Can You Come Up To The Barn?

"Can you come up to the barn?"

When my cell phone rings, I am usually working at the computer, answering emails, doing bookkeeping, paying bills, or some other sedimentary and unexciting but necessary farm tasks. When Ray asks if I will come to the barn, I never know what I will find. I grudgingly leave what I know I have to do but am always glad that I did. Getting out into the fresh air--no matter how cold or nasty--making the trek up to the barn and being with the Highlands, reminds me why I do what I have to do to keep our farm sustainable.

Sometimes it is an emergency--an animal in the wrong place, a fence down, frozen water. This afternoon, when I arrived at the barn, Miss November, Shat Acres Bonny Maliah (DOB 11-1-23) and Ray were practicing Bonny's hat trick. Baby Bonny can remove hats, untie boot and shoelaces, stand on three legs, and just be plain adorable. Though just four months old, she has already brought many, many people more joy than they imagined possible.

We usually do not handle or socialize our calves until they come in for weaning at six months, but because Bonny was born in November, she and momma Shat Acres Mitzi needed access to the barn all winter. She is a perfect size for families and children to cuddle and enjoy. She has been getting lots of hands-on attention and loving not only from Ray but our Highland House Farm Stay guests.

In the barn, it was hard to tell who was enjoying the combing and hat-trick training more. Ray would say he is working--getting Bonny socialized and ready to be a perfect and welcome addition to someone else's fold. What do you think?