Come with me on a walk

 On my morning walk today I found this offering in the middle of the path.  They are hawthorn berries.

 Very pretty I think.

 The cows and calves were enjoying the quiet morning.  I love that huge cottonwood tree in the background.

 A few weeks ago when I was walking here, I heard a rustling rumbling sound coming from the forest and I thought "What is that noise?  The cows shouldn't be in there.  Sounds like a big animal, maybe an elk crashing through the woods?"  Then this huge alder tree came falling down, right where I had been about to walk.  I have never seen a tree spontaneously fall down with no wind or logger to help it.  It is on the neighbor's property and they have been working on cutting it up for firewood.  I like the way the red alder shows why it is named so.  When a fresh tree is cut up it bleeds red.

 This is a big old stump with new trees growing up out of it.  I climbed it once and looked inside, it is hollow.  If I ever have to hide from someone, I might run here and get in.  You might be able to see how the cows have rubbed on that long snakey root piece and made it all shiny.

 I love leaves.  This heart shaped one is a cottonwood.

But I love my little Roscoe Bean even more.  Who could resist this face?

Be well.

Around the farm

I'd like to share some pictures I have taken from around the farm.

 Above is showing a footprint I spotted at the river side.  It is a beaver track.  I was surprised at how large it is.

 I'll call this a trunklet.  Kinda like a bracelet except it is on a tree trunk.  Chicken wire was wrapped around the trunk in hopes of keeping the animals from nibbling on the bark but evidently it made a nice spot to rub on. 

 Cows like to rub on things.

I noticed the muddy spot under this fence post where there is not any similar muddy spot near other fence posts so I had to investigate the reason.

 I discovered this metal nail head or something that the cows have been rubbing their heads on for a good scratch.  It is worn smooth.  I find many spots on trees and posts that are rubbed so smooth and a nice patina on them from the cows.

 This is my neighbors tree fort.  The boys are grown and off to college now, sometimes the cows use it.  Somewhere I have a picture of 3 cows standing in it but darn, I can't find it right now.

 No question as to why the maples around here are called Big Leaf Maples!

Here is Gunnar gazing through the fence slats at this thing.  Anyone know what it is?

Neighbors cows have been calving this past week.  Here is Ruby and her little calf from last year.  I saw this morning that she calved another little white faced baby.  She is a good mom.
That is enough for today from around the farm.
Be well.

Caretaking

Hello, is there anyone still following me? I know I haven't been blogging much lately so I'll be grateful to any of you still checking out this blog. Since I rarely go anywhere, I am the go to gal when it comes to picking a caretaker for others homes when they go on trips. This week I am feeding the neighbors cattle. They were waiting for me when I arrived today, mooing their hunger loudly.

Hope this big guy is friendly! The man didn't tell me to be careful of him so I will assume he is gentle as Ferdinand. Good boy!

All they are interested in is getting their hay and nosing into a full bin.

The feeder isn't the prettiest thing, but it is really rather ingenious. The man got an old motor home and converted it to a drivable feeder. He can fill it with bales of hay and move it around the field to feed the cows so they don't make a big muddy mess in one place. It works well!

After feeding the cows I mooved on to the horses, two gentle Paints.

All this farm equipment resting, waiting for next year and hay season.

Don't forget to turn the electric fence back on!

Time to leave the BBD in charge for the rest of the day.   Hope you enjoyed this little tour of a part of my day.  Now it's back to some art work.  

Hope you all are having a safe and happy holiday season.

Be well.

Cow Clubhouse

The 4-H steers have taken over the neighbor boys "fort".

Summer has finally arrived here in NW Oregon and already fall is in the air. I'll take whatever I can get of the sun. Looks like these black steers prefer the shade.

Be well.

Llamas and Cows and Dogs! Oh My!

First of all I want to welcome my new followers!  Thanks for joining up, hope you enjoy this post from around the farm. 

We had a fairly dry day last week and I enjoyed the walk, got to see the neighbors baby cows cavorting in the field.

Miss Grace enjoyed the wind giving her a little blow dry of her long hair.  Llamas always seem to have a piece of hay sticking out of their mouths.

The new born calves are so cute!  I love watching them run around in the field, playing at "The Calf Town Race Track".  Oh dee doo dah day!  Yeah, it was that kind of a day.

I always have to stop off and visit the neighbors steer.  The teenager next door is raising it as a 4-H project.  Every day I walk past "20" and bring him a hand full of fresh grass.  He appreciates it and bows his head so I can scratch his back.  It is our little daily ceremony.

I will be sad when he gets carted off to the fair.  Sometimes he licks my hand.  Have you ever been licked by a cow?

Tonka is doing well.  He is used to being around cows since he came from a cattle farm.

Charlie has pretty well adjusted although he still prefers to stay up high, out of possible reach by the new dog even though Tonka pays him no mind at all.  

 I mustn't leave Miss Sadie out.  She is such a sweetheart.

Be well.