Our Cow, Moo

Today was a beautiful day for nature study.  The warm sun was a welcomed treat after the last few weeks of really cold weather.  The bright blue sky, streaked with wispy cirrus clouds, beckoned us to linger outdoors and enjoy this spring like day.

We chose Moo, our angus cow, as the next point of interest in our study of mammals.  Her black fuzzy coat felt especially warm;  her leathery nose was slippery and wet.  She had a curiosity about her that made us laugh.  We noticed that her teeth were very clean;  "cleaner than mine", says Jake.  (How funny?!)  Madison was intrigued by Moo's long tongue which "she uses to clean out her nose". (I love how kids just tell it like it is.)  And so, after a photo session with our beloved bovine, we headed back indoors to make our journal entries.  We also began our list of mammals in our journals:  dog, cat, and cow.

Moo

Proof of her curiosity!

The Moo-Cow-Moo

Edmund Vance Cooke

My Pa held me up to the moo-cow-moo

So close I could almost touch:

An' I fed him a couple of times or two

An' I wasn't a 'fraid-cat much.

But, ef my Pa goes into the house

An' ef my Mamma goes too, 

I jest keep still like a little mouse 

'Cause the moo-cow-moo might moo!

The moo-cow-moo has a tail like a rope, 

An' it's ravelled down where it grows,

An' it's jest like feelin' a piece of soap

All over the moo-cow's nose.  

The moo-cow-moo has lots of fun

Jest swingin' its tail about,

But ef he opens his mouth, I run

'Cause that's where the moo comes out.

The moo-cow-moo has deers on its head 

An' his eyes bog out of their place:

An' the nose of the moo-cow-moo is spread 

All over the end of his face.

An' his feet is nothing but finger-nails

An' his momma don't keep them cut

An' he gives folks milk in water-pails

Ef he don't keep his handles shut.

'Cause ef you or me pulls them handles, why

The moo-cow-moo says it hurts,

But our hired man he sets close by

An' squirts an' squirts an' squirts.

Winter Landscapes

We thoroughly enjoyed the beauty of the snow over the past week.  Most of it has melted now, but we have some pictures to remind us of our winter wonderland. 

Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening

Robert Frost

Whose woods these are I think I know.  

His house is in the village though;

He will not see me stopping here

To watch his woods fill up with snow.

The little horse must think it queer

To stop without a farmhouse near

Between the woods and frozen lake

The darkest evening of the year.

He gives his harness bells a shake

To ask if there is some mistake.

The only other sound's the sweep

Of easy wind and downy flake.

The woods are lovely and dark and deep.

But I have promises to keep,

And miles to go before I sleep.

And miles to go before I sleep.

 

 

Wintery Day on the Farm

Today's outdoor challenge:  choose a focus for our nature study.  While we think on that a bit, let's go explore.

Location:  Our backyard again; only this time, covered with a beautiful white blanket.  Mild temperature, partly sunny sky and a slight breeze are our weather conditions.  We listen and hear different birds chit-chatting; among them a killdeer with it's distinct "kill-deer" call.  We see robin redbreasts, sparrows, red winged blackbirds, finches and others frolicking among the trees that line the fence row.  Something on the ground next to the shed catches our eye.  I do believe we have discovered raccoon tracks.  (My detective skills have me thinking that he's attracted to corn that may have been spilled in the process of feeding 'Moo'.)  These tracks spark our interest in looking for some made by other critters.  We find bird, cow, dog, rabbit and chicken tracks.  Our focus for nature study has just manifested:  mammals.

As we do a bit of research on the raccoon, we learn that they are fond of poultry and raid hen houses.  This has heightened our awareness of keeping the hen house closed up at night;  something we at times are relaxed about.  They also destroy birds' nests and their young.  Fish is another delicacy they enjoy.

Nature study in winter is more interesting than I thought it would be.

 Bird

 Chicken

 Cow

 Dog

 Rabbit

  Raccoon

"Announced by all the trumpets of the sky;  arrives the snow."

                                                               ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Unexpected Encounter

As I was pulling out of our driveway today, I glanced in the ditch and a most strikingly marked bird caught my eye.  I was so excited because here was a specimen my eyes had never seen.  A brown bird with distinct black and white markings and a most unusually long, dark gray bill.  He was using his bill to go down into the swampy ditch in search of food. 
He didn't seem to mind that I wanted to get a close look.  I hurried back to the house to retrieve the camera, praying all the way that he would remain where he was.  Thank you, Lord!  I got some great photos before my new acquaintance took flight.  After some research, I discovered the name of my friend;  Wilson's Snipe.  Evidently, this species winters here in the south with us;  and I'm glad they do.
I'm embarrassed to admit that I thought I'd seen most of the species of birds that hang out around here.  After this encounter, I'm realizing that I really am only scratching the surface.  God is so good to use the gentle art of nature study to expand my mind of Him.

"In all things of nature there is something of the marvelous."
                                                                       ~Aristotle