The Departure of Lili

Lili is Maggie's little heifer.  She's a pretty little thing and is almost seven months old. We chronicled her birth back on September 19, 2013 and you can look at that post, if you wish, by clicking on this link: Lili's birth  Lili is still nursing on Maggie along with Amy.  Lili was Maggie's first heifer and her milk is rich and has allowed Lili to grow strong.  Her lines are good and she has a nice long frame.  She has a gentle disposition and is halter broken.

Our little 3 acre pasture is just not large enough to provide enough grass for our growing Jersey herd.  We've always sold any little bull calves that our cows have given us.  This was the first time that we've considered selling a heifer.  Registered Jersey heifers are a hot commodity and it didn't take long to locate a buyer.  We know the purchaser and know that Lili will have a good home.  Since the family that purchased Lili shows dairy cows, we'll be able to see Lili from time to time.  Saturday morning the transfer took place as the purchaser was bringing his trailer to the house to pick her up.

Lili

I put a lead rope on her and walked her out into the front yard to make it easier to load her into the trailer. While we waited she wanted me to take some glamour photos in front of the blooming azaleas.  She's so vain.

Lili amidst the azaleas (with a matching lead rope)

Most of the animal family lined up at the gate to bid her adieu.  Lili's mother is the third cow from the left in the photo below.  Lots of moo-ing ensued.

The Farewell Party

Little Amy (Rosie's heifer) will be lonely, but I don't think that will last as the benefits of being the only child will quickly out-weigh the camaraderie of having Lili to cavort with in the pasture.  Now Amy will get ALL of Maggie's milk and will grow quickly with the increased quantity of milk along with the sweet, Spring grass.

Amy

So Lili was loaded up in the trailer and her halter and lead rope was removed.  

Sad eyes, turn the other way, I don't wanna see you cry...

Tricia and Benjamin were not home for this ordeal so I wanted to capture this moving moment when the "little bird left the nest."

The Trail(er) of Tears

As the truck and trailer made the corner and drove out of sight, I could only think of one thing...

I remembered the "so long" song that Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence and Tim Conway sang at the end of every Carol Burnett show:

"I'm so glad we had this time together,

Just to have a laugh or sing a song,

Seems we just get started

And before you know it,

Comes the time we have to say

So Long."  (So long everybody...  *tugs ear)

So Long Lili!