Writer Calvin Trillin describes raising his daughters in Greenwich Village according to his Midwest values and folkways. The family's narrative, he said, was that "despite all evidence to the contrary, you’re being raised in Kansas City.” After Texas secedes from the Union under the encouragement of Gov. Perry, Crankies #1 and #2 can seek dual citizenship in the Republic of Texas and the remaining upper 49 since, despite all evidence, they're really farm girls who just happen to be enrolled in the Austin Independent School District.Cranky #2 has her bag packed for spring break and is counting on her fingers and toes the number of calves she will see at the farm. These Angus calves obligingly are born in January and February so they will reach peak cuteness just at spring break. Midwinter birthdays mean that some babies are born when the thermometer registers 9 degrees Fahrenheit. This lovely girl, nearly a year old now, was found on a hay pile doing quite nicely despite the arctic conditions. On that cold day, Uncle M didn't have his breed registry book handy to record her official number, so her ear tag is more personal than most: Brr.
Smaller crankies will check on the girls they know: friendly Brr, zaftig Brutus, and alarmingly aggressive Pet, who behaves like a 1500-pound lap dog. The girls will meet the newest babies in the nursery, sit on laps to steer the pickups, and merrily offer alfalfa cubes to cows with slobbery black tongues.Multicultural crankies #1 and #2 can operate comfortably in both the land of bale stabbers and the land where a choreographer stages a dance for trash trucks. In three more days, we'll pick up our cultural exchange where we left off.
--MCG
According Kit Pharo, who sells his animals for the grass fed enthusiast, an efficient animal is 1100-1200#. A 1500# animal is too large. My mature Morrison cows are 1500# cows, like the East German woman's track team of yore.
ReplyDeletePet is 1200# or less, which makes her efficient, but still agressive. Pet is Barry's mother, Barry named after u-no-who. If Pet can't keep her head out of the bucket while I'm carrying it, Pet may become part of a happy meal!
How about commentary on some of the warm, fuzzy creatures on the farm. Bunnies perhaps. Or Bambi. Deer are really cute! Surely you have a good deer story to share.
Deerslayer
Oh, my dear, the friendship quilt is priceless! We should start on one this summer, what say?! Love and admiration, Renaissance Mom
ReplyDelete