Category Archives: Photographs

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WPC: Juxtaposition

WPC: Juxtaposition

Christmas 2013 – Wagyu tenderloins

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Posted on January 25, 2014 by in Photographs

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Doing Fine

Posted on January 24, 2014 by | 4 comments

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It tried to rain. We grinned with glee last evening as it played upon the metal roof and dotted the deck—like kids, we grabbed our drinks to stand out in it: an immeasurable amount. Ever optimistic, Robbin suggested I free the dead bees trapped in the rain gauge. Though not enough moisture to settle the dust or change the smell of things, it was trying—it hadn’t forgotten how.

Waiting to hear the latest weather report, we’re exposed, like everyone else, to the news, mostly bad news and extremely bad weather other places like the devastating blizzard in South Dakota that killed over 20,000 head of cattle last October. Or the 2011 Texas Drought that cut the state’s numbers by 600,000 head. By comparison, we’re doing fine despite the dusty poems and photographs within this blog.

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As a result of our reduced numbers, warmer weather and more alfalfa hay, the cattle seem to be doing fine as well. We know that our calves will be lighter this spring, and not as many cows will breed back to calve next September. We also know that selling cows to buy more hay is not a sustainable business model, but for the moment, most of our cows are OK.

We’ll miss our friends and extended family at the 30th National Cowboy Poetry Gathering in Elko that begins next week. NCPG We so wanted to listen to Temple Grandin deliver the keynote speech on Thursday, January 30th. More than any other individual, Temple Grandin has beneficially influenced the handling of cattle in the United States and around the world. Her methods are humane, proven and profitable. The keynote should be uploaded to the website and YouTube by Thursday afternoon.

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Or if we’re busy feeding at the time, other performances are always available at the NCPG’s Broadcast. Also available at the Gathering, thanks to the valiant efforts of documentary filmmaker Paul Moon, is my audio CD in absentia, ‘Streams of Thought’. Dry Crik Press

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So all in all, we’re doing fine.

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The Good Signs

Posted on January 23, 2014 by | 1 comment
Great White Pelican

American White Pelican

This morning, while feeding, we ran across a pair of American White Pelicans in our irrigation pond. I don’t remember ever seeing pelicans around here, but I don’t remember everything. But we’ll take it as a good sign.

On my daughter’s blog for the archives she could hear 40-50′ waves crashing on the north shore of Kauai. On the midday news, the ticker tape mentioned waves of the same dimensions on the north shore of Oahu, ahead of hurricane force winds. High surf warnings are in effect from Ventura to San Diego Counties until Sunday afternoon. We’ll take all that as a good sign.

Today real clouds came in on a little wind to feel like rain, yet not exactly sure what rain feels like anymore, it felt good to us.

We’ll keep our fingers crossed for a change.

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WPC: Family

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The twins, now over a week old, are doing well as it appears that “819” will raise them both. Currently relegated to babysitting duties (outside the frame) while the other mothers are eating hay, she’s doing quite well keeping track of her own two calves.

I am reminded of my poem “IO” published in Poems from Dry Creek reprinted below:

 

IO

On the horns of an infant moon,
the creek shrinks and pools
between sycamores and live oaks

as babies come to first-time mothers
bringing the bear tracks downcanyon
on the scent of spent placentas.

Black progeny of the river nymph –
white heifer driven madly by Hera’s
gadfly Oestrus to cross continents

and populate Asia – find maternity
perplexing at first. Yet, lick and nuzzle
the stumbling wet struggle to stand,

suckle and rest that enflames instinct
in all flesh. Worthy timeless worship,
no better mother ever than a cow.

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Posted on January 23, 2014 by in Photographs

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Paregien Branding Addendum: Photos by Earl McKee

Posted on January 22, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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Use with permission only, copyright Earl McKee.

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Dust in the Canyons

Posted on January 21, 2014 by | Leave a comment

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The cows across the road have heard us feeding, the rattle of the diesel idling in gear as we flake hay to the first-calf heifers. It’s a good sign that they’ve worked their way up the mountain, hustling a little dry fuzz to sustain them instead of waiting by the gate for us to feed them next. Since the middle of August, they know the routine.

Another good sign is the appearance of Bald Eagles, mostly immature, in the past couple of weeks. Slim pickin’s, we came upon four of them feeding on a coyote—and almost no one eats coyote. As there’s not much water pooled anywhere, one assumes the Bald Eagles may be preceding a storm, but now harassing our native ducks, the survivors forced to retreat to the cattails every morning until northern ducks begin migrating south.

We’re looking for change and almost any sign will do.

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Beautiful Dry Days

Posted on January 20, 2014 by | 1 comment
December 28, 2013

December 28, 2013

Forecast: more of the same, no rain next 10 days.

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WPC: Family—Rooted Tenacity

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This family of sycamores (Platanus racemosa) is among the largest Sycamore Alluvial Woodlands in the Sierra Nevada ecoregion and one of 17 stands over 10 acres remaining on the planet. Located on Dry Creek (Tulare County, California), it is connected by a common root ball. Rarely exposed, some root balls measure 15 feet in diameter and have been pushing new stems for centuries. Some stems here are three to four hundred years old—alive, perhaps when Sir Francis Drake claimed California for Spain. Imagine how old the root balls must be!

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Posted on January 18, 2014 by in Photographs

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No Snow in the Sierras

Posted on January 17, 2014 by | 3 comments
December 31, 2013

December 31, 2013

With no improvement in the Sierra snowpack in the month of January, and virtually no storms in sight, prospects for California agriculture take an ugly shape. Best case scenario: past the time of year when the snowpack normally freezes for a slow runoff, a prolonged surface water run to Valley farmers is unlikely even if it does rain and snow in amounts to offset the dry, first half of our rainy season. Now one must entertain the real possibility of more stormless skies and more warm weather. With record-breaking high temperatures for January, San Joaquin Valley orchards are confused and trying to bloom. With each day it does not rain, the richest agricultural region in the world comes closer to becoming the new Dust Bowl, adversely impacting everyone.

                        Overview: “Artists of the Great Western Divide” (2010)

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She’s Got Twins

Posted on January 17, 2014 by | 4 comments

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Brought down from the Paregien Ranch before the branding as we reduced numbers in our upper country, we knew she was close. I noticed the fresh black white-faced calf off by itself most of Wednesday, worried that it was abandoned. Yesterday when we fed, she surprised us with twins, having collected them both. I’m guessing a Hereford father.

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Plenty of milk, now we’ll see if she can raise them.

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