I woke up a rabbit as I was walking through the corral, and I'll swear that he swore at me.
I caught Lorena eating something that was larger than her head.
It may have been a butterfly. Whatever it was, it sure had large feet.
While I was taking that picture of Lorena being carnivorous, a low-flying fighter jet flew over the pasture. Usually when this happens, I never have the camera handy and I'm too busy jumping out of my skin from the noise to take a picture anyway. This time I got lucky...if you consider having fighter jets flying over your ranch lucky.
The light Friday night was eerily weird and creepy. Seemed like a good time to take
yet another picture of this cow skull. But I've already taken too many pictures of this skull. I need to get out more.
Usually on Sunday mornings, I can take enough interesting pictures to have something to post for a whole week.
But George kept getting in the way every time I lined up something good.
The skies threatened rain all weekend but couldn't make up their mind.
I couldn't get a decent storm picture if I tried.
I was able to take one good picture of Clara framed by the purple sage.
Whew. The weekend wasn't a total loss.
On Sunday night as I sat down to write a post for Monday morning, I sorted through all the pictures I had taken over the weekend and realized I had precious little that was blog-worthy. I seriously contemplated shutting down this site for good because I had plumb run out of things to show and tell. In a moment of introspection when I tried to figure out what caused this creative drought that threatened to disappoint my family and my friends and bring an end to life as I know it, I realized what was going on and knew exactly why my creative juices had stopped flowing.
I was tired. And maybe just a wee bit delirious from hauling the final load of hay for the year on Saturday. Now that the hay barn is full, I can relax and go back to being the blogger you expect me to be...I hope.
Usually I fall off my chair laughing at some of the antics at 7MSN .. this morning it was over your words, "I seriously contemplated shutting down this site ...."! Gee gads!!! Thank goodness you recovered with a good explanation for your creative juices having stopped flowing, and a VERY good reason I might add, and I have picked myself up off the floor.
ReplyDeleteGood gosh, it looks like Lorena is eating a baby bird?
1) Blogging is not OWED to us Linda. Don’t you start stressing about disappointing your readers! We’re lucky as it is.
ReplyDelete2) And don’t you dare skip blogging another day!
3) Lovely picture of Clara
4) Linda, Lorena is eating a bird! It’s a bird! I’ve had cats all my life, I’ve seen this view too often. But how is it possible that a chicken would eat a bird???????? I’m astonished. And grossed out!
Yes, you need to get out more,,,,,and take more pictures!!! If you shut down, you deprive this old northern broad her only way of ever seeing NM, donkeys and all of the other critters that hang out at your place!!!Then I will have to up my high blood pressure pills and not be able to leave nonsense comments on your blog!!! Now, don't ya feel guilty ;-)
ReplyDeletesigned
Theresa in Alberta
I can relate. We put about 2800 bales in the barn each season and I'm ill at ease until they are all there. Then I'm tee-totally whupped. What's for dinner? I dunno. What are you watching? Beats me. What are you reading? Can't tell. Why don't you go soak in the tub and then go to bed? Sounds doable.
ReplyDeleteWell done with the hay as well as with the weekend photos. What may seem "average" to you is fascinating to those of us who are living vicariously through you. Keep it coming.... after a good rest from all that hay stacking. And thank you!
ReplyDeleteGood heavens...of course you were tired! I think you should hang out a sign on the blog that says you're taking the day off when you need one. We would certainly understand!
ReplyDeleteAnd please don't ever quit your blog for good. I love it and all your adorable critters! :)
Do you have to feed hay in the spring and winter? As you know I bought 40 acres of the same kind of land down south of you and plan to move my horses there within the next 4 years but I know nothing about the edibility of that grass, it seems the cattle like it just fine from what I have seen. Can't wait to get out there again, hopefully this spring. Did you buy bales? What kind of hay is it there? If you don't mind sharing what does an average bale cost? Sorry so many questions about hay :), but you know when you have horses it is an important topic. Have a great week!!
ReplyDeleteLooks to me like Lorena was eating a goldfinch. Eww. Really, Lorena?
ReplyDeleteSometimes you do need a sign you could just hang for the day..like the "gone fishin" or "gone to feed store" signs.
ReplyDeleteI never try of reading or looking at your blog. The simple is what works. Like talking with a friend-- one day big news..next day just hanging out.
I haven't seen that skull from the ground view yet.
***GASP**** stop blogging?? Carson??? Just breathe Nancy, just breathe! ok - I made it to the end...phew! That's a great picture of Hank, and any shot of the burrito brothers is always good. Lorena eating that thing??? Not so good.... I agree with C in WI - hang out the sign when you need a day off - that way all your fans won't have heart attacks or have to double up the blood pressure meds... or eat a xanax like I was contemplating!
ReplyDeleteI think Lorena was eating a small bird. What little birds do you have in your area which have a yellow belly and dark wings? Do you have goldfinches?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pics! I love visiting your animals and the pic of Clara was my favorite!
ReplyDeleteGreat pic's and blog today!!!
ReplyDeletePersonally, I really like the one of Hank against the sky, storm or no storm. And the close up of George's leg barring is neat--I thought you MEANT to do that...
ReplyDeleteI moved a little hay this weekend too (just half a ton, another half to go before it's all where I want it) so I feel your pain.
As for the fighter jet--we, too, get jets (or more often army helicopters) from the NG firing range next door. We shake our fists at them and shout "Get outta our airspace!" and they generally do.
I look forward to your blog. I smile eveytime I see the blog picture of the month. You don't know how you have touched us with your writings and pictures. I say to myself, that you have done it and so can I. Because of your blog and a couple others I will be getting my own chickens this spring. I have loved horses for decades and now have checked out adopting my own donkeys in a few years. Keep up the great work and we will understand why you may take a day off when it's needed.
ReplyDeleteThank you
Shoot, I would have been thrilled just with the donkey leg photo.
ReplyDeleteRemember, we give you a kitchen pass when you need it, just twitter that you're alive so we don't have to scramble the fighter jets to check on you.
See you soon!
No no, Carson. You can't give up. After all you have me going to farms to buy fresh eggs.
ReplyDeleteKeep up the great work. Hats off that you are able to find lots to show and tell on your farm. It's always a pleasure to stop by.
Best always, Sandra
Well I certainly hope you never stop blogging. I enjoy hearing about you and your critters. Your pictures this week are wonderful. I think the hen framed by the sage is beautiful. So is the skull, because your right, the light was just right for that photo. Now the hen eating the bird was a great photo, but I had no idea a chicken would eat one of it's cousins!!!! Finally, I just love looking at beautiful hay put up in the barn and knowing my horses are set for the winter.
ReplyDeleteThese pictures are so interesting! What may seem commonplace to you is exotic to me. I love every view of the critters and sights at the 7MSN.
ReplyDeleteThe fly-by photo of the bird and Lorena is a good capture! And the skull photo is just fine, no need to stop taking photos of it!
ReplyDeleteI don't feed small square bales anymore, it is too labour intensive for my old back. I buy large square bales (4X4X8) and fork from it into a wheelbarrow for feeding Beamer and Url. The mares get the whole bale in a feeder and eat free choice.
Seriously awesome shot of the bunny.
ReplyDeletePlease feel free to take a day off now and again, but we would really miss your blog if you shut it down permanently.
And Lorena? EEEWWWWW!!!!
Cute Bunny ! But then I MAY be just slightly biased in favour of long-eared little Furries. And Yes, they do have a way of conveying their disapproval when we misbehave.
ReplyDeleteOh, wow! The bunny captured me, then Hank's photo caused an intake of breath, which I finally let back out when I saw the gorgeous skull. Lorena? Not so much gorgeous, but fascinating!
ReplyDeleteJust thinking about all you do on the ranch is enough to make me fall into my recliner.
Nancy in Iowa
definitely lorena is eating a small bird. They will eat anything and it's just their nature, I hope you don't give up the blog but maybe you need to feel less pressure for how much you put into it. Save that for the calendar again *s* and btw put me on a list for one if you do one this year. I have been enjoying this year's as each month changes. You could do a lot of calendars of different subjects.
ReplyDeleteWow thats an adorable bunny, if he knew you were gonna blog about him, he probly wouldnt have cursed, hed have thanked you.
ReplyDeleteI love coming to your blog and seeing your beautiful pictures and hearing the words you put with them, so entertaining.
I knew you had to hay tired after seeing your twitter post about the previous days....You had enough interesting stuff in each photo to write a blog about!
ReplyDeleteThat wasn't a butterfly.Those legs & feet belong to a small bird.
About the fighter jets.....I used to have them fly over my place regularly, along with 3 Marine One helicopters. The choppers were easy to see, but no photos.
Hard labor will make take the creativity right out of a person. You should be commended for blogging at all after all that hay.
ReplyDeleteI've always said about chickens---they eat what doesn't eat them first. I wish my darned hens would get busy and eat the house sparrows that eat more chicken feed than the chickens do.
I love your posts. Your pictures are the best. Always.
ReplyDeleteDo you do your hay alone? I hurt just looking at the photo. You are a brave and talented lady Carson.
I just want to say thanks for once again making the effort & posting photos & text that make me feel good....
ReplyDeleteI would have to agree that Lorena is eating a bird... Ick!!
ReplyDeleteYour pictures are always amazing!!
~The Monster Crew
Beautiful stuff...and the pics are nice too! During my Wilderness First Aid class I really did ask if a Thirsty Rancher Woman Margarita would do for hydration purposes. They said NO, but I think it would work to rehydrate you at this point. Who knows...the creative juices may become more creative with a little rehydration, huh?
ReplyDeleteBe a slave to (only) your critters and your life is complete.
Ewwww it does look as if she is eating another small bird! Gross but fascinating! Please allow yourself some time to rest. We all need time off to regenerate. You are only human after all :)
ReplyDeleteLiked all of your pictures. The bunny is adorable and a great shot, and how do you keep Hank so clean. He takes a beautiful picture against the sky.
ReplyDeleteYour blog is a gift to us, your readers. It's the miracle of the Internet that we all can enjoy every little detail of your piece of paradise. Simply, thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a butterfly with toes and feathers but if you need to believe that it's a butterfly it's a butterfly darn it!
ReplyDeleteOK, so maybe Lorena was eating a bird. How in heaven's name is that even possible? And there's a little more to that story: Peach and Clara were chasing her around trying to get a bite of the action and the second after I snapped the picture, Lorena swallowed the darned thing whole - she wasn't about to share. Eewww.
ReplyDeleteLaura, I feed hay year 'round, though just a little bit each day when the pasture grass is good. Problem is, some years the pasture is plentiful from May through October, other years, there's nothin' out there at all. I always plan for the worst and make sure the hay barn is full going in to winter. I buy my hay by the bale because I am tractorless and do all the unloading and stacking by myself. Most of the grass grown locally is fescue, and I paid $7 per bale this year for 50 - 65 lb bales. Lots of folks around here feed their horses alfalfa because it's a little cheaper, but I prefer to feed my guys straight grass. You be sure to let me know next time you're out visiting your land.
These pictures are wonderful. Don't be so hard on yourself!
ReplyDeleteI had to come back to see that picture again. I can't believe she ate that whole thing! Maybe it was a fairy!
ReplyDeleteYou had me at the bunny..seriously, I think I speak for your *many* loyal fans when I say, pace yourself so you don't feel like throwing in the bandana - ordinarily I'm thrilled with just a pic of one of the chickens, though that may have changed for me just now a wee bit. I defy anyone to find a blogger with a more wonderful (and photogenic) menagerie of critters.
ReplyDeleteI don't think the Bunny was swearing at you. That sweet faced fellow was probably thanking God that he escaped the hens in one piece. Lorena! My gawd, girl!
ReplyDeleteGood job on the hay stacking. I never properly thanked you for sparing me that chore. Although, in all serious, I would have been glad to help.
Chickens eat mice too, Lorena is just making sure she gets enough protein and calcium to provide you with those lovely omelets :).
ReplyDeleteI had no idea chickens ate small critters! How interesting!
ReplyDeleteI love your blog, even when it's just one pic and one sentence to explain it. Thanks for keepin' on!