April 13th, 2021

I'm running behind myself already this morning so this one will be quickquick.  How about a little bovine study for today!

I like cows.  Well, I like most critters (most) but in general cows are genial, gentle, friendly creatures.  Ice cream on the hoof, as I see it.   For all their enormous size, they are remarkably easy going. I can walk through a pasture-full of cows that have never met me before and usually their only response is to look up, acknowledge my existence and go back to what they were doing before.  If it's a cow that knows me, usually they will walk toward me knowing that seeing me means either food, water or both.  

I have spent some time on various farms.  My paternal grandparents lived on a big farm up in Michigan.  My sister and I would wander through pastures unconcerned and unafraid and also unbothered by the big old cows that spent their days there.  Then I lived on a small working farm for quite some time in Connecticut.  I especially remember winter time, as those huge cows would patiently wait in the freezing cold, steam blowing out their nostrils, as I chopped a hole in the ice covering their water.  They would take turns slurping up that icey water and then wander back out into the pale winter sun.  Steam would rise from their toasty warm bodies in the cold. 

I remember exploring an Amish farm in Pennsylvania when Tim and I vacationed there once long ago.  Again, we were strangers to those huge animals, but they just regarded us quietly with those big beautiful brown eyes, and went back to eating.    One younger cow came up to sniff at Tim who patted him gently.  Satisfied that we were not hiding any cow-treats, he wandered back off again.  Definitely not guard-cows.

In Texas, where I lived through part of my teen years, cattle were a big part of their history and the culture.  There was even a big event called the Ft Worth Fat Stock Show.  It was such a big deal that kids were allowed a day off from school to attend.  Seriously!  

I was surprised (though I shouldn't have been) when we first moved to Colorado to find cattle grazing side by side with big shopping plaza's.  The line up would be Kohl's, Micheal's, other stores, cows.  But then Colorado was a different sort of place altogether (in a very good way).  It had the only Panera's I've ever seen that had a hitching rail for those who arrived on horse-back.  Not joking.

I was truly surprised to learn what a big deal cows are down here in Florida.  But then I didn't know all that much about Florida before we moved here so most everything about it has been a surprise to me.  Turns out, cattle ranching was huge here.  Who knew?  

And baby cows?  Oh come on, baby every things are adorable, but baby cows are especially cute.   Far more playful and frolicksome than the adult versions, they are just big bovine puppy dogs. 

Sounds like I miss the framing life doesn't it?  Well if you think that you would be wrong.  While I respect the absolutely heck out of anyone who works and lives on a farm, I am way too lazy for that life.  It is not only hard work, it is constant work.  I miss the baby animals but I can go visit someone else's cows.  I don't need any of my own. 

Anyway, that's it for today.  Just a few random thoughts about a few random cows.  Wishing you  all a wonderful day!
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Hugs all 'round