Thursday, April 30, 2015

Cover Girl

Peaches' eyelashes could be the envy of models, actresses, and makeup artists everywhere. 




"On earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it." ~Jules Renard


Wednesday, April 29, 2015

When Afoot in the Desert

Whether you're hiking or running in the desert, by all means, enjoy the view...



...and the company you keep...


...and the wildflowers along the trail.  


Just watch your step. 

 

"[Wisdom's] ways are pleasant, and all her paths, peaceful." ~Proverbs 3:17 (HCSB)




Monday, April 27, 2015

Dandelion Day

Dandelions don't get much respect, but they do add sunny color to calf photos. 

Gus' nose was shiny from his lunch of fresh milk. 

Glitter (top) and Peaches were chewing the cud just like the big cows. 


Joy and Zoe, two of my favorite dandelion divas, granted me a few poses. 


"There are always flowers for those who want to see them." ~Henri Matisse



Thursday, April 23, 2015

Pluck


April flowers aren't showy or abundant in Wyoming--unless you count dandelions--but they're brave and lovely nonetheless. 

Nanking cherry

Phlox

Golden currant

White violet


"Sometimes smiling is an act of defiance against what's pressing down hard. Sometimes smiling is an act of sheer bravery." ~Ann Voskamp





Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Moments


Morning: Gabby and Angel nap after breakfast. 

Noon: After lunch, Princess gives Joy another bath. 

Afternoon: Duke rests in the shade. 

Evening: After supper, Buster and Fancy play in the greasewood. 
  

"As you wait for better days, don't forget to enjoy today, in case they've already started." ~Robert Brault

Sunday, April 19, 2015

High Spirits

                           Paisley 

                  Buster and Peaches

           Sky beating Pepper in a race

                             Zoe


"The joy of the Lord is your strength." ~Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV)






Saturday, April 18, 2015

Art In the Desert

The annual spring exhibition of Indian paintbrush is officially underway in Wyoming!


"The first wild-flower of the year is like land after sea." ~Thomas Wentworth Higginson

Friday, April 17, 2015

Profiling

Flame wasn't happy about her calf, Peaches, associating with feline riff-raff (Mercy). 

Apparently, Flame thinks that housecats are just diminutive mountain lions. Before the two could sniff noses, Flame frightened Mercy away. 



"Strangers are just friends waiting to happen." ~Rod McKuen

"...Show no prejudice, no partiality...." ~James 2:1 (AMP)

Thursday, April 16, 2015

You Want Me to WHAT?

I love Millicent's eyes. She always seems to be saying, Seriously? You've got to be kidding!



"Why FIT IN when you were born to STAND OUT!" ~Dr. Seuss

Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Gabby and Freckles

With these last two installments to the herd, our 2015 calving season is officially complete! 

Angel welcomed Gabby (short for Gabriela) into the world a few days ago.



And for the grand finale: Bubbles had Freckles!




"For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace." ~John 1:16 (NASB)

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Duke and Razzle

Daisy Mae's dashing new pride and joy is, of course, Duke! 



Not to be outdone, Dazzle had Razzle!




"A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches." ~Proverbs 22:1 (AMP)






Thursday, April 9, 2015

Fancy

Two hours after Panda was observed resting comfortably, we found her with a dead bull calf. Panda took it hard, and Hubby milked Panda regularly as we searched for an adoptee. 

The next evening, a little Angus heifer in need of a mother arrived by way of a green stork (Hubby's Subaru). I promptly named her Fancy.


Panda was unimpressed with our attempt at consolation and annoyed by the strange heifer that bore no resemblance to her lost calf. 

Whenever it was time for Fancy to nurse, Panda had to be held in a stanchion. The rest of the time, a fence kept them close but Fancy safe. 


Undaunted by Panda's rejection, Fancy continued to "talk" to Panda in her baby-calf voice. I'm adorable. What's not to love, New Mama? she seemed to say. Then she'd race and buck in circles, showing Panda her cutest moves, but she was completely ignored. 


But this morning, Panda surprised us by answering Fancy's moos, licking her shoulder, allowing her to nurse, and even napping beside her. If Hubby and I were young, we'd have been doing cartwheels around that corral. 




"God's Spirit confirms in our spirits that we are His children." ~Romans 8:15 (VOICE)











Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Easter

Liza's first calf arrived on Easter. Liza cleaned her lively little bull like a seasoned pro, but once he was up and scurrying towards her flanks, she got scared. 

"What is this little animal, and why is it chasing me?" her eyes said. We finally had to put Liza in a stanchion to hold her still while Easter nursed. 

Thankfully, Liza's dismay quickly turned into ardent devotion, and Easter is prospering. 



"Perfect love expels all fear." ~1 John 4:18 (NLT)


Monday, April 6, 2015

Paisley

I'm told that the finest paisley comes from Kashmir, but Cupcake's sweet new heifer, Paisley, surely comes in a close second. 




"People seldom notice old clothes if you wear a smile." ~Lee Mildon


Sunday, April 5, 2015

Waylon

Winky had a sturdy, bouncing baby bull named Waylon. Actually, Waylon is too lazy to do much bouncing. 

How lazy is he? you ask. 

Well, Waylon is such a loafer that he rouses himself from the straw-filled calf shed only when hungry. Even then, if other mama cows are closer in proximity than Winky, he tries to steal milk from them!




"Oh no! I overslept! I'm late! For my nap." ~ Garfield 



Saturday, April 4, 2015

Joy

This calf is dedicated to the mothers in Kenya, Yemen, Germany, and around the world who are weeping for their lost sons and daughters. 

Cows don't cry, but they mourn, and few have grieved more than Princess. Two of her six bull calves died suddenly, through no fault of her own. The others became steers and were sold. 

But yesterday God saw fit to console Princess with her first heifer, Joy, who will get to stay in our herd alongside her mama. 

Notice that beneath each of Joy's beautiful eyes is a teardrop! 



 
"You have collected all my tears....You have recorded every one in your book." ~Psalm 56:8 (NLT)

"To comfort all who mourn...
To give them beauty for ashes...
Joy for mourning."                      ~Isaiah 61:2-3 (NKJV)






Thursday, April 2, 2015

Gus

We've known Glory from birth so are qualified to say that she's a gadabout who's never taken anything seriously--especially fences. I wouldn't have been surprised if she wasn't the most attentive new mama in the world.

But Gus came along, and Glory hovers over him constantly, mooing at him and about him so much that she's hoarse. We can only hope that her newfound sense of responsibility will keep her from teaching Gus all her tricks. 





"Not all those who wander are lost." ~J. R. R. Tolkien



Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Millicent

Presenting Millicent! Her first-time mama, Izzy, couldn't be more proud or doting than if she'd birthed royalty. 

For her part, Millicent entertains herself by approaching people* with feigned courtesy just before butting at them, whirling, speeding away, and kicking out her heels. 

*Bovine or human





"God selected the common and the castoff, whatever lacks status,  so He could invalidate the claims of those who think those things are significant." ~1 Corinthians 1:28 (VOICE)