Cowgirls and Besties - October 2021

We all need a break now and then and a chance to reconnect with our closest friends.  When I set out to see my best friends, I usually plan on a quiet, relaxing time around the patio, maybe with a little wine, but definitely no surprises or new experiences.  I just want time to be quiet and laugh with my friends.

So, it was this past summer when four women – all childhood friends – gathered at the Osceola Mill House for a reunion.  While they had grown up together in central Pennsylvania, they had scattered over several states as adults, always promising to get together for a girls’ weekend each year and stay in touch.  As with most things, Covid and delayed their annual reunion far too long.  So as the warm months of 2021 promised a safer way to gather, they reserved rooms at the Osceola Mill House and planned a quiet weekend with picnics on the lawn and time away from spouses, kids and jobs – just like it used to be.

The house vibrated with laughter as each woman arrived on Friday afternoon.  As usual, I offered guidance on places for dinner that night.  But they quickly shared that they had brought a picnic dinner with them, including more than a couple of bottles of wine.  A few hours later, as the sun set over the silos on the Esh Farm, I looked out front from the Gathering Room windows and noticed that they had rearranged the lawn furniture.  Our iconic red rocking chairs were now in a conversation circle with the matching table in the middle, spread with all sorts of treats.  And so it continued well into the night and long after I went to bed myself.

On Saturday morning all four joined the other guests at the breakfast table for another one of Ron’s awesome meals and lively conversation.  They did have a few things planned for the day, but planned on returning early to the Mill House to relax together.

As I went to bed fairly early that night, I noticed that the conversation circle had returned to the front lawn.  Ron was watching TV in our living room, and I quickly fell asleep in the peace and quiet of our house.  Suddenly, I was awakened by the ringing of inside doorbell that guests use to summon us if they need anything during their stay.  As my mind cleared, I heard a woman’s frantic voice, as well as Ron’s voice.  He then opened our bedroom door and yelled to me “Hon, we have a cow running around on the lawn!”  My first thought was – “Well dammit.  That never happened to us when we lived in Baltimore City!”

I immediately got out of bed and found my robe and slippers and went outside.  There was Ron and the four ladies in our back yard surrounding Miracle, our next-door neighbors’ cow.  As an aside, Miracle is so named because shortly after she was born out in the meadow behind our house, her mom died.  So Miracle was raised and hand-fed mostly by our neighbors, and as a result is the friendliest and most mild-mannered cow we’ve ever encountered around here.  In general, if she hears us or our guests out in the yard, she comes to the fence and bellows until someone comes over to the fence and pets her.

So apparently this summer’s night, hearing the conversation in the front yard, Miracle wandered over to the fence to investigate.  However, on this night, she also discovered that the gate had been left unlatched, and she was able to wander right on over toward the group of women.  At around 10 PM, the six of us surrounded her on the lawn trying to coax her back into the meadow. But tasting freedom, Miracle would have none of it.  We saw that the lights were still on next door, and one of the ladies ran over to our neighbor’s house to summon him.  He ran out, barefoot and confused, followed in a short time by his wife and all four of their daughters, ready for bed and in their nightgowns.  And there we were on that summer’s night – twelve of us – 6 Amish and 6 English – trying to corral one cow who by this time was very excited and determined to stay free! 

Our neighbor finally was able to literally lasso her with a rope and lead her back into the meadow.  The four ladies resumed their spot on the front lawn.  I went back to bed as did the girls next door and their Mom.  The only casualty of the night was one of my garden gnomes who was apparently in the way of Miracle’s great escape attempt.  The next day after breakfast everyone said their good-byes and returned home with new memories of a peaceful night in Lancaster County where they all met a Miracle and helped to return her to the meadow.