Bouffant Blonde

Miss Lady Bug died today. She was really old but still going strong. Maybe a little slower, but still running things. Those cows jumped whenever she opened her mouth. She was definitely in charge. Yesterday something happened to her. Her neck wouldn't straighten up and her walk was more like a stagger. Grandaddy thought it was her ear. Mama said it was her neck. This morning she could barely move. And she didn't want her breakfast. Miss Lady Bug loved breakfast. Sunshine ate it all and Miss Lady Bug didn't even care. Little Guy was so worried. Grandaddy helped her get into the car. Sunshine and Little Guy helped too. They gave Miss Lady Bug kisses. Mama and Gran rushed her to the hospital. There was nothing the doctors could do. They said it might have been a stroke. Or maybe a brain tumor. She was just so old. They didn't believe there was any hope that Miss Lady Bug would ever get better. Mama and Gran came back home alone. Sunshine and Little Guy met them with eager ...

Little Guy was really, really upset. All the cows and the big bull Buddy had come around from the Big Pasture to the Small Pasture by the garden. They did that every day. Except today they forgot the baby. The new baby calf who is only eight days old. He fell asleep and nobody woke him up when they changed pastures for the night. The poor little fellow was crying for his mama. He ran up and down the fence, looking desperately for a hole to get through. Little Guy tried to show him the gate but the little calf was too big to fit under it. Little Guy was too short to reach the latch. The calf's mama stood against the fence in the Small Pasture. She ignored her baby's cries. Her gaze was focused on the house. Waiting. Little Guy knew what she wanted. Food. Grandaddy usually gave her an afternoon snack. But Grandaddy was gone to the Senior Citizen Halloween event at the civic center. Who was going to save the baby? Why was he mama ignoring him? Little Guy heard the back door open a...

Little Guy was so excited. A heifer had given birth to her first calf. Now she was a new mama and Little Guy had a new playmate. Oh, Boy!! Grandaddy had been keeping a close eye on the heifer. Then the neighbors called. In the pasture right next to their house, the heifer had laid down and was about to give birth. Grandaddy rushed out. He got there in time to see that mama and calf were fine. The neighbor was taking photos of the newborn with her camera phone. Then one of the other cows got jealous. She wanted attention too. So she came over and knocked the new mama and tried to take her calf. Grandaddy got really mad. He made the cow go away. The heifer was so scared. She got her new baby and away they went until they got to the fartherest corner of the pasture. Grandaddy tried to give the new mama some sweet feed. Cows always like sweet feed. She wanted no part of it or him. It hurt his feelings. He left the bucket with the feed anyway, climbed on his red buggy and went back to the h...

Little Guy listens to his Mama count over and over again. "One, two, three," she says. "One, two, three." It's the sound of Mama counting Little Guy, Sunshine and Miz Lady Bug. It makes Little Guy feel secure. Mama always knows where her babies are. He's her youngest baby and the smallest too! One day Grandaddy had a friend come to visit. The two men walked down to the pond. They walked over to the woods. They looked at the carport. They looked at the shop. Then it started to rain and the man left. Little Guy plopped down in front of his fan. He was tired. It was way too hot and humid to be traipsing all over everywhere listening to Grandaddy and his friend talk. Besides, it was almost time for lunch. He needed to rest up for that. Before too long Mama came out the backdoor carrying three pans. Little Guy knew they'd have something really good to eat in them and he was really, really hungry. Mama put his bowl down in his special place. "One," ...

Little Guy loves to help. He trots happily beside his Granddaddy when they head to the garden or check fences. He sniffs weeds and brush for critters. He exercises baby calves. He is a very busy boy. The other day was no exception. Granddaddy planted watermelons on the bank by the house. Mama loves watermelons. Little Guy thinks they taste yucky. He much prefers cookies. The only problem with the watermelons is that they are really, really small. Mama cut five watermelons at one time. She and Gran and Granddaddy ate and ate. They didn't share with Little Guy, Sunshine and Miss Lady Bug because they don't like watermelon. Afterwards, Mama scooped the leftover watermelon from the rind and placed it into the refrigerator so they could eat it another day. She put the small watermelon rinds into a bucket and headed out to give them to the cows. The cows love watermelon almost as much as Mama. Little Guy rushed to help. He scooted through the gate and pranced happily toward the cows ...

Miss Lady Bug loves to eat. You'd never know it by looking at her trim figure. You'd probably think she watches what she eats. Nope. She eats pretty much whatever she wants. And probably a lot she doesn't want just to keep her brother and sister from enjoying it. Each of the dogs has their own special pan for meals. Miss Lady Bug has been known to try and eat the food in her pan and the food in her sister's pan. Sunshine just glares at her. Mama pushes Miss Lady Bug away and makes her eat from her own pan. Little Guy doesn't like anyone near his pan while he eats. He hasn't quite figured out how to eat and guard his food at the same time. He really doesn't like it when Gran comes near him when he eats. She used to tease him about eating his food. She never did but he hasn't forgotten. Little Guy knows Mama wouldn't let Gran eat his food but he doesn't want to take any chances. All three must share the Kibbles n' Bits bowl. Mama keeps plenty i...

Little Guy got up early Sunday morning and put on his very best collar. He smoothed down his fluffy hair and stood waiting patiently until Mama got up. Mama doesn't get up too early. She doesn't like mornings until she's had a cup of coffee. Little Guy waited until she'd finished her coffee. Little Guy wanted to go to church. He watched Mama get ready every Sunday morning, then she climbed into the car and off she went. Little Guy always had to stay home with his sisters. He didn't want to stay home anymore. He wanted to go to church. Little Guy told Mama he wanted to go to church and be a Christian. She looked down at him and smiled. "There's more to being a Christian than just going to church," she explained. "Teach me how to be a Christian," he pleaded. "I'm really smart. I can sit. And I can chase rabbits. And I help Granddaddy with the cows. I can learn how to be a Christian. Please, please,please." Mama gathered Little Guy...