The Cows are Home!
Pastures burned. Check
Fences inspected and repaired. Check
Calves weaned. Check
Time to haul the cows home from the ranch where they spent the winter dining on scrumptious silage and hay smorgasbord. Two days, seven trips later and the ladies are either in our pasture or those we rent from neighbors. They declined my request for “welcome home” photos.
“Good grief, woman! Our calves were just weaned and we’re into our second trimester with the ones we’re carrying. We’re not looking our best. Give us a few weeks to fill out and acquire that ‘blooming glow of pregnancy!’”
Apparently, we raise vain cows!
Fences inspected and repaired. Check
Calves weaned. Check
Time to haul the cows home from the ranch where they spent the winter dining on scrumptious silage and hay smorgasbord. Two days, seven trips later and the ladies are either in our pasture or those we rent from neighbors. They declined my request for “welcome home” photos.
“Good grief, woman! Our calves were just weaned and we’re into our second trimester with the ones we’re carrying. We’re not looking our best. Give us a few weeks to fill out and acquire that ‘blooming glow of pregnancy!’”
Apparently, we raise vain cows!
Turkey Strut
Recently, I was gazing out my “Window on the World,” aka the window over my kitchen sink, when I spotted a small flock of wild turkeys near the far end of the native grass pasture. Even from that distance, the dark brown birds are easy to spot this time of year in the new, bright green grass. In fact, they show up so well that I could see what appeared to be two toms strutting their stuff, plumage unfurled, to impress four females. Two tom turkeys in the same area, like two bulls in the same pasture, will work it out between themselves to establish which one is the dominant male; and often there will be a skirmish involved. But everything looked quiet. Maybe one was a jake, a young male, earning his apprentice breeding certification from a journeyman or master tom.
I grabbed the binoculars for a closer voyeuristic look at the turkey dating ritual. Remember in my book chapter, “Bovine Dating and Mating Habits,” how I described our voyeurism during breeding season of cattle. The two testosterone toms were doing slow turns from side to side, like body builders vying for the title of “Mr. Beefcake America.”
The hens were milling around in a group, taking in the show. Suddenly, they about-faced and headed for the timber. The toms deflated their plumage and followed. Hmmm!
The binoculars weren’t powerful enough for me to see into the timber, ending my turkey voyeurism episode.
I grabbed the binoculars for a closer voyeuristic look at the turkey dating ritual. Remember in my book chapter, “Bovine Dating and Mating Habits,” how I described our voyeurism during breeding season of cattle. The two testosterone toms were doing slow turns from side to side, like body builders vying for the title of “Mr. Beefcake America.”
The hens were milling around in a group, taking in the show. Suddenly, they about-faced and headed for the timber. The toms deflated their plumage and followed. Hmmm!
The binoculars weren’t powerful enough for me to see into the timber, ending my turkey voyeurism episode.
Just Passing Through!
Again looking out my “Window on the World,” I saw this box turtle trekking along the driveway, possibly headed north toward the corn field. Cricket was also watching it with rapt attention until Bill cautioned “Leave it alone.” The turtle was a little photo-shy at first so I moved out of its line of vision. The legs and head popped back out and it continued its trek undisturbed to the field.
Treasures!
Our evening walks in early spring often yield interesting treasures of nature. Recently, I scored this seven-point half-rack.
Not to be outdone, Cricket found a leg bone. Unsure whether or not it’s bovine, but it certainly wasn’t from any of ours.
Bill didn’t find any treasures on this trip, but last year he found a full ten-point rack.
Later, on another walk, I found this vacated mobile home. Assumed the former resident snail was deceased.
Later, on another walk, I found this vacated mobile home. Assumed the former resident snail was deceased.
Turkey feathers are a frequent find in the timber. We have a beer mug full!
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Some treasures, like these wild violets (on the left), grow in our yard. I love these and eagerly look forward to their appearance each year. I also love lilacs!
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The Mole-inator!
In the spring, Cricket is transformed from our mild-mannered, lovable Golden Retriever into The Mole-inator! This year, she’s looking to break her record of 13 from a year ago.
Finally the rains came and launched…Morel Mania!
We were afraid the lack of moisture during the winter and early spring might result in a disappointing morel season. But we finally received some much-needed, although not enough, rain in mid-April and made a couple of good hauls. Tramping through the timber, eyes glued to the ground not only looking for the little fungal delicacies but also for snakes—venomous or otherwise; crawling into the middle of a thicket of sticker bushes to grab three ‘shrooms; getting whacked in the head by low-hanging branches; and, providing a happy hour “Bloody June” cocktail for the ticks to suck up…it doesn’t get any better!
Iris!
Our irises have started to bloom, beginning with the miniatures.
The next to bloom is one we call the “Antique Iris,” because starts have been handed down in my family on my dad’s side since before 1900.
Our gorgeous hybrid irises are now blooming!
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