Last Week at Large

We fixed some fence and corrals and hauled an aquaintence's horses to a new boarding facility, we shopped, we cleaned, we got together with friends, we planted potatoes,

we put out a little brush pile that decided to spread.

We hiked through the dark forest where the night before the little fairies had danced and sang and left their little slippers for us to enjoy. (Calypso Orchids)

We saw our last calf for the season born. They started late summer and now, finally, end. Ha, Ha, Ha, we really have our cows calving close together. (hear the sarcasm) The main reason for this long calving season is the geriatrics I bought cheaply in the fall. They were slated to calve in February and March, which they did. All of these calves look really good and the cows are excellent mothers. One is even raising a nice set of twins. I guess my purchase wasn't so bad after all. Now we just have to slide them over to fall calving which is no easy feat. Meet our pastor with his nephew's pig. He told me to write, " Here our Pauline pastor is hauling pig on the Sabbath", or something like that. He thought it was quite funny. Maybe you have to be a pastor to get the humor?

Our farrier also brought a group out to hunt last week, but they were skunked, or should I say 'stumped'. Inside story folks, that if told might embarrass a man or two. Heaven knows we can't have that. All I can hint at is that sometimes stumps look a lot like a pig. Especially if there is a mushroom growing where a nose might be. Or so I am told.
Why did this poor tree die? It was a good tree and gave shade and refuge for many an animal. We shed a tear or two for its loss and then Mark dug its roots out also. We wanted no proof of its grisly demise. We will tell you the why of its death later. We think it a worthy cause, but the one who fell this mighty tree said he wanted nothing of it, he was only doing what he was told. I just can't get enough of these ear photos. I have been riding almost daily now that the weather thinks it is mostly spring. Mostly spring ideed. This photo shows the top of the ranch early in the week all dusted in snow while the lower regions were rich and green.

I think I shall leave you with a poem I chanced upon by Emily Dickenson. Perhaps you could tell me what you think it means.

An altered look about the hills;

A Tyrian light the village fills;

A wider sunrise in the dawn;

A deeper twilight on the lawn;

A print of a vermilion foot;

A purple finger on the slope;

A flippant fly upon the pane;

A spider at his trade again;

An added stut in chanticleer;

A flower expected everywhere;

An axe shrill singing in the woods;

Fern-odors on untravelled roads,-

All this, and more I cannot tell,

A furtive look you know as well,

And Nicodemus' mystery

Receives its annual reply.