How Now Brown Cow

No this is not a picture of a cow, its Mojo and Tango being all snuggly. Sometimes Mojee will let me run my finger down the bottom of her foot and sometimes not.

Some people think the country is boring. I dont. On my way to the rescue I see the most beautiful creatures. (and sad sights too) Deer, Turkey, all manner of birds and other critters. My camera is never handy. The turkeys have been hanging out at the toll station. I see them all the time. My dad always told me nothing will whip your ass faster in the woods than a ticked off turkey. I dont know but I believe him so I try not to anger them. But this isnt about turkeys.

I know nothing about cows, nothing at all. I see them all the time in Oklahoma of course. They are very attractive and their eyes are beautiful. We used to have cows in the pasture across the highway. I tried to speak to them once or twice but to no avail. They always ran away. I would wave to them and yell "Hello Moos"! I can only imagine what they were saying about me. But I digress.

I was driving home from the rescue on Monday and around the corner I go and see 6 cows standing in the middle of the highway, uh oh. I pull over, call the highway patrol, spend 10 useless minutes trying to explain where I am and then decide to get the cows out of the road myself. What to do, what to do. If I startle them will they scatter? Hmmmm, dont cows usually huddle together when frightened? Traffic is light but I need to do something.......decide. CRAPADOODLE.

I hop out of the car, make sure the coast is clear and run full force at the cows, clapping my hands and yelling "get out of the highway cows" ( I am assuming they speak english of course, I am praying they understand and dont panic) They didnt panic and they stayed together. In no hurry they strolled across the road into the grass. Nice but as soon as I leave they may wander back. Hmmmm, I can see where they came through the fence maybe I can get them to go back in. So I just stand there talking to them, trying my best to convince them to walk down the hill (carefully of course, they hill was steep and I dont want them to hurt themselves) but they just stared at me. Someone did stop and ask me if they were my cows, no and thanks for your help.

Farmer comes finally with a truck. He honks the horn at the cows and they mosey down the hill. He stays on the side of them and I walk behind them clapping my hands for quite a ways until we get them to the gate. They wander in and farmer shuts the gate. Thanks me for the help, I let him know where the fence is down and he is on his way to repair it. Now, I can add cattle herder or maybe cattle wrangler to my resume? I do wonder if those cows were secretly laughing at me. I think so.

Is it fate or chance that I end up in these situations? Now, that is interesting. I went to see "The Adjustment Bureau". It's all about Fate vs chance. What do you think? Are our paths set from the time we are born? Does every little decision we make determine our path? Tell me what you think.

The Three Faces Of Millie (oh and Monday Mantra)

Mom your a touch slow-witted arent you?

Keep your face always toward the sunshine - and shadows will fall behind you.
Walt Whitman

Addendum to Swerving for Turtles

My blog readers (who are smarter than me anyway)have advised me that I forgot a few kinds of turtle people.

4. People who stop and wait for the turtle to cross

5. People who stop and photograph the turtle

6. People who stop for injured turtles and take them to wildlife rehab

7. People who never notice the turtle to begin with

8. People who creep on turtles and spy on their romantic encounters (ahem, this is my favorite)

9. People who have turtles visit their patio, turtle demands a bite of bacon, poops all over patio and leaves until the next day.

Thank you blogging turtle people! Have a good sunday.

Swerving For Turtles

I have determined in my extensive life of travel, leisure and adventure, (okay I thought of this on the way home from work) that there are 3 kinds of people in this world.

1. The person who sees the turtle in the road and swerves to run over him.

2. The person who sees the turtle in the road and swerves to miss him.

3. The person who stops to move the turtle out of the road.

A Warrior Bunny

Heartland Rabbit Rescue is where I volunteer. Our south warren is where all the adoptable bunnies live, waiting for their forever homes. Waiting to be spoiled, pampered and have the constant attention and adoration they deserve. Most of them will never know that feeling but all of them know safety, kindness, full tummies and get a chance to kick up their heels outside on nice days. They dont worry about being hit, being ignored and hands that hurt.

The north warren is where my heart is. They are the bunnies that will never be adopted. (well almost never, Sprout and Haven were adopted) They get few visitors and quietly live out their lives in large playpens. They get extra treats and green yummies and are normally not spayed or neutered for health reasons. They are Hannah, Snowflake, Kris, Emilio, Merlin, Putter, Charlie Brown, Wesley, and until yesterday there was Pearl.

Pearl came to us last year along with Merlin. She had weepy eyes and a runny nose. Her pretty white fur was covered in urine, a saggy dewlap and a used up body frame led us the believe that she was most likely a bunny used for breeding. She also had never known a kind touch in her entire life. She was a tiger, she bit, she growled, she lunged and slapped. She never stopped that behavior. She had never known love and affection and could only defend herself from the humans that might cause more pain.

A little over a week ago, her eye suddenly developed a bulge, leaked blood and pus. A rush to the vet discovered an abscess behind the eye. There was no other choice but to remove her eye. Pearl left for the bridge yesterday evening. Despite good care, meds and force feeding I believe with all my heart that Pearl decided to leave. Her eye was healing but her soul was damaged beyond repair. There was no telling what was going on in her body. Her little abused uterus could have been filled with cancer. We will never know. I think she decided that all the human contact was just too frightening and she had enough. Better to cross the bridge than have us keep touching her. No matter the attention we showed her, she just couldn't recognize the love we offered.

In the twilight a few days ago she had a little playtime outside. She, for just a minute allowed our director to give her a back rub. She didn't run away, growl or try to bite. I think she made her peace then. She laid down her sword and shield. Pearl is an example to me of how death is not the most horrible thing. Suffering is much more horrible. There are many kinds of abuse in this world. Physical and verbal abuse is what we hear about most. Imagine in your whole life that not one soul ever loved you. Not one soul ever gave you a hug, ever touched you with kindness. That seems the worst fate imaginable to me.

Hug whatever living breathing creature you care about today. Touch them lightly with love and pour it into them. Make them feel safe and wanted. Do it for Pearl.

Monday Mantra

You only grow when you are alone.
Paul Newman

I Didnt Mean To!

I'm sorry Mom!
What happened? What's the big deal?

Millie sucks at grooming. Its not her fault. She was bonded to Haven late in life and is quite clumsy and over zealous about kissing him. He loves it no matter what. She got a bit carried away and licked him raw around the eye. First we tried vasoline, Millie thought that was yummy, then we put on a dab of Haven's prescription Silvadene cream. She found that tasty too. This evening I put butt paste on it. Millie does NOT find that delicious and is leaving it alone for now. "sigh" .....these buns.