Spring has officially come to the Crystal Valley once more!
It’s still very early spring maybe, but it’s spring nonetheless.
The red-winged blackbirds remind me of the rooster that thought the sun came up because of his crowing. They seem to think that spring is coming north with them, instead of the other way around, and every morning as I go to school, they’re in the treetops and on the fence posts all along the way, all proudly singing at the top of their voices about this great thing they have once more accomplished.
Of course I wouldn’t burst their bubble for anything in the world. I’m so happy to see them back that they can put on all the airs they want. So when they belt out a lusty “We’re the leeeeaaaaders” from the fencepost right beside me, I just nod and sing my acknowledgment right back, “People pleeeaaasers”.
We are up to six baby calves now. The last one came last Thursday night. As soon as the weather gets a little warmer and a little more dependable we’ll put them out in the orchard again. There we can set up our barrel drinker and they can help themselves to all the milk they want anytime they like.
It seems expensive at the time to pour all that milk to the calves, but they become maintenance free. The first bunch of drinker fed calves are calving this spring and joining the milking herd and so far they haven’t felt a needle prick or swallowed any pills or powders in their whole lives, and they seem to keep body condition without us having to fuss and fret over them all the time. Mother (Nature) knows best. Again.
And that’s the view from the buggy lane.
