In the world of purebred cattle. I happened to peek out the window just after breakfast yesterday morning. There was someone in the yard. I went out to inquire and soon discovered a lovely lady from a far away state...very far...who grew up on a dairy farm in this one, and was back home visiting.
She reads this journal of small farm life and thought she might stop in to say hi and give me a copy of a book she has written...which by the way is riveting.
Of course as is often the case, the ubiquitous Murphy had been at work. Bloomingdale had stomped me about an hour earlier and I'm sure I smelled delightful after her handiwork, and the housework was suffering from acute Murphy syndrome too.
Never mind, life is too short to care about that stuff. I invited her in and she was brave enough to enter.
After quick introductions, the boss sat down with us and the amazement began. Her family had a farm back in the days when he was young and out to set the world on fire with his Holsteins. One of the best bulls he ever bought came from a cow born at their place that her family bred. Thanks to the Holstein database I could call up his pedigree, even though I have no idea where his registration papers have gotten to. He was Willow-Terrace Bootmaker Proud if you are interested.
They developed Citation R Maple, one of the great bulls from back in the day, and one of our favorite old ones. Now there's a jaw dropper for you. (I had to check my notebook, but sure enough my Betty heifer, who was in the yard right outside the window, is an R Maple.)
The boss and the nice lady compared notes on the cows and bulls of the decades of their younger days with great delight. Do you remember? And yes they both did. It was beyond fun to listen and marvel at the connected memories of two folks who had never met, but shared memories of the great animals of those days. I love to hear pedigrees to conjure with rolling off the tongues of folks who truly know cattle.
I think we went around smiling all the rest of the day.
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11 comments:
What a wonderful story! Just as you smiled all day, I'm smiling as I type. Citation R Maple - wow! And she must have really been looking for you, as your farm (as we've said before!) isn't one that someone just happens upon.
Your place is always a joy to visit, and I bet you didn't get a picture although you have painted a fine one here, in motion through place and time and love. Good job.
This is one of the great perks of being in this business. We find we have so much in common, often in the strangest, most wonderful ways. When we had purebred Angus, back in the day, I met so many wonderful people just because we had a favorite bull - or cow or knew someone who had bred one.
How cool is that! Staffordshire Farms, that my husband's family owned for years in Clinton County had Citation R Maple blood lines in their registered Holstein herd, too!
I have blogfriend in Florida who happens to have graduated with friends of ours in SD, we discovered that via blogs and pictures of familiar places posted.
That is pretty cool stuff. Glad you had such a wonderful visit!
Really Cool! And the book is also...about cows and upstate New York....?
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com
http://deltacountyhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com
NW, it was so darned cool. Wait until you read her book, which I will share with you when we are done (which will be soon as it is a good un) I know you will like it.
Earl, you are right, I totally forgot, and will have to get by with just memories. We all have great memories of your visit still and talk of you often
Caryl, isn't it cool! Last summer we went up to a fair to meet the parents of a girl Al met in college. They were at the fair with their show string. It took us hours to get out of the barn. lol
Caroline, what a wonderful world...that of purebred cattle. As I said to Caryl, you can meet someone for the first time ever and be friends in an instant with all you have in common. I have so far actually met a handful of blog friends and the experience has truly been a delight. People who are wonderful in print are so much more so in three dimensions.
Rev. Paul, it was so darned cool and extra wonderful for being totally unexpected. Just wish I wasn't covered with calf....stuff....
Linda, actually about Washington State, but so compelling. For a first novel it really wows you. I am reading it in small increments because it is so very intense, but I like novels that do not fill three hundred extra pages with fluff. This one has spare, evocative prose that is truly captivating. It takes talent to draw the reader right into the world of a book until they forget their own surroundings....
I can imagine the delight - all around. I love that she sleuthed you out and just showed up. Hmmmm . . . getting ideas here ;)
The fact of the blood-line connections . . . Very cool.
And I'll bet that the "calf . . stuff" was just fine with her.
Cathy, as long as you can deal with how absolutely horrific my housekeeping is, should you choose to follow suit I will dust off a chair....and believe me, I will need to.
We were so wowed by the whole thing.... so serendipitous. To think that old Proud was born to one of their cows. He was before my time, but one of Ralph's big favorites. And R Maple! He was born in 1962 so he isn't exactly seeing heavy use these days. However, I have one and have had half a dozen others. To think that her family was instrumental in his breeding and developed him as a sire. What stories! Wait til I finish the book and can talk about it! I have to read it in small increments as it is so intense, but really, really good.
Oh Marianne! I promise. I would give you at least a week's notice before popping in . . but only under the strict understanding that ONE chair - one chair only may have the dust and crumbs swatted away.
It's not about dust kitties and spider webs. It's not about dog hair and smeary counters and tables. Nor mud cloddy shoes kicked off in a heap by the kitchen door.
No dear. It's about the pulse and beauty of the people, critters and seasons at Northview.
This I know.
Cathy, the chair is all dusted. lol
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