Crockpot had her calf yesterday morning! I arrived just as the little fella was trying out his new legs and learning where the milk came from. Crockpot is not a fan of visitors, so I didn’t try to get too close, but sat with her under the mesquites long enough to see the calf drain one teat and move on to the next.  When I first arrived, the calf was already alert and curious, and looked ready to come say hello to all the new interesting things in the world, including me!  But Mama prevailed and he kept on bonding with her, which is good.

Watching each of the cows become a mother this year has made it clear how different their personalities are. Cruella would head for the hills with calf in tow the minute I even came in the pasture gate, while Harmony was so relaxed about her new baby that she let me pet him while he was sleeping next to her. Red Red seemed to keep losing her calf for the first week as though she couldn’t remember where she put her. Now every time I see her with the calf around she is standing like a sentinel about thirty feet away facing the sleeping calf as though she is determined to keep an eye on it, but doesn’t want to get too close. When Way Cute’s girl was born the calf was underneath her at all times, like she was attached with a little string.  Myj, on the other hand, was perfectly happy to park hers somewhere for the morning while she attended to the business of eating.