“How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?”
~ Dr. Seuss
While enjoying a late afternoon session at the Byron Bay Writers Festival yesterday my phone went nuts in my bag. It was turned to silent, but eventually I could no longer ignore the persistent vibrations of call after call.
It was the neighbours.
Our cows were out.
All of them. And not only out, but wandered far, far from home.
I located Ben and we roared off to look for the wayward beasts. That was at 4pm.
It took the help of several good neighbours, bales of tasty enticement lucerne, and three hours of slogging through paddocks, across roads, up and down gullies, and in and out of the yards of strangers before we finally returned them to our home paddock. We put them in the yards to keep them safe. All of that done in the dark, and by the hazard lights of support vehicles and the moon. Stressful much? Yes.
Ten minutes later I collapsed in a chair, thoroughly exhausted. You know, that place where you are vomiting from fatigue. Yep. Wrecked. Lyme disease and I aren’t used to so much frenetic excitement. Nor getting my year’s exercise quota in one night!
This morning, before dawn, we were up again. Dressed warmly against the frost we drove and walked our fenceline, finding the place where a tree had fallen and the fence needs repair. Checking that the river paddock was secure enough for us to turn our herd out there and know that they would be safe.
Farm life. Never a dull moment!
I don’t mind, really. My cows are home safe, and the walk this morning was oh so beautiful.
See you tomorrow for Week Two of our Journal Challenge.
I’m off to the Writers Festival again to find some writing mojo.
Much love, Nicole xx
PS – Some shots of our farm this morning:
Holy moly. Too much excitement for one week.
Gorgeous photos though.
Such lovely photos …life on a farm is hard but rewarding . We spent 7 months on a farm when first moved to Wales ( because our new house wasn’t llivable ) nearly 12 months ago now . It was in lambing season and boy did we see our landlords work hard . When we asked them if they would swap their lives for something more restful …they said no way .
Hope your feeing a little better now after some rest .
Cherryx
So they had a bit of a walkabout. If it wasn’t so stressful , it would be almost comical. Sorry you had to miss some of your writing festival . Why do those things happen at the most inopportune times ? Chasing cows in the moonlight could be the title for a book. 😂
How did they get out, this made me think of the saying “til the cows come home”