A Farmer Valentine

Millions and millions of mostly imported flowers will be sold.

Rivers of chocolate have been poured into molds, packed into fancy boxes, and purveyed for high prices all across our nation.

That is all fine and dandy. In fact my girls bought me chocolate and I am enjoying it immensely.

However, I wouldn't trade the farmer version of a valentine for anything. This morning boss got up several hours before chore time. I thought nothing of it. Sometimes his knees hurt so bad he goes down and sleeps in his chair so as not to awaken me with his tossing and turning. Sometimes he takes his worries downstairs for the same reason.

However, this time he had one of those feelings animal caretakers get. Something wrong in the barn. He went out on a hunch, figuring to check on the big cow, Verona, who looked like maybe calving last night when we left the barn.

She was fine. It was my young first calf heifer, Egypt, who needed a little assistance getting her baby born. He delivered the calf and made them both comfy and came back to the house.

Where he made a cup of coffee (he doesn't drink it by the way) and brought it up to where I was still asleep, entirely ignorant of all the drama in the stable.

I can't say I drank it up there. Habit dies hard and by the time he got in from the barn it was time for me to get up, so I did. Thus I am sitting here at the computer enjoying it and thinking that farmer valentines are the best kind available.

I wonder if the new calf is a bull or a heifer.