Our Cow "Norm"

Our cow Norm.

Norm and his buddies

Next year's "Norm"

Kay and Piper

Several years ago, when I was once addicted to the TV show "Jon and Kate Plus 8", I watched an episode about them going to a farm and buying an all natural, hormone free cow. Not as a pet mind you, but to stock up their freezer and have somewhat fresh, unprocessed meat. It intrigued me and ever since I've wanted to buy a cow. I kid you not! But, given the limitations of my freezer size over the past several years, I was never able to do it.

However, now that I own a house and have more than one freezer (and space for a deep freeze if I need), I decided this year I wanted to buy a cow. As luck would have it, the same week I started research buying an organic/hormone free cow, I heard from my cousin, whose husband's family runs a cattle farm in Virginia. They were getting ready to "go to market" (sell the cows that would be slaughtered this winter) and wanted to know if anyone was interested - it couldn't have been more perfect timing! So, I committed the Welch family to a 1/4 cow since that was the smallest amount we could order.

This past weekend, on our way down to Charlottesville for a little get-away, we stopped by the farm to hang out with Kay, Hodge and their cattle. We got a tour of the beautiful farm and had a chance to see not only the cow that will eventually make it into our freezer come January ("Norm"), but also the cows of which one of them will be in our freezer next winter! We had a great time and can't wait for Norm to come "stay" with us. I've been planning dinners around what is in the freezers to make room for the 100+ lbs of meat we will be getting (I had no idea it would be so much!). Needless to say, we'll be eating a lot of red meat in 2011 and we'll likely be supplying the meat for all our family get togethers!
PS. I now despise both Jon and Kate and refuse to watch the new show. They need to come back down to reality...