We took the cows from the Top in Greasy back home this morning after weaning and hauling their calves down the mountain on Monday, or rather they took us, chugging up the hill non-stop behind the Kubota. Having homes, the cows are ready to get back to normal after getting over the loss of their calves. I’m sure the prospects of being independent on a two-month vacation is also appealing.
Saddling at 5:30 a.m. to beat the warmer weather (forecast 94° today), Clarence, Robbin and Zach were coming off the hill by 8:00. Not bad!
drycrikjournal 
John: You are such an interesting mix of poet and rancher. I love how you speak to the “emotions” (if that is the right word) of your cattle, in both this post as well as your poetry. I think having a poet’s heart probably makes you a better steward of your land and your animals, but maybe I am a biased observer. Great photos too; thanks for taking the time to shoot them and post them.
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Excellent shots. I think we could all use a 2-month independent vacation! But wherever we might go, we’ll be watching for Dry Crik posts.
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Thank-you both!! The cows really don’t have it so bad, in the shade by 8:00 a.m., out again at at dusk, and their 2-month vacation doesn’t cost them a damn thing. All the time harvesting a weather-dependent, renewable resource and converting it into protein to feed us all. Ideally a sustainable model, it’s all about the cows and the ground – and after a lifetime of living with both, fairly easy to see through their eyes.
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My Dad used to say that the cows would bawl long enough for the other cows to know they were good mothers, then get on about their business.
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