It is the start of Spring Break and this morning while walking to the barn, the ground crunched underneath my feet. The surrounding mountains show a light dusting of new snow in the background. Canadian Geese honk overhead as they search in vain for the wetlands that once existed down the road apiece, now replaced by a modular home tract.
They circle the pasture several times honking their dismay. Then, they notice the creek at the back of our land and diving down from the sky; they end up settling near its banks. It is called Little Creek, but this time of year, it is swollen with rain water and run-off. They should be able to find food because the small fishes hide in the grasses below the water. I feel sorry for them. The farmer down the road recently passed away, and his land was sold, instantly grabbed up by developers. Deciding that apple, pear and plum trees have no merit in today’s world, the orchards were quickly cut down. The large pond where the wildlife met daily, they drained and filled with gravel and sand.
It was a man-made pond. We would see the farmer and his boy out there every summer fishing from their small boat. Now, cement foundations wait patiently for the resurrection of more houses. More money into developers pockets, all in the name of progress.
The horses are spirited this morning. Perhaps sensing a change in the weather is imminent. Tired of slogging through the mud, getting stuck at times- wanting their itchy winter coat to finally be shed so they can play in the sunshine and sleep in the dry grass, they paw at the gate impatiently for their food.
When I open the barn door, I see to my dismay that the last of the winter hay has vanished. Today’s offerings will be only the loose hay that has fallen from the loft- still; it makes a sizeable meal for them until I can order more bales today. It has been a cold winter- the hay didn’t last as long as normally it would. But at least, because of the cold snaps, the breeding season of the strays were halted. Now, there will be some relief for me until the kitten season starts up again in a few months.
Shimmer leaves soon for her new home. Her infection of her spay site has healed nicely. I am thrilled that she is going to be an only kitty in this lovely home and be cherished by the entire family. All the kitties here deserve to be an only kitty. The halls are quite crowded now; Mike says I am running a boarding house for runaways! I suppose if you think about it, I am.