Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Visitors

One of the least favorite things in my life is looking out the window and seeing this.


Most times when this happens I can hear envious moos coming from the pasture where a few calves missed the the departure time when the rest of their friends decided to go on an exciting tour of  greener grass.

Yesterday when I discovered the calves escaped again I wasn't happy when I didn't hear any envious moos. When I went outside my fears were confirmed. All the calves were having a grand time in our yard. Sending Sailor to close the gates at the end of our driveway to keep them from running out on the road I started trying to get them to head back toward their pasture.

Trying to herd twenty calves at one time is no easy feat and we soon gave up and concentrated on only three or four at a time leaving the rest to sample everything the yard and barn had to offer. Calves have a way of not wanting to give up their freedom even though their pasture offers them much more room and grazing than the yard does.

Stationing the girls between the house and the barn in hopes their presence would discourage the calves from running back into the main part of the yard Sailor and I tried to coax one at a time back into the field. Most of them with a little time and careful moves got headed back through the gate.

The smallest of the bunch decided it was not going to co-operate and every time it neared the gate it would kick up his heels and dart back the way it had come from. trying my best to head it off for the tenth time I tripped over an uneven spot and wound up kissing America. After more than an hour of trying we actually managed to get them all back where they belong. They are all doing great, I am hoping I won't be sore for long.

17 comments:

  1. Your green yard grass must be very tempting. Or maybe it's just the idea of escape that makes visiting you so attractive.
    Hope you didn't suffer too much injury when you kissed our native soil!

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  2. Oh my, I hope you are not sore for long either. As the old saying goes, the grass is always greener on the other side... even when it isn't.

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  3. So the grass is sometimes greener...LoL. At least to those calves. :o) Can't say that I'd enjoy trying to heard them back either, but does make for a fun picture. :o)

    Hope you didn't hurt yourself too bad when you fell.

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  4. As a child we lived on a farm, and chasing cow's is one thing I vividly remember and not a Joy...

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  5. Calves are so difficult!! With the big cows, we just take a sack of range cubes and they will follow us anywhere we want to go. I can't count the times we have had a calf on one side of the fence and mama on the other. And the calf would rather run as far in the other direction as he can than go through a gate to his mom.

    Hope you are not too sore.
    Regina

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  6. LOL - I was wondering how you stayed in shape...calf herding! You had to work off that spinach artichoke dip somehow. I love that picture!

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  7. I tell you what, that was a good one. sure cant get over bouncing in my chair.not that you fell, but your grand expression of it.

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  8. A little epsom salt in the tub tonight and reflection on what fun rural life can be.

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  9. Oh no! I hope you are feeling better! I remember these days from growing up. It was fun back then but I sure wouldn't want to do it now. Great job!

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  10. Oh my. Praying you will feel ok

    I remember once being in a tent with somefriends and all the calves getting out. slept through the entire adventure.

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  11. oh dear! That's not fun when ya trip... hope you don't hurt long!
    I know this may sound mean, but we have a cow & heifer that like to get out from their meadow too. And they would give us the roughest time to get them back in the meadow. So one day my husband decided to use the bb gun & give em a few pellets. He made sure that he didn't pump it up very much. Just enough to sting them & wow, that made such a difference. Now all we have to do if they get rowdy again, just pop them w/ it a few times & they don't try it again for a long time.

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  12. Bless your heart. They can be stubborn and hard headed at times! Hope you are not to sore.
    until next time... nel

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  13. Oh...haha... I really enjoyed this!

    Rejoicing In Him, Patrizia

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  14. I know they are a lot of work and can destroy a yard in no time, but I just love'm anyway. ;O)

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  15. It sounds about as hectic as trying to get our border collie in (he has selective hearing)! I am glad you got them all in!

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  16. At one time this was a daily happening at my house. Calves will be calves, but as Barbara said a little light shot with the BB gun on the behind will get their attention. They have tough hide it doesn't hurt them.

    Love your blog!

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  17. HAHAHAHA!!!! Oh, I am so sorry you fell, but I can see these calves!!! ... and I loved the comment from imPerfect Housewife about the artichoke dip!!!

    Hope you feel better in the morning :-)

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment. I love hearing your thoughts.