Country Lovin'

 

It was as if this crew of cows were waiting for me along Center Valley Road yesterday. 

I'm thinking that they found their respective spots, figured out some natural poses and held that look until I had time to come along, stop and snap a couple of pictures. 

Then, they all went on about their business. 

Our neighborhood cows are pretty photogenic, and it's fun to stop and take their pictures. 

They don't seem to mind one bit. 

In another pasture, across the road from us, Big Red gave me the "cow chewing her cud" look. 

I love living in a neighborhood filled with cows.

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In other news, I wish my I could teach my horses to look at the stars. 

After a night of rain, the pre-dawn sky this morning was alive with sparkling of millions of stars. 

Such a beautiful walk down the lane it was.  

In fact, I had to be careful not to stumble on a loose rock because my eyes were glued to the glorious dark sky, filled withendless tiny beams of light.

We had a similar scene yesterday morning, and I even saw a shooting star. 

Living in the country away from city lights allows for such amazing night sky shows when rain clouds drift away and reveal the endless universe. 

On my second trip outside to take the horses down the lane in the almost dawn, I soon started wishing that they would acquire an appreciation for watching the stars. 

It began with Lily, who usually allows Lefty to go first. I ended up being happy that Lily had pushed her way to the front of the line.  About two thirds of the way to the pasture gate, Lily noticed that something was different. 

Horses always notice any change, no matter how minute. Often, it's so subtle that we humans have to look around for what has suddenly gotten their attention. 

In this morning's case, Bill had started taking down the white electric fence around the lane pasture. He hadn't quite finished, so he left what he had taken down in a pile near the end of the lane. 

And, he didn't tell the horses. 

The remaining fence lay on the ground zigzagging different directions. 

When Lily began to snort, I wondered why and soon realized that the new appearance of the fence line had set her off. 

Lily is usually the calmest of the three, so all we dealt with for the rest of the trip was her snorts. 

"Better remember that fence change and quit looking at the stars," I thought while walking to the barnyard to bring Lefty to pasture. 

About two thirds of the way down the lane, sure enough, the snorts and deep breathing began, the eyes widened,  and eventually came attempts to walk sideways really close to me.  Lefty even wheeled around a couple of times, refusing to take his eyes off from that skinny white monster. 

Why can't they just look at the stars, I thought.

Next came CB.  I told him before we left the barnyard that  the fence was different.  And, I talked to him all along the way, hoping he wouldn't notice, but he did.

  CB, however, must have actually believed me when I kept repeating, "It's all right." 

Thankfully, his trip down the lane turned into a non-event with some "good boy" pats at the end. 

Now, if I could just teach them to look to the stars.

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On to another topic, dear to my heart. 

I'm including a link today about where people get relief in Seattle. 

I could write an entire chapter about Bill's and my recent trip to Ireland and the mutual strategies we have agree upon whenever nature calls. 

On one day, when he suggested that we stop at a Circle K in one town, I told him that the memories of going to Circle K's looking for restrooms back in Phoenix years ago with my journalism students were just too vivid and frightful. 

Nevertheless, he stopped, and, sure enough, this Circle K did not have the "stick people" with pants and skirts mentioned in this article. 

Shame on Seattle for not considering human relief needs in its urban planning.

Again, most folks who know me would agree that I could write a book on my potty pursuits. 

But, by golly, this Seattle Times piece has certainly nailed the high spots of desperate means.  Wonder how many of you out there can identify. 

Take this into your "reading room" and enjoy.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/homeless/where-do-people-pee-in-seattle-bushes-bottles-and-pike-place-market/     

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The overnight rain will be helpful today as I continue to pull more weeds from the garden.  Yesterday, a load of bean plants, dead sunflowers and weeds went off to the throwaway pile behind the barn.

With a return to summerlike weather, I'll leave the tomato plants which keep on producing tasty salad makings.  And, with the cooler weather my lettuce and chard is back to producing. 

Loving the bounty and the fall beauty and the weather and the stars. 

Happy Tuesday.