Were you wondering what cows do in the summer? Laze about, thats what. This little trio of cows do nothing but sleep out under the trees. I guess it is a summer thing.
The best cows are happy cows. And flies do not a happy cow make so this cow has a clothes line.
I cannot get enough of this steer and his blankets. See how he has arranged them so he has blankets hanging down either side like the steed of a knight.
The Battle of the Thistle
Anyway, the calves spend all their time lying under the trees. One of them even eats lying down. I have never seen lazier cows in my life. They seldom enter the fields. We have plenty of hay from last year so thats ok. Maybe they just hate thistles prickling their legs because the thistle problem is worse than ever. All the fields are open this year so as not to over graze (fat chance with this lot). I am letting all the fields grow high to choke out the thistles. It is the only way left. The thistles have to go to seed above a high field of grasses. Every time some one gets in there and mows the fields down to the dirt the thistles just multiply. Which is hard to explain to a person that loves to mow.
However for a plant to die it needs to go to seed. And so I need to create an environment (dark and overgrown and no contact with soil) where the seed will not thrive.
It is a bit of a battle and will take a few years but the grass needs to be dominant and that will not happen if the fields are mowed down to carparks. Thistles and dandelions love open spaces without competition. A couple of dry summers will help too ironically. This thistle was brought onto the property in bales of hay we purchased years ago. Never again.
Interestingly since I made this ruling (no topping the grass) the yellow clover has made a comeback. Bees and butterflies love the yellow clover.
Of course if someone does want to cut it then we will bale it and take it off the property. Not sell it. Just stack it as a windbreak and leave it to rot. Which is what we might do when I return in August.
Then I will top sow something like red clover and oats which love to grow. And let it all overgrow again.
TonTon
TonTon goes for a walk with Boo and I every evening – he does the short walk then we bring him back and drop him off on the way to the Long Walk. TonTon is very reluctant to come on a walk but I tell him he has to do some road work or his fingernails will get out of control. I have to leash him and firmly encourage him out to the drive before he realises that he is not being dragged to his doom and in fact he likes walks.
Movement is critical to health.
In the day time Ton sleeps under the porch, like a real farm dog, but to get him to come up for dinner I have to stomp and bang on the porch to get his attention; I am afraid he will just sleep his life away. See how he is tipping his head on the side in that shot? That is a classic Ton Look. Whad’ya saying? I always imagine that Ton would speak with a NZ accent.
The Wheat
The wheat has begun to dry from the ground up. It will probably be harvested while I am away. Then hopefully one of these boys on a tractor will bale some straw. (And that will NOT be piled up and left to rot!)
Have a lovely day! It is the weekend for everyone in my world!
Celi
The Kitchen's Garden 
22 responses to “The laziest cows in the world”
Welcome to the Lounge of Comments! Don’t forget to leave a message – I will always answer because I love to chat!
Ton is such a dear old guy- just wanting to sleep. Did you make it out to find the table and chairs yesterday? Beautiful blue skies in those photos.
Oh no! I forgot – I MUST do that today.
Ah sweet old Ton
I wonder if TonTon can remember when, once upon a time, he was the world’s best cow/pig/sheep dog?
I hope he’s dreaming about hearding animals – he used to love that.
Yes. He was an amazing dog; how he knew every animal, what it’s bake was, where it was and where it should be. It was a skill. Now he just wanders about looking a bit anxious.
Poor thing!
As you and I know lazy cows are good—otherwise they are thinking about green grass on the other side of the fence
Oh yes! There is that!!
what a lovely post!!!!!
I’m a lazy cow today as well. AQ is not good here right now for some odd reason so no walking outside. Maybe tomorrows wind will take care of the AQ. I hate to see animals with flies in their faces. I love that you have helped them deal with it.
Air Quality is certainly taking a hit in some areas. Can you wear a mask?
I love the cow tent!
I’m glad you rouse Ton for his walks. So very hard to be old!!
My grandma said that her dogs were good for her health because they made her get up and out for a walk every day. So I am using the same premise!
Ton has earned his restful old age, but you’re right, even Very Good Old Doggos need a little road work. Nails are definitely a problem, my Mouse has very thick, strong nails from his racing career (known in this house as his running spikes) and cutting them is a horrible chore none of us enjoys, so he gets a load of road work.
Yes. I have always relied on the lane to file their nails.
That’s how I knew ton had not had any walks after I was away last summer!
Thank you for the reminder that it’s almost time for Pedicure Drama in this household…. visualise a 32kg greyhound vigorously protesting that it’s An Outrage and an invasion of his bodily autonomy.
Yes, my Mr. Mac, 13 yrs old and deaf likes nothing more than to snooze the day away. I do take him walking to keep him as limbered up as possible. He’ll agree to come out while I vegetate in my swing chair and give a half hearted threat to the chipmunks and squirrels but soon he’s asking to go back into the house where his beds are – he has two. Sometimes there is nothing sweeter than an old dog
This was the best comment today!! Those old dogs need to stick together. Don’t tell Ton that your old dog has two beds!!
Our old German Shepherd, Lumen, is getting older, too. She’s 13, and she LOVES walkies, but she can’t make it far before she gets stumbly. She has vertebral issues now, not arthritic, just weak. It’s so hard to watch them age, but you’re right. Movement is key.
We just came back from this evenings walk – he always pees a lot along the way which is so good.
Did you see the snake i found in the chook house? Yesterday?