Animals updates
Checking in today with a few of the mammals around here who manage to soak up MOST of my available time (Facebook, Twitter and washing up seem to occupy the remaining moments in my day). Gentle forewarning: it’s a little bit of an emotional and visual rollercoaster ride. Strapped in and ready?
LACEY:
Over a 100 (in horse years) and going… strong-ish.
She is still getting around her little paddock reasonably happily. I know however that our stalwart old steed would not have made it through this winter without being rugged and fed. Winter is tough on old horses and she’s got that slighty unsteady ‘old lady’ walk happening. Hopefully, as the days warm a little, we have postponed the inevitable ‘discussion’ for another 10 months or so.
SWEET THING:
Our very sick 2-year-old cow (blogged here) who remains in the land of the living after several intravenous doses of liquid minerals, lots of cuddles and encouragement, penicillin and anti-inflammatories. After 3 weeks, however, she is still down and showing few signs of being close to getting up.
She continues to get lots of TLC, new antibiotics, purple spray (on her pressure sores), lucerne hay and water.
She is also being lifted with a new contraption we have purchased, to try to get some movement back in her poor legs. I am by nature an optimist, but the realist in me (the bit that allows me to be ‘tough’ enough to stay in this job) tells me to gird myself for the possibility she won’t recover. I am giving her pep talks at least three times a day in an attempt to stave off the possibility that she won’t ‘come good’.
*sigh*
This week moved Sweet Thing out of the shed (where we nursed her initially) to a protected grassed area near the yards. She gets the chance for some socialing here, especially with the character shown below.
BAY LEAF:
Despite all other cattle her age being moved around with weaning, the inimitable Bay Leaf lives in the paddock where she was born – of course, unlike other calves she was weaned pretty much at birth (from her Mama anyway).
She has terrible pointy little horns (thanks to her Mama’s dairy genetics) but no-one has quite worked up the courage to tip her yet. As she understands very little about personal space, this reprieve will be temporary. I hope I’m not the first one to accidentally cop a horn in the leg.
Hello H616. (Doesn’t have the same ring as ‘Bay Leaf’ does it?)
She likes her tucker, this calf. One might say she’s a tad greedy actually.
Honestly, she chews her food like a COW!
And we cannot forget Horseradish… he likes his food too and as his foster-sister likes to STAND on the hay, it can end up a little like Bovine Twister with these two!
Nice work Horseradish!
AXEL:
Still large. Still ludicrous. Still a Great Dane who thinks he’s a cattle dog.
Still getting no love from Pagi. Adored (and regularly ‘trained’) by Violet, snuggled by Dash and fed by me. I am waiting for the day he gets soft and lazy … his playful romping through nearby paddocks gets us BOTH into trouble! But I do have trouble staying cranky with this boofhead look of his…
Who me?
MIDDY:
The Black Panther… last seen in the background during the Echidna Exhibition.
As black and wily and yellow-eyed as ever…
She is stalking ME. Cause I open the cans of Whiskas around here.
Yes, yes. I’m coming.
Did we cover all the main ones? Let me know if you are keen to catch up with one of our characters not mentioned above. After I recover from the Ekka, I promise to do my best to cover it for you!
🙂
BB
11 Comments
Leenie
Thanks for the latest info on your critters. Good to be kept in the loop since I’m probably not going to be able to visit Granite Glenn in the forseeable future. Funny how no matter what the animal, and who is the “owner,” Mom is the one who provides the meals.
Leenie´s last blog post ..HOW NOW COW?
Bush Babe
Thanks Leenie… yes, Mums are totally the backstops for all animal tending. Especially after dark!!
Colin (HB)
Certainly is sad about the old mare?
A decision like the one confronting you in this regard is not easy, especially as obviously the mare means a lot to you.
Remember when the time comes to bury her, she is standing upright. That is what was done for warrior horses in ancient times and still done for champion racehorses today, eg: Mummify and Super Impose come to mind.
Your two poddies are doing well and certainly growing. What actually will you do with the “surprise pocket dynamo” Bayleaf? Would she become a “milker” with her dairy genes?
I bet that the “panther” black cat knows exactly where Ernie/Erica is.
Great post BB.
Cheers
Colin
Lynda M O
Super catching up with all those critters wo have come into my heart thru this incredible medium which allows us to be so far apart and yet so involved !~!
Penny Hannah
Lovely pics. as always. My imagination is tickled at the image of a Great Dane being a cattle dog!
Bush Babe
It’s not pretty. His ‘get in behind’ is sadly lacking. 😉 BB
Debby
Go easy on him, BB. My ‘get in behind’ is sadly lacking too.
Debby´s last blog post ..Lowe’s
Kate
I love that last photo of Middy. She’s beautiful! And Axel – what a handsome lad. As for your sweet little thing, I feel for you. Living on horse farms all of my adult life, there was always sadness mixed in with the joy. Someone put it very bluntly to me once, “where there’s livestock, there’s always going to be dead stock.” Sad, so sad. But so true. xo
Kate´s last blog post ..Lunch at Jordan Pond House, Maine
MX
Yes, I often think of the saying at times like this – ‘Love them but let them go’. We always have the memories. Mx
Mrs Catch
Lacey is such a trooper and Middy has the best yellow eyes. Love that last shot. Your animals sure are loved. Will be thinking of you close by (just over the road!!) with your show animals. Hope they do well.
Mrs Catch
Xx
Kelly
Enjoyed the update, especially getting to see more of Middy. Having a solid black “grandcat” now, I’m much more fascinated by felines than I use to be.
Kelly´s last blog post ..Taking a break