Watching the cows and calves/"Calves came running down the gentle hill with JOY."/The Poor Clares

 Cute white faced calf with a mouth full of grass in the paddock in front of our red barn... behind the cows and then the field of corn which surrounds us now tasseled and making the ears of corn!

Each day as we pray looking out over the prairie landscape watching the corn grow up to 8 feet tall and now tasseled out!  Dad would comment on the grass up to my shoulders in front of our barn and when the cows and calves would come and eat that grass... well, yesterday it finally happened!

 Father was told that there were cows and calves in the pastures behind us, but had not really been able to watch them.  Well, the grandkids called them up and dad watched them from the porch for an hour and a half.  "I wasn't sure what I should do if they got out and started to go into the corn field."  Don't worry dad they are well fenced in!

 Like a wonderful painting in the evening light ... the calves are almost as big as their mom's after getting grass and that momma milk.

Dad shared a special moment that he and mother had while living in South Dakota for those 3 years as he was administrator of the church in Colman, SD.  "We were out for a drive, and were passing a hilly pasture. " Just as we passed there many calves frisking down the gentle hill with so much joy.  It was such a special sight to behold and something that we would recall fondly after."

 Pat brought along Mary, Simon and David to help get the cows and calves up in our paddock.  Setting up the water tank, and getting the fence ready...

What was really surprising and fun was they went out to the pasture and called them up to our barn.  "The first cow through was one of their fair animals!"  They know the kids well after they have worked with them for the fair.  No fair this year is kind of sad, but has freed up the kids to do other things like go on vacation seeing the country.

 My dad in his prayer chair on the deck watching with great interest the cows finally eating the grass in front of the barn!

 He didn't move for an hour and a half - better than TV!  He even ate his supper out in his chair!

 The went from one side of the barn to the other, but stayed up here for a long time eating the grass was the only sound that we heard.  Too busy eating to even "moo."

 Dad sharing his licorice with the workers! 

Last night my husband was saying that my father "is a holy man."  Dad responded; "He said that because I share my licorice!"

 Mary's turn... her brothers took big handfulls - she was more reserved!

 She explained her farm hat to great-grandpa..."This is my dad's hat that I borrowed.  It says 'Farm to Eat.' "  Yes!  Farmers feed the world!

 Pat and his cows and calves - he has many more in about 3 other pastures too.

 A peaceful moment with great-grandpa on the farm! 

Dad also shared a funny story about a cow that he had as a boy on one of the "farms" they lived on during the depression.  "Someone saw her legs sticking straight up in a corn field.  She ate a bunch of green corn and got bloated.  They had to stick a hose in her side to get the air out and help her to stand up.  She survived."

 Pat always willing to answer my dad's questions about the farm.  He loves his life and has been a farm kid- farmer since day 1!

Pat shows his love for what he does by sharing with excitement and joy all that he has learned over his 65 years of life on the farm.  A lot of that childlike enthusiasm that Jesus mentions today.  My Most Cherished Cross is a bottomless pit of curiosity and always wanting to grow in how the world works and sees things through eyes of Faith!

The Gospel today...  from Matthew 11
“I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike..."

 A different perspective

 Walking forward and very serious about their eating of new grass.

One more for good measure...

 Out capturing this moment - my dad sitting on the porch taking in this new experience! 

 A special red calf with a white face!

 A cow nursing her calf and eating grass at the same time.

 The calf blends in, but keeps its mother in one spot.

 Stunning clouds overhead... dad often comments on them in the midst of our prayers.  Much like being on the big Lake in the ability of see all around - up and down and around on the open prairie before us!

 By the barn...

 Artsy picture with the pump

 Pictures from Michigan 5 years ago on Beautiful Beach!  I have one foot of my mind and heart in Michigan these days as for many years we would be there for these first weeks of July!

I got the pink TuTu matching swim suits of Rose and Bernadette!

 Running pink girls in the evening light!

 Sigh!!!

 Now back again...

Dad and I had a fun conversation with Sr Mary Peter in Sauk Rapids at the Poor Clare Monastery this morning.  Dad wanted to call them to be praying for our wife/mother on her special day as her family gathers on Saturday.  Sr Mary Peter was superior when Maria entered in 2004!  She is now 95 years old and only 4 days older than my dad!  It was wonderful to hear her sweet voice and to share our lives with her a bit on the phone and to be assured of her prayers for safety in travel and for our family as we gather!

 5 years ago on beautiful beach close to sunset!

My mother certainly instilled in us a love for the Big Lake! 

 A special crystal dish that I use daily for dad's sauces and fruit - from mother!  And a book that arrived in the mail yesterday from dad's Bishop DeGood in Sioux Falls!  Speaking about finding that inner place with Jesus in this crazy time in our society and world and country.

Jesus, how we long to have you in our inner temple as we come to you each day in prayer.  Bless all our undertakings and give us the patience we need to face each new day and all that it holds.  Thank you for the simple joys of life and may we be childlike in our openness to you in your Word and Sacraments and are eternally grateful for the wisdom of your Church and your Saints - St Bonaventure pray for us.  Jesus, we trust in you.  Amen and Hallelujah

9 years ago!  As I say this goes very long and deep for me and my family!  Family time supreme thanks to the generosity and wisdom of my parents!  Bless-bless, Barbara

Danielle Rose - Mamastery
Motherhood!!!  LOVE!