Years ago when our children were younger we had some cows.  We had bought a small herd of Herefords and we were ready to get into the cow business.  While we were fencing our property the cows were kept on leased land next door to a fine Angus bull.  That bull took a shine to our Herefords; I suppose it was the color that drew him to our cows because the attraction was so great that no fence would keep him from visiting.

Nature took its course and several of our Herefords got in the family way.  The results were that we have several black with white face calves.  This was fine, but one of the Herford mother cows just did not want her baby.  I wonder if that the calf’s color influenced her decision to abandon the calf proving that cows are not color blind.

Anyway, one truly yucky wet evening I (with a lot of urging from the children) decided to bring the calf back to our place and bottle feed it.  We had not brought a rope or other equipment to catch the calf, but she had been fairly complacent with us previously.  Fearless to the extreme we proceeded to "surround" the calf.  The calf seemed to realize that things were different and proceeded to move away.

Undaunted, I made a flying leap to catch the calf and did so!  Unfortunately the soggy ground also was dotted with several fragrant piles of methane production material and I sorta slid my way through them.

The smell did not deter me from my mission and after securing the calf in our pick-up I turned to my family expecting more than the snickers and nose holding reception I received.  This was just not acceptable to me, a champion and a conquering hero who had faced danger; therefore, I proceeded to catch and hug each of my children until they were as fragrant as I.  I believe that the families who smelled alike are closer with unbreakable bonds between them.

The calf, Bandit (due to a black streak across her white face), became an integral member of the family who bellowed when she wanted the bottle and attention.  Attention with three children was not in short supply.  The children sorta spoiled her.