I live at Miles Smith Farm with my sister, Penny. She's two years younger than me, and we fight over food, but I always win because I'm bigger. She is sneaky, though. Whenever Carole puts on my harness, I have to stand still so she can clip the straps. That's when Penny, who knows I can't move, nudges me from the rear with her snout.
Cattle farming is not for the faint-of-heart. Last week I had to decide which two Scottish Highlanders were going to be processed. The criterion is simple: full-grown cattle without jobs get shipped. The job of a cow is to become pregnant and produce more cows. A bull's job is to help with that. If a bull or cow doesn't succeed at their job, they are candidates for the "beef program."
Frigid weather came early this year; in November. During the summer, I was in denial about winter but not because heating and electric bills increase or because of the snow. My main beef with winter? Frozen water. Winter is a constant battle to keep my livestock hydrated. Cows have natural insulation to keep warm but can’t live without water.
After living on the same farm for 45 years, I have accumulated a lot of junk in our old three-story barn. In the 'Farm of My Dreams,' there is no junk. But the farm I am running is a place of thrift where constant repairing and re-purposing are the rule.
"Can I sit on Curious Bleu?" a 45-year-old woman asked. Since 11 a.m. on our fall Cuddle-A-Cow Day, Curious Bleu, a Scottish Highlander steer, and star of the book," A Curious Little Calf Named Bleu," stood patiently while youngsters sat on him. Unfortunately, the weight limit for riders was 100 pounds or less. Bleu, a 7-year-old steer, is one of our ambassadors
