Hog Pigs
Musical meadows continues. Patrick moved the ladies even closer and they are eating it right up.
This meadow flooded when the river was so high and he couldn’t put it up for hay. So let the grazing begin!
They also like dips and sips in the river. That water is a little too chilly for me but more power to you girlfriend.
Oh…and one more thing.
At sundown yesterday, we put Kate and her filly in with the others. As you can probably imagine by the picture above, there was a lot of rootin’ and a-tootin’! She tricked them by going through the open gate to the neighboring meadow and Pepper, Alice, and Poco were running wild trying to get to them. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ve figured out they don’t have to be separated. In the meantime, don’t get kicked!
i’ll take a Wyoming Sunset over football any day
I’m not a sports person by any stretch of the imagination but I did enjoy the Puppy Bowl VIII on Animal Planet yesterday. And when the Super Bowl strangely ended up on our TV (I guess Patrick wanted to know the score or watch the sexy commercials) I stepped outside to enjoy the pink and blue Wyoming sunset.
Taking a Breather
Wyoming is inhaling at the moment. The air is calm and warm and the sky is gorgeous. After several days of constant exhaling with 60 to 90 mph gusts, the grass is laying sideways and tree limbs are scattered throughout the meadows.
We might see snow from those clouds but for now, we are enjoying the calm beauty this Saturday.
where the deer and the antelope play
In the freshly cut meadow, the wildlife can’t hide as well.
While driving into the ranch a couple evenings ago I came upon deer, antelope, and turkeys all grazing in the meadow together.
It was a beautiful sight and I noticed a lot of them hanging out near the sprinkler probably to keep cool. We’re watering it for the second cutting for horse hay.
Does and bucks were all together with antelope grazing without a care in the world.
But the mommas were on the lookout and very cautious. They stayed close to the brush for a quick hop to their hiding place if need be.
a Nap in the Hay
Tis the season for cutting and bailing hay. Hopefully then I will have a better view of the fawns and baby antelope. Patrick saw a coyote pup chasing a mouse earlier.
Dragonflies are buzzing around and butterflies are quietly passing by.
I love summer.
The Laramie Rages, Again
A lot of rain last autumn and excess snow runoff has forced the folks at the reservoir to release more water into the Laramie River. They released 2,750 cubic feet almost all at once last June and the river was treacherous. But this time they decided to start earlier and release less at a time.
But usually, the Laramie is a small stream. Now, again, it is a raging river and is creeping up on the banks surrounding pine trees and sage brush.
It is also creating various channels throughout the meadows. This low lying grassland is always quite dry but now it is surrounded by lovely a winding stream.
The Chase. The Dance. Gobble Gobble
The hens are running.
But they can’t hide.
Because the gobblers are strutting and stomping.
Gobblers pursue hens in a team and this dominant turkey (above) dances and spits and gobbles. Working as a team helps the less dominant gobbler “pass on his genes” since he probably wouldn’t be as successful working alone.
Hope your weekend is equally alive and energetic my friends!
Beautiful Morning
I woke up at sunrise to this beautiful sky. What a gorgeous start to the day.
After admiring the beauty and singing “Morning has broken, like the first morning”, I went to the barn to sit by and watch the heifer (first time mother) that gave birth under this morning sky. It was obvious she didn’t understand what was going on and what she was supposed to do. All she knows is she had a belly ache and then this thing that looks like a dog is laying on the ground. I spent an hour with her and watched as she licked and simulated the baby. At this point, the calf is smarter than mom because he knows what he needs and will not give up trying to get into “the pocket”. He finally did. Phew!
Then I came in for chocolate chip pancakes. More on the heifer and calf later.
Eagle by the Bridge
There was a light snow falling last Friday morning and I was sitting at my desk with a warm cup of coffee when Patrick called. He said to jump on the four wheeler and head down to the bridge with my camera. An eagle has been perched there since the crack of dawn he said. I figured he’d be gone before I could get on the 5 layers of clothing required for riding in the snow but to my surprise, he was still there. He took flight not long after I arrived.
He landed on a limb way down the river. Can you see him in the distance there?
But I captured this image before he took flight.
I think out of all my shots while out here in the wild west, I am most proud of this portrait above and of the one in flight. Just look at his eyes. The sharp talons. And that beak. I had a hard time focusing because the snow was coming down pretty fast but I persisted. And he was hunting. Turning his head all around waiting for his next meal to come along. It was a difficult shoot and I was so happy to come home with these results.
I hope you like them too.
Bald Eagle
Perched up high, watching over the ranch.
It was so kind of him to stop by and strike a pose.
Happy Monday everyone!
Handsome Fella
The Mule Shoe Ranch is on the way home for us and we have to cautiously drive around it every time. The curvy street is a runway for the peacocks and peahens to strut their stuff. They definitely don’t like the snow so lately they’ve been perched on railings if they aren’t in the barn. Yesterday they were taking advantage of the bright sun and were posed to perfection for a portrait.
This guy wanted to make your day brighter here on Uprooted Magnolia.
Hope you are having a great weekend!
The Bunny High Jump
Awe, it’s a bunny.
Sitting on a bale of hay…cute.
Looks like she’s burrowed a little home between 2 bales.
My, how high you can jump you cute wittle wabbit.
Silly wabbit, hay is for horses and cows!
Horse Play
Rooty toot toot! Open the shoot!
I visited the colt yesterday and she was having a grand ole time bucking and kicking in the corral. It was a “breezy” and “chilly” afternoon.
She came right up and sniffed me and my camera almost immediately. She’s getting more comfortable with people.
Then she backed up as if to say “hey lady, watch this”!
“Take my picher”!
She was so happy to entertain me and I loved every minute. But when I said I had to go because my hands were frozen, she came up and snorted at me through the fence.
See you tomorrow young one. 🙂
Cowcicles
“When it’s fifty below, the mercury bottoms out and jiggles there as if laughing at those of us still above ground.”- Gretel Ehrlich, The Solace of Open Spaces.
I stepped out to take a walk with Shadow and see whats happening around this icy wonderland. The cattle have gathered around the house.
They are covered in snow and ice staring at me like I’ve got the solution..or hay or cake… a blanket maybe?
But I continue on, hoping to get a little exercise and a few scenic images. I hear a lot of crunching snow behind me and I turn around and see about 100 cows following us.
They really do think I’ve got an answer for them but I got nothin. I’ve only been out 10 minutes and I’m shivering, getting covered in snow and ice myself. But I’m not wrapped in leather like they are.
Shadow and I only made it to the first cattle guard before we had to turn around.
And there they are, followed me all the way to the cattle guard. They’ve got once heck of a coat on and are very healthy. “You’ll be alright” I assure them.
But this girl seems really mad. Look at the evil eye I’m getting. And I don’t know if it’s because she’s covered in ice and snow or if it’s because her bangs are frozen in the early nineties claw.
Sunset Meditation
It’s quiet out here except for the howling winds and the snow crunching under my boots. Not much cowboy’ing happens in the winter, just gathering cattle here and there and haying when the snow is high. We’re getting prepared for calving and if all goes as planned, we should start sometime in March. But bulls can be pretty sly and if any of them jumped the fence before the planned conception, we’ll be starting earlier. In the meantime, I plan to meditate with the peaceful sunsets over snow capped mountains because soon, our days and nights will filled with ups and downs, mooing and bawling.
Peace & Love, Leah
Back to the Winter Chill
We have now returned to our regularly scheduled program. Yep, it’s still winter. Zero degrees and below to be exact.
The deer are lounging in sunflower fields soaking up the rays.
The horses are running. They don’t really seem to be going anywhere in particular, just running from the wind and cold.
The trees are covered with ice and snow.
In the Laramie River sits little islands of snow, mini icebergs.
When we work our way up the drive, we’re never sure if there will be a drift too deep to drive through right around the next corner. So far so good. Stay warm folks, it’s cold all over!
Teeth Chattering,
♥Leah
Rare Winter Stillness
This image was captured a couple mornings before the end of 2010. It was a warm day, a break between two snowfalls. But you can see the snow clouds hanging over, just waiting to drop.
Then on new years eve, the blizzard hit and the wind hasn’t stopped it’s 60mph romp since. I printed this image and hung it in front of the tightly closed curtains behind my computer screens. It’s a peaceful reminder of the rare winter stillness while the howling winds are ripping through the trees outside of my office window.
Always hanging on to the car door,
♥Leah
Snow Kissed
Flakes have been coming down nonstop since midnight.
Winter Canopy
Snow is reaching the doorknob of our one room cabin.
Winter Cabin
The wagon we use to feed the cows and horses is quickly filling up with snow.
Winter Wagon
And it might be several days before we can cross this bridge to go to town for some cornmeal and sugar.
Bridge to Snowy Paradise
Just kidding….we’re warm and nourished and enjoying this winter’s kiss.
The Running of the Deer
Santa sent a call out to his reindeer. Tonight’s the night!
The mommas are coming out of snow covered brush to get their young ready for flight.
Dancer and Prancer have been exercising with their mom getting ready for their run far and wide.
Today they have gathered in the pasture to get fit for their role,
and to follow the leader to the North Pole.
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night! ♥
Snow Frolic
When I started my walk this morning, it wasn’t snowing very hard. I went to visit the horses and they instantly greeted me. Sniffing and following me, they seemed bored.
After a few minutes with them, I went to visit the colt and fill her up with some grain and break up her icy water. As I was walking back, I saw the horses frolicking in the snow. The flakes were getting bigger and falling faster than when I started out.
Gus and Cheyenne were going at it. Running around each other, nipping at necks and legs. Gus, the white horse, would roll around in the muddy snow and Cheyenne would go at him again.
Then they got Kid involved. It became a snowy ring around the posy.
And it started all over again. This time Cheyenne was biting and nipping at Kid.
I had to come back inside and dry off my cameras. The snow is coming down hard and fast. More snowfall pictures to come!
Uprooted Magnolia 
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