Friendship

Hubby prefers to move cattle the conventional way, on horseback and with a dog, driving and turning the cows via pressure from behind or beside. But since our pastures are nearby, we don’t have to trail our cows far, and I like to call the cows. Although I’m disqualified from the ranks of “cowgirls”, I love that my cows recognize my voice and trust me enough to follow.

A few days ago, we woke up to dense fog (see photo). The herd needed to be moved a ways down the canal road. I was far enough ahead that they couldn’t see me in the fog, but when I called, they filed out the gate onto the road.

Said road was a slimy, miry mess from rain and snow, so my progress was slow. Daisy Mae, Blossom, and Penelope soon caught up. As we squelched through the mud to the tune of a meadowlark duet, I felt such joy to be sharing that moment with my big, beautiful friends. When we got there, Annabelle nuzzled my ear. Princess and Sparkle licked my hand. 

I think some folks see the Lord as a cowboy, pushing and prodding, roping and dragging, hollering when we hang back, chasing us down when we stray. But I think He’s more like me. I think He’d rather walk with us—despite the muck and mess—and lead us with love to a better place.

“No longer do I call you slaves…but I have called you friends….” –JOHN 15:15 (NASB)

An Early Thanksgiving!

A strange pickup drove up to where we were working this afternoon. Two young men we didn’t know rolled down their windows.

“We saw a cow in the canal, and the neighbors said it might be yours!” they said, adding that she appeared to be sinking. Hubby sprinted for rope and tractor, I grabbed some chains and jumped in the Ranger, and the men followed in their truck.

I was so scared that all I could pray was Jesus! And Please don’t let it be Annabelle (my favorite). We spread out and scanned the canal—without success. It was impossible not to think the worst.

“Maybe she made it down to that sandbar and got out,” Hubby told me. “Drive over to the cows and count them.”

Well, I got decent grades in math, but I was so nervous that counting wandering cows was almost impossible, but I finally came to the conclusion that no one was missing. When Hubby arrived, he noticed that Annabelle was nursing her calf and repeatedly shaking her ears. Upon closer inspection, he determined that she was not only cleaner than the others, but that her ears were still wet!

“Thank You, God!” I exulted, grinning heavenwards, not even caring what the two strangers thought. (It turned out that the two Good Cow Samaritans were indeed Christians; one of them is even a pastor.) Five hours later, I'm still grinning!

A very hungry Annabelle (center). Note her ear.

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, and with my song I shall thank Him.” –PSALM 28:7 (NASB)

Dome Needed

Last night’s rain turned to an early morning snow-rain mix, but many of the flowers managed to survive—for now. The skies are clearing, however, and temperatures are expected to dip to 27° tonight. Since I’m only in the first stage of grief—denial—the roses are tucked under a motley assortment of irrigation dam and weed matting “tents”. If it does snow again, the yard will look like Valley Forge!

Rudbeckia braving the cold

19 rose bushes under wraps

“How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! And the children of men take refuge in the shadow of Your wings.” –PSALM 36:7 (NASB)

Holey

It’s just a hole. One of six, on a bare knoll where the little calves used to sun themselves in the early spring. Doesn’t appear even remotely noteworthy. Doesn’t look like a kernel of faith sown into dirt or a snatch of hope filtering through adjoining cottonwoods or the advent of a dream bored by an auger three-and-a-half feet deep and later cleaned out with a shovel.

It is. But as I write, the skies over the Big Horn Basin—the same ones that have been so stingy with rain for over a year—have changed their mind and decided that it would be great fun to fill the hole with rainwater.  For now, the hole is on hold!

“Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin….” -ZECHARIAH 4:10 (NLT)

Bushed

We’re only three days into fall, but the weatherman mentioned snow in tomorrow’s forecast. Only a few days ago, I was sweating in tank top and shorts; today, I found myself bundling up in winter-worthy layers to go irrigating in the wind, cold, and rain.

The cottonwoods and shrubs don’t look very fall-ish yet, although their formerly vibrant emerald leaves are beginning to look dull and tired. Perhaps the chloroplasts are simply bushed?

Blueberry crunching on windblown branches

“A cheerful disposition is good for your health; gloom and doom leave you bone-tired.” –PROVERBS 17:22 (MSG)

Nature's Deadline

My flowers had a narrow escape this morning when the temperature dipped to 32°. Frost adhered itself to the windshields but, thankfully, not the flowers. The bees, honey- and bumble- and wild, must know that the time for pollen gathering is running out. The flower beds are teeming with the little winged workers today. There are so many bees out there that many blossoms have two to three bees on each one.

We humans have also been hard at work trying to complete our list of jobs and projects before the days get cold, short, and snowy. The onset of wintertime is a great motivator for people and bees alike!

Bees in the blanketflowers

“My times are in Your hand….” –PSALM 31:15 (NASB)

Mercy!

Regular readers know that our cat Smokey, aka the Terrible Tiger, is prone to severe cabin fever in the winter months. He prowls and yowls, bangs cupboard doors, tries to scale walls to get spiders, and attacks any limbs sticking out from under the blankets. I have long theorized the solution is another wild and crazy Terrible Tiger to play with.

Enter Mercy, a tiny, mischievous, ultra-playful Siamese-cross kitten. Smokey has yet to buy into my premise that she’s good for him (perhaps he sees her as a threat to his spoiledness), but I’m sure he’ll come around to my way of thinking! After all, we all need mercy!

Mercy

“…God…delights in mercy and loving-kindness.” –MICAH 7:18b (AMP)