Of Bulls and Owls

~I wonder if all women spend their time

cooking, sewing, and tending the chickens and pigs.~

~Sarah Brown 1900~

Come on!!! Hop along with Deborah Jean's Dandelion House FarmGirl Friday blog hop!!!

Goof's gone home...never to return to his Cowgirls again...as he loaded into the trailer, the Cowgirls look a lil' forlorn.





Number Three and Black Calf will miss him too...the two of them loved to hang out with Goof. I think they must have known that he was their daddy!

Next year, Number Three will be bred, so we'll need a different bull other than Goof to cover the herd.

The difficult job of loading Goof into the trailer...NOT!

Come on Bully, Bully...right on over here to the trailer!

Ha...and in he stepped...and off to home he went! Thanks for the visit!


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Earlier this year I had made my mind up that I would be keepin' better tabs on this year's Great Horned owletts. Well, the days go by so fast that before ya know it...they're flyin'!!!

Look at me!!! I can FLY!!! (photo taken 7/8/11)

On June 26, I hiked up toward the base of the rim rock to see if I could find the owlets and take some photos. I found one of the parents stayin' cool in the shade of the rocks and grass...

Hiding in the rim rock and grass is one of the parent owls.

Then I finally spotted the other up on a ledge (quite a way up). I didn't even see the owlet until I downloaded my photos onto the computer that evening...what a nice surprise!

And here is the other parent...and...OH Look! It's an owlet too!
Doesn't he look cute with all that fluffy down?!
Mother Nature provides them with good camouflage!

Last evening I saw one of the owlets fly onto the top of the chicken coop...so, they are gettin' around pretty well.

This mornin' I decided to see if they were in the elm trees in the yard...sure enough they were...it just took me a while to spot them because the leaves and branches are so thick.

"You lookin' for us?"

I decided to get on top of the house roof and see if I could get some closer shots. Both parents flew over to another tree...but these two (of the three) owlets tried to stay still and quiet...

Whoooo...Whoooo...Me?

Mother owl closely watched my every move...I've been dive bombed before by the owls for gettin' too close to their owlets, so I didn't want to upset her. I stayed low and moved slowly.

Mother owl is definitely givin' me that "Don't mess with my kids" look!

The Official Harney County Greeter

Recently at the visitor's kiosk just off Hwy 78 at Princeton, we've had a self appointed greeter on duty. The kiosk describes the Diamond Loop Scenic Byway which goes past the Round Barn and on down to the community of Diamond.

That's him...just off to the left. Let's get a closer shot...

Hmmmm...I can't say he looks overly friendly.

But, he reminds me of a few WallyWorld

greeters that I've seen!

If I were a visitor from the city, I'm not sure

I'd want to get out of my motor home!

heeheehee!

Shhhh...Really, it's a secret plan by the locals

to keep them city folk from hangin' 'round too long!

When we drive by the kiosk at night, we just have to be real careful to go slow. It's open range out here and we'd have to pay for him if we hit him! (Not to mention that he'd probably total the rig!)

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I know I promised photos of wild horses from the South Steens HMA. But, plans changed today and Tracey couldn't make it. So...we'll do a rain check and get some photos later this spring.

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On the Wild Horse front for Dreamsicle and family, things are looking up, but it's a long, steep hill. I actually spoke with Ginger Kathrens who is the famous producer and cinematographer of the Cloud series and formed The Cloud Foundation. She is being instrumental in helping us get in contact with people who know how to get things done.

We're very excited and optimistic. Keep those good thoughts coming!