Do you remember "The New Baby Calf" by Edith Newlin Chase, ? Maybe you've read this lovely poem about a new baby calf learning how to walk to your kids or grandkids:
Buttercup the cow had a new baby calf, a fine baby calf, a strong baby calf. Not strong like his mother, but strong for a calf, for this baby calf was so new.
This poem, which was first published in 1984, comes to mind every time I watch a
new baby calf taking his first steps on wobbly legs:
The new baby calf took a very little walk, a teeny little walk, a tiny little walk. His skinny legs wobbled when he took that little walk, and the new baby calf fell
down.
Buttercup told him with a soft, low "Moo-oo!" that he was doing very well for one so very new. She talked very gently, as mother cows do. And the new baby calf liked that!
The new baby calf took another little walk, a little longer walk, a little stronger walk. He walked around his mother and he found the place to drink. And the new baby calf liked
that!
Birdsong Princess Isabella kicked off my 2018 calving season on May 19th.
When Isabella had her ultrasound in early October, the vet said that she was pregnant with a girl. I was originally
going to name the calf Princess Ingrid, but when I noticed that Isabella was in labour the day of Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry, I decided to name her Princess Meghan instead. But the vet was wrong, so please welcome Quincy! Quincy has the cutest white markings! He has a pure white switch, and I adore the perfect white heart on his
forehead.
Birdsong Princess Jasmine was the next heifer to calve, with a bouncing baby boy as well. We named him Quel'Thalas, and he is the first great-great-grandbaby of my very first cow, Blossom.
The letter for naming bull calves this year is 'Q', so it's hard to find
unique names. Quel'Thalas was named by my fiancé, Ben, and it is from the game Warcraft II. In the game, Quel'Thalas is a lush forest region that was the traditional home of the high elves before it was destroyed by the death knight, Arthas. Birdsong Princess Charlotte was the third heifer to calve, and her sweet little daughter arrived bright and early on July 4th. She is the tiniest thing, which is no surprise as she arrived 8 days before her due date! I guess this little miss wanted to share a birthday with Ben's Opa, who was celebrating his 90th birthday that day.
Since she's from my "Princess" cow family, I decided to name her Birdsong Princess Beatrix, after Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, in honour of my fiancé's family's Dutch heritage.
Beatrix made history by being the first Jersey heifer calf born on the farm since Opa started dairy farming in 1968.
I taught two sold-out workshops at Oliver Twist Estate Winery in May, where we had guests
from as far away as Toronto learning how to make faux cheddar. Then I travelled to Montana Hill Guest Ranch in June, where we had a wonderful time meeting and milking Lexi, the Jersey cow, and learning how to make mozzarella.
The next cheese making workshop is in the sunny Okanagan on July 22nd. Enjoy a glass of wine and tapas at Little Straw Vineyards in West Kelowna while learning how to make delicious mozzarella
cheese!
Naomi
West Kelowna,
BC Sunday, July 22nd, 10 am-12 pm Tickets: $80 +GST
Enjoy tapas and a glass of wine while learning how to make a quick, tasty mozzarella cheese with the Modern Milkmaid!
Take home your freshly made cheese along with the recipe. For tickets, call 250-769-0404. Bridge Lake,
BC Saturday, October 13th, 1-4 pm Tickets: $95
Meet the sweetest Jersey cow, Lexi and her new baby calf! Try your hand at milking a cow, and enjoy snacks and refreshments while
you learn to make gouda cheese. For tickets, call 1-866-593-9807. |
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