Well Bindy is home again. After all our planning and fussing it went off lickity split. Bindy was corralled in the morning by our wonderful neighbor Jim and when we got there she seem to remember us and actually came right to Papa and he fed her some of our sweet mix and put her halter on her, with it's new cow chain. We planned to remind her how to behave on a lead properly right from the start! Then Papa walked out of the pen and Bindy followed and off we went!! The only time he had any troubles at all was when a car drove by on the road and all she did was walk into the ditch. Smart cow!! When we got home 20 minutes later (Papa walked her the whole way! I drove just in front of him and then behind him down the drive to cut her off if necessary!) she walked right into the milking area and into the stanchion. Papa brushed her for a bit just to firm up the bond and we called Maggie over so they could meet across the fence. Maggie REFUSED to come until Papa went out where she could see him and called her.. then she came running. It was interesting to watch them through the fence. The 2 year old dairy 'machine' who is learning to be a cow and the 9 year old short jersey Holstein who is a COW in the fullest sense of the word. Even for all their differences they both seemed shocked at the sight of the other. Bindy has really only ever been the ONLY cow here in the 2 years we've had her. And Maggie hasn't seen a cow since we brought her home in Sept. I was right about one thing. Bindy does NOT like Chip but after a few head bunts and some smelling her and Maggie are getting along well. Bindy went almost straight for the hay bale when Papa let her out and I have a feeling the cow pen will soon be a bit of a mess. Maggie only poops in 2 areas really and Bindy really just doesn't care! Both are fine with me as the reason the cows are there this winter is to get some fertilizer on that piece of ground. I told Papa that it really looks like Bindy caught the 1st month she was with the bull. Her belly is BIG and she's in all around good shape. But what do I know.. I waited almost a month for a calf that she never had!! Papa thinks she's bred too. And as the problem last time was the bull and not Bindy we are hoping she will have her calf this year! Oh and for all our worrying about her bag it too is in great shape. No funny lumps showing, just empty quarters hanging just as they should. So hopefully all is well there too. We won't know for sure until spring when she bags up to calve. I got a pretty good picture of them meeting and you can see how much shorter she is then Maggie!! Bindy looks like a chubby matron and Maggie a long legged teenager!! 
Papa and Chip watching Bindy (this side) and Maggie meet over the fence.
Papa and Chip watching Bindy (this side) and Maggie meet over the fence.
Maggie and Bindy side by side. Maggie is a LOT taller!!
