A Bridge Too Far

Well, actually it's a crossing but very scary. Have I mentioned that I don't like bridges!  If you're wondering why I'm posting about this particular photo, let me just say that across that planked bridge is little "Buzzard Bait/Sugar & Cream," the calf.

Some of you may remember her plight and shaky start to life.

Click HERE if you'd like to read all about it.

So where was I? On yea.....She'd somehow gotten away from her mother and is now lost. Where is her mom you ask???? Her attention is  busily munching on bales of hay with the those heifers. It fell to me to shoo little Buzzard Bait back towards her mommy.

OMG, are you kidding me!!!!

This is not happening. Did I mention that I really don't like to get involved with cows and babies.  I parked the Jeep and walked over the bridge. Sorry, no photos of the walking across said planked bridge but I know you can use your imaginations on this one. 

Finally, I m' safely across but where is that pesky calf?? In the underbrush, way back in that thicket stands little Buzzard Bait staring at me.

Did I mention that I don't like tight spaces! 

Needless to say, I lost my cap, dropped my glasses, nearly stepped on them and wound up with several scratches before little Buzzard Bait bolted for the herd. It's very difficult to get sand off the lenses of one's glasses.

 

She went straight for her momma and the milk. I'll retrieve my cap another day, cause I'm headed for the house and a nice long very hot bath! Where's I park that Jeep?

I'm okay, really!

 

 

 After I recouped and downed a couple of aspirin, I got busy on a mug rug that I'd been playing around with. I love green fabrics and have loads of scraps laying around waiting for a project. Decided to do a turtle. 

Seaweed or Kelp

Turtle pre-stitching faze

After stitching.

 Now all that's left is the quilting. This little guy will appear in one of my

Thursday give aways very soon.

Hope everyone is having a peaceful week rather than the type of strenuous time I've had.

Wooded Area, You Say & Sewing Time

 Can you see a little calf in this thicket?  Look closely now..... take your time.  Focus!

How about from this angle..... really concentrate.  

Of course you can't... no one can.  

He's totally black hiding in there bawling his little heart out for his mommy.  How did he get in there, you asked? 

How would I know but he's stuck and hung up in some vines. Now I ask you, who's going in there after the little critter?????

Sigh... alas, it's me.  His mommy is on the other side of the thicket safely away from me, mooing for him.

Did I mention that I don't like anything bigger than me, smaller than me, faster than me.... need I go on.

Mind you, we have open fields, meadows and flat land to roam around in but did the little critter wonder into that area..... 

Nnnnnooooooo!

Got him! Sorry I didn't get a shot of the goings on in the thicket, it was a little tight in there...... needless to say, I hacked my way in, lost my hat in the bushes (no worries, I found it on the way out) and my foot caught on a stumpy something or other. The calf and I came face to face.... he dislodged himself  from the vine like bush and ran in the opposite direction towards his mommy (thank goodness). After their joyous reunion, they loped off to chew on some range cubes with the rest of the herd.
Did I mention I don't like cows!

For years I've been keeping up with my sewing and embroidery time keeping a record on a calendar by my machines. It helps me get motivated from month to month or to slow down when I'm in a frenzy. I have a PFAFF which I sew on and a Janome that I'm truly in love with.  The PFAFF is a great machine and handles like a dream and the Janome is truly amazing but it weighs a ton. You would think I get a lot done by sewing on one while the other stitches out a design. Sometimes that works but mostly I sit and watch the Janome do it's thing. Does anyone else have that affliction?
Sewing Time for January = 23 hours
Machine Embroidery = 23.5 hours
Fabric used from stash = approximately 5 yards

3 Men and a Big Boar

True story:

I live in a small community and am surrounded by cousins, friends close family. The other evening around dusk, I heard a commotion in my cousin's hay field. At first I ignored it but as time past I donned a light jacket, boots, cap and my trusty shotgun and walk over to investigate.
So that I don't embarrass them, I'll reference them as Bro.1 (the oldest - 60ish), Bro.2 (50ish) and Bro.3 (30ish) Here's the scene. The brothers had rigged up a hog trap out of some sort of metal panels and some hapless hog was now trapped inside....so the brothers are trying to figure out a way to get the hog into a cow trailer to be transported to out local hog dealer, for lack of a better description. So here's where all the fun comes in......
Bro.2: Hey, why don't we try to turn him towards the trailer?
Bro.1: What do you think we've been tryin' to do for the past hour.....he shouted?
Bro.2: Well I'm only tryin' to help.
 Bro.1 is muttering to himself - "%$&*!~>*}
I caught some of the words but can repeat them in mixed company....LOL
Bro.2: Here's a thought, you (meaning Bro.1) could get in the pen with that board we got in my truck and hold it in front of you and guide him in the trailer.
Bro.3: Man, are you crazy...that hog is quick and now he's mad, it ain't gonna work. Don't do it.
Bro:1: Don't worry cause I'm not gettin' in a pen with many wild hog......why don't you get in Bro.2?
Bro.2: I would but I'm not as young as I use to be.
Laughs
Bro.3: Nobody's as young as they use to be....that didn't make any sense, fool.
Bro.1: Stop talkin' and think, it's gettin' late and I haven't eaten all day.
Bro.2: Here we go! Blame it on me, why don't you. It ain't my fault you didn't stop to eat a lunch.

By now, if you've ever heard of "hog wild," that's what the trapped hog is acting. He's chargin' the pen, snorting, his head is down, eyes red, beady and wild. The hairs at his neck are standing straight up and spiked. He is nearly glowing with unleashed rage..... I'm thinking of pointing that out to the brothers when the hog charges straight for a weaken link in the pen......OMG.....
I did offer my shotgun and Bro.1 said, "Don't tempt me."
They finally decide to rope the big critter.....I'm thinking there's going to be trouble with a capital "T"
Bro.1 is the best at roping but for some reason Bro.3 decided to try is hand at it........30 tries later and a lot of swearing Bro. 1 wrestles the rope away to give it a shot.
Bingo! The hog is roped....sort of......by the right front hoof.......oh dear.
I am nearly doubled over with laughter and the 3 attempt to drag the hog into the trailer.
The hog is having none of it.  He is snorting, trying to back.....well, he is backing up and pulling 3 grown men with him.....where is my camera, you might ask......back at the home......shoot!
With one hoof at an awkward position high in the air beside he head, this hog is a force to be reconin' with.  His tusks are mean looking and the squealing sounds are enough to raise the dead.
After about 10 minutes of wrestling with the hog....the guys finally get the upper hand and maneuvers the hog into the trailer and slammed the gate.
 Whew!
I asked if Bro:1 wanted a sandwich but he turned me down with a weak shake of his head.  All the brothers slumped into the truck with the trailered hog and drove off to the sale.
Later on, Bro.3 told me that the hog weighed in at 260 lbs. They made a pretty penny and finally ate something in town.