Smartie's Bar & Grill #75

So sad. Sorry to hear that. Losing an animal is hard at anytime........but this sounds like it was unexpected and a bit of a shock.

 

I hate to hear of the death of any animal. How is the baby calf is it ok? Sorry that happened to you and having to watch as they took her away.

 

The calf is weaned so will be fine.
The cows here have a pretty good life. At 9 the cow that died wasn't the oldest. It's not really a commercial herd. They're not milked and only the boy calves go to the freezers.
Therir main purpose seems to be preserving the meadows as pasture and generating muck for the fields.
It was sad to see one being dragged away and it was expensive to have it taken away.
After it has been examined to make sure it didn't die of anything contagious it will go to the local hunt to feed the dogs. Hunting foxes with hounds has been illegal for nearly 20 years now but they do still get together and chase scent trails rather than give up the tradition.

 

Do they still dress up in the fox hunting regalia to run the dogs even though it isn't an actual hunt?
The fox is an amazing little animal especially when I saw one climb up an avocado tree.

 

Yes, the only difference is they are not deliberately chasing foxes.
Of course, if the hounds pick up the scent of a fox they will often abandon the aniseed trail and chase the fox instead.

The two main arguments put forward are
a) It's a continuation of centuries of tradition.
b) It provides a useful function in keeping down fox numbers.

My response is
a) So was bear baiting and cockfighting.
b) No it doesn't. It mainly takes out the elderly or sick animals who are at the end of their lives while young breeding foxes usually escape. If you need to cull a species you take out animals of breeding age.

 

Zion NP is a beautiful place. I enjoyed it even though I could hike very far in. Got some great pictures in there.

 

Looks like a head count is needed. Where is everyone?

Hope everyone is well and healthy.

 

Fixin' to pile outta here and continue with the foundation prep.. wifey told me the other day she want to completely change the plan.. and she wonders why nothing ever gets done!
I'm sticking to the plan.. she wouldn't like anything I did anyway.. including (maybe especially) her "small adjustments"

 

Decorating for the tricksters tomorrow, preparing for our first frost which is now slated for Thursday night, and generally giving the outside a quick tidy up from all the pots and such that need to be stored for winter. Lazy chilly saturday

 

A little different custom here for trick or treat.. the trickster go from Dollar store to dollar store,, after all , that's were the candy is.. and a bunch of them come from our sister city right across the border.. they do a lot of shopping here year long and pay plenty in sales tax,, so I figure they should be more than welcome.

 

Still working on my deck. I listen to my wife but she ain't no carpenter. I do it my way. The only way I know.

 

Got some bluegrass going , hope everyone is well!

 

What's your favourite

 

Got part of the deck re-done. From this.....I like bluegrass too.

 

We like festivals , travel all over New England , our favorite is called Blistered Fingers in Maine

 

I prefer my grass green.

 

I don't follow the music. I just like it. Something about a banjo.

 

Before and after.

 

Blue grass music is good, Cajun is better.

 

Glen Campbell could not read music. Pretty amazing his talent with song and guitar.

 

Cajun music.

 

Pretty cats..

 

Just had a look on Youtube, looks fantastic. Do you have a camper? Listened to a few as well. Quite like Ralph Stanley 2 and the clinch mt boys.

 

Right now I have a 20 year old T@ B

 

Looks really good. Not sure the cat likes it.