Jan. 2nd, ’10-My hubby Doc Tom has described how invariably the front end of a snowstorm produces a weather system that causes cattle to calve.   A   client of Tom’s had a small herd of cattle nestled @ the bottom of a steep hill. I’d heard the story many times of how he slid sideways down part of the hill with his little Shadow 2 door car. This farmer seemed to have an abundance of calcium deficient cattle that would die if not treated with IV calcium after they calved. Being a dedicated vet-Tom traveled treacherous roads to flow life sustaining fluids into those bossies.

We’re fortunate to have a friend that currently resides on that quaint farmland. He offered  Tom the opportunity to  trap fisher and raccoon. I was giddy when we had a vet call near the land where the traps were set. Come on along and grab your warmest winter attire and see what one hour is like inside our lives.

A dusting of snow settled on the dugway from the early morning.  Anticipation mounted as the steep Buffalo County road carried us down in the cozy valley. I’m whooping in wonderment and in awe of the pristene beauty.  “This has to be one of the most breathtaking secret spots-so close to home ! You came down this road in snowstorms?!”  Discussion ensued and it was the silly bantering of how to get down the hill and which traps to check first.  “Sue, we can park @ the top of this hill and there’s 2 traps set across the field. Then we can walk back here and then both drive the van down the dugway-park, and then there’s more traps further over. Or-you can let me check these up here alone and you can drive the van to the bottom and wait.”   I  stopped the vet van-”You can drive-Polish fire drill time!”  I bail out and snap photos.  “No way are you letting me in the van and I’m not driving alone down that hill!”  Tom drove the van down the hill and I settled into the scenery.

Spiritual splashes of sunlight serenade my soul.  It’s barely zero with no wind.  I catch my breath and am beyond smitten.  A spring fed pool of clear water flows beside the breathtaking aged barn that Doc Tom had visited 25 years before. A transendence of time envelops me as I am finally silent for we’re @ the bottom of the slippery dugway and I’m @ the bottom of my soul.

Do you think there was anything in the traps??  Find out in an up-coming post.

What a ride-this thing called life,

Sue Roskos