I don't go out mustering very often - in fact, I wasn't really mustering today. I was driving the Toyota along behind this mob, to give a ride to any babies who were having trouble keeping up...as it turned out, only one.
Cattle in the yards...time for a cuppa! ("Mum's got that bloody camera again...Take that thing away!")
The girls enjoy having their photos taken much more! Actually, I think they were only checking to see I hadn't stolen their babies...
Oops! This little one crawled under the rail to find her mum...isn't that a sad sight? But she crawled right back again and continued hollering for the one soul in her world who could make everything right - and fill her tummy, of course!The main reason for these photos is because I really wanted to share a different story - one you'll thank me for NOT photographing! On my return to our digs, I was met by the chewed off head of a wallaby - right at my back door. It was a bit reminiscent of Skippy meets The Godfather! And smell!!! Phew! There are currently 2 small dogs being questioned and DNA tested.....
I rolled right along to next job on the list - cleaning 'the quarters' for a young Swedish fellow who's coming to spend a few weeks in our employ...Upon opening the toilet door - I couldn't believe it...I couldn't breathe, either...A very big, very dead snake. And I thought the wallaby head smelled bad....One of the boys asked what kind of snake it was - I didn't hang around to do the DNA testing on that one...dead and big were more than enough information for me!
Not sure what makes me want to share all that with you...or what cosmic message the big guy upstairs is trying to send...what could it all mean? Maybe to appreciate that my olfactory senses are in really good nick? Perhaps a veiled reminder of the fragility of life (veiled in awful smell...)? Not sure I have any idea. What I do know is that life in the bush is wonderful - most of the time...and when it isn't, it isn't in the most convincing ways!
7 comments:
Well you had me going....the mustering, the orphaned calf, the days work in the bush and then the wallabies head.
I then had a smile on my face thinking of your 2 suspects on your Theodore property and thinking about DNA.
You are a great story teller, I'm not sure what the big fellow is trying to say but...Life's never dull Tracey :)
You can say that again! I woke this morning to a dead toad on the office floor! EEWW...I consoled myself with the thought that the dead toad made three...don't they reckon these things happen in threes?
hi Tracey - I have just found you - not sure I could cope with dead snakes, dead toads and chopped off wallaby heads. I have grown into a city rat these days- but you sure live an interesting life
cheers- Dale
Hi Dale...The dead stuff isn't great - but what I can't cope with is the LIVE snakes...Now they are just evil, slimy, skin crawling challenges to my calm, capable, country wife demeanour!
Nice to see you here! Enjoy Paris!...
I am going back and reading some of your older posts. I must say that I enjoyed the SENSUALITY of this post. Whew!
Speaking of questioning the dogs- are you familiar with "Hank the Cowdog" by John Erickson? There are 40+ books from Hank's perspective, but the best part of all is the author and friends have made them into CD's. It is wonderful to drive along listening to stories from a ranch dog's perspective.
Lyn, I can't say I've come across Hank the Cowdog...though it sounds like my kind of literature! Will have to have a look for him!
http://www.hankthecowdog.com/
Tracey, here is the link to John Erickson's website. He lives on a ranch in the "panhandle" part of my state, Texas. He knows his dogs, his cattle, his coyotes, his ranchers! I love to listen to his books on CD- the author does a lot of the voices, including that of Sally Mae, the rancher's wife.
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