Nov. 2009-Whispering wonderment washes over me in waves as I watch two ducks envelop the backwaters. A silent fluidity of feathers flapping fervently as they perform a synchronistic flight. I spy a faint sliver of moon across Sunrise Slough. A bright star in east reminds me of the up coming hollydaze. Crackled corn is frosted in crisp formation. Fleshy pink sky beckons serenity and stillness. The Great Horned Owl calls smokey stillness, then ripples catch my eye. It’s a mischievious muskrat in the backwaters. A hawk flys out as I sing the song and I surrender to the sweet bliss. I’m sinking into the vast ocean of bounty and blessings. Utter rapture to consciously see the beauty and story held within all things.  I sway and fling the mental clutter of my mind into Sunrise Slough. It’s a restorative ritual that cleanses my soul after my feet hit the ground for the  trek out here. 

I glance downward and am reminded of the season. I have my poofy pink hat, knee high green insulated boots, blue insulated coveralls,  mis-matched camoflouge gloves and bold orange XL orange Winchester zipper upper coat on. I haven’t bothered trimming the price tag for the past two years. So it’s a new coat that cost $8 @  Walmart. Nice big pockets to stash 2 pens, notepad and my pink Cabela’s mini flashlight. I turn to head towards home and the mushie is munching fervently on the weeds along the banks of Sunrise Slough.  I search the waters again and there in the splendid Slough are two beavers effortlessly gliding towards my song. I welcome them and they choose to check me out and swim back towards their lodge. It’s time for me to head towards my lodge and I leave   feeling light hearted and lucky!

Doc Tom and I storm the vet route. I roar into a farm that has a cow that’s off feed. The bossie is three weeks fresh (had a calf 3 weeks ago).  Loud sounds of heavy equipment catches my attention. There in the yard are bulldozers and dump trucks. I am captivated by watching them construct a road behind the milkhouse. I am peeking out the window craning for a better view of the crushed gravel being slid off the big trucks. The John Deere Bulldozer rushes to move the rock before the next truck un-loads more gravel.  Then I remember to head into the barn and the cow is easy to be found! Just waiting for us and there’s a detailed note stating how long since she’s calved and what her symptoms are. This saves us so much time to have the cow caught and a note written!  Bossie lunges @ us, though she’s tied to a stanchion.  I am not much for waiting for what Tom says. I am too focused on the dog Shadow and the bulldozer equipment. “She has ketosis-do you want Dextrose and Azium?”  Tom nods  and I’m back @ the van with the big black lab dog just drinking in the affection I lavish on him. This is the dog we stop to visit with Hawken when we drive by to go to Yaeger Valley.  Shadow follows me back to the cow and Tom puts the halter on bossie. She loses her footing fighting the Doctor’s attempts to get the rope halter over her left ear. I’m behind the cow and waiting for my chance to shove her ahead.  Shadow is really just wanting to be pet.  With the cow being ketotic (low blood sugar which occurs  around 2 to 4 weeks after calving), she’s convinced she should be loose. I’m singing to the dog and re-assuring Tom my, “Oww yeah, you can do it, you are so strong.” That dog is growing more frisky and Tom is able to contain the cow. Finally! Now I can say, “Tell me when your are ready. I’ll use my big forearms and watch out..here the cow comes!” She flies ahead and the good Doc fastens the rope and I shimmy my way through the stanchion to hold halter. I flash Tom a big grin and ask, “Am I helping Tommy??”  I have to ask the next question..”That heavy equipment do anything for you Tom?” “Nope..not like for you Sue.”  Hmm..I am puzzled how he doesn’t want to drive a big Johne Deere Bulldozer. I surrender to the knowing why I check out DVD’s for the lad like-”I dig DIRT!” or “I want to be a Heavy Equipment Operator!”  So many things to do in a day. The dog is gushing and pushing his fat face in places where it shouldn’t be.  I give the dog several hard head pats. I holler, “Bye Bye Billy Goats!” A chorus of goat pleads is again heard. I retrieve messages off the phone and tell Tom there’s time to take a nap for him. What a great way to spend a half an hour with a dog or two, a cow, my man and a bulldozer pushing earth. 

Pet a puppy,

Sue Roskos