On the first trip to the clothesline Sunday morning, I sniffed and detected a hint of smoke in the air. Looking toward the horizon, I saw gray plumes rising above the treetops. Conclusion: It’s a good day to burn pasture. Optimal for us is a light breeze from the southeast.

In my blog post of April 12, 2014, “Pasture Pyrotechnics” at http://www.fromhighheelstogumboots.com/gumboot-tracks-blog/archives/04-2014, I explained why pastures are burned in early spring and the procedure Bill uses. Here’s a picture from last year showing the mini-truck tricked out for the event: propane bottle from the gas grill with hose and “flame thrower” attachment, water tank and vehicle battery to power the sprayer on the tank. Pyro Man was prepped and ready for the task.

Back to the present, Cricket watched dejectedly from the front door. Her truck was out there on a mission and she got left in the house—for her own safety. That look says pure disgust!

Yikes! I remembered the clothes on the line. The southeast breeze might fan the smoke across the yard. I dashed out and grabbed them off the line!

This year, due to my limited mobility from bunion surgery in December, my role as the “amateur photojournalist” was limited—no running all over the pasture like last year. When Bill completed the back burn, I drove his pickup to the south side and waited for him to launch the big event. He calls the main burn “lettin’ her rip”!

And rip she did!

Another good burn!

The return of spring-like temperatures has focused our attention on spring tasks. I looked out my kitchen window one morning and saw Pyro Man, aka Bill, packing heat and heading for the iris and day lily beds. No, he wasn't going to blast them full of holes. By packing heat, I mean he was carrying a propane bottle from the gas grill with the flame thrower attachment. The morning was perfect for the task: temperature in the low 50’s, calm wind from the west to blow the smoke away from the house and some early morning humidity to keep the sparks and fire contained.

No, he didn't barbecue his foot!

Bill torches the iris beds in early spring to control iris leaf spot, a fungal disease that over-winters on the dead leaves. Burning kills the spores. In addition, burning kills iris borer, a destructive insect that over-winters in its larvae, or “worm” stage, in the rhizome above ground. Day lilies are also susceptible to a leaf spot fungus. Goodbye disease and pestilence; hello gorgeous iris and day lilies! 

Torching the iris and day lilies is a tune-up for the big event: pasture burning! More on that later.

The next activity on that day’s agenda was setting up the “little plastic house”: a miniature temporary greenhouse, made out of 4 pieces of heavy wire shoved into the ground to form arches and covered with thick plastic mended with duct tape. The four sides of the plastic are anchored in the ground by wrapping 2x2 boards in the ends and covering with dirt. A slit is cut in the plastic to allow watering and prevent condensation. Bill planted lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard. We should be enjoying tasty salads and chard by early to mid-April.

The window over the kitchen sink is my “Window on My World.” I can gaze out at the yard, pastures with cows and calves and the timber beyond. Recently, as I was drinking my morning coffee and contemplating my peaceful realm, I happened to look down and saw several birds belly up to the bar at the local watering hole: our pets’ stainless steel water dish. Unfortunately, the watering hole was full of dirty rotgut left over from the previous evening when Bill washed Cricket’s feet before he brought her in the house. The foot bath water gets tossed and the dish refilled the next morning but that hadn’t happened yet. The watering hole looked more like a seedy dive on the verge of condemnation by the local health inspector! Immediate upgrade was necessary.

I replaced the dirty rotgut with sparkling fresh libation. Then I removed the screen and washed the kitchen window so I could get clearer pictures.

Over the next several days, Bill and I snapped pictures whenever we happened to see activity at the bird bath. We kept the camera within grabbing distance of the window.

A flock of cedar waxwings flew in for a pit stop on their flight north...

and hung around to check out the local bar scene. The finch and bluebird in flight decided to make a snack run to the feeders.

Sub-freezing temperatures caused the watering hole to ice over at night and sometimes freeze solid, creating the need for another upgrade. The ground-level water dish was replaced with a high-rise bird bath, complete with heating system. Yes, the heater is electric, but we haven’t fried any birds yet. The rock island was installed to satisfy a building code requirement that the plastic structure not tip over in strong winds. This pic was taken one morning during a snow storm. The birds seem to appreciate having warm water.

We’ve noticed that the finches, bluebirds, cedar waxwings and, yes, even the sparrows all belly up to the bird bath to quaff a few together. However, when a bully bird swoops in—mockingbird, woodpecker, blue jay or grackle—it scatters the smaller birds, then drinks alone.

Liability Waiver: As we serve only water at the Bird Bath Bar, we disclaim any liability resulting from flying under the influence (FUI)!

On Dec. 21, 2014, I posted an update on our twins, Flossie and Freddie, in “The Twins and their New Tableware.” At that time, they had advanced from supplemental bottle-feeding to bucket-feeding. Grain, or “calf granola” as I call it, was added to their diet.

It didn’t take long for one of their friends, Two-Toes, to catch on to this special treat, come to the gate and gaze hungrily at the feed bunk. Bill invited her in and increased the amount of grain. Not long after that, he decided to invite Johnny-Come-Lately and Galliano into the Breakfast Nook. More table settings required a bigger feed bunk.

The grain creep feeder is still available for nibbling throughout the day. All five calves also munch at the bale feeders. Galliano likes to lie in the feeder and eat, particularly on extremely cold days.

Two-Toes wears her calf granola...

and is quite proud she can lick it off her nose!

Flossie, not to be outdone by her friend, attempts the same trick but is still working on the technique!

When Galliano returns to Mama, he’ll need more than his face washed. As he sucked breakfast from her table that morning, he apparently reached in from the rear instead of the side, and took a direct hit of cow pie on his back!