Charlie always makes a big deal about how animals around the farm, wait for my arrival to do what is expected of them, and makes logical sense. Sometimes I have wondered if he thinks that their waiting is a way of making me feel special. And that it is frustrating for Mark, Austin and him to be doing all the chores, and I get to relish the good stuff of farming. Well, as Charlie and I arrived at the farm shortly after 12 noon today, within seconds of us getting out of the car, I was admiring the chickens and calling out for Charlie. Charlie was distracted by the chickens and a car pulling into the driveway. He was also paying attention to the goats. He noted that one of them was looking towards him rather intently and blatting at the same time. He knew instantly that something was the matter.
Justin and his family pulled into the driveway. I was busy with my chickens, and Charlie was being pulled by Justin to look at the work he had done around the goat barn. This brought Charlie closer still to Princess Grace. She was laying on her side and bleating/blatting (like roosters crow). I would have never picked up anything from this other than her welcoming us, but for Charlie, this call was different. And so dressed in his street attire he ran into the pasture. Soon Justin was coming to me asking for gloves. Of course I had no idea where they would be. But somehow, Justin was able to finally find them, and within minutes, Charlie was down and dirty with Princess Grace, and helping her deliver the kid. Was he wondering why he ever left The Floating Island Writers' Workshop? If he did, it did not show, and he certainly did not let it keep him away from his most urgent and necessary calling.
Princess Grace was led to a bedding of fresh clean hay. Since he knew she would be eating it and the baby would be born into it. It was wonderful to see how comfortable Charlie was playing midwife/doola (he says he was being himself and very caring). Are there any male midwives? Male doolas? Justin said once the baby arrived that he could never imagine that Charlie had moved to a farming community only three years ago. No fuss, no drama, in minutes, Charlie had done what was necessary, and done it with love and care. He had led Princess Grace to this corner of the pasture, where she would be alone and comfortable. And in that spot, she found it easy enough to lay on her side, and with the help of Charlie and us spectators, deliver a lovely baby.
I was with the camera, but at the wrong side of Princess Grace. The front end. It was hard to catch the baby being pulled by Charlie into the world outside moms womb. You can see it above, as Charlie lays it onto the hay. Just for a brief moment. As he catches his breath and gives Princess Grace a moment to comprehend what just happened.
Within seconds, the baby (kid) was presented to the mother, who then got busy licking it clean. I am told this is as much for the nutrition of the mother, as it is for the baby. The licking heats the baby and also helps with increasing its heartbeat. The slime was gone within five or ten minutes.
Charlie could not leave Princess Grace and the kid alone for too long. He wanted to make sure she had the kid cleaned on all sides. And that the kid seemed to be responding to the mothers moves. Luckily for us all, and especially the young kids with Justin and Theresa, this delivery was uneventful and easy on the eyes.
As Princess Grace licked away the last bits of slime from the kid you could tell that it was Charlie she had made most happy. That smile on his face gives away his feelings and emotions at that moment.
The next 10-15 minutes were spent allowing Princess Grace and the kid to bond. It is amazing to see these mothers take such good care of their offspring. With nothing at their disposal (Well they have uber kind and smart Charlie at our farm), they do the best and do it very well. Is it that the ability of humans to speak in a certain language made them also more of the complaining and complacent type? Would we have been smarter and more thankful had we not spoken the languages we know?
Our friend Theresa holds Quinten as they both watch Princess Grace deliver. Theresa and I had been speaking about animals delivering babies, and how they do it so calmly. I had spoken too soon it seems. As when Charlie had his glove covered hands inside Princess Grace, helping her deliver, the sounds we heard coming out of this small creature, were nothing short of loud and disturbing. It was nice to have at least for a moment even these animals that never complain, give out a plaintive cry.
Leaving me with Princess Grace, Charlie left to say goodbye to Justin, Theresa and the kids. And whilst they were exchanging pleasantries, the kid was ready to start nursing on mom. How do they have such perfect instincts?
Princess Grace stimulates the kid by licking it around its tail. This encourages kids to drink more milk, and get their temperature up and also bring them necessary nutrition.
Princess Grace and the kid take a few moments of rest.
In less than an hour after the delivery, both Princess Grace and the kid, seemed to be in good stead. The baby seemed in good health. Princess Grace did not have a second baby to deliver. Usually twins or triplets are easily found. Perhaps this fact made the delivery seem so much easier and calmer.
In between checking on the mother and kid, I was distracted by the chickens. The Araucana rooster was enjoying showing off for me and the girls.
A Tufted Roman was sitting on eggs she had laid in the nest she crafted around the lawn mower. Must give her a feeling of safety.
Justin, Theresa and the girls enjoying the goats and sheep on pasture.
And I was enjoying that summer was upon us, and happy I got to spend a day at the farm which had no lacking for excitement. I arrived at the farm this afternoon having spent 36 days away from home. When I left for India in early May, it was cold and I know they had a couple of frosts in my absence. Today, it was warm but not terribly hot. All green and even somewhat overgrown. I was informed the lawn mower had some issues. Fixed now, and soon the grass will look more even and plush. What was most heartwarming was Princess Grace's delivery of the kid timed perfectly with our arrival back home. I could not have asked for a better welcome after so long. And I know this one will make Charlie realize that he too is just as special to all animals big and small. They await his arrival just as much as mine.
Just came across your blog, what a wonderful post!
Nature is truly amazing!!!
Posted by: Rinku | Saturday, June 05, 2010 at 11:17 PM
I was sitting on the edge of my seat until the
gloves were found and the baby kid was delivered.
I was then blissfully rewarded with the sight of this new, little creature nestling up to its mother. I felt that a miracle had happened and indeed it had.
What I respect about Charlie is that he knows what has to be done - and then does it! He seems to have a natural instinct for the human condition or whatever presents itself and then goes about it without commotion or fanfare. It's as if he knows in advance that everything will be all right. Bless
you for this, dear Charlie.
Posted by: Mary Ann Joulwan | Saturday, June 05, 2010 at 11:32 PM
And ps: welcome back to the farm, Suvir - your "little bit of heaven" - 36 days are a long time.
Posted by: Mary Ann Joulwan | Saturday, June 05, 2010 at 11:51 PM
Hi Rinku! What made you discover the blog? Where are you based out of? Tell us more... Thanks for commenting.
Posted by: suvir saran | Sunday, June 06, 2010 at 10:59 AM
Mary Ann, glad you were able to see the miracle happen.
To be honest, this baby should not have been born. The mother was not mated with the bucks, but she was able to do it either immaculately or through the fence. What story do we perpetuate?
Charlie is a worker bee and certainly knows just what to do at what time. And yes, he does it without any fuss or commotion, but rather with great elan and panache, and makes everything seem easy enough. All good signs of a worker that can lead, teach and inspire.
Thanks for extending me a welcome to the farm. 37 days are a VERY long time. I do not believe most people understand how long that is to be away from home. I arrived yesterday afternoon and I shall leave by 2 PM today. Back on the road. Yesterday was sunny, and eventful, today has begun rainy, and not so full of miracles.
Life around the farm is beautiful and yes it is my "little bit of heaven". And I am grateful I have this to come back to every time.
Posted by: suvir saran | Sunday, June 06, 2010 at 11:11 AM
Very nice look at life on the farm. The pictures really capture the moment. Great job Charlie!
Posted by: JT Wong | Sunday, June 06, 2010 at 04:44 PM
Charlie, what a wonderful man you have become. Much love, Mom
Posted by: Beth Burd | Sunday, June 06, 2010 at 06:27 PM
Charlie didn't wait very long to jump back into the American Masala Farm lifestyle. Thank you both for coming to the Floating Island Writers' Workshop last week. Kim, the writers and I appreciated your company and cooking. I hope to see you both soon.
Posted by: Dan Schumacher | Monday, June 07, 2010 at 10:30 AM
Charlie and Suvir, Loved meeting you both at the Floating Writers Workshop. Suvir, I so enjoyed reading your first cookbook cover to cover (literally) and now that I own American Masala I will read that one cover to cover, too. It was so enjoyable to read your recipes and then have the opportunity to cook a few of them WITH YOU. You are an amazing teacher and chef. And Charlie. What can I say that hasn't been said before and above. You are a great man and made every day at "camp" so much fun. After spending the week with you at Seaside (and all our wonderful talks late at night on the beach :)) it was wonderful to read this blog and see the pictures of the miracle you had a hand in (literally and figuratively) back at the farm. I look forward to seeing you both later this summer, and I hope you can make it to Chapel Hill for our next Floating Writers Workshop!
Posted by: Rose Dobrez | Wednesday, June 09, 2010 at 01:09 PM
A beautiful post AND pictures as always Suvir. For the life of me I can not figure out, nor do I see you listed for the September/ The Culinary Institute of America - Greystone Campus appearance!!!! HELP!
Best,
David
Posted by: Anthonysgodfather | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 01:10 AM
Great job Charlie...I would have been running around the house trying to find my wife. I suck at delivering babies. Good thing the sheep managed on their own so far. What did you name the kid?
Suvir - Lovely pics. whats growing in the garden?
weekendfarmer, NJ.
Posted by: hafiz | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 11:48 AM
Rose, it was SOOO much fun meeting you at the Floating Island Writers' workshop. Come visit. Bring the kids. And keep chipper and keep away from you know what...
David, the conference in September at Greystone (CIA) is by invitation only. Perhaps that is why you cannot find much on it? Or cannot find anything at all?
Hafiz, our sheep have managed on their own thus far too. What kind of sheep do you have? How many?
The kid will be named breakfast, lunch, snack or dinner. Or some such. It will be meat before too late. Realities of farm life.
Charlie must be planting the garden now. We have had a late start this year. Just back from endless travels. I guess we will be keeping the farm stands busy. Our herbs are beautiful and lively.
What are you growing at your farm Hafiz?
Posted by: suvir saran | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 01:57 PM
Hafiz and David, the pics are about what we work with.
I am not much of a photographer. But I do enjoy trying to capture the moments that capture our interest and our lives.
The light on this particular day kept changing. From sunny to cloudy to gravely overcast. And so, the photos reflect those changes. Some are darker than others some brighter.
I never use flash, and I do not doctor images. Never learned to photoshop, so I rely on old fashioned ways with the camera.
It does help that Charlie gifted me a nice Nikon digital SLR to play with. I am sure it helps a great deal.
Posted by: suvir saran | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 02:01 PM
By invitation only? Story of my life!
You photograph your subjects beautifully. Own it! xo
Posted by: Anthonysgodfather | Friday, June 11, 2010 at 10:59 PM