Our Christmas Present

Last night Bethany wanted to go and check on the "momma" cows. We had one that was looking like she would deliver any minute. Dad had gone out and checked a few hours earlier, but Beth insisted. Once again, she was right! We found her out in the woods beginning to labor. We stood around and watched for a long time. While we were watching we could hear a sort of a moan/mooing that she was making. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure that a few times I even heard some of the other cows moan with her. It is amazing to me how social they can be. There were several times that she would begin to pace to ease the pains and the other cows would follow.

Even though we wanted to stay and watch the whole thing, we had to get our two babies in the bed so we left the momma cows to do what they were made to do. When we got up this morning we called Dad. He said that he had gone back out there around two that morning and the calf had already been born. So we bundled up and took John Luke and Sayleigh out to see our "Christmas" calf. (I can't be sure that she was, in fact, born on Christmas day, but I'm choosing to think that way.) Both the momma and the calf are doing great!

In church this morning we sang Away in a Manger.  In one of the verses it talks about the cattle lowing and I couldn't help but think about that momma laboring last night and the gentle lowing that she was making. Having helped Bethany through the birth of both of our children, I know the importance of having moral and emotional support there for the mom. I can only imagine that as Mary was laboring, she was comforted by the animals that were there. I thank God for these experiences. They draw me and my family closer to Him. This Christmas was made a little more special by the birth of a Christmas calf and God using that to remind me of what He has done for us, His children. Merry Christmas!

-Will

To see more pictures of the "Christmas" calf visit our website. http://www.butterfieldfarm.net/

Come on out!

Over the past several months we’ve talked to our family and friends about the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) concept and our hope to involve our friends in the family farm.  Until now there really haven’t been many opportunities for our friends to be involved.  That’s all about to change…

Many folks would think that there’s not a lot going on during the winter months, but we’re actually quite busy.  Over the next 3 months (actually starting any day!) calves will be born at the Homeplace farm.  Our ryegrass/clover pastures at Flagon Pasture are looking great, and the yearling calves are happy and growing under the watchful eyes of one of our more experienced “Momma Cows”.  Feeding, checking fences, building water facilities, still more fences, and on and on.

My point is, come on out! Call the farm and we’ll get together on times to come out and see what’s happening, take some pictures, get an up-close look at a cow or calf and let the kids (and maybe some adults too!) see what “life on the farm” is all about.
-John

Grandpa's Stories #2

Another installment of the memoir of Ivan Butterfield, told in his own words. Each story is a continuation of the last, so be sure to read the previous "Grandpa's Stories" post to refresh your memory.


Driving Ms. Eva
    ...For some reason, I don't remember anything about Mother and my sister Mary (who was three years older) until after we had moved to the Frazier place.  They must have been moving small things in our Patterson touring car, although you could have moved larger things in it cause it was huge!  Dad always seemed to be in charge of the upkeep of the roads around our place and since tractors were scarce as hen's teeth, Dad used the car to tow the wooden drag that he used to keep the road smooth.  On occasion, he allowed me to ride on the drag, that is until Mother found out and that ended that!

     There was a lady that lived one mile north of us with her aged mother.  She was so large that when she talked Dad into taking her to Diagonal to shop (which she did periodically) Dad had to help her in and out of the car and she actually broke the rear springs of the car on whatever side she sat on.  Her name has just come to me--Eva Bodie.  Anyway, one time we were taking her to town when another very old lady came out and flagged us down.  We were probably traveling about 20-25 miles per hour when she stopped us and told Dad there was a snake under her house.  Dad went over, found and killed the rattlesnake, and we went on to town.  We broke so many springs on that car that Mother finally put her foot down and told Dad he would have to tell Eva that if she wanted to go to town by car, she would have to buy her own.  I don't remember if she did or not.  I do remember that Dad, Mother, Mary and I went to her house one day and she told Dad that she couldn't find her mother.  Eva was so large she could hardly walk, to say nothing of getting through the door which, by the way, Dad had already made larger for her, so Dad went out to the barn to look for her mother.  He found her dead in the corn crib.  Apparently she must have been out doing chores and had a heart attack or else just died of old age!...

   Grandpa's story pauses here and moves on to another subject.  He does not speak again of Ms. Eva.  While some of you may find this ending shockingly abrupt, I find that the abruptness is what makes the story so interesting and even humorous.  Most of Grandpa's stories share this bluff, forthright attitude.  His frank descriptions of everyday depression era life are endearing and make me want to read more.  I hope you share the same sentiments!  

   P.S. I know this story has nothing to do with the current Christmas season, but it was next in line.  I'm searching for a Christmastime story from Grandpa.  If I find one, I'll be sure to break out of the timeline and share it with you!  Merry Christmas!

-Bethany