This morning we drove down to Blanchard to visit a friend of mine I worked with at the bank. I loved working with Pat and, in fact, grew to love her. She was there when I needed to vent, when I hosted my first Thanksgiving and always had a story that would crack me up. Plus, it is nice to be able to work with someone who doesn't blink when you look at them and say, "Seriously, what the crap is a roux?"
Pat owns 86 acres filled with horses and her son, 40 acres down the road with horses and cows. Ben, as always, didn't even blink with a horse 23 times his size snorting before him. Joshy showed a little more caution, not unlike his mom and dad. Oh, I think horses are beautiful and I have always loved cows but there is a big difference when you and them are on the same side of the fence. Hoppy brought over Wilson, their 24 year old horse, for the boys to see. He was gentle...or at least hungry. The grass seemed to interest him more than curious boys and a girl with a camera.
As I said, it is easier to be brave when there is a fence at your back.
By the time we were ready to go see the cows, Ben was ready to sleep. So Pat made a nice pallet on the ground and Hoppy pulled baby duty while we headed down the road.
Houston's land is less than a mile away. He has a pasture full of cows that were ready to be fed and we were just in time. When you first pull up you can see Jody penned up near the house. Joshy ran over to say hello and she peeked over the fence. 
The key to being on a farm is that everyone pitches in. So John and Joshy were put to work filling up the buckets with feed for the cows. They worked together to fill and they worked together to carry.
As we headed towards the cow pen, the horses took notice and headed our way. Since we were in their pasture, there was no longer a fence to keep them at bay and by the time we arrived at the cow's fence, waiting while Pat poured the food, we could feel the horses nodding against our back and let's just say the 75% city kicked in. When they started playing with each other and kicking up their feet, well that was the point Laura almost scaled over the top of the fence to the sound of Joshy crying and John's surpised yell . Trust me, from inside the cow's pen, it was three relieved city folk looking at the horses we were certain wanted to eat us alive.
There were several new baby calves but while Pat thought there should be 6, we could only find 5. So we took off through the pasture searching for baby number 6. We stopped off at the watering hole where the cows had migrated after eating to cool off in the blazing sun. My sweat drenched self was starting to think that brown muddy water was looking pretty good too.
We never found the final calf but Pat planned to revisit the pasture tonight and do another search. As we walked back towards the house it dawned on us that meant a trip back through the horses. Again, it is not that they are scary, just incredibly close and completely unrestrained. Did I mention big?
As we brought the cow's feed buckets out through the gate, one of the horses wanted to make sure that there was nothing left inside and of course, we let her as, well, she's stronger.
Walking towards the house the horses were literally a step behind. It is a strange feeling being trailed by a horse. I say strange, I think Joshy was going with unsettling.
Joshy just took to Pat, following her wherever she went in the house. By the time we made it back to her house, he was a thirsty boy, sitting in her lap and gulping apple juice. What you can't see is his mom and dad in the background downing cups of tea with a fervor. It was freakin' hot and do we need to revisit "city folk"? I thought that I was outdoorsy because I loved to be out in the woods camping and exploring but man, that is different than baking in an open pasture being charged by cows. Well, I guess if there were woodland creatures charging me and it was 140 degrees, I might not be rejoicing in the woods either.
Right before we left, Hoppy and Pat gave Joshy one more chance to pet Wilson and this time, he walked right up and stroked his belly, no fear or hesitation involved. I was so proud of bubba and so thankful for the hospitality of my friend. Pat will always be dear to my heart and visiting her home made for such a great day.
1 comment:
how fun!
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