Thursday, December 11, 2008

Look What I Got.....

The other day the mail man, really she's a lady and she's very rude, came to the door with a package... I had NO idea what it was. It was post marked from New York - I live in the upper Midwest, we are not 'New York' folk ya know. Well, what a WONDERFUL surprise did I get from a lady that I barely know. It came on a day that I really needed a pick me up, more of a you might as well shoot her she's worthless kind of day.... get my drift friends? Well, this is what was in that box....



Is that not GORGEOUS!! The Willow Witch made that and sent it to me!! ME!!! I cant say enough how much it touched me to get that. I rarely get gifts and thats ok, but it was such a surprise that I cryed - literally. Thank you SO much Tina - I cant imagine what I could possibly give you in return for all the time you put into this piece. The little bit of sewing that I do gives me an understanding of how much you did with this! The colors are PERFECT for my house and I cant wait to properly hang it!!

In other news the Milk Man came home today and said he had somthing for me to do. That is far from news, thats a daily statement - but this was a bit differant. Milk Man and Palmer our oldest boy came in the basement door carrying this....


He was born in the snow and crap this morning and his mother was young - dang teenagers. Go play with the bull and when they get the horn... well you understand right... right? Please dont make me explain or I will have to use a flannel graph, remember those? I had that old rug in the basement and we layed him by the wood stove. Poor little fart was SO cold, wet and hungry you can see the puddle he left on the rug when he got up. Milk Man took him into the milk house and hosed him off with warm water because he was literally FULL OF CRAP!













div>I got him mostly dry, fed him with the syringe in the picture because his mouth is cold and he wont suck. When we stood him up we found that he has a deformed leg. Thats not completly unusual and a lot of times it will straighten out. They are like this when they are either over due or have lay in the mamma cow funny. The tendons need to straighten and so on - so he may not need to be named Tiny Tim. The deal breaker is that he is breathing funny, puffing pretty hard. That means one of two things. He either got pneumonia very quickly with a good chance of dying OR he was stepped on by either his mother or one of the other young cows with a definate chance of death. The older cows are MUCH better around baby's and most of them let anyone suck. Its a titty free for all right there in the barn yard people!




In the top picture you can see that I have a towel behind him so that he lays upright like he is supose to. He wants to lay flat on his side and that is NOT good for him. If he has fluid in his lungs or somthing he needs to be turned around every so often so that it doesnt settle and start an infection. I may even make a mustard plaster to put on his sides to 'heat' him and dry the possible fluid in his lungs. SO prayers for our little vagabond would be appreciated - oh and anyone who is lactating out there send me what you can spare, cuz Milk Dud was eyeing this boy like he is honeing in on his 'titty' supply....



20 comments:

Sadie said...

poor little calf :( He sure is cute though! I had to do similiar things over the years raising sheep & goats. Just not as big ;)

Peggy said...

Poor little thing. If anyone can pull him through I know you can do it! I am pacing the floor waiting on Mandy (the dwarf) to go into labor. She has all the signs, just needs to get started. will keep your little fellow in my prayers.

Jocelyn said...

Aww what a cute little guy. Im sure you'll fix him right up and he'll be as good as new.
I am such a sucker for a cute furry face.
HUbby says I am a sucker but he was far worse than I am.
And you quilt is beautiful, what a nice gift!

Mrs. B said...

What a beautiful gift.

I love milk dud's expression.

Hopefully the calf will pull through....

Karen Deborah said...

And you think you need to spend money to make an appealing blog? Girl you are loved! Beautiful gift!
milk dud just keeps his little lovin eyes on you all the time. I hope you can save the calf. How do you make a mustard plaster? I was talking about that the other day. My grandmother used to make them. If I knew how I might try it when I get sick like this with asthma, who knows maybe it would help. Do you know a lot about old herb remedies?
when you have the blues you just fire off an e mail to me and I'll lift you up!

goatgirl said...

Oh I wish I was there to help. I love nothing better than to doctor a baby animal...or I could hold Milk Dud and watch you do it.

Balou said...

What a beautiful quilt. I hope the little calf pulls through. And that Milk Dud - what a poser he is for the camera!

Far Side of Fifty said...

Oh the calf looks so sweet! I hope you pull him through the rough spot in his life! The quilted piece is just lovely..very talented those people who can sew:)

Kim said...

Ahhh...I sure hope he does alright! Go, Baby Cow, GO!

Suzanne said...

What a story!! Mustard plaster for a tiny calf....you are amazing Heidi. I sure hope that little guy makes it. It's very difficult when they are born out in the field.

Milk Dud is unbelievable. He looks like a little man who has been shrunken down to baby size. So much expression in his tiny face.

Just call me one of his "Cheek Pinching Internet Aunties".....We need tee shirts proclaiming out status.

- Suzanne, the Farmer's Wife

BloggessJ said...

Poor little guy! He's a cutie leg deformity and all! Have a great weekend!

Tina Marie the Willow Witch said...

Heidi, when they wont suck, don't you just bag them? You got some dariy friends out there that can give you some extra new momma milk? I had more than a few that the new momma found the deepest crap hole to have her new baby, then usually needed help pulling the little bugger so I was up to my knees as well. Sometimes hubby would have to help pull me out as well, dang but that muck sucks ya right in, but in dairy we take the babe's away as soon as possible and then we are momma for the duration. I was on calf duty for years, its the part I miss more than anything. His leg may straighten but by the photos it does look a little bad. Hey, do you have any terramycin to mix in his milk?
Hope it all works out...

Heidi said...

WW - yup he got 'bagged' last night because he would'nt suck. The syringe was an attempt to stimulate him to suck. We have diary cows too and take the baby's but they get moms milk the first 24-48 hrs... OUr Angus usually arent so bad... no to the terrimyicn only because we were out... *gulp*

Mrs. Mom said...

Will keep the poor little bugger in our prayers here too. *ahem* You DO realize Heidi, that should this calf heal up, he IS going to be a blog family member, right? ;)

That was an awesome present for you!!! You richly deserve it!!! And girl, you are worth your weight in gold and diamonds!!!!!!

Love ya sista- more than you know!

MamaHen said...

Oh, if he survives what a wonderful family pet! He and Milk Dud can grow up together. I know you will take good care of him

Big Hair Envy said...

That quilt is SO pretty! Lucky.

I always have been one to pull for the underdog. Or, in this case, the undercalf:) Cheering him on, and waiting for an update.....

Kristie said...

I sure hope the little guy gets ok! I live on a farm in KY and I know we have little homemade remidies that we make for the horses all of the time, but you must tell me about this Mustard Plaster and what exactly does it do?????
KRistie

DayPhoto said...

How are things going with the calf? Today is 24 hours and you should know. Man is it terrible to have sick little critters.

Your Milk Dud is a doll.

And Willow Witch is very talented!

Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/

Bee said...

Oh, poor little baby. I hope he's ok.

COFFEE MAN said...

that was quite a lovely gift , wifiepoo does quilting and i know how much work is involved .

as for the calf , no u cant keep it in the house always , i dont wanna see no booties or knit caps on it lol