Cow update: See where they have gone
You may recall last May when I told you about the cute pair of cows that came to live on my farm, on loan from my friends, Judy and Michael Steinhardt. They are a small breed of cattle known as miniature Herefords. Dandy and Clover, as they came to be known, seemed very content in their paddock and had plenty of thick, healthy grass to eat whenever they got hungry.
With the change of the seasons and the arrival of cold weather, it was time to return Dandy and Clover back to the Steinhardt’s property, where the Herefords are provided with indoor shelter. I’m told that everyone there was amazed at how fat this pair got. Who knew that a diet of grass and dandelions could pack on the pounds!
Such friendly looking guys--they are greeting-card cute! I love their curls!
Posted by: MMC in San Diego | November 20th, 2008 at 7:10 pm
I wish you could have kept them forever but nice to know they have a good home.
These guys are supposed to be heavy not shinny .
What else don they have to do? It's not like they have a job lol!
Glad you had them on your farm for the summer for some pampering.
Pam from California
Posted by: Pam from California | November 20th, 2008 at 9:11 pm
Dandy and clover are so adorable! Will they be coming back next year? My husband grew up on farms and I shared this post with him-he smiled! LoL! He likes cows-sounds a little silly I know but he does!
Hope you are having a wonderful week!
~Tam
Posted by: Tam | November 20th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
Farewell Dandy and Clover. It was fun to read about you on Matha's blog. It's nice to know you were happy and contented guests on Martha's farm and pasture land. Now your back with your owners happily ensconced in a great barn. You guys are the cutest cows anywhere.
Linda
Phila., PA
Posted by: Linda | November 21st, 2008 at 3:58 am
I shall stop eating grass and dandelions immediately! I thought it was all the cake I was eating.
Posted by: Linda Crispell | November 21st, 2008 at 4:00 am
Good Morning Martha:
Your going to miss Dandy and Clover, their such a cute couple.
I was waiting to hear the announcement that a new baby calf would be in the works!
Betsy
Posted by: Betsy Mech | November 21st, 2008 at 4:11 am
Martha, You are an excellent photographer! Have you thought about producing a photo CD of photographs to be used as desktop backgrounds for our computers? I would love it!
Posted by: David, Bay City, Texas | November 21st, 2008 at 4:39 am
We've had miniature Herefords before too. They do grow quickly!! Yours look like very nice cows! I find cattle one of the most enjoyable animals to raise, though the pig we have now is pretty cute too.
Posted by: Rebecca | November 21st, 2008 at 4:47 am
There are so many different breeds of cattle. Nearby, we have the Belted Galloways at Fearrington (along with Tennesee Fainting Goats that are color coordinated with the cattle).
I tried out a gadget here on your website and was amazed at the results -- a post on my blog, automatically generated with a title and link to your photo albums! Being a techie type, I just had to explore this method of sharing information.
http://definingyourhome.blogspot.com/2008/11/technology-time-marthas-photo-albums.html
Cameron
Posted by: Cameron (Defining Your Home Garden) | November 21st, 2008 at 4:51 am
Haaaaa! (Linda's post) Martha, Are you waiting for them to have some babies? Interesting how males horns point down and females are up...hum. What's is all mean? Let's do a horn-study. Curious, too, about the reindeer's antlers (I read in MSL). You planning on building them accommodations at the farm so they don't have to leave home each winter? I'll just wait then 'till the cows come home.
Posted by: tinay | November 21st, 2008 at 4:56 am
Did you ever get a new puppy? Or did I miss that blog entry?
Also, since you have switched to WORDPRESS and the new photo format (galleries), your photos seem to take much longer to open. Could this be a glitch?
J
Posted by: JoAnn | November 21st, 2008 at 5:13 am
...they're saying, "mommyMartha, mommyMartha, here we come!", as they're getting down out of the trailer... Clover and Dandy - those were my pick of the name possibilities earlier in the season (I'm not fibbing!) You had such lush rainfall this summer that I'm sure they had plenty to eat there in your beautiful, deep green fields. (It was a GREAT summer, gardening-wise!)
I have such a soft spot in my heart for animals...I'm glad they'll be inside most of the winter (they'll need some fresh air, though, SOMETIME!) [grin] Will they be returning to mommyMartha's next year?!! (hope so!)
It's funny...I know my "cow" varieties (hereford, holstein, charolais, black angus, etc) and the difference between a heifer and bull, but I didn't know about the curvature of the horns. Is that a valid indicator of the gender of the animal?!! (You only KNOW that I'll be researching that, so I can learn...)
Well, have a grrreat weekend, Martha...oh, and don't forget chuuuch!
=^..^=
Posted by: Cindy Bricker | November 21st, 2008 at 5:59 am
I never knew about the horn distinction. Already learned something new today and it's not even lunchtime!
Posted by: Kari | November 21st, 2008 at 7:19 am
Upon arrival, I think that those horns would have made me a little nervous! I am glad that they had such a great summer with all of the food that they desired to graze on. I am SURE that they appreciated the water sprinkler.
Now I would like to see an update on your new Chow!
Brian
Posted by: Brian | November 21st, 2008 at 7:42 am
"We may recall".... How could we forget those cute Herefords who were even more adorable once you named them? I am sure you will be looking forward to their return next summer.
And thanks to Linda Crispell for making me laugh! I love a sense of humor and your comment was a gem! Trish
Posted by: Trish | November 21st, 2008 at 7:49 am
Hi Martha, Dandy and Clover certainly did grow larger during their summer at the farm. Just goes to show how healthy everything is at your wonderful farm, Martha. Thanks for sharing these blogs about the Herefords. Perhaps they will return next summer for another great vacation on the farm. Have a great weekend. Jan
Posted by: Jan Erickson | November 21st, 2008 at 8:07 am
Gosh, Martha! And here I thought all along it was my own cooking, some of it learned from your lessons and recipes, that was the problem~ all I need do is eat hay!
Interesting article, thanks.
Posted by: Kate Meade | November 21st, 2008 at 10:12 am
Ignorant me - I did not know cows eat hay.
Posted by: Norbie K. of Las Vegas | November 21st, 2008 at 4:50 pm
Martha,
Assuming you gave these cows their names, you did a great job. I named my late maternal grandfather "Dandy". He was very good friends with the late Paul "Bear" Bryant, in case you like college football!
You always come up with the most interesting articles! Thanks! We urbanites know little of cows and their antics.
Posted by: Kate Meade | November 21st, 2008 at 6:27 pm
.
Good Morning,
I left a message more related to carriage than cow on the Bedford Carriage Ride post. There seems to be a technical glitch that happens more often than not when I post. Thank you again for taking notice.
Happy November to cow, cat and ALL good friends upon your farm. May they fill your home with gifts of their love all season long!
Love to you from 6 more animals from THEIR farm,
Butterfly, Noah, Spencer, Jericho, Moses and Shakespeare
.
Posted by: andrea and the weimaraners | November 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 am
Oh I missed seeing your mini's. I think they are so beautiful! In fact tomorrow we're going to visit an animal sanctuary where they have, guess what, a rescued mini hereford! His name is Buddha and he's so beautiful. Buddha somehow escaped the slaughterhouse (wonderfully and miraculously!) and ended living in his new home The Gentle Barn. They have a variety of animals there and I really cannot wait to be with them tomorrow.
And...
I just watched a recording of your show today with Stephen Colbert (he's so cute-love him). Please tell me you were kidding about him not playing a character...He was totally in the Colbert character and not himself. Stephen does that all the time when he's being interviewed. The real Stephen is nothing like the caustic person from his show. Even the sweater was a joke. I think you hurt his feelings a littel to be honest. Your producer or someone should have filled you in better about his Shtik.
Posted by: Marie | November 22nd, 2008 at 7:56 pm
Martha,
Where is the new chow? Did you change your mind or is he camera shy?
Are you coming to Minneapolis for a book signing?
Have a great Thanksgiving!
Sue
Posted by: Sue Krekow | November 23rd, 2008 at 7:07 pm
Hi Martha, Just love your show. My (7yr.old)daughter and I missed you at your Birmingham book signing in Detroit area. We were sad.But got your book at Macy's anyways. I love it.Very informative. I especially like the info. on storing fresh foods and for how long. That's something no other books (I've read) have. Oh! (over my shoulder) my daughter loves puppies! She thinks yours are cute. We're getting her first puppy when we get our new house. We have birds. Just love them Lola(like Mark's) a macaw and Baby a conure. Please contact me I have a great idea for you!
Posted by: Tammie Vanover | November 24th, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Quick question...I made two apple pies, cooked the apples and other ingrediences with your special (PF)pie crust. I wrapped them up well and froze them. Now I want to bake them for Thanksgiving, my question is to I defrost them first or bake them off still frozen...
Please help, Thanksgiving is just 4 days away..
Thanks, Ann Mongelli
Posted by: Ann Mongelli | November 24th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
They are rather cute. had never seen the minature cattle before. I am very famailir with the minature horses as a client of mine has one. I will have to tell her about the cattle
Posted by: lisa brawner | November 25th, 2008 at 3:43 am
This is an answer to the horn question..
Herford horns will grow any wich way they want. In order to get the downward curve, horn weights are put on. They are little heavy metal clamps that look like balls. They are clamped on around the horns and left there till the horn starts to grow downward. I believe that ranchers do this more for show but also for safty issues as well. It's hard to catch a cow in a chute with horns sticking strait out! I lived on a ranch that raised registered herfords and we did this with the yearlings. The sex of the animal has no effect on the horn curve.
hotpe this helps!
Elise
Posted by: Elise | November 26th, 2008 at 5:21 am