How To Make Dogs Really, Really Happy

It's simple. Just take them for a romp in a hay field! I walked the dogs across the north field in search of colorful maple leaves. I found no leaves to use, but the dogs had the time of their lives. You can see little Jack in this photo, just rounding the bend at full speed:

And then Clover took off running - so fast that no one else could keep up:

Of course, everyone had to stop and sniff for wildlife:

But then they again took off running:

It's not a big field, so we were soon at the opposite fence line. I walked along the fence, watching for colorful leaves:

The dogs walked with me, sniffing for wild beasts:

The walk didn't last long, and soon it was time to return to the house and barn:

Which of course meant more running at full speed:

The little dogs ran, but Seamus and I, lame old codgers that we are, just plodded along:

Jack disappeared momentarily, but he too came running when I called for him:

It was a joyous procession back across the field. It did my heart good to see the dogs so happy:

And soon we were home. The dogs got to run to their hearts content and smell the exciting smells of whatever it is dogs smell:

The Little Horsey Guys

Blue and Remy have quit their rebellious ways and become perfect (well, almost perfect) gentlemen:

They seem to have decided that their new lives of corral by day, barn by night, are good things:

They do look longingly out at the pasture sometimes, but they'll get their chance as soon as the grass stops growing:

The Box Elder tree is covered with poisonous seeds, so as soon as they drop, I'll have to keep the horses inside the barn until I get them all raked up:

Keeping the boys supplied with good hay is part of my defense against them eating Box Elder seeds. They'll be less tempted if they're not hungry:

Remy goes out first in the mornings and gets tied to the tree while I bring Blue out:

Then I return to the barn, turn on the electric fence and grab a big armload of hay for their breakfast:

When it's hot and not rainy, the boys get covered with fly spray twice each day, morning and night:

I use a sponge to wipe it on their head and ears, then spray the rest of their body. In the evenings, I scrape off any bot fly eggs which have appeared on their legs or sides during the day. Using fly spray in the morning helps reduce the bot fly eggs a lot:

Always the trouble maker, Remy often tries to nip Blue while he's tied up for his fly spray:

It's been a good summer for the horsey boys, and soon they'll have six months of freedom in the south pasture:

The Red Poll Cattle In September

We've had comfortably cool, sunny weather and the pasture is growing faster than the cattle can eat it. Winston has grown so big that I need to make plans to sell him. That involves getting him into the barn and then trapping him there - but not before I have a buyer lest he refuse to ever go in there again:

 As you can see, these bovines have not been missing any meals and many are obese despite not getting any grain in about a year:

 But Rosella needs to be inseminated again and Scarlett needs to be separated from her calf so that I can tattoo the calf. Both jobs require that I get the herd to start coming into the barn again - and that means luring them with grain:

 The day before calving, Scarlett was lying down in the shade and her udder was huge:

Rosella is looking fit and ready to become pregnant for next year:

 These girls live a life of comfort and ease:

 The fly population is their only discomfort, and that will end soon - with the first killing frost:

 This is the view from the county road, what most people see as they drive by:

When Ruby was born, her mother kept her hidden most of the time (you can see her in the grass behind Scarlett):

 But little Ruby has grown bigger, stronger and bolder. Winston wants to hang out with her, but so far she hasn't been interested:

 But she sure is a beauty. Now I need to get her ears tattooed so I can register her:

Cattle, Horses, Flowers

Autumn seems to be in the air some days, and it feels like summer on other days. The Red Polls enjoyed the idyllic weather this day, spreading farther apart than they do when the flies are more pesky:

And they often come to the stock tank as a group to get a drink of water:

The pasture has lots to eat in it, so the red haired ladies have much spare time for snoozing and lounging around:

Winston sniffed the air when I came near. Should I be insulted?

I find a scene like this each morning when I bring the horses out to their corral for the day:

Remy and Blue seem fairly happy in their corral and accustomed with their new routine:

I had to begin spraying both little horses with fly spray each morning before taking them outside. At first, that prevented the bot flies from laying eggs on their legs and sides, but after a few weeks, the bot fly eggs began to appear again. I now have to scrape them off carefully each time I bring them into the barn and also spray them with more fly repellent:

Blue likes to lie down and then bobs his head up and down. I was worried at first that something might be wrong, but apparently it's just something he likes to do:

And both horses love to roll on the ground:

The first Rose Mallow to bloom was this giant pink one. Notice the abundance of buds behind it - and that's only one of many shoots which will be blooming. I think it will be a good year for Rose Mallows:

I began snapping photos of the various colors and color combinations in the Yarrow patch but there were just too many of them. Instead, I put the photos together to make one big picture of SOME of the color varieties. I find these plants amazing:

Big Red Polls, Little Horses

Jasmine has been looking healthier than ever before and I am encouraged to think she might become productive again. Formerly, her obesity prevented her from coming into heat. I suspect she's begun cycling again, though. I've been keeping notes on my calendar:

Winston is happy, healthy and curious:

The herd is often found all in a row, ideal for photos:

Winston in his frequent pose, watching me with curiosity. This time he had poop on his head:

It's almost as if they line up for photos, but I think the real reason is that they like to press against each other to brush off/crush the flies:

Winston and his Aunt Jasmine came in for a drink of cool water. He seems to hang around with her more than with the others:

I always lead Remy in and out of the barn first, so in the evening Blue has to wait, tied to a tree, until I return for him:

They spend their nights in the barn, protected from too many flies and with plenty of hay and water:

In the morning, I spray them both with fly spray, then lead Remy out and tie him to the tree while I fetch Blue:

When both horses begin their day in the corral, they play briefly and then begin searching for grass to eat. I bring hay out right away, but they'd rather have green grass:

In the evening, I go out to the corral to bring them in. This night, Winston and several cows were just outside the horses' fence: