Friday, April 14, 2006

Country living



No, we didn't get cows. These are the neighbor's cows, back for a visit. Again. For the 50 millionth time.

Jasmine knows they shouldn't be here, and chases them. That scares the cows, and when they're scared they have a little runny-poop problem.

Maybe it's a defense mechanism and they're hoping that the pursuer will slip on it. Maybe it makes them lighter and it's easier to flee. In any case, Jasmine was a little too close. You can't see it well in this picture, but she has it all over her right side.

So guess what I spent a lot of time doing yesterday. Thanks a lot, neighbor.

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

You should take Jasmine over and have the neighbors give her a bath.

Anonymous said...

This used to happen to me all the time at my previous house. We'd wake up in the morning with steers lounging in our driveway. Luckily at the time, I had an appaloosa mare with a lot of cow in her. I'd ride her right up behind them and she'd give them a sound nip on the rear end. We used to have a great time chasing them back down the riverbed to Mr. Tafoya's house.

And if you don't have a good cow-chasing horse around, wielding a big broom while running and yelling is an effective cow deterrant. Poor things, they are not very smart.

If they came around much more, I'd be tempted to put one of those big bovines in the freezer. BEEF-it's what's for dinner!

Anonymous said...

Still . . . good dog!

robin andrea said...

Poor Jasmine, slipping and sliding in cow poop. I had no idea that cows get a runny poop problem when they are afraid. Interesting nervous system response.

That's not very neighborly of your neighbors.

Rachel said...

I'd probably poop too if some animal was chasing me! Maybe Jasmine will learn from this and stay back farther behind!! Funny post!

threecollie said...

Aha, now I understand just what you meant when you commented on the BC's cow chasing efforts.
Sadly, cows react to EVERYTHING with poop. We just finished our monthly herd health visit with our favorite vet and I doubt that I look (or smell) any better than poor Jasmine. Too bad those neighbor cows aren't doing their thing at home instead of in your yard though.

Jenn said...

I say again. Freezer. Beef.

Mmmmm.

You could sell the overstock.
And of course, tell your neighbor that no, you havn't seen his cows lately.

JLLove said...

This brings back memories! We use to have same experience back in TN.
But usually we would be returning home at night and top the hill to see floating eyes! Thank goodness for good brakes! Then we would have to call the neighbors and herd everyone home. My experience is that cow poop is always runny when fresh. Only makes good projectiles after sun drying!

Karen Schmautz said...

Gotta love that dog of yours. Heh!

R.Powers said...

Well, finally. Blogger would not let me post at your site earlier today...now what was I going to say?

...something about this neighbor being udderly careless...no, wait, I think I was going to say something about bovine bowel moo-vements...

...or was it a patty melt recipe request?

Janet said...

After years and years of chasing cows, we finally got smart...now we have a tree farm....but I did have the hugest flowers when I had access to that cow poop!

doubleknot said...

My dogs would actually go to the neighbors and roll in cow poop - I had to check them before I let them in the house.
Since I was the only one home in the daytime on a strech of road I got to know all the neighbors cows and horses and where they belonged - I usually just grabbed a bucket of goat feed and it would be a parade with me leading back too where every which critter called home.

Rurality said...

Nio, I was really hoping they'd volunteer to come wash her. (I'm such an idiot.)

IGO, a stick and a loud "Git!" have been working fairly well. Of course the dog helps. :)

Pablo, I guess. I just wish she'd listen more. In this pic I was calling her off (well, trying to), and she was trying to tell me (I think) but it's COWS!

RD, everyone we've met in this county has been very friendly... with the exception of our immediate neighbors.

Rachel I see your point. :)

3C, if they would only concentrate it in one area where I could scoop it up onto the garden...

Jenn I won't say it hasn't crossed my mind, if only fleetingly. But with my luck they probably still hang cattle rustlers around here.

JLL, this type is EXTRA runny! Thinner than the usual.

Hick I'll bet your Jasmine would never do such a thing. :)

FC, Blogger has been bad about that recently. You had me cracking up!

Janet if I could train them to deposit it in nice stacks for the garden I might view their trespassing differently. :)

DK will I guess I have that to be thankful for... (So far she only wants to roll on top of dead things. Ick.)

Linda said...

This time of year its hard to have good fences--the grass is always greener on the other side. It is particularly upsetting when the cattle decide to have a parade after a big rain--a yard full of holes.

Anonymous said...

I say, what breed of cow is that with the white fur, smaller than the other cows, and with the bushy tail?

I do love that Jasmine. Haven't ever seen a photo of her that hasn't made me want to come visit her. (Well, and you, too, of course.)

Anonymous said...

Your Jasmine and my Gracie must be kindered spirits .. check out this post and see if you don't agree ..

http://www.mitzenmacher.net/blog/?p=171

PS - Your soap is great-thanks!

Joanna Schmidt said...

funny story. You tell it well ;)