As most of you know the pottery is at the end of a long driveway on what was my grandparents farm. My grandfather raised cows. We grandchildren helped every summer with the chores on the farm. One of those chores was to help keep the cows in the fence while he was working on the fences. I can clearly remember a tap on the bottom of my foot, my grandfather standing there, a quick nod as he pushed back his hat and said, " The cows are out".
I was up and ready to go.
Our job was to just stand there with our arms out and if the cows had any notion to go through the fence we just walked toward them.
His expatiation was they were more afraid of us than we were of them.
I believed him.
I trusted that he was right. I never thought that he was wrong, nor did I worry about those pounds of cows coming after or trampling me. Trust, total trust.
We don't raise these cows, but I see them everyday as we drive or walk around the farm. The young farmer who does raise them spends the same amount of time with them as my grandfather use to with his.
I walked up one day as he was talking to the cows, his voice rich and low. Animals can be so tuned into a person that cares and feeds them. The relationship between them and their care giver is much like kids. He laughed when he saw me, slightly embarrassed at being caught talking to the cows. I laughed and told him I expected no less. Trust.
Next Tuesday is the last day of the semester.
I am planning to get some of my own work done in the off days.
Christmas is coming.
Are you ready?
We are not.
I figure I have a few days next week to get ready.
Cheers!
M
13 comments:
Thanks for the update.
I keep trying to sit down and say hello- it's been hard to find the time.
I, like you, am not ready, but hope next week will make all the difference!
I blame the weather for my lack of preparedness. Too warm to be so close to Christmas!
And I love cows. :)
I love it when you post, such a nice read with my morning coffee. Used to be the newspaper, now I catch up with other people's lives. Both enjoyable :)
NO! not ready for Christmas!!
Thanks for the update. Your post makes me want to go look at the cows down the street!
Christmas is going to be low key this year. Still not ready!
Good morning to you all- I am going shopping on the www today. wish me luck. Anyone need anything?
I light of my last few days…… I kind of teared up reading this. Hope you had luck hunting and gathering, I have sort of started but not really. Nice to read you and catch up! Have wonderful holidays!
Cows are cool.. as long as the wind is blowing the right direction ;-)
Enjoy that mild weather. We're getting lots of snow here in Northern Nevada.
Does it seem fitting to say that they are very handsome and happy looking cows? :)
Those handsomely grand cows are getting ready to drop calves any day now.
I'm so behind....look how long it took me to get to reading blog posts. I hope you get a good relaxing vacation from teaching. I think I'm starting to see the end of the tunnel here finally. Merry Christmas to you and Mark.
We're all very busy. Merry Christmas!
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