Tag Archives: cold

Born into Silence

February 18, 2014Writing Challengesbirth, calf, change, cold, community, companions, connection, cows, DPchallenge, farm, friends, Montana, ranch, Reflections, relationship, respect, silence, small towns, spirituality, winterrunningbrook777

I read the title for this week’s Writing Challenge: The Sound of Silence, and before I could read the context or instructions, the phone rang.

“Jeny, what are you doing?”
“I’m at the computer.”
“You’re blogging, aren’t you?”
“No.” (I wasn’t actually typing anything. In fact, I had only read the top line of the before mentioned page. So, no, I wasn’t actually blogging.)
“Do you want to see a baby being born?”
“YES!”
“We’ll probably have to pull it. I’m going to go find a rope. Come on over.”
“Okay. I have to get some warmer clothes. I’ll be right there!”
(I look out the window. The clouds are rolling in, the wind is picking up, the sky is spitting snow. Hummmm. This could get cold if there is any trouble. Better dress warm.)

This week’s writing challenge was completely forgotten in the phone call. I arrived just in time to meet my friend in the driveway. I followed him out to the pasture. My mind is going a million miles an hour, full of excitement. We are looking for the heifer in labor. Quietly, we round the first corner of the corrals. Silence …..

We walk slowly, quietly, around the far corner of the corrals, and we look ahead …. there she is … and she has already had the calf. Awesome! Full of anticipation, wonder, excitement and relief, we get closer and we see she is licking the new baby. It is a beautiful sight. Silence …..

Wait, something is not right. Silence …..

The baby is not moving it’s hind legs. We move in closer. Things don’t look right. We are talking back and forth, sharing observations, talking to the momma, talking to the baby, more talking back and forth. I want to take a picture of this beautiful moment, momma and baby touching noses, connecting, bonding. I would if it was normal. All I see now is a momma and baby totally focused on each other, yet neither one acting appropriate for a healthy birth. Could this be the end instead of the beginning? To take a photo now seems wrong, invasive. Silence ….

We decide to go inside and call the vet. The vet gave instructions, and back out we go. Momma is laying down, next to baby. We’re going to have to catch up momma and tie her to the fence post so we can milk her and try and get baby to eat. Why is she lying down? The baby’s hind legs still aren’t moving. Ugh. The wind is blowing, the sun is starting to slowly go down. We take in all that has to come together. Silence ….

We get momma caught up. More help arrives. Two of us are working with momma and two of us are working with baby. The milking and feeding goes well. Now to get them under cover. This is no easy task. Moving livestock around, getting hay, getting water, getting everyone situated. The sun is almost down and I’m getting cold. Silence ….

We get momma and baby situated. The vet is on the way. We know everyone is okay for now. The cow-hands head home. However, for the heifer, the little bull calf and their owners, it will all start again in a few more hours when baby needs to eat again. Silence …

It’s dark. I arrive home, very cold. I feed all my horses. Then I come in and shower. The hot water feels so good! I sit on the couch and I remember this week’s writing challenge. Now, the theme is very appropriate. When I ran off to see a baby being born, I didn’t think it would go this way. Silence ….

(After I wrote this, I learned that the calf was diagnosed with brain damage, which explains why it couldn’t eat independently or walk. It was put out of its misery. )

—

Below are 25 random other contributions to this week’s Writing Challenge: The Sound of Silence. For the whole list, visit the challenge page.

Squeaky Cold -2F

February 1, 2014Reflectionsbelow zero, cold, companions, connection, dogs, farm, freezing, friends, halo, horses, Montana, mules, pets, Reflections, relationship, silence, winterrunningbrook777

This morning I woke up, looked at the clock and then checked my local weather app on my phone. -2F. Burrr.

I put on my first layer, then my second layer, then my third and my insulated Muck boots. I put on my hat and gloves, call to my faithful companion, Halo, and out we go.

Halo wants to play in the -2C weather. Hummm. — Halo wants to play in the -2F weather. Hummm.

Halo thinks its play time. (She’s part Malamute. ) Not today. I can already feel the cold freeze inside my nose. Today we only have time and energy to feed the horses. Even with all the layers, the cold gets into the bones quick.

Squeak, squeak, squeak. … When it’s this cold, everyone’s feet squeak on the snow. As we get closer to the horses, more squeaking. Its actually quite humorous, 40 hooves squeaking. Its the only sound this morning. Squeak, squeak, squeak.

The horses and mules all have frosty faces. This is the third clue that it really is below zero. Today I will feed them twice as much. The extra fuel helps them stay warm.

Each time I take a picture, I have to take off my gloves, as I am using my smart phone. With each picture my fingers hurt from the cold. Needless to say, I didn’t take a lot of photos.

My cheeks are starting to feel cold, my own hair is starting to frost, and I have two more trips to make out to the mustangs. The snow is really deep, so walking in the cold and the deep snow, with arms full of hay, uses a lot of energy.

This picture is the view from the mustangs’ corral. It really is breathtaking. This is looking east. To the west, the sky is pinks, oranges, and yellows. I couldn’t get a good picture from my pasture and its just too darn cold to walk for a good shot.

I put the camera away and put on my gloves. My fingers got colder, faster that time. One more trip back to the hay barn and back to the corral and I can go inside. I note that the water troughs are all getting a little low. It will have to wait to later.

—- A Note of Correction & New Photos ——

After I posted this, my husband, bless his heart, informed me I had my F and C mixed up. LOL. That’s what I get for trying to be ‘international’ in my writing. LOL . I have since made the corrections. I’ve also added some more photos below, as the view totally changed while I was in my office composing this post.

A fresh look an hour after I came inside from the cold.

Lunch at the Ranch – The Other Side of Paradise

January 22, 2014Lunch at the Ranch, Writing Challengescloudy days, cold, DPchallenge, Hallmark movies, ice, lunch, Montana, ranch, Reflections, rest, sick day, silence, snow, soup, winterrunningbrook777

My post for Day Two of the Lunch Writing Challenge
… A Sequel With Hopes of Becoming a Lunch Challenge Mini-Series

—— ><><>< —– ><><>< —–

I’m still at home sick. Yesterday’s sunshine has become a cold gray. The icy pines no longer look vibrant, but daunting. Nothing sounds good to eat. I warm up what is left of yesterday’s soup. It’s not as great the second time around, which I attribute more to my sour stomach than to the actual soup. I turn on a movie, Country Strong, that I vaguely remember having watched before. I like Gwyneth Paltrow and Tim McGraw. I’m anticipating a warm fuzzy Hallmark type film. (Straight from the Heart is my favorite. ) However, as the movie progresses, I realize it was much deeper and darker than I had remembered. It didn’t provide the escape I was looking for. As a hospital chaplain, moments of escape are valued.

Then I’m rescued. One of the young people staying at our house showed me his new hair color. Its a bit darker with blue highlights! Nice. I helped him with his ear tunnels. Today was the first day they could come out since he had them put in. I’m thankful for the little things.

—— ><><>< —– ><><>< —–

During this Lunch Writing Challenge, there have been lots and lots of great entries by other bloggers. With each of my posts I’m including a portion of the links to other stories. I hope you’ll check them out. Below are the second batch of 50. Visit the Lunch Writing Challenge page for the entire, current list.

Running Brook Reflections

Nvwadohiyada ~ Peace

Tag Archives: cold

Born into Silence

Squeaky Cold -2F

Lunch at the Ranch – The Other Side of Paradise

Rate this:

Rate this:

Rate this: