COWS

 

Speckled Park Cows.  These are my new friends who I am feeding twice a day with Susan during my visit.  Sue unfortunately lost Wilbur about a month ago after a short bout with cancer. Wilbur had been the “hired hand” at the farm for over 25 years. He came twice a day to feed the cows and just take care of the farm.    9 am and 6 pm is the feeding time.  You use a pitch fork to break off 4 sections of a bale of hay for some of the cows.  The younger ones get some corn along with the hay.  You put their corn in a manger and it is behind a gate that only the younger cows can fit through. That keeps the bigger cows from stealing the younger ones’ corn.  Smart!!  The two bigger ones that will be “heading to market” get a combo of hay and corn.  They are fattening up quite nicely.  When you go out to feed them they start mooing at you.  Nice to hear them.

And the farm cats!!  There is about 5 kittens hanging around the barn. We give them water and kibble and the occasional can of cat food.  They have been handled and so are not feral.  One of the orange ones likes me.  I pick him up and he purrs and he has a nice fat belly.  Beautiful golden eyes.  But I can’t go home with a barn cat. Wilbur had a favourite one that used to sit on his lap in the shop after his chores were done.  Jack and him would sit in there for hours just chatting and listening to music.  It is a quiet place nowadays without Jack and Wilbur around.  I am sure the cows and the barn cats miss them.  As we all do.