The Red Poll Ladies (And One Boy)

Spring has now really, truly arrived and the cattle are fat and happy:

Jasmine's rear hoof grew too long once again, but this year I was prepared with heavy duty loping shears. She is tame enough to allow me to snip off the end of her hoof while she is lying down, relaxing:

There is now ample grass and mild temperatures, neither too hot nor too cold - and the biting flies are not yet out in full force:

The girls like to nap next to the horses' corral. I find it touching that they still consider their little horses to be part of the herd:

As for the little bull calf, he's growing like a weed and running like a deer. When he sleeps, he likes to do it in a secluded corner like this one or beside his gigantic mother:

All is well right now, a blessed relief from trying to deal with crises:

"Ha ha! You'll never catch me!"

If the afternoon sun gets hot, the girls retire to the shady east side of the barn:

Gracie is a handsome cow. Alas, she hasn't been coming into heat so has not calved in several years:

Rosella and her little bull calf are doing well:

 Jasmine likes to recline in the soft grass:

The bale feeder ring is still in the field even though I haven't put hay in it for quite some time. I'll roll it out of the way one of these days. Right now there is just so much else to do!:

Spring Now In High Gear

My north field is filled with Bobolinks and Meadowlarks this year, but especially Bobolinks. They sit on fence posts and telephone wires, singing their loud, happy, bubbling song. This photo is from the internet because I couldn't get a good close-up:

I could, however, get a video of a male singing on a fence post. That's my north field behind him, and the tree in bloom in a Shadbush. The Bobolink is facing the camera and you can see the flash of gold from the back of his head every time he looks to the side or toward the ground:


 One of the Plum trees and the Apricot tree both burst into bloom:

 The Apricot tree, planted six years ago, has never bloomed before. I'm hoping to taste my own apricots this year:

 The Plum tree has bloomed before but never borne fruit because it is not in blossom at the same time as the other Plum tree. This year, however, its flowers coincided with the Plum trees across the road. Maybe there is hope yet:

I collected the last of the Daffodil flowers, put them in a vase and brought them to church:

And while I was at it, I clipped off some PJM Rhododendron branches, put them in a vase and brought them to church also:

The fantail pigeons are nesting but so far there have been no babies (except one dead one):

The bantam hens are laying eggs, but (I am happy to say) at a much slower rate than in the past:

They seem happy and content in their room inside the barn:

I have only 11 birds left and don't plan to get any more when they are gone: