Mazatlan

Some card games kept me on my toes. And no, contrary to what the pictures indicates, I had no Tequila.




A break from the farm and other activities of a routine nature brought Laurie and I to Mazatlan, Mexico. The beach was beautiful. My wife was wonderful and the sunsets were spectacular!

The escaping cow

OK, you won't believe what happened to us tonight!

Well, I was bringing a cow and calf and steer to Dean Lenssen's mom's place. They have some extra grass and I don't.

We dropped the steer off there and decided to take the cow and calf back home since I was worried about the fence. It wasn't built for small lowlines. Thought the little critter might just walk under the fence and into the neighbors potato field.

I got home and looked in the back of the trailer...and to my horrific surprise.

There was the calf standing by itself.

No cow!!

I looked up and down and all around....and no cow. Holy Cow! Where did she go. Can you even imagine the shock when I went to open the door and the Cow was not there.

For a moment I was sure the rapture had come for cows and the calf wasn't saved...but that was not it.

The door was shut but I noticed it was not latched good...so the only thing that made sense was the door had slid open, the cow stepped...or jumped out...and then shut the door so the calf would stay safe. Or...

The door must have slid back shut before the calf got out.

So in a panic, I got my wife, Laurie, from the house, called Dean and asked him to see if he could find the cow. I tied the calf in the trailer hoping that if we found the cow the calf would help lure her back into the trailer. And down the road we went. Dean called. She was running down the road ...corner of Haveman and Pangborn Rds.

As we arrived on the scene, she gave every indication she was happy to see the trailer with her beloved calf in it.

We opened the gate and she jumped right in...we took her home...turned them back out in the pasture and they lived happily ever after. And that my faithful readers is just how it happened.

Gertie joins the herd!

That's it. The last calf due to be born at the Baron Cattle Co. Lowline farms. All total, 3 born on in Yakima and 4 in Lynden. Bubba was a busy boy last summer and got the job done. Five heifers and two bulls. We like that ratio. Two full bloods, two three quarter bloods and three half-bloods. Now is a good time to call us if you are interested in getting started in Lowlines. We have several for sale. It's amazing how fast a small herd can grow. Last year we started by purchasing 4 full blood females, two half blood females and one full blood bull. Twelve months later, our herd has doubled. We'd be happy to help you get started, just like we did. Check out our web site at www.baroncattle.com.

It's a Heifer!! It's Margie!!

Of course, Bambi waited to deliver the weekend we chose to be gone. But not to worry, neighbor Darrel and daughter Tanya were keeping an eye on her. And sure enough, at 1:00 on Saturday, April 15, they watched the smallest, wobbliest black baby calf they'd ever seen, take it's first step. But it was more than 24 hours before we were home to determine whether it was the much desired heifer calf, or just another bull. (Ron did promise however, that if it was a bull calf, it would be loved just as much as a heifer.) The little stinker was hiding when we arrived at home, but not for long, because eagle eye Laurie was on the look out. And find her she did. And Laurie did not spare her the indignity of lifting her tail to determine if she be a she or it be a he. As you already know from the title, a she it is. (Depending of course on what the definition of "it" is....or was it what "is" is?)


Here are the first pictures of Margie. Weighing in at a whopping 45 pounds.

White Belly Button?

Abe kind of snuck up on us today. It was pretty routine on the Aitch St farm this morning. Hurry up to feed the critters, cause I'm running a little late for work. Tonight, more of the same. Home a little late from work, so hurry up outside to do the chores so I can go in and get some dinner. But wait. What's that in the field? Another black calf. And look at that! It has a white belly button, just like Norman. So here is the first picture of Abe. She's kind of dirty. Mom gave her a mud bath I think. But what the heck. She's as healthy as a ......? So another half blood Lowline for the Baron Cattle Co. Five so far this spring and still counting. Two bulls and three heifers. Stay tuned for more pictures and more babies due in the next week.

The day after.

Here is the welcoming committee! After a scare this morning, because we couldn't find the little rascal, Norman, the family came over to welcome him to our world too. Of course, Chad is always intrigued with the Chickens. Trina thinks he is nuts, but has finally come to understand why he calls her "chickee". Be Careful what you kiss.

Newborn on Aitch St.

Well, it's spring so its what you would expect....babies. I was away overnight, so my wife was feeding the critters this morning when she discovered a new born. It is the first Lowline born on the Aitch St Ranch. Its a half blood lowline to be precise. Momma a Hereford, or Whiteface and the old man is Bubba, a registered fullblood Lowline. It's Bubba's third offspring as the first two were born at our sister ranch, (actually it's my brother's ranch, but go figure, I call it a sister ranch) in Yakima. If you go to our website at www.baroncattle.com you can see the pictures of Art's (that's what we named him) half brother Rastus who is actually a full blood, not a half blood like Art. So, remember to keep the distinction between a half blood and a half brother. (In real human life, Art and Rastus are full brothers.) Art's other relative in Yakima is his half sister, who is actually a 3/4 blood. Her name is Shirley, named after Art's full sister in human terms. Now most of you don't give two hoots about any of this do you? So why in the world are you wasting your time reading this. From now on, when you come to this blog, just commit to looking at the pictures and don't waste your time reading. But do check back soon for more pictures, because we have more babies coming any day!

P.S. We have a problem with the name. Fortunately, the birth certificate was not completed as of this writing, so we can still change the name. Which we must do. I have been reminded that I made a commitment to a person who is very important to me that I would name the first male calf born on the Aitch St Ranch, "Norman." So, Norman it is. We can call him "Norm" for short, or if you want, you can call him "Bill." Just don't call him Art, because that is not his name. I really am glad about this too because I was really getting confused with all the half blood, half brother stuff. I think this really keeps it much simpler. And now Trina won't have a cow.