Fly Fishermen

I’m not a fisherman. I don’t have enough patience. Besides, I’m squeamish about touching fish, let alone scaling and gutting them. It’s much simpler to just pop some fish sticks in the oven.

Even so, I’m privy to the whereabouts of a marvelous fishing spot that’s located on a certain bend of the Big Horn River less than a half mile from our house. There, bald eagles regularly swoop down over the water to snag fish in their sharp talons. But the eagles spend much of their time resting in the nearby cottonwoods where, I presume, they’re jawing about the big ones that got away!

“He satisfies you with goodness; your youth is renewed like the eagle.” –PSALM 103:5 (HCSB)

Wallflower

Even regular readers probably don’t recognize Penelope, a heifer born to Petunia in 2011. I feel badly because, as far as I can remember, I haven’t written about her since her birth.

A wallflower, Penelope boasts no eye-catching markings, arresting looks, or noteworthy quirks that lend themselves to interesting photos or entertaining posts. Neither timid nor assertive, Penelope quietly stays well out of the limelight, watching the “stars” from the shadows. To be truthful, we rarely notice her.

As Penelope drowsed in today’s relatively warm sunshine, I knelt to take her picture. Perhaps she’s a sleeper, I thought. When she has her calf this spring, maybe she’ll shine brighter than the rest.

 “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.” -PROVERBS 4:18 (KJ21)

Indignity

 Today was a glorious 33°, which seemed positively balmy after a week of bitter cold. We took advantage of the weather-window of opportunity to get some outside work done.

One task, putting two yearling heifers in with the big cows, was an easy one. But when a skirmish broke out between the heifers and some cows, we dispatched Bodie, our cowdog, to break up the fight before someone got hurt. A few well-placed nips on some heels took care of the problem. All escaped unscathed; however, Bodie did suffer one major indignity (see photo).

Yes, that is what you think it is: alfalfa by-products. It’s a good thing that cowdogs don’t have unions!

Bodie, embarrassed and disgruntled

“…Who beautifies, dignifies, and crowns you with loving-kindness and tender mercy.” –PSALM 103:4 (AMP)

Everblooming

I was just thumbing through some photos I took a few months ago. Many of the images were of flowers—roses, asters, marigolds, sunflowers, calendulas. I miss their vibrant colors and layers of delicate petals frequented by honeybees shopping for nectar. Sigh.

I asked myself the obvious: Why does a flowerholic like me live in such an intemperate climate?

I’m not sure.

Thankfully, I do have Blossom, who is sweet and lovely all year round!

My all-season Blossom (taken at 0° F with light snow)

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms…

    and the fields lie empty and barren…

yet I will rejoice in the Lord!” –HABAKKUK 3:17-18 (NLT)

Moey the Merry Reindeer

As Moey’s agent and publicist, I’m very proud to present Moey in her debut as Moey the Merry Reindeer. Moey didn’t even have to audition for the part. By virtue of her coloring and naturally merry disposition, she was actually the inspiration for it!

Today wasn’t Moey’s first gig—she’s graced blog and Facebook stages for months—but it was her first costumed engagement. Other than her one futile attempt at outrunning the ribbon and another at tasting the bow, Moey’s reindeer interpretation was remarkable!

“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine….” –PROVERBS 17:22 (KJ21)

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)