Saturday April 30th and it's the first day of the village herd going out to the field. After much discussion, Garry decided that he would put some dry cows and heifers out with the herd.
Maxim delayed leaving to get the corn planter until after the cows headed down the street. Garry got the boys up to help, and they got eleven dry cows and big heifers- including the pretty white heifer that jumps fences- out to the street and were waiting for the rest of the cows to come up the street when I when out to get a few photos. Apparently the first day the owners all go to the field and discuss what the schedule will be for the summer- last night they decided that Garry would do this if his foot was OK, so Max could go get the corn planter (he is going to get instructions on how to use it- set it up in Russian) Of course they will be using Russian out with the cows, but as Garry says he has not learned Russian just how to communicate in it, so he can handle this one (besides most of the neighbours know what he knows.)
The guys marked our cows with white paint on their rumps, so we can find them when they come back. One of the neighbours tied plastic ribbon around their heifer's horns.
Soon our cows could see other cows coming up the road, a couple ran up the road to check out the other cows, some kept eating the green grass in front of the house under the maple trees. The herd came up the street with lots of people chasing them along, rounding up the strays- one small heifer jumped in everyone's little wire flower fence - including the babushka's next door- she was out by her gate, like most of the village- except Misha- who had a number of four-legged intruders in his yard as the gate was open, so the chasers were busy chasing them out. The smaller heifers are the most trouble since they are scared, and ran all over. The older cows have done this every spring for years, so they know where to go, even after a long winter in the cow sheds.
Seth and Jonah headed out with the herd, but not long after I come inside, Jonah came to the gate leading a smaller red heifer by the neckchain. No photo- recharging the camera battery now- Polo was at his heels, and a few minutes later, Polo came through the gate again. Finally Polo trotted happily in the gate again with Seth. I had no noticed him or the other dogs in the cow chasing confusion, but he had gone along. They tell me that this one heifer ran back in the wrong direction fast, so when Jonah finally caught her (someone on the street slowed her down) they brought her back. Seth laid down in the grass until Polo came back and licked his face. Jonah put the heifer back in the empty pen in the barn, after it enjoyed chasing Needles the cat down the driveway toward the equipment shed.
No rain yet...we'll see if the the 100% chance happens- I may have to water those transplants again. It is overcast, maybe Garry will get wet.
Nope he's back. For a coat- cool for a t-shirt- and a bowl of cereal. He says there are about 90 animals out in the field, and a dozen people still out there (no meeting really) and someone's heifer (not ours) jumped in the pond when they went over the bridge. He went back out to the field with the car, his sweat shirt and snacks in his pockets- he says it seems like sunflower seeds are the snack of chioce in the field, and he'll be back at lunch. Only a few drops so far- none you can see.
We'll see if anything gets planted today. Or the milk tank gets empty- didn't happen yesterday- they may put the leftover in cans this afternoon to sour it for the Oleg who likes it warm, like they did on Tuesday afternoon, so there is fresh milk in the tank again. What a luxury it is to have a milk truck come take all your milk in Canada every second day!
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