred.
 
By this guy.
 

He is very protective of his women and was a little concerned that we were taking what appeared to be one of his favorites.
 
He was scary.
 
After a couple of days alone, we finally introduced Tilly to her new family.
 
They were not as excited about the newcomer as we were.

At almost 2, Angus still hides behind his momma!

After a little sniffing and circling, they accepted her into the herd.
 

And after copious amounts of hay, Tilly-mook accepted them right back.
 
 
 My father-in-law asked me how I liked my new cow. I replied with, "She's so cute!" He asked, "How can a cow be cute?"


You tell me.


This appears to be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Even if it was 14 years in the making.


This post is linked to The Homestead Barn Hop.

20 comments:

Jill @ The Prairie Homestead said...

Congrats on your new addition! She is beautiful! :) We just got our first milk cow a couple weeks ago, so I know how absolutely exciting it is. Thanks for sharing this at the Homestead Barn Hop!

Renata said...

Oh she is cute! I have a jersey that we're raising & hopefully next year she will be giving us milk (she should get into calf around June, but then we are still deciding whether to try AI or find someone with a bull around here).
Enjoy your newest "family member" - our Bessy really is part of our family!
I hope you get lots of lovely milk for a long time from Waltzing Matilda Mook (love the name -I'm an aussie).
Have a wonderful day
Renata:)

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous new addition. I am still in the praying stages of asking God for a cow and the farm to put her on!

MamaHen said...

She is beautiful! Look at those eyes!

Millie said...

She is cute! When will you know if she is 'expecting'? And yes, the potential papa did look a little scary. And BIG.

Carolyn said...

LOVE the cow pics!

Candi said...

She looks like a very good heifer. The Angus part of her will make her calving easier and she will be a better mother, if she is pregnant. I am happy that heifers don't care what you wear into the barn, I have worn a really "dressy" top with my muckers while feeding. They could care less. Congratulations and I hope you have an easy time handeling her.

Susan said...

Kim, she is, she's very cute!!! What do guys know?.....congratulations, what a blessing she is going to be to you and your family.
I am planning on getting a milking Jersey cow. Soon I hope. Tilly looks to be very sweet and gentle. Enjoy!

Mona @ Healthy Homesteading said...

Congrats! God is good! I hope to get a Jersey one day too.

A Baker's Dozen Barnhouse News said...

Kim,

Congratulations! We have Jersey milk cows, and I LOVE having access to all that milk:) It's so nice being able to cross dairy products off the grocery list, and I noticed that you also have plenty of family members to help you use it all up:)

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment. I'll have to find Frontier House. We love Victorian Farm, and they also have Edwardian Farm, The Victorian Pharmacy, and Tales from the Green Valley. The last one is about farm life during the age of the Stuarts.

Blessings,

Sherry

Farmer's City Wife said...

Oh my, 14 years?? I've only been waiting for three and it feels like an eternity! I check Craigslist weekly and drool over each Jersey that comes up (only a handful a year!) and DREAM I tell you, DREAM of the day we can actually have one. We actually bought a Jersey last year who was 6 months pregnant, but she lost her calf and hasn't taken again despite plenty of time with the bulls. I'm afraid my dream milk cow is going to end up in the freezer soon :(.

Anyway, congrats on your little beauty! She's so cute!

Sally said...

love love love love love love! I am so glad i stopped here on the Barn Hop today! SHe is just lovely!!!

~ Janis said...

A cow is the perfect gift. It keeps on giving.
If she is open, breed her to an angus bull.
Congratulations to all of you.
Come see our little muddy, Vermont herd when you have a chance:
www.tailgait.blogspot.com

farmer said...

loving your blog!
I found you through the barn hop.
Your Tilly is a beauty, I'm sure you will love her as much as I love my Jersey.
Congrats on your first milk cow!
I can't wait to read more :) I'm your newest follower.

dr momi said...

She is definitly cute! :-)

cindy said...

Hi Kim, she is a cutie! i think cow's have soulful eyes. i want a milk cow too! but first i need a fence:) yes, we are neighbors, sort of, i am in olympia :)

Wonderwoman said...

She is JUST beautiful! I am very happy for you. Hopefully soon, you'll be swimming in milk!

Savories of life said...

Wow! You ahve cows and chickens. That is my dream-- to have a farm some day. God bless. Check me out.

Unknown said...

Congrats! Some dreams just take longer to boil that's all!!!I don't like waiting either...
I'm in my 39th year waiting for my first horse!
Deb ( from the hbh )

Unknown said...

You are one patient lady waiting that long! She's gorgeous- I'm so happy for you! You are going to love all that fresh milk. :)