It’s autumn – my favorite time of year for cattle care. Honey, Betsy, and Meredith graze in the upper pasture where the leaves turn red, the cattails wilt, and the grass is brittle gold.
Don’t tell anyone but some days I wish I could stay up there all day, hide away.
I’d kick back with the girls and do cow stuff – like gossip around the mineral trough,
itch on the cattle scratching brush,
search for more snacks in the sidekick,
nap beneath the shady pines and listen to the chimps pant-hoot far below the hill.
And if no one missed me in the chimp house, I’d stay all night. I imagine the stars are fantastic, the milky way bright. I’d find the perfect spot nestled between Betsy and Meredith (Honey likes her own space). We’d listen to the coyotes howl, the deer leap over the underbrush, and the night birds dive in the pond.
Where’s your secret hideaway?
Lucky you, Dusty, being able to hang out (and gossip) with my pal Meredith. Do you swap stories with them about the various drama amongst their simian neighbors?
Oh, the gossip is juicy in the upper pasture!
It used to be the gym, bc I didn’t take my phone in! :sweat_smile:
These days, I feel like my back deck counts. backyard is surrounded on 2 sides by yew and juniper. Third side neighbor’s house doesn’t have a deck or windows, and I can see the sun set over the bay.
Sounds lovely!
BEAUTIFUL!!!
What a wonderful blog, Dusty. Thank you.
Wow. What a beautiful spot. My favorite spot used to be sitting at the end of the dock at my last place. It was across the river from the Jupiter lighthouse. Lighting up my nights. I shared the quiet with the cranes and pelicans and turtles and even some raccoons or rabbits. Under the water there were all the little baby critters of the estuary. starfish, seahorse, conch, whelk, moonsnail, shrimp, squid, and so many more babies. The estuary is magical. I still live nearby so I get there once in a while but it’s nothing like life living there.
i’m so happy for you that you have that magical spot for yourself. And critters to share it with.
Oooo, your hideaway sounds amazing!
yes, Dusty. It was the best years of my whole life. Alas I did not own the land and of course a developer had to buy it to develop waterfront property. I mean, you know you can’t have any open waterfront property left undeveloped! But some friends and I are fighting to keep any development from encroaching into the estuary. Like a marina. We are winning so far. The city is not approving the developer’s big proposals. The city is trying to buy the land to keep it undeveloped.
Hey, Paulette! In some countries you can’t (Mexico). Newport RI here–reach out to Friends of the Waterfront. With the help of Liz Meyers (heiress to the Levi’s fortune), we fought the city to earn the rights for residents to walk the shoreline. We cant buy the land and can’t prevent hotels (sadly, RIP ice rink and festival center), but we always have access to the shoreline, regardless of what is built there. See uf they can help you with ideas/suggestions.
Ooooh, Dusty, I love your hide away day. It’s perfect. Best part is you’re surrounded by good friends. (Friends who would never spill the beans that you snuck off to hang with them. Wink wink) And the stars!!! The cow girls must see every star in the Milky Way. What a peaceful life they have. A slumber party with you would really liven things up!
the cowgirls LOL
thank you, Dusty, for taking us on this adventure with you. It was nice to see their pasture with the beautiful fall colors and to know what kinds of neat things we would find.
Your blog was fun to read, it made me think that I would like to take a walk around the Bray with my pal Honey B. She would need to assist me up on a high climbing structure where we would sit, taking in the beautiful view. I would then entice her to spill the beans about how she comes up with her many escapades and what she is planning next.
Nancy – ditto! geez, wouldn’t I give $1 million to spend a day exploring that range with Honey B. Oh what mischief might we get up to. And spill our hearts out in quiet moments. Then back to shenanigans we go. She’s my person. Love love love her.