Paparazzi Moments

With Taylor Swift's sudden interest in "football," security at certain football stadiums has had a corresponding uptick. A whole new breed of paparazzi is more interested in what's happening in a stadium suite than the action happening between the goal lines. 

Tye and Todd have to deal with their own influx of paparazzi these days. So far, security has not increased, and we are allowed to view and photograph the Class of 2024 with no impediments - as long as we shut the gates. 

While we aren't doing the day-to-day cattle chores any longer, we still own our mama cows. Tye and his dad, Todd, are the caretakers and calve out our mamas, along with their own herd. As I've said before, we are fortunate to have a liberal visitation policy in the neighborhood maternity ward. (Hopefully, they don't cringe every time they see our pickup.) We've already had "visiting hours" several times this winter.

Even though No. 2 doesn't have a yellow tag - so it's not our calf - I couldn't resist snapping its photo. Tye saw us out there and called to tell us to look for a calf with a white leg. It had already caught my eye - and the camera lens - before the phone call.

 

Mom looked me over rather sternly, but she was OK with the paparazzi moment, too. That spot on her forehead made it look like she was cocking her eyebrow at the unwanted attention for her baby.

I couldn't help but laugh at No. 956. From its perch on the wrong side of the electric fence, it looked like a defiant toddler with an attitude.

This one was at the salt block feeder. But there were no "lick-your-lips" moments, a photo I finally got during last calving season.

We noticed several calves with an RP on the tag. As Tye and Todd told Randy before, the initials indicate which bull was used for breeding the progeny. We couldn't resist another phone call to Tye, asking him if the RP stood for Royal Purple. 

Tye - who is as big a KU fan as we are K-State fans - assured us that no bull in their herd had anything to do with purple (our Wildcat colors).

I always like seeing the interaction between mothers and babies. 

During this Valentine's month, there's no shortage of love around - for bovines, too.

 

There might be some family resemblance among the mamas and babies.

 

This baby was receiving a little "spa" treatment in the shed.  

 It's definitely cuteness overload in the maternity ward.
 

I'm sure it won't be our last visit.