Muley and Horney Cows

 

Law, what about that pretty little heifer! My,  she's growed like one thing! Looks like she's got her eye on that bull calf over yon.  He'll make you uns a fine bull, now won't he? He's got some Jersey in him too, I'd say. But he didn't get the horns, did he? That's lucky -- save you having to de-horn him -- I like a muley bull, don't you? 

I had to laugh the other day --Bernice had brought her great grandbabies over to see me and we took those young uns for a walk up this way. They live in the city, you know, and they think it's a fine thing to  see cows and chickens and such.  You uns' gang of critters was in that pasture by the road so we stopped to look. Little Ashley pointed at that horney heifer there and hollered out, 'Bull!'

 

'No, honey,' I told her, 'that's a little heifer and once she has her a calf, she'll be a cow. Look yonder under there, you can see her little milk bag.'

'Miss Birdie,' says she, 'don't you see the horns? That one's a boy.'

Law, the time me and Bernice had, trying to make those young uns understand the difference twixt horney cows and muley cows.  They know all about them commuters and such but when it comes to livestock, they are just plumb ignorant, pore little things.

  

2 Kittehs + 1 Cardboard Box

The entertainment  potential is endless...

It's a clubhouse. . .

 

It's a hideout . . .

It's a fortress . . .

And then someone had the idea of turning it over and cutting a few holes . . .

The amazing box kept 2 kittehs and 6 adults entertained for several hours. . .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Mothers' Day, I Guess . . .

I found myself in a bit of a quandary as I began today's post . . . I've been reading recently comments here and there from women who say they dislike Mother's Day because they feel that their not having had children -- whether by choice or fate -- makes them inadequate in the eyes of some.  Kind of the way some folks hate Valentines Day because they aren't in a relationship. . .

Personally, I'm pretty sure Mother's Day and Valentine's Day are only as big as they are for commercial reasons -- all those guilt-induced purchases of flowers, chocolate, cards, or whatever.   

 I'm all for mothers -- but, really, as over-populated as the Earth is   --maybe there should be a  day honoring those who choose not to reproduce. 

As I deliberated over this post, I was reminded of  some years ago when a bunch of us newcomers to the mountains decided to start a peace group. . . and then others wanted to expand it to include environmental issues . . . and then we had to decide exactly where we stood as a group on various knotty issues. Not least of these issues was a name for our group. 'Plowshares' (as in beating swords into plowshares) was a popular choice but then we needed some recognition of our interest in environmental issues . . . and there we were, back at the realization that we didn't all agree on everything.

Finally, after a long session of trying to achieve consensus, one member sugested we call ourselves 'PLOWSHARES:People For and Against Peace and the Environment.'  

So, in keeping with that, I'll wish everyone a Happy Mothers' and Non-Mothers' Day!

 

 

Looking East...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Morning Routine

My morning routine begins with a trip to the basement to start a load of laundry. This time of year, when the irises are blooming just outside the door and the morning light is at a perfect slant, I generally take my camera downstairs with me.

I hurried out to fill the birdfeeder and take a few pictures before the light changed, noticing, on my way out the door, a messy pile of leaves and moss on the basement floor.

I figured it was the wrens' nest building material -- this time of year we leave the basement door open and the wrens love to build their little nests in the corners at the top of the block wall. The nests aren't very tidy -- but then neither is our basement.

  I looked up and saw that one nest had been knocked down entirely . . . and I saw the culprit.

A young blacksnake, out hunting. I don't think the wrens had laid yet -- and I hope they'll rebuild somewhere else. The blacksnake is welcome as he keeps the mice in check . . .

I call it mindful living -- always having in the back of your mind the knowledge that there are snakes around . . . 

Just another part of nature -- like the iris.

 

Look Up

 

Kittehs -- War and Peace