Well, she's growing like a weed and healthy as a horse. Early last week we had a freak ice and sleet storm ~ covered the ground and stayed for 36 hours or so. That's not usual for this area ~ it's usually always gone by noon the next day. But Miss Butterbean the Hardhead wouldn't go in the barn that was wide open and right behind her. LOL! About an hour after this pic was taken, we had to make her another bottle and use it as bait to get her back in ~ locked her in this time. ;)
I'm not used to the "ice jackets" animals get so was amazed at the thick sheet of it that built up on her ~ it was like the bottom part closest to her skin melted together melding it into one form fitted piece. It wasn't real solidly hard (I could break it up fairly easily), but it did hold together pretty well and all rested on top of her hair, a good bit up off her skin. Someone told me if the ice builds up like that on their back instead of melting that means the animal is healthy with a healthy winter coat. Any of y'all in a colder clime can verify that? She must be healthy to have taken that cold willingly, the goofball.
She's a little over four months old now and eating hay, grass and grain very well, so we've been slowly weaning her. It had been one bottle a day and lately it's about every other day, just when she throws a fit for it, bellaring LOUDLY (man, she's got some lungs on her!) and doesn't quit after a few minutes. And what a pest! I'd forgotten how pesky bottle calves can be. Anytime we're in that pasture she's right underfoot. But I don't mind ~ it's better than not having her. :) What I DO mind is when she still tries to nurse us even when we don't have a bottle! LOL! But I know I don't mind even that as much as Kenny does. ;) Still having to warn all the men that go in there. ;) *Heh, heh, heh...*
