Lost and Found . . . and lost and found

It has been a crazy few weeks at the Curvy Creek Farm!

I was up in the garden one morning enjoying a rare quiet morning.  Listening to the birds, enjoying the coolness and trying not to curse the weeds.  I don’t think I have had much silence on the farm, not even rural farm silence – which will always include birds, frogs, whip-poor-wills, tractor engines, deer blowing, horses running etc.  So I was truly treasuring this moment.  My sweet son-in-law headed up to help me in the garden and asked an interesting question.  “I didn’t know you got a cow?”  To which I replied – “We didn’t, at least I don’t think we did.  Wait, why?”  – Because there’s a cow!

If I would have enjoyed the quiet much longer, there would have been no garden to enjoy later.  This little beauty was just a few feet from the garden, quietly enjoying her morning graze.  I knew farmer man had been looking, but I was pretty sure he would have discussed that with me first.  So I texted him the above photo at work (at the hospital) with the caption:  Did you forget to tell me something?

Poor thing I got him all excited thinking I bought a cow for him!  Sorry sweetie!

I surprised myself and encouraged the cow back through the valley that she wandered down and she went on home.  At least for the day.  She came back a few days later and we figured out where she belonged and helped get her back – and fix the fence!

Found:  One cow – twice!

Then I finally caved in and told farmer man to buy the cows he wanted.  So, he started that process!

Here they are!

Here they are trying to become lost . . .

To make a long story short (which is next to impossible for me, don’t believe it!)  In the process of settling in 8 head of cattle – 1 bull, 2 heifers, and 5 steer – we kind of lost one.

Lost:  One cow – We now call her Rogue One.

Many people have walked 100 acres looking for Rogue One over the course of three days.  We have looked like complete idiots, obvious newbies, city farmers etc.  We have moo-ed, called, snuck, and examined more poo piles than I would like to admit – just trying to figure out where this crazy little heifer got off to.

Regular farming had to continue while we searched off and on.

Goats, like two-year-olds, cannot be left to themselves for long.  Still had to give medicine, milk (my sister milks, I have not gone completely crazy yet), let in, feed, let out.  Horses – because cows now live at my farm and my sisters farm.  So, horses are a part of the mix.  And, caring for the 7 cows who decided NOT to become lost.

Apparently when you move new cows into the neighborhood, other cows want to come visit.

Found:  two head of cattle – but not Rogue One

We did much better handling the two visiting cows (actually one heifer, one steer) who were older and more used to people.  We managed to get them herded into a fenced area without looking too foolish.

Still Lost – Rogue One

In one afternoon, my husband logged 8.5 miles on his fitness tracker searching for Rogue One.  I can’t remember how many “floors” but it was a lot, this is West Virginia neither farm is flat,   In a last ditch effort after the third exhausting day searching, he messaged the owner of our first little visiting cow just in case Rogue One might have made it to his farm in search of other cattle.

FINALLY Found – Rogue One, hanging out with the neighbor’s cattle.

We haven’t gotten her home yet, and we are not entirely sure how to go about it, if I’m being honest.  And, that is what the blog is about – Giving you the honest saga, hilarity, aggravation, chaos, and drama that is included in learning to farm.

I’m still trying to decide what I think about cattle.  For now, I’ll keep with the stubborn goats and teenagers.  Cattle belong to farmer man.  He is enjoying his little herd.

Just for giggles, this is what it looks like when someone panics and tries to get ready for 8 cows!  The folks at Tractor Supply are almost as entertained by us as the neighbor man across the creek!