Calder Dairy

Almost two years ago, we made a visit to Calder Dairy Farm in Carleton, Michigan where Will got to bottle feed a baby calf and the kids and I got to tour a real working dairy farm.  You can read more about the farm and our last visit in my post from 2011.  The weather hadn't been great during our last visit but we still had such a good time and have been wanting to return since.  No time like the present, right?

We planned our trip for the afternoon hoping to get a chance for Sophie to feed a calf and to watch the milking process again, but long story short, we arrived at the farm in a round about way and missed the calf feeding.  They'd also had some severe thunderstorms the night before and lost power for several hours, so this super hot Sunday was spent recuperating and getting everything back on track.  Hence, the milking process wasn't at the usual time either.  Bummer. 

Nonetheless, we had another fun visit and wouldn't be opposed to making the 50-60 minute drive again this year for another chance at participating in those things.

There was LOTS of standing rain water in places today but the animals didn't seem to mind and the sunshine was hot and beautiful.  The cows here lead very luxurious lives compared to those on huge, factory farms in other parts of the country.

Even when you're expecting it, the random, up-close cock-a-doodling will catch you off guard every time.  :)

Will wanted to pet EVERY calf.  There were a couple brand new ones there today, born just a couple days ago.

 

Sophie preferred the from-a-distance viewing of all animals at first.  She was intrigued but cautious.

Trusty big brother coaxed her into coming a little closer and I helped her work up the courage to touch it by putting her hand on top of my arm while I pet the calf's head.  Then she moved her hand to my wrist and then to the top of my hand and finally she pet him on her own.  :)

Once she started, she was so excited about it... hence my stream of similar pictures here...

Another crowing rooster.

Ooh la la!  Fancy!

Aren't they so cool looking?  But a little intimidating too!  This one was curving it's feathers forward and making a little shuddery noise that told us to back off.  :)

Rabbits!

This was a cool contraption.  The goats had a ramp area to climb and the farmers set up a pulley system to put goat feed in a cup and crank a handle that sends the feed cup to the top of the ramp and dump it down for the goats.

Replica of an old dairy delivery truck for kids to play in.

Such a pretty property.  Isn't it funny how the day after a bad storm, it's often so beautiful and hard to believe said storm was less than 24 hours ago?

We followed these fella's back down the driveway a little ways to see the pastured cows a little closer up.

Fearless.

Cautious.

As promised, we headed into the store to purchase some ice cream before heading home.  We'd seen some other visitors arriving on bicycle just to get ice cream as well.  How neat it would be to live with bicycling distance from a place like this.  Can't you just picture a cute bike with basket on the front to swing by and pick up your butter and buttermilk for the week?

Will chose bubble gum, I think, and Sophie picked strawberry.  They both wanted cones but settled for cups with a cone on top on account of the heat.

And oh heavens!  Mine was sooooo delicious.  I picked coconut ice cream with chocolate chunks and almonds.  I have GOT to try to recreate this at home!!!

It was another fun visit to the dairy farm!  Hoping to go back for Sophie to feed the calves sometime soon.  Maybe in fall.