Cocoa The Love Sick Cow

 

COCOA THE COW

This story has its beginnings in Ortonville in May, 1982.  At that time, we purchased a bummer lamb (no mom – drinking from bottle) and a 5 day old heifer calf which we soon named Cocoa.  We brought the 2 animals back to the farm in the back seat of our old blue Pontiac and received many second glances as we drove right through the middle of the city of Pontiac.  We arrived home and immediately set about the task of making the calf grow – bottle feedings of our special milk were then followed by introductions to grass, grain, hay, pumpkins, etc.  The Schmidt children and adults, had no illusions, Cocoa would someday be butchered and provide us with a great quantity of beef.

Cocoa grew to be a large, obnoxious heifer – mooing (bellowing) monthly for a friend – any bull would do.  Her sexual identity at times reached a state of confusion which might explain her mounting Larry as he fixed the fence.  She weighed 600 pounds and pinned his face and shoulders to the ground.  Finally, Larry looked up hoping for a little help but I was just standing there laughing.  We did agree that you should never turn your back on a frustrated heifer. 

Time passed and Cocoa’s final days seemed to fly by.  On her last day at Maplewoods Farm, she was given a sad goodby from the children and driver on Anna’s school bus.  They had followed her progress and Mrs. Osborne often stopped the bus by the fence to watch Cocoa and greet her.  On this day, the bus stopped once more by the fence – Mrs. Osborne opened her window and bid a last farewell.  The children waved good-by and the bus departed leaving Cocoa to her fate.

We hired a young man to take Cocoa to Howell to be butchered.  It surprised us when Cocoa was loaded with relative ease.  Larry coaxed her with feed while Tom pulled on a rope and quickly Cocoa was in the trailer, eating her last meal.

Cocoa was gone but not soon to be forgotten.  The steaks, roasts, hamburger and more are tender and delicious.  The cost came to around $1.80/pound – a little high but the meat has been a real treat.

Will we ever get another cow – no – maybe a steer but never a love sick, bony heifer.  She was a sweetheart when we got her – bottle feeding time was memorable but time passes and our parting was anything but sad.

Where Cocoa is standing, there are now the very expensive homes that are part of Island Lake Estates.

My Nature Story Book - Introduction

 

My Nature Story

Introduction

“If you feel something calling you to dance or write or paint or sing, please refuse to worry about whether you’re good enough, Just Do It!”

The Spring of 2019 provided me with an explosion of nature.  I returned from my camping trip in Georgia and had the unexpected and completely wonderful experience with the fox family living under our very special Little House.  Not long after they left, migrating warblers began landing on our farm and along the trails of Island Lake Estates.  When the warblers flew away, the wrens took up residence, raised their families and kept me totally entertained.  Eventually, all the babies fledged, the wrens moved out to the fields and I thought possibly nature was going to take a rest but that didn’t happen.  It seemed, as if, every time I was in our yard, pasture, woods and along the trails, there was a new adventure.  One evening, I wrote, “I took a walk in nature, through a swamp, all I heard, all I saw and experienced, made my senses explode.” That’s the way it was during the Spring and Summer of 2019…BOOM!!!

In August, I went on a camping road trip to Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa. During my visit with my friend Gail, in Wisconsin, I was introduced to the book, Letters From Eden: A Year at Home, in the Woods by Julie Zickefoose.  Gail loaned me her copy, I brought it back to the farm, read it and enjoyed it so much that I purchased another Zickefoose book, The Bluebird Effect.

As I was reading my new book, I was inspired to write some of my own stories in a little red note pad.  I continued doing this every day and eventually wrote, “hopefully, I can put all my stories in a book for my daughters”.  On the next page of the note pad, I added ideas – why I love birds, attracting them, squirrels, wrens, warblers, etc.  At about the same time, I read this passage in The Bluebird Effect, “It’s that spark gleaming in the cupped hand of my own experience that I want to bring to you.  I want to tell you their stories”.  That was it, I knew I had my own stories to tell, I wanted to share them with my family and so, I quit reading The Bluebird Effect, and as is frequently said, “The rest is history”.

For years, I wrote in my journals that I wanted to try writing a book but this never became a reality.  It always became just work – thinking about the actual writing and then trying to find someone, anyone to be interested and also dealing with all the frustration and expected disappointment – too much time involved – not worth the effort – would be like a job and then being fired. Now, the idea of writing a book just for my girls, created in me an enthusiasm I never had before.

I already had journal writings about the fox family, warblers and wrens.  I had nature essays I’d written over the years, new stories to tell and on my computer were pictures, lots and lots of pictures. Recently I came across this quote “We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.” Through the years, I’ve accumulated many, many “tickets” and I was ready to cash them in to enhance my stories. It seemed obvious to me that I had all the necessary requirements to write my book and so, it was full steam ahead.

I became totally absorbed, I would sit in my blue recliner, look out my big windows, be inspired, write a story in my red note pad, transfer it to my computer, rewrite, sort pictures, make copies of finished story, put the sheets into transparent sleeves, add them to my notebooks and then move on to the next - it was as if I couldn’t stop writing and the process made me very happy.

I started my project in September and by December (2019), my notebooks were full and the time had come to bring it to a close. I wrote my final thoughts, added my final pictures and that was it, done, complete – The End.

I enjoyed everything about this project.  It proved to me that I could stick with my writing – not start and lose interest.  It allowed me to document my love of nature for myself and for my family.  It was an experience I’ll never forget.

Just Curious

I don’t know if there’s a God, a Mother Nature or some other “higher power” so, I’m going with “Universe” - I think this year, The Universe, said, “Regarding nature, I’m going to throw everything I have at you – what you do with it is your business!” and my response, “Dear Universe, I caught what you threw, wrote the story   and shared it.  Thanks for giving me this opportunity and I’m curious, what comes next?  Sincerely, Margaret”

(January 15^th, 2021-Unfortunately, the Universe decided to throw a Pandemic!)

Living Nativity On Our Farm

 

I wrote the following journal entry on December 13^th, 2003 but the actual Living Nativity took place around 1985.

Our living nativity was a beautiful event.  It was staged during the time when  our 4-H Club was fairly new.  Most of the members during our first year came from our church (Faith Community United Presbyterian – Novi).

Larry and I fixed up the sheep shed.  We put a star on top and had a light shining on it.  We set-up a record player for music and in the shed we rigged up a manger.  We put a board across the door to keep visitors on the outside – they could look in and observe the stable and its occupants but couldn’t enter. 

I made ice lanterns which were placed at intervals from the house to the stable.  To make the lanterns, I filled large pails with water and let them sit outside all night and in the morning, I ran water on the bottom of each pail and the ice slid out.  The ice lantern was the same size as the pail but was hollow on the inside because the water wasn’t frozen all the way through.  When the water was dumped out, a space was created for a candle.  The light shining through the ice was beautiful. 

 The shepherds – Brian Molloy, Mike Everett and probably Jon Henderson, started a small bonfire and stood by the sheep which were fenced in behind the shed.  Colleen Fahrner was the baby Jesus (a large baby Jesus), Anna Schmidt was Mary and Jason Everett was Joseph.  Suzanne Everett, Joan Fahrner and Jenny Henderson were the Three “Wise Ladies” and Sarah Schmidt, Jenny Wroe and Julie Fahrner were Angels. The church gave us permission to use the costumes that had been made for a previous Christmas Pageant. 

That night, it was extremely cold but the moon cast its light on the farm, the record player began to play Christmas music, the star was lit, all the participants were in place and it was beautiful.  We had a nice size group of very appreciative people gather for the event.  They endured the cold and stayed till the end when Larry read the story of the birth of Jesus. 

It was a very simple setting but everything came together and provided all of us with memories that we will always carry with us.

I wrote down some of my thoughts later – “Silent night, holy night” – cold – snow sparkling – half moon – jet stream – angels proclaiming Jesus was born – Shepherds fighting over crook - spotlight on star – record player playing Christmas Carols – way too cold - lanterns from ice – sheep at fence – people around bonfire – We Three “Wise Ladies” – Care Bear gift for Baby Jesus (not for keeps) - all coming together for a very special evening.  It was magical.

Silent Night, Holy Night...

 I wrote this on February 2^nd, 1985 – it wasn’t Christmas Eve but I remember that the visit to the barn and shed gave me a feeling for what it might have been like in the stable on that special night so long ago.  I used the idea for a children’s message I did at our church on December 3^rd, 2003.

2:00AM – Barn Check

Some people would say I’m absolutely crazy and probably I am.  It’s two in the morning, six below zero and I’ve been running around outside, snowmobile suit over pajamas, playing shepherdess.  There’s no way I could go through the night without one barn check.  Big Mama, my 3 year old Columbian ewe, is huge, her bag shows signs of enlargement and I know her time is near.  As usual, I’ve been overanxious and during the last week I’ve been sure that she was ready to give birth at least ten times.  Waiting is very hard.  She looks so uncomfortable and I’m not a patient person.  I want to see those lambs and know all is going well but being a shepherd forces me into patience – slow down – let nature have its way… 

There is something soothing about going into the barn at night.  I don’t enjoy getting out of a warm bed – pulling on my snowmobile suit and boots or facing that first blast of cold air but once out, my mood changes and my spirits lift.  The snow crunches under my boots, shadows from the bright moon are all around.  The dog greets me and begs to be let out to play but not tonight Maxi and I go right into the barn.  The pig is hiding under the straw and the sheep are huddled together.  I make a quick check – one ewe, Patch, will be ready soon but not now.  I scratch my cat, turn off the light and move over to the sheep shed.  The sheep are startled but I talk to them as I enter and they calm down.  Big Mama looks more sunken in the hips – seems to be breathing harder.  I’m sure she’ll deliver soon.  I stand and watch for signs of discomfort, the sound of her breathing and the cud-chewing of the other ewes has a quieting effect on me.  It’s so peaceful – any discomfort or anxiety I had is gone. The sheep will deliver when ready but not tonight. 

I say goodnight to my ewes and walk back to the house.  The glow of the light from our kitchen window welcomes me and when I open the door, I feel the warmth of our woodstove.  I’m wide awake and so I sit down and write this journal entry and my final thought before I go back to bed, is of this old Christmas Carol – “Silent night, holy night, all is calm, all is bright…sleep in heavenly peace”. 

 

Christmas Traditions

 

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS – THEN AND NOW

Written November 24, 2013

 

The Christmas season officially begins with the arrival of Eddie the Elf.  He arrives December 1 and he returns to the North Pole with Santa on Christmas Eve.  He is our friend but, just like the song, he reports to Santa and tells him who’s been “naughty or nice”.  Eddie began visiting us beginning with Jill in Oak Park and he has continued to visit ever since. Eddie is magic.  He can fly – he moves around the house – sometimes he sits on a shelf or the window sill or the Christmas tree.  We all love Eddie but especially Jill, Anna and Sarah and now our grandchildren.  He is a part of every Christmas.  We are all sad when he leaves with Santa but we know he’ll be back the next Christmas and every other Christmas after that.

Just going through Christmas "stuff". Found letter that Anna wrote Santa on 12-24-83. "Dear Santa, this carrot is for Rudolph. Here is some brandy for you. I hope you give me what I want. Will you write a letter and put it in my stocking. Love, Anna P.S. I hope you don't get stuck in the snow. I love taking care of Eddie (the elf)."

The girls have always helped with decorating the Christmas tree.  We have almost always had a real Christmas tree – the smell of pine fills the living room.  There are bubble lights – special ornaments and the Christmas angel placed on the top of the tree.  Decorating the house and tree, a shared family tradition.

 Through the years our Christmas traditions have evolved – we have the new but so many of the old live on and continue today – the old and new – so meaningful to our family – the old Nativity set (from my youth) – Christmas music – Drummer Boy – Spike Jones and his crazy band – a visit to Frankenmuth – Advent calendars - Christmas pig (not eaten) – cocoa – Christmas Eve church service – shrimp – steak cooked on woodstove fire – goodbye  Eddie - Christmas morning – Christmas gifts – Christmas stockings – lottery tickets (almost always losers) – toast and tomatoes – Christmas day at Ada’s – Christmas Day at Sarah and Troys – traditions of the holiday season then and now.

 MERRY CHRISTMAS – FELIZ NAVIDAD

                 HAPPY NEW YEAR Y UN PROSPERO ANO NUEVO!

Addison, the Baby Jesus and a Big Guy Named God

 

This was one of those conversations that began innocently and then went off the rails to a place I don’t want to revisit – for a moment in time, I was the “Grandma from Hell”.

December, 2012 (Addison was 4)

I’m going to take Addison to church today.  This is the first time for me in a couple years and Addison’s first time ever.  I really need to straighten out this “Baby Jesus Thing”.  At Christmas, she helped me set-up the Nativity and I told her about the Baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph.  Later she asked me if the Baby Jesus was alive and without thinking, I said, “Oh Addison that was a long time ago”.  Addison apparently knows what “a long time ago” means and a little later, she came to me crying – “Is the Baby Jesus really dead?”  What had I done, my little Granddaughter thought the Baby Jesus was dead.  I had to come up with something to ease her distress.  I dug myself into a hole by saying, “Addison, the Baby Jesus is just like Eddie the Elf, he comes at Christmas time and then Santa takes them both back to the North Pole.”  What!!! Now she thinks the Baby Jesus travels with Eddie the Elf. 

So, continuing the story, I was reading Chia and Addison a Laura Ingalls Wilder book for Preschoolers.  Addison knows a lot about the Ingalls family and their good old dog Jack.  Halfway through the story she told Chia that they (the Ingalls family) weren’t “real”.  I told her they were a real family.  She said, “Did they live before or after the Baby Jesus?”

I’m hoping to straighten this out today.  Of course, hard to do – my daughter, Sarah (Addison’s mother), told Addison yesterday that when she goes to Sunday School, they would talk about a big guy named God.   So now, Addison thinks the Baby Jesus travels with Eddie the Elf and Santa, the Ingalls family lived before or maybe after the Baby Jesus and somewhere there’s a big guy named God.  Maybe we should just skip Sunday School and go to Leo’s for pancakes and sausage.  

Mom, The Pig and Anna

 Life in the Schmidt house could be unusual.  This is an example from a November, 1992 journal entry.

I awoke this morning to the sounds of grunt, grunt, grunt.  I looked at the clock – 5:15AM.  My piglet, Itsy-Bitsy-Betsy was hungry.  I forced myself to get up.  I warmed a cup of milk, fed her and went back to bed – then…grunt, grunt, grunt – Betsy wanted out to take care of her early morning personal needs. “Hey pig, use your litter box.” “Grunt, grunt, grunt – no way”, so, at 5:30 AM, we're outside – temperature 25 degrees and Betsy is relieving herself on the grass.  We return to the house and by now, Anna is up and preparing for another day and calls out a request for French toast.  I stand in the kitchen and notice Betsy is out in the dining room getting frisky.  She runs and slides and jumps and turns.  I walk out to see her and then turn to go back into the kitchen.  She begins to chase me.  I run back to dining room – she chases me.  Back and forth we go – me in my bathrobe and slippers being chased by a piglet – click, click, click – the sound of little piggy hooves.  Anna comes out of the bathroom, looks at me as if I’d lost my mind.  I say, “How many other high school students in Novi are getting ready for the day while their mothers run around the kitchen and dining room being chased by a pig – it kind of sets apart from the crowd.”