Cellie

Cellie is the ultimate "Mom" at our place. We got Cellie about 2 years ago. She's proud, strong-willed Longhorn cow. She has one job on our place... to look pretty. I'm not sure why Matt and I thought we needed her. In fact, we've debated about whether or not to keep her, she's never served any real purpose out there that I could think of, until a few days ago. Here in the Texas Panhandle Fall rain is much needed but seldom received. However, the Lord blessed us las week with several days of constant, cool, steady rain. It was beautiful to watch and rainfall and everything get a good 'rinsing off'. The animals all seemed to enjoy it, for the first couple of days. By the end of day two and no sunshine, the horses began to head for shelter, the goats curled up under a tree together, the cats all hid in the hay, the dogs wanted inside-they are a little spoiled. it seemed, by instinct, they all knew what to do in a situation such as this, except for our little roping calves. We like to keep them turned out so they can graze. When the rain bgan they stayed close by their pen utilizing the shelter from time to time. However, eventually they begun to stray from the pens and wander further and further from protection. This is where Cellie found her calling. I noticed that she stayed right with them; even when the occasional downpour set in, she never left them. It is strange to me that she knew where to go during this type of weather, she's been around a long time, and these were not her babies, but she chose to stand out in the rain with them for a couple of days until she was able to corral them back to shelter. The little calves must have understood her task, because now that the sun is shining and the grass is green and the grazing is good, I look out the window and see Cellie laying in grass that nearly covers her horns and all around her I see little black and red calf ears barely peeking over the brush. They have found a nurturer, a caretaker, a Mom!