Rumen-ations

Winter doesn’t officially start until the 21^st, but according to our thermometer, it has already made an untimely and largely unwelcome appearance. Bringing us recent lows of -13° F to -18° F and highs only in the single digits, winter has rather rudely deposed autumn.

Of all our animals, the cows seem the least bothered by the cold, perhaps because we keep them on the chubby side to insulate them for just such untoward weather. They also have abundant pasture to provide calories as well as fuel for the rumination process.  In a cow’s rumen, which is essentially a 60-gallon fermentation vat, millions of microorganisms break down carbon-hydrogen-oxygen bonds, producing heat. The more fiber in the rumen, the more heat is produced.

Meanwhile, we humans rely on Thermoses of coffee or hot tea, numerous layers of under- and outerwear, our warmest boots and hats, and multiple pairs of wool socks and mittens to keep us warm when we’re out doing chores. But still we get cold and scurry back into the house, where we pretend we have rumens and need to eat another Christmas cookie to keep us warm!

Princess, relaxed and napping this 8° F morning

“While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.” –GENESIS 8:22 (AMP)

More Pandas

On our way back from this morning’s walk, Hubby spied a cow lying down a ways from the herd. A lone cow is usually a bad sign, so we made our way over there and found Sundae with a lame and swollen foreleg.

Sundae is a gentle sort, but today she had no intention of leaving the other cows to accompany two people and a dog to the barn to be doctored. Some ranchers might have enlisted a horse and rope or jumped on some ATVs, but we simply recruited Panda.

Regular readers may remember Panda, the two-year old cow who won this year’s Qué Será, Será Award (see http://hayseedfiles.blogspot.com/2013/04/awards-week-pt-1.html)  because she never gets worried or upset about anything. Anyway, all we did point Panda barnwards, and she serenely led Sundae the whole way.

“I hope Panda has a heifer calf this year,” Hubby remarked later.

“Yes,” I heartily concurred, “the world needs more Pandas!”

Sundae following Panda

“But what happens when we live God’s way? He brings gifts into our lives…things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.” –GALATIONS 5:22 (MSG)

Out of the Ordinary

My Quarter Horse mare, Sugar, leads a rather unassuming, obscure life. She’s never graced a show ring, cutting pen, rodeo arena, race track, or parade route. She’s never won a ribbon or garnered a check. No one has ever cheered for her performance or draped flowers over her neck.

But that’s only because people have never seen Sugar sleep. If sleeping was an equestrian event, I dare say she could compete with the world’s finest. Sugar sleeps so soundly and dramatically that many a concerned onlooker has mistaken her for dead or dying. And Sugar doesn’t need a sunny hillside or warm bed of straw to induce deep slumber. When this photo was snapped this morning, it was only 1° F!

“Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me…and you will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet) for your souls.” –MATTHEW 11:29 (AMP)

More Coffee, Please

“Winter is not a season, it’s an occupation.” –Sinclair Lewis

Truer words could not be spoken for those of us who inhabit the interior and northern regions of the country—even more so if we’re caring for livestock.

When the snow piles up, or the mercury dips below 0° F, or the bitter winds blow—or all of the above—we have to ensure that our animals are safe, have access to shelter and water, and get the increased caloric consumption they need to stay warm and healthy. And we plan, prepare, and stockpile feed, but diesel engines, stock tank heaters, and even power sources can fail in storms and frigid temperatures and so require as much or more attention than the animals themselves.

But the reason that I’m yawning at only 6:58 pm has less to do with winter work than the fact that it’s been too cold (sub-zero and counting) for the cat to go outdoors for his midnight hunts. Instead, he and the kitten play noisy games of Tiger Tag, Safari, and ACW (American Cat Wresting) all night!

The horses were covered with frost this morning--but better-rested than us!

The sparrows are grateful for the bitter cold that keeps the cat indoors. Besides, they have the barn for shelter and the goats' molasses-covered grain for regular meals!

Connection

Today we traded some of our extra hay to a neighbor for some of his surplus straw. We use straw to bed the barn as well as provide a dry place for the calves to rest in the spring. Additionally, the goats love to play mountain-goat games on small bales of straw stacked in pyramids.

One of the guys that delivered the straw was helping Hubby stack it next to the goat pen. When Meels, Blueberry, and the gang came to investigate, the stranger broke into a huge grin.

“I know them. Those are Nigerian goats!” he exclaimed. He introduced himself as Timothy from Nairobi, Kenya, and happily went on to tell Hubby about seeing Nigerian Dwarf goats in Africa and how important goats were to the livelihood of his countrymen.

I’ve been smiling ever since because, thanks to Blueberry and Meels, the world has shrunk!

 “Dear friends, let us love one another, because love is from God, and everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” –1 JOHN 4:7 (HCSB)

Wonders

I happened upon the little band of Sheep Mountain mustangs again! This time they weren’t running but rather drowsily soaking up some warmer-than-usual sunshine, so I was able to get a better look. I couldn’t help but notice some Roman noses, steep croups, and cow-hocks.

When I was young, I thought all horses were amazing and wonderful—no matter their breed or conformation. But then I joined 4-H and learned to “judge horses”, to identify the subtle shortcomings that diminished an animal’s worth or usefulness. What the less-informed called “beautiful”, I dubbed ewe-necked, straight-shouldered, narrow-chested, or apple-butted.

Over the years, horse judging gave me knowledge, analytical skills, and a state trophy (just as growing up taught me what’s wrong with dandelions, crayon art, store Santas, white bread, and the girl in the mirror). But the more I learned to look with a critical eye, the more blinded to wonders I became. 

Band of wild horses seen last Friday near Sheep Mtn. (north of Greybull)

Hubby saw these mustang colts today (in the hills east of Greybull) 

“…The best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse.” –PHILIPPIANS 4:8 (MSG) 

Highway Congestion

Although Wyoming is the sixth largest state, our actual population is a meager 576,412. Granted, we don’t have much political clout, but we do have plenty of elbow room. One would assume that, with only 5.8 residents per square mile, traffic jams would be nonexistent. On the contrary! Why, just this past Friday, several hundred heifers brought highway traffic to a standstill for nearly 10 minutes!

“Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whose strength is in You, in whose heart are the highways to Zion.” –PSALM 84:5 (AMP)