White Cow has her Calf...

We raise Shorthorn mother cows

They are red and white and oh so beautiful...

Once in awhile a white calf is born:

We kept her as a replacement heifer...

A replacement heifer is a yearling calf that you keep (rather than selling it with the rest of the yearlings) and breed it to become a mother cow in your herd. Each year we keep the very best heifer calves, usually a dozen of them, to become mother cows in our herd.

Here she is as a mother cow.

She was in labor all day yesterday...

We checked on her throughout the day to see 

how she was progressing.

6pm I ran home to get my camera...

when we returned, her calf 

had just hit the ground

Here he is....a big Bull Calf

Calf Number 26

White Cow was bred to a Black Angus Bull

so her baby is black

CLICK BELOW to watch a video of calf 26

getting up and walking for the first time:

Maybe next time I will record  a live birth for you...if I have my camera ready. CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts May Your Bobbin Always Be Full, LuAnn Kessi

Dresden Quilt.....Toddler Bed

After morning chores...

I went directly into the Thread Shed

I stitched the black and white binding

onto this little Dresden Plate Quilt...

It is just the right size for a Toddler Bed...

The label is sewn on the back...

it is all ready to make someone special

warm and cozy.

Baby calves are arriving daily

over @ the cow barn...

25 calves on the ground...

By the time they are 3 days old,

they are running and romping and

playing games with the rest of the calves!

This cow hasn't calved yet...

she is worried that she may be

carrying a bit of water weight...

do her ankles look swollen to you?

CLICK BELOW to hear a pregnant cow rant:

Video By: Brenna DeVoe

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Quilting Sketches.......Wild Vines

I have been working in my sketchbook

in the evenings...




Drawing wild vines has been FUN for me...








I like to draw out a spine line in pencil,

then fill the spine in with leaves and plumes...






Designs that cross over one another 

interest me...






These designs may have a place in a

wholecloth quilt I am planning...


More to Come!


CLICK HERE to view my online sketch book


CLICK HERE to view my feather tutorials



CLICK HERE: to see My Quilts


May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Wet and Wobbly...

New calves on the ground daily...

After a morning @ the Cow Barn,

we head back home for breakfast...

Before the day could get away from me,

I went out to the Thread Shed 

to do some stitching...

This is a photo pillow...

a birthday gift for someone special.

24 x 24 inches

So glad I had the time to get it finished

in time for the big day!

Just minutes after a calf was born this morning,

I filmed this video:

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Devotion...

Mother cows are devoted to their young...

Calf 17 greeted us when we arrived

@ the Cow Barn this morning...

He has found a warm and dry place to sleep...

Our mama cows are the best mothers

and totally devoted to their babies...

From birth, the calf knows the mother's bawl...

when mama calls, the calf comes running to her.

The mama also knows her own baby's cry...

when baby cries, she comes quickly 

to see what is wrong.

Calving Season.....a real treat!

CLICK BELOW to watch today's video:

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Morning @ the Cow Barn...

We are over @ the Cow Barn this morning

checking on the cows 'n calves...

The cattle are out in the orchard enjoying a....

non-rainy day

The cowboy is feeding big bales and

I am bedding the barns...

Relaxing morning.....aahhhh.

22 calves on the ground.

CLICK BELOW to watch this morning's video:

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi

Thread Shed.....

We are over @ the cow barn this morning...

Looking across the river  in the distance, 

you can see our place....see the red barn

The red barn is on the right...

To the left of the barn is a 

little yellow building,

that's my Thread Shed

Here is a photo from above our place:

Double Click to enlarge

See the red barn in the center of photo?

The thread shed is to the right of it.

Way over on the right are the cow barns.

Thread Shed

The cowboy built this in 2000

I can't believe I have been sewing in here 

for 17 years!

To the right of the Thread Shed

is the Little Red Hen House...

In the summer months,

Hollyhocks grow along the side 

of the Thread Shed

There is always lots going on inside...

I sit in front of the big window to sew...

see the red barn

Sometimes the cattle come into the corral

and keep me company...

The Sweet Sixteen sit-down long arm

is on the left side of the room...

When I sew, I have a view of the design wall.

Once calving is over this spring,

I will have more time 

to spend in the Thread Shed.

CLICK HERE to view all Thread Shed posts

CLICK HERE:  to see My Quilts

May Your Bobbin Always Be Full,

LuAnn Kessi