Lives in a Shoe

Happy Cow

Kurt sent this for me to look at.  My cows have a repurposed street sweeper brush mounted on a sturdy post set in cement.  They LOVE it.  

That place on top of the head between the ears seems to feel great.

 

More Cowbell

Left-wing Dutch vegan who moved to Switzerland is denied a Swiss passport because she is too annoying. 

Nancy Holten was born in the Netherlands but moved to Switzerland as a child
She is a fluent speaker of Swiss German and her children are Swiss nationals
She applied for Swiss passport herself, but was refused by locals twice
Locals said they were 'fed up' of her challenging Swiss traditions by campaigning against the use of cow bells, which she has tried to rid from the town
The Dutchwoman, who describes herself as a freelance journalist, model and drama student, has also campaigned against a number of other Swiss traditions
The resident's committee argued that if she does not accept Swiss traditions and the Swiss way of life, she should not be able to become an official national.

So there, Buttercup.  That's a well thought out immigration policy right there.

And -- for no reason at all except to indulge fond memory:

Christopher Walken's got a FEVER and the only prescription -- is MORE COWBELL.

 

RIP Elmer Cud (Bubba)

Still missed -- it's been two years.  He brought joy to thousands of people during his years at the county fair.  This summer Joan made this lovely poster to explain why he was't there.  Many people brought their kids by to say hello and were saddened to learn that he had died.  Bub was a thoroughly good steer, loving and gentle.  We were lucky to know him.  

Just Slap These People

Bloomberg: Scientists are testing backpacks on cows in an effort to lessen methane emissions.

Feeding the Cows

Son Derek and The Hungry Herd.

Bub, Me, Margaret Thatcher at the Skagit Fair

Animal Husbandry

I do not think that phrase means what these two jerks seem to think it means.

A farmer in Herkimer County, N.Y. couldn't figure out why his cows seemed more anxious than usual.

When they weren't producing as much milk as usual, he set up a surveillance camera.

What he saw shocked him: two men were rolling in the hay with his livestock, CNYCentral.com reported.

The farmer, whose name has not been identified, contacted authorities who conducted their own investigation.

As a result, Michael Jones, 35, and Reid Fontaine, 31, were arrested for misdemeanor sexual misconduct, UticaOD.com reported.

Authorities said Fontaine attempted to have sex with several cows while Fontaine filmed the encounters, according to Syracuse.com.

Martin Luther King Day Reminder

Bull Connor Was A Member Of The Democratic National Committee.

 

 

This reminded us of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s meeting with Vice President Richard Nixon in 1957. They met on Capitol Hill for a discussion of ways to overcome Democrat opposition to the Republican civil rights agenda.

 

Elmer Cudd (Bubba) Gets A Manicure

Bubba walks right into his new stanchion which his trusted friend Harmen custom built to his 10 X size.  Joan says, "At 3025 pounds Bubba needed a special treating stanchion designed and built by Harm to fit his massive frame. Fortunately he walked right in for a large helping of grain while Harm & Derrick filed and buffed his feet back into shape.Fortunately for Bubba his owners Catherine Daniels and George Freeman treat him like royalty!"

"He fits nicely, and the stabilizer board behind him allows for safe quick release."

Harmen and his son Derrick discuss with Bubba how to proceed.  Bub would like Cherry Red with French tips. 

Bubba's best friend Margaret Thatcher stands nearby to give advice.  She advises against the red and thinks a more natural look works better with Bub's coloring.  To the right, not inside the barn but standing there in solidarity, we can just see little red Isaac Hays behind Mickey Moos.  Joan's take: "His friends are waiting in the wings. They stayed around and watched the entire process with a lot of low mooing going on."

Cow pedicure tool.  Joan explains, "Electric grinder buffs of his excess rock hard hoof."

My beloved boy, about 3025 pounds of sociability and gentleness.

 

 

Rhubarb

The word "rhubarb" was used to simulate a noisy background crowd in old talkies and some stage productions.  It was very common in the 1930's to use actors to repeat or mutter the word "rhubarb" continuously to provide radio sound effects.

In the 1940's, it became popular to associate the word with angry fans, team-players or umpires at sporting events -- or a loud argument.  My dad used it that way, referring to a quarrel as "a big rhubarb".

 

 

This is my rhubarb plant, year two from its start as a tiny section of Margie's big plant.  The stalks are getting red and siince the strawberry plants have flowers we can look forward to strawberry rhubarb pie pretty soon.