Farmer called my phone last night, “The peacocks are way up on
the peak of the cow barn roof.”
I was watching Wigglies and one was in bed so I asked if he
could come home for a few minutes so I could take some pictures.
He obliged and drove the big red dump truck home.
I jumped in the car and headed to the barn.
I stopped to take a picture of the sun setting. My windows
were rolled down and as I drove through the barn yard I had the lovely aroma of
cattle, fresh hay and sunshine – yes the sunshine smells divine.
I drove around to take a few pictures of Chuck and Larry –
the peacocks.
I decided to go around to the back side to see if I could
get a better picture.
After I was done with that I drove past the “labor and
delivery ward” to see if anyone was ready to deliver. No one there but a few
little cuties that were pretty new. So I snapped a few.
I was so enjoying the whole experience. There’s something
about that that is so calming. I felt bliss. And I realized that truly and
honestly if someone offered me a million dollars for it, I would turn them down
– for certain.
That little drive was more powerful for me than a bottle of Prozac
(at least I think so, because I haven’t actually taken a whole bottle – but you
get the idea.)
After my last long sigh I headed towards home. I just turned
up the drive by the heifer barn (these are girls that are ready to be bred –
just about full grown) and saw the heifers running out of the barn like a bag
of marbles let loose on a tile floor.
They were kicking up their feet and running for all their
worth right down the driveway towards the road.
“Crap” – always my first thought. I grabbed for my phone to
call Farmer and no phone. Left it home.
So I peeled out around the right flank of the escaping prisoners
and raced to the house.
I jumped out of the car hollering “Cows out.” Nothing brings
back youth and a high step to Farmer like those two words.
I hollered “Take the red truck I’ll be right behind you.”
Then I yelled to the two Wigglies that were still awake to
jump into Grama’s car – “no shoes, just go”.
I ran to the bedroom where the sleeping Wigglie lay and
checked on him, shut all the doors to the house, locked them all and we were racing
down the driveway back to the barn within minutes. The barn that the cows
escaped was in sight of the house, just across the road, so I could wrangle
cows and watch the house with the sleeping Wigglie – don’t judge me, you gotta
do what you gotta do.
The escapees came from the north side of the barn. The gate
wasn't latched (grrrrr) and allowed the whole left side of the barn to empty. So we
swung open the gate all the way open and started to try to funnel some of the cows back into the
pen.
“Go get the milkers to help” yelled Farmer. Conveniently,
Son #2 was out planting corn and his wife whose house is right there by the
barn was gone. Son #3 was at a wedding rehearsal and Son #4 was off celebrating
his wedding anniversary. So at this point it was just Farmer and I (I was
handicapped with a broken toe that was screaming mad at all the activity) and
ain’t no way that was gonna work.
I jumped in the car and tore down to the parlor. Drove
across the lawn (forget about the driveway, take the shortest route) and ran
into the parlor and proceed to try to make hand jestures for “the cows are out,
come help” to the Non-English speaking worker. I, the not very much Spanish
speaking employer, finally got him to understand. I also managed to convey to
him to get the scraper to help.
Back into the car and back to the rodeo.
At this time the cows were running out one end, prancing
around the barn and back to the other end where they were milling about.
One of the milkers started to push them down the feed alley
to us so we could herd them back to the pen when a surge decided they wanted to
make another round.
I jumped in the car. This bunch was headed for the road. I
was able to speed past them and they made a quick left by the ag bags. So, I
did too. I sped up trying to get to the front of the parade and managed just as
they were entering a hay field. I turned towards them and they all turned back
to the barn. I felt like a motorized cowboy. I pictured myself a top a mighty
steed and waving my cowboy hat, whistling and directing them as I rode. Pretty
sweet!
By the time we got back to the end of the barn another bunch
was trying to do the same.
We decided to concentrate on small pockets of the girls and
get them in the pen.
Farmer ran and got a tractor and parked it on the end of the
gate – elongating the gate. Then I drove my car behind the tractor so we had a
much larger funnel effect.
We were at this for about 30 minutes.
Two girls who rent from us were on their way out, stopped to
help. There were seven of us against at least 100 of them.
I have been trying so hard to keep my boot (the very fashionable
protective foot wear for the broken toe) clean and poop free. And, that ain’t
easy when you are at the barn every day.
Well, I managed to slip, slide and squish a lot of cow pies.
I was covered in dust, dirt, poop and sweat.
When I got home Wigglie was still sleeping and the other two
had a ball.
Once they were all settled back on their sleeping bags I
scrubbed the boot and took a shower.
The peaceful, blissed filled moment had passed. But, I still
wouldn’t trade it for a thing.
On a side note, last night I was herding cattle back up the
driveway and tonight I was directing Chuck and Larry back home.
