Grazing

It's a rainy day again here in California and I'm joining in for

Outdoor Wednesday over at A Southern Daydreamer

I had planned to post some pictures of all the darling little new calves that have joined the

herds that graze around our property, but the mamas must have them up in the trees or

down in the lower pastures.  Not a calf to be seen today, so here are some of our older

friends that visit with us as they graze for new Spring greens. 

Our homeowners association has 2000 acres of open space leased to a local rancher for

purposes of grazing his cattle.  In addition to that the cattle graze portions of the 25 lots that are

not protected by barbed wire.  It's a good deal all around, there's a great tax break for open land

used in this way, the cattle get a free lunch and we get the benefit of no high stands of grass

and weeds that by law would have to be mowed before the fire season.

These cattle are a sturdy bunch.  Water in the form of a couple of tanks and the mandatory

innoculations is about all the help they receive.  They fend for themselves year round and

forage for food on their own.  I admire their fortitude and the calm attitude they have

about the world.

"You talking to me???"

One bird picture pretty much looks like the next one, but I assure you that these are brand new

today, not recycled from previous posts about the antics of the California Quail that are gathering

daily to raid the bird seed bowls on our patio.  It seems they have totally forgotten their manners

and are now not even pretending to be guests.  They just dive in to gobble up the good stuff,

not just the seed that falls to the ground.  These were again taken from inside through the

window, they still skitter off if I venture outside.

California Quail

Quail Convention

As I drove down to our communal mail drop this afternoon, I took a swing around the neighborhood to see what the equine population was up to.  They were all having a

very bad hair day and were grumpy too. Poor babies are wondering where Spring went.