The First Calf Has Landed
So happy our first little one was born without any issues for this first time mother.
Calving season has begun. Here we go…
Frisky Fawn
Fawns are definitely out and about and some have hit the ground running. They are the cutest!
Red Dogs
Thanks to a comment from a friend yesterday, I learned that baby bison are called red dogs.
I had never heard that term before and she said she’s only heard that in Yellowstone.
Her comment also reminded me that I hadn’t shared the couple of shots I got of the babies. It looks like it was a good calving season because we saw a lot of the little furry babies on the ground.
I love the little nubs on their heads. They are much cuter than their mothers that’s for sure!
Yellowstone: Sheepeater Cliff
We made a wrong turn and when we realized we had done so, we came upon Sheepeater Cliff and decided to stop and get our bearings.
Sheepeater Cliff was named for the Shoshone Indians who lived throughout this region. Their use of bighorn sheep earned them this name. The cliff is lava that cooled nearly 500,000 years ago.
When we pulled up, we saw a lot of folks admiring this pile of dried lava and wondered what the heck they were looking at.
Then we saw them.
Baby Marmots!
And Mother Marmot.
These brothers were wrestling and flashing their sharp teeth.
Marmots are large squirrels and typically live in burrows within rock piles.
I’ve also heard them be referred to as rock chucks.
They were rolling around like kittens! It was hilarious!
They mostly feed on plants and insects.
Little sister wasn’t having any of it. She was just crawling around the rocks looking cute and eating plants.
Needless to say, we were glad we made a wrong turn because we sure did get a good chuckle. 🙂
Sunsets and Bunnies
I was just thinking that you hadn’t heard from Collins in a while. How have you been getting through your days without an update?! 😉
She’s my wild child outdoor kitty who loves to be loved. She enjoys long walks from the house to the hay bales to chase mice and grasshoppers. She loves rolling in the dirt and chasing me with her back hunched and her tail twice it’s size. I call her Halloween Cat when she does that. But here she is in a rare quiet and reflective moment admiring a gorgeous Wyoming sunset while watching bunnies hop across the yard, another favorite past time.
Phew! I know you need that, sorry it took me so long. Now you can carry on with your day. xoxo
First Born
Our first calf arrived on Friday and he was born to a first time mother. When Patrick saw the heifer in labor that morning, he got her into the barn for privacy and so that we could assist her if she needed it. She labored for about 3 hours until we saw hooves. We gave her 30 more minutes to have it on her own and sure enough, after a long and loud moo/grunt/squeal, he entered our world. I went in a checked on her and she was laying upright and very tired. The calf was alive and just laid there quietly. It was obvious that she didn’t know what happened or even saw that she had a calf. I gave her some water and left her alone to rest. About 10 minutes went by and she stood up. When she turned around and saw this little slimy bundle, she started humming loudly and was licking him like crazy. She was immediately in love and so energetic and exited. This excitement and mothering doesn’t always happen, especially with heifers. But this lady loves her baby and is taking such good care of him. We are happy and relieved that this was a calm and happy birth. We have a few more heifers to calve out and several cows to calve. We’re just getting started and I pray this will be a smooth calving season. And so it begins…
PS: Our Winter Art Fair went well on Saturday. Just wish you could’ve been there. 🙂
Babyface
We got our first snow of the season a couple nights ago. But yesterday, the sun came out and the wind picked up to rid us of the white stuff. That’s okay, I’m not quite ready for it… although the forecast says I better get ready.
Anyway, I took a walk to the meadows and this sweet baby-face peeked at me through the trees. She was born early summer and I couldn’t get close to her all season! So this was a nice surprise. 🙂
Roaming at Sunset
This wild girl roams free. She often greets me after I wander around the river and meadows. She’ll jump out of the tall grass and wrap her furry paws around my leg. No claws, just love. She’ll do that at night when I walk down the hall. She’ll stand quietly in the doorway and jump out with arms flying. It’s nice to have a kitty around although she isn’t as snugly as my Baby Angel Matilda. That’s okay though. If she sticks around long enough, she’ll learn.
Have a great weekend, friends!
Owl Watching 2015: Update
I’ve counted three owlets lately. It’s hard to tell in the photos but I’ve seen them with my own eyes and binoculars. I thought one was a goner but it turns out it was just asleep.
Momma is pretty protective and sits on them a lot.
They are getting bolder. This one stood out on the edge for a while.
I know you only see two here but I know I’ve counted three. I don’t know how far back that cave goes but momma has found a very safe place to raise her young. I love those bright eyes!
Another Proud Momma
We had a little snow blow through here yesterday. Along with checking cattle several times a day, I’ve also been checking the nest in the bluffs where my folks and I witnessed a horned owl and her owlet for the first time last year. Lo and behold, she’s back. I count two baby owls in this shot but there could be as many as 6 in a clutch. There was only the one last year. Needless to say, I’m pretty excited to see them. Let Owl Watching 2015 commence! 🙂
Have a Good Friday everyone. Be well.
Since We Last Spoke…
…I only have five more to go. Calving has been a bit challenging but overall we are well. Busy, but well. Happy and healthy. And sometimes on a sunny afternoon, we are very lazy.
Proud mommas keep their calves close.
When I ride through the meadow to check on everyone, the good mothers locate their babies for me.
And sweet kisses occur frequently.
Now don’t get too excited. There are days that don’t go as well as one would hope. Some of these cows seem to think that having their calf across the river is a good idea. Sure, she’s looking for privacy to give birth. But when she’s ready to join the herd, walking across the river isn’t as easy for her calf as she thinks. Like Patrick says, “they just want to baptize them right off the bat!”
Ugh.
I wait for P to get home from work so we can cross the river in the 4-wheeler to spook them out of the bluffs and catch the calf (by his tail). Then we load the little booger up and drive him back across with mom following us while breathing heavy and humming.
Then there are times when the cow crosses the river with her older calf and hides him in a canyon. So the big, bad coyote (Patrick) scares him up and out of there and we “encourage” them to cross back and join the herd.
I’m on the edge of my seat right about now.
I. hate. this. part.
Can I look now?
Deep sigh.
It’s so scary to watch them cross. Patrick is in the process of fencing off the river but that takes time and money, both of which are scarce around here. But we are hoping to have it done before next calving season.
The weather has been splendid and I have felt like I’ve been in a National Geographic documentary these past couple of weeks.
On that note, the turkey’s are back!
Back Home and it Sure Feels Nice
Hi everyone! I am back from a lovely two week trip back east visiting family and friends. I had a wonderful time but didn’t get to see half the people on my list. Ugh! Next time though…and I won’t let it go two years before my next visit.
Anyway, it’s nice to be home. The weather is magnificent and lucky number 13 debuted the first calf of the season just yesterday. It looks healthy and happy so later today I’ll get a closer look. Right now mom and baby are bonding.
Hope you are having a great start to your week. Cheers!
Snow Adorable
Once again, we have found ourselves in a snowstorm. It’s pretty magical out there.
These little birds are so cute jumping from blade to blade looking for breakfast. Besides hearing the snow under my boots, all I hear is the softest “chirp chirp” from these adorable gals.
This storm is supposed to move out this afternoon and then warm up the rest of the week.
Happy Hump Day!!
Tilda Tuesday: Where’s Tilda?
Like many of us here in Wyoming, Matilda is often outdoors enjoying this beautiful fall weather. She loves to hide behind the sagebrush and jump out with a burst of energy and pounce onto the deck. She may be 17 years old, but she sure doesn’t know it. Happy Tilda Tuesday everyone! 🙂
Tilda Tuesday: Through DEVO Glasses
“I have noticed that what cats most appreciate in a human being is not the ability to produce food which they take for granted–but his or her entertainment value.” -Geoffrey Household
Matilda was helping me organize my photo shoot props. Apparently my rush to get everything ready for my next shoot was really entertaining for her. Silly Tilly. 🙂
Mohawk Mane
This is a great time of year for portraits of any kind. It’s cooling down a bit and the leaves will be changing shortly. I’m booking photo sessions for the fall and I am excited about all of them. I must admit however, that I am really excited when I get the call to come photograph a week-old colt. It’s mostly just to document coloring and markings for the horse papers but I do love spending a little more time getting a nice head-shot. Momma kept turning him around and wasn’t too thrilled with me being there. I was finally able to catch a sweet profile before just I left them alone. 🙂
P.S. The thing I love the most about baby horses is the mohawk for a mane. Cracks me up every time.
P.S.S. Then again, the long lashes and whiskers are cute too!
Tilda Tuesday: Sunburst
It’s getting to be that time of year again when Matilda rotates around the house throughout the day seeking out the sunny spots. 38 degrees this morning. Yikes!
Tilda Tuesday: Missing her Momma
Tilly misses me when I go out of town. This last trip really did a number on her so now that I am home she doesn’t let me out her sight much. We snuggle at sunrise, she sits in my office window all day while I work, and we watch the sun set after supper. It’ll get back to normal soon but for now, snuggle sessions are abundant! 🙂
Guernsey Bambi
Guernsey State Park is a beauty. Along with a large body water for sporting, there are ample opportunities for hiking, biking, rock climbing, and my favorite- wildlife spotting. I saw twin mule deer fawns hiding in the brush and they, of course, were precious. These little ones are growing fast but haven’t lost their fuzz or spots yet. Her mature eyes are mesmerizing… and those ears!! 🙂
Tilda Tuesday: Summer Evenings
Happy Tilda Tuesday everyone!
We’re not the only ones that love to watch the sun set. Tilly loves her summer evenings on the deck. I don’t normally let her sit on the picnic table but for portrait purposes, I let it slide this time. 🙂
Uprooted Magnolia 
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