January 11, 8:00am.
I'm just sitting down to start work for the day when I remember my phone is laying on the kitchen table. I leave my office and step into the kitchen to grab the phone off of the table. The outdoor thermometer next to the kitchen window reads 22 degrees, and I can see by the branches of the trees outside that it's windy, too. In some places 22 degrees would be considered tropical for winter temperatures, but for here in Central Texas, that's just down-right COLD!
Something catches my eye out the window; something odd is standing in what's left of a round bale of hay out in the pasture. At first I think it's Riblet, our littlest black bull calf. He's the smallest in the herd. The way he is hunched up in the middle makes me think something might be wrong with him, like maybe he got injured in the night. A dreadful thought. If it is Riblet, it's odd that he isn't with his mother. The only other cow I see in the pasture is Pixie. Something isn't right.
I walk over to the other kitchen window to get a better look (a view not obstructed by tree branches), and it becomes very clear to me that what I am seeing isn't Riblet at all! Pixie, yes ... and HOLY COW, a new baby COW!
It's 22 degrees. I put on my hat, scarf, coat, gloves, and boots, and stuff my phone in a pocket. Alan is in Missouri spending some time with family, and will want to hear the news right away. I dial his number as I walk out the door.
Pixie isn't interested in letting me get near. She sees me walking towards the pasture and her and the baby hi-tail it (as quickly as a newborn can go) towards the far end of the pasture. Not wanting to stress her and the calf, I go back to the house and get in the car. I drive down the road and fence line in the direction she went. When I catch up with her, the two of them have joined the rest of the herd at the tree line. Little one is nursing, and all seems to be going well. Alan is thrilled!
Later in the day I pop outside to see where they might be. The entire herd is in the back pasture, and little one is enjoying a snooze in the hay, out of the wind.
After work and just before sunset, I take my camera out for some photos...
Meet Pixie's Popsicle!
Curious... and knock-kneed, with pink ears and nose!
"It was warmer INSIDE my mom!"
Momma-Pixie looking on.
Peek-a-boo!
Snack time!
do you think Popsicle is root beer flavored or orange? hee hee.
Posted by: Lisa | January 20, 2011 at 07:45 AM
What a precious baby! And she/he is doing so well too! What a cold morning to be born on!
Posted by: Shellie Daniel | January 13, 2011 at 08:40 PM
"Announcing: my precious Popsicle!"
Momma Pixie is so proud...what a gorgeous baby! I'll be she WAS thinking, "hey, why is it so cold and big out here??!" That would be quite a shock after being very warm and cozy for a few months! :D
Popsicle is a doll...I wish I could give 'em a big HUG!
Posted by: diane mcvey | January 13, 2011 at 03:29 PM
This is the last one, right? 35 & raining here at the moment. slush slop and hilarity are the order of the day. Congrats on the new one. Lets hope it's healthy and has all it's fingers and toes, we dont want any deformed "grand children". It's funny how herd size increases alarmingly after you get past 3 cows and no bull calves......Love, Dad
Posted by: DK Wight | January 13, 2011 at 01:01 PM
Oh, how adorable! Congrats, glad all is going well with the new little one. 22 degrees is pretty darned cold anywhere, much less Texas!
Posted by: Troy Louise | January 13, 2011 at 12:12 PM
What a cute and evidently unexpected addition. Much too cold to be dumped out into the world. I love the photos. TFS
Posted by: Merlene | January 13, 2011 at 07:26 AM
It may be cold but this story if about as heart warming as you can get. Thanks so much for sharing your life with us. It makes mine a little happier.
Posted by: Candy | January 13, 2011 at 06:10 AM
Awwwww How sweet! Babies are so stinkin' cute! So Anna, when are we going to see some new Dexter cow stamps named after the adorable members of your farm family?? :-)
Posted by: Darlene | January 13, 2011 at 05:56 AM
Congrats on an uneventful birth and another healthy calf.
Posted by: Nebraska Dave | January 13, 2011 at 05:24 AM
I think all of your baby cows have been cute ones but I think that this is the cutest calf I have EVER seen! We are having the same weather here in Utah and I can't image being born in this weather I would have stayed in momma. :)
Posted by: Katie R | January 12, 2011 at 08:19 PM
Awww...so adorable!!
Great photos, Anna
Karen x
Posted by: Karen | January 12, 2011 at 08:16 PM
What a darling! And 22 is balmy. Be glad she's not up here where the high was about 3 degrees. Glad she's healthy!
Posted by: Shala | January 12, 2011 at 08:07 PM
Wow, how sweet! Boy or girl?
Posted by: Janet Sisk | January 12, 2011 at 07:48 PM
darling!
Posted by: Val | January 12, 2011 at 07:02 PM
What a happy card. Very cute.
Posted by: Jeannette aka Jnett | January 12, 2011 at 06:45 PM
Aww, such a sweet and heartwarming story! And man do you need a little warming, LOL. You came up with the perfect name for Pixie's calf.
Thanks for the smile!
Posted by: Martha | January 12, 2011 at 06:21 PM
Congrats to all!! I love the name Popsickle!!
Posted by: Sherri | January 12, 2011 at 06:14 PM
Oh my word...Pixie's Popsicle is just the cutest! I love your photos!
Posted by: Mary Henesey | January 12, 2011 at 05:52 PM
So precious ... and a perfect name !!!
Posted by: Simmy | January 12, 2011 at 05:16 PM
What a darling addition!
Posted by: Trixie | January 12, 2011 at 05:08 PM
Congrats on the new addition! So so cute!!
Posted by: Jessie McLaughlin | January 12, 2011 at 05:01 PM
What a happy surprise. LOVE the name too. Welcome to the world wee Pixie's Popsicle!
Posted by: Jennifer Woodward | January 12, 2011 at 04:29 PM
Oh what a fun surprise! Congrats on the new farm baby, sooo cute! Love the name, too!
Posted by: Kelly Schirmer | January 12, 2011 at 04:28 PM
Popsickle wishes she had stayed inside her mama, where it is warm!
Posted by: Judy Workman | January 12, 2011 at 03:59 PM
Awww, what a sweet surprise! Congrats! perfect name for her too!
Posted by: Dee in N.H. | January 12, 2011 at 03:45 PM
Oh My Goodness, she picked the coldest day of the year to give birth! Good to see that all is well. BAby looks alot like Mom. And Pixie's Popsicle is the PERFECT name. Brrrr.
Hugs all around.
Posted by: Carol Dee | January 12, 2011 at 03:14 PM
Congrats! So glad the little one wasn't frostbit!
Posted by: michelle | January 12, 2011 at 03:04 PM
How awesome! They both look good. Love your photos Anna!
Posted by: Susan | January 12, 2011 at 03:03 PM
Gorgeous photos, and both mammy and baby look wonderful. Pixie has a great coat (unlike ours in the shed).
Posted by: Sian | January 12, 2011 at 03:02 PM