Pilar and Laci enjoy summer pasture
I’m dreaming of a perfect summer here in Colorado.
In my dream, spring lasts for months instead of weeks and we enjoy cool days and gentle rainy afternoons.
The weather forecast is right for once and a week of rain is accurately predicted in early May, with temps in the high 60′s. I spread all my grass seed out the day before the rains arrive and a week later have 100% germination.
My pastures are dense and lush by end of May with nary a weed or scrub oak bud in sight.
Summer arrives the day after shearing and my animals are free of heat and cold stress.
Birthing season begins and the babies arrive without problem and within two days of their due date.
They are all fabulous girls in exactly the colors I was aiming for and they gain weight steadily.
In May, the miller moths pass by our little property and we can read with our lights on without having a swarm descend.
In July, the mosquito dunks I put out in the winter runoff actually make a difference this year and you can walk outside without taking a bath in Off!
The fly predator program I’ve diligently applied for the past two years kicks into effect and I’m fly-free in the barn, in the paddocks, in the pasture and around the poop piles.
My cats turn from dedicated couch potatoes into ferocious mousers.
The extra moisture has kept the dust down to a minimum and all summer, there’s barely any dust settling into every nook and cranny in the barn.
All my rebreedings are done locally and none of my dams or crias have to be transported. The pregnancies take on the first breeding.
We continue to get gentle rains all through Summer and into Fall, but all my fecals continue to be negative.
My pregnant dams swear off spitting at each other or decide only to do it when there are no humans around.
Crias pronk with joy when they see me approaching and run circles around me like celebrants around a maypole.
Aaaah, life is good.
