Kia Sunrise

We had a live birth this morning. Probably while Drew was at the sunrise service at the Plumcreek Brethren Church across our creek this morning. A huge black, gray, and white, mama cow gave birth to the sweetest little red heifer. Drew named her Kia Sunrise. Her mama's nickname is Kia, because she is a Kia/Angus cross breed. Interestingly, Drew does not usually name the cows; Jer has some tag for most of them, but typically Drew sticks to the numbers. We have 5, and 12, and 50. We have a 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7. Ha. Number 7 is an old Kia baby. She is the one I have nicknamed, "Cheeseburger" because she bunted me across the shed the other day. Heh...we all know where she is going. Yes Rob, she is MEAT!!

Below is a picture of Jer flying a kite, on the hillside just below where we are going to build our new home. The woods behind and to the left will be directly, like 20 feet, behind our sun porch at the rear of the house, which will be accessed from the kitchen and our master bedroom. The house will face the west and south, overlooking at least half the new farm. The cow barn and pastures will be to the front and lower left of the front porch, and the horses will be due west, or to the right of the house.
The living room and dining room will have excellent views of the farm and because of the height of the property we will be able to see as far as 422 west of Elderton. The sun will set in that direction and be able to be enjoyed from almost anywhere on the farm, but most visibly from the front porch and living room. Also from the master suite, which will include a sitting area, walk-in-closet, and shower ROOM with a ceiling mounted rain shower head. No tub, since I cannot climb in and out of one anyways.

Jer's room, a library, mudroom/cloak room, and a large laundry room that is not also a bathroom. The living room, dining room, and kitchen will be kind of a large open area, with hardwood floors and tongue and groove paneling on the walls, stained a rustic green in the dining/kitchen area, and sort of butter yellow in the living room. Huge windows in the living room to catch the great view and let in lots of vitamin D. NO dead animals or dead animal parts are allowed on the walls, but lots of period lighting, furnishings, and accessories throughout. Late 1900's farm/ranch, the upscale type. Think Ponderosa. Of course.

Saturday morning before I had fifteen people in my home, the old one, for Easter dinner; we had our biggest farm tragedy yet this spring. Drew called me at around 7:15, he had just pulled the feet of a dead bull calf out of the heifer we have been watching all week. She was in the barn because we had been concerned she would have trouble. We had checked one her around nine-thirty the night before and she seemed fine. Because of tonight's late hour, and the gore of the details, just let me say a lot or her that should of stayed in: came out. The calf was completely born, it had not been unable to crawl away, and the mom was paralysed from the hips down.
Climbing out of a deep groggy sleep, I made coffee, collected some cow drugs, clean rags, and extra gloves.
Filled the thermos and lumbered to the truck. Waking up FAST is not an easy task for me. Drew and I got her up with her legs under her, a better position, and propped hay bales around her to keep her upright.
The vet came. We all worked hard. The little mama seemed to rally and was coming around. (the vet got all the "stuff" back in) Nuff said. She was getting an IV and perking up, when she shuddered a few times and passed away. Our dear young vet stood up and said a cuss word. I walked away. Drew leaned back on a post. She was gone just like that.

This weekend we celebrate LIFE because Jesus died and yet lived. So though we were dead we can yet live. And, I believe we can live abundantly; not based on what happens in our lives, for good or for bad. But because a simple country carpenter, was the God of the Universe, and He lived, and died; as a man and as our Saviour. Who can understand it? Not I. But I know it to be true. My life depends on it...on His Life, on His Death. I can rest. I can cry. I can cook, and I can serve. Can have dinner with my young men, their women, and my man. We laugh. We hope. I sin, and I repent. I love my God, and I love my life.

I took this picture a little later after we lost our heifer because these cows made me laugh. I call it "Chop on my Face" and I think it is funny. Drew has a picture of me sitting on some hay bales leaning into our suffering cow. I was trying to help her stay on her belly. I'll not post it. This weekend we Celebrate.