Birth Announcement

All brand new

Happy Easter everyone!  We felt especially blessed when Fiona birthed a gorgeous bull calf about 3:30 p.m. on Holy Saturday.   Emma named him Ferdinand Angus McBride. We missed the actual birth but did get to the scene while Fiona was alternately cleaning him and slurping up the umbilical cord like so much spaghetti.  Yum!

Cleaned up and ready to explore on his wobbly legs

I had just returned from a major grocery shopping trip and was bringing in the last few bags when I heard Fiona moo really low.  I left all the groceries on the floor in the kitchen and hotfooted it to the pasture where I discovered the calf.  An hour later, after taking pictures and video, I reluctantly dragged myself back home.  I started putting groceries away and discovered. . .

melted ice cream and defrosted vegetables. ugh.

Then I remembered the Easter candy was still in the back of the car, and it was like 85 degrees out.  Oh well.  We had a new calf, and it was exciting!  He is such a sweet baby!  As soon as he could walk he started following Emma around.  I think it would be great fun to train him to pull a cart.  I wonder if the description of how Almonzo did it in Farmer Boy would be enough direction?  If not, there's always youtube. :)  Now. . .we just need a cart!  The other happy news is that we've got milk again.  Emma and I are eager to be back milking and making cheese and butter and ice cream and creme fraiche.  Yay!  Oh! and Fiona is exceedingly happy and content with her new offspring.  I think her wanderlust may be over at last.

Ferdi on Easter Monday 2012 with his new halter and bell!