Forgetting Short A and Hazel: The best cow ever.

When working with struggling readers, I have to check in and progress monitor them often.  One such student, we’ll call him Al, had a breakthrough week last week.  Like it was incredible.  He read beautifully and mastered some more sight words.  Al and I called Al’s mom over to the Zoom screen and the three of us had an “Al is the Best Reader Ever” party.

This week, Al regretted to inform me that on this day, his mouth could not say the short a sound.

“Mrs. M!  My mouth just can’t do it!  It can’t say the sound for “a”!  It just can’t!”

As he said “a”  in can’t multiple times.

Al is tons of fun.  Instead of submitting math last week, he submitted a motivational pep talk to his peers.  The kids have two math workbooks and they just finished their first one and we were moving on to the second one.

Al:  “You guys!  We did it!  And not just me!  All of us! We did a whole math book! And that is really something!  We did good!”

So, of course he received full credit.  And I sent the video to his mama and it was precious.  Because it is ok if he isn’t a math whiz kid, but he does have a solid handle on growing as a learner and encouraging others.

We are wrapping up our reading of “Farmer Boy.”  Have I mentioned I love that book?  Mostly I love Almanzo’s character.

David:  I know.  You tell me. Every night.  You like “Farmer Boy.”  I am aware.

Anyways. Back in my homeschooling days when my own kids were little, I used to let them color while they listened to a read aloud.  They seemed to listen better when coloring.  So I suggested my students try it out and see if they felt they listened better coloring or just listening.

One little gal, who thought she was muted, shouted to her people:”My teacher said WE CAN COLOR WHILE SHE READS US FARMER BOY!”  And it was super exciting.  And now my students double love Farmer Boy and coloring time.  And one girl drew a pink daddy elephant with a pink baby elephant and one boy drew me a picture of Hazel and labeled it:  Hazel the best cow ever.”

Speaking of Hazel-

I now permit her to be in the cow pen when I am home. And I check on her throughout the day by standing on the back deck and calling her name.

And, Reader.

She moos back to me.

My life is now complete.

When I check on the cows, she finds me and follows me all around.

Exhibit A:

Exhibit B:

And have I mentioned that I love her?

David:  It’s like she thinks you are her mom.

Me:  EXACTLY.

Meanwhile, these two are living their best lives:

Here is our new daily game plan for the puppy brothers:

Strap on their wireless fence collars.

Kick them outside.  For all the whole entire day.

Try to remember to put food outside.

They don’t mind drinking out of the cow trough.

Bring them in at night for baths, food, and bed.

They spend their day monitoring cows and the horse, standing on top of hay bales, and finding mysterious body parts. They are happy.

Last night, I was checking on cows, as I am wont to do, and found this calf:

Calf 214.  And this was the second time I saw him like this.  So, I called David.

David: Whose calf is it?

Me:  I need to check my book.

David:  Can you give it a shot?

Me:  Sure.

So, I went into the house and got the shot all prepped and such and checked my book.  And, Reader.

Calf 214 belongs to Mildred.

Mildred, the most terrifying cow.

I told David that if he didn’t hear from me soon, he could presume I had been murdered.

David:  Ok.

So, I am out there stalking this calf with a syringe and needle, and this fiesty little guy kept running away from me.  And after, like, an hour, I was like, ‘Taylor.  He is obviously not dying.” And I gave myself permission to quit.

Let us hope that was the correct decision.

This little boy/girl was born on Tuesday.

And on Tuesday he was all newborn and weak.

But then on Thursday, he discovered he had legs!

And what fun!

Here he is running around with near his Mama, Purple Cow Number 5, and Purple Cow #5’s heifer calf.

Purple Cow #5 is still a bit muddy, but cleaning up nicely from her little mud-venture.

Please notice she still has a halter on.

Ask me how we are going to get it off of her.

Go ahead.

Ask.

And, lastly, we believe this cow is ready to calve.  And every day, I check on her.  And everyday I text David inappropriate photos of her rear end and inform him of any discharge I might be seeing.

Well, today.

Today, she was shaking her booty back and forth.  For like a half hour.  And for why?

And, no, she was not scraching her back end on the bale feeder.  I have video from that angle, too, however, it was brought to my attention by my teacher team that sometimes it is “gross” if I show cow privacy area photos.

Who knew?!

And she has not yet calved.

The boys will end their basketball season tomorrow.  They have made it to the championship game!

Hadley turns 17 next week.

HD turns 14.

I am old.

Happy Friday!