Tiggsgrr and Rose have a play date

So I was out with the horses the other day, Mama and the youngsters had moved out and were grazing down the hill, only Rose remained behind.  Now Rose staying behind or going off on her own isn't out of character, standing still like a statue is totally NOT Rose and that particular morning, she was standing rock solid still exactly like a statue.  And of course I immediately go to, "What now .... what the heck has happened to make her freeze up like that?".  And then I saw it, or rather "him". 

Tiggsgrrr is what happened to Rose.  Tiggs had found himself a playmate and Rose, bless her heart, was doing her best to accomodate him. 

Tiggs curled around Rose's hind leg playing with her tail - he's in heaven, playing "Wrestle" and "Swat" at the same time with his new best friend.

Tiggs with his little face snuggled into the back side of Rose's hoof, I actually think he thought he was winning this round of "Wrestle" -- who am I to take a cat's dream away?!!

Bath time for Rose.  Tiggs is washing the back of her hoof .... I don't know, maybe he thought she needed a bath and after all if she is nice enough play with him, the least he can do is give her a bath?  I have no clue what this cat or horse for that matter, was thinking.

Break time -- don't you know playing with horses is hard work?!!

Back to another round of "Wrestle" with Rose's leg

Peek-a-boo .... "I see you and you can't get me cause I'm hiding behind my very large new best friend Rosie ... nah nanah na nah nah"

Tigss chillin' with his new best friend

Time for more "Swat" - Rose comes with built in toys!

Legs to wrestle with, tails to swat at ... Rose is so cool!

Look at me ... I could climb her tail - this is fun fun fun!

About that time I started calling Tiggs off, worried that if he actually crawled up her tail, Rose's patience would up and leave, she'd wind up for one good kick and I'd have a silly orange cat flying past my head. 

I didn't have to worry, Rose was such a patient and good girl, through all of Tigg's antics she never kicked or flinched or moved a muscle - she could have been a statue.  

I swear I could hear him huff as he walked away,

"Fine then - ruin everything ..... Rose was having fun, we were playing."

Mystery (to me) Bird

Have no idea who / what this bird is ...... other than positively beautiful.

Breaking News - Owl Chicks

Woohooo!  Finally got some pictures of the Great Horned Owl and it's chicks.

We've been watching the nest, if you'll pardon the pun - like hawks (pun explanation - hawks lived there for the last two years). 

When we moved to the ranch two years ago, a pair of esting hawks was in residence at this nest and nested there last year as well.  There were owls nesting on the property, they were in a stand of trees about 200 yards down creek from what we knew as the "hawk's nest tree". 

This year, we couldn't quite tell who was living there, although we were pretty certain it wasn't the hawks.

Last weekend we talked to an Audubon bird guy who said he'd been monitoring the nest for several years, that it had originally been built by Great Horned Owls and that they were back in residence this year.  He went on to say, that he thought he'd seen one of the adult owls at the nest and at least one chick. 

Anyway,  with the nice weather today (sunny and not much wind) I thought I'd take a trip to that corner of the ranch and see what I could see ....

To give you kind of an idea of the size of the tree and the nest, what looks like a "glob" of branches, kind of in the middle left of the picture is the nest.  I was on the top of a hill, maybe 200 yards away?  I'm not too good with distances, so that 200 yard estamate is totally a "best guess".

Moved further down the hill and changed the angle from which I was taking pictures.  You can barely see one of the chicks just to the right of the adult and that might be a chick right behind the adult.

Better picture of the adult. 

Great Horned Owls are amazing!

Adult and two chicks

Not a great picture of the adult, better picture of the chicks - aren't they cute?!! 

Make no mistake, they could tear your face off.

Better picture of the family, although I don't think the chick on the far left heard when I said "smile! it's picture time" .....

Coffee Anyone?

I'll be the first to admit some of my "learning opportunities" with the horses ... oh heck, I might as well admit it, with the cats and the dogs too, could perhaps be called "unique" or even "non-traditional".  I like to think my ideas are common sense based.  To that end, with dogs and horses, keeping in mind there is a possiblilty that some time, some day we are out on the trail or in a situation where there isn't a bowl of water for them to drink out of -- the dogs should know how to drink out of a water bottle or a cup or my hand, and I figure the same for the horses.   Both Murphy and Gaia as well as Miss, Hank and Shadow are quite adept at drinking from a water bottle. 

As I've been working with the horses there isn't much I tell them "no" about, especially new things; I work to encourage their curiosity -- the theory is that by encouraging their curiosity they will minimize their fear and at the same time maximize their confidence.  I'll let you know in 5 or 10 years whether that theory holds water .....

So this morning when I was out visiting the herd, Nicker wondered about my coffee cup and thought she'd like a taste.  After all, I'm the one who thinks curiosity helps them learn and trust and I'm the one who encourages their curiosity - so I let "explore" my coffee cup.  She just cracks me up.  She sniffed it.  Then she tried to bite it.  Then when she'd figured out there was something inside the cup, she tried to drink it.  I should probably mention that I make my coffee stronger than strong - stronger than most people prefer it, let alone what a horse might want.

First sip of coffee - She seems a little unsure, I don't think it is what she expected - might not be too bad.

Swishing it around in her mouth to get the full flavor.  I may have a fellow coffee lover here ....

Hmmm.  That is rather conclusive - I'm pretty sure she doesn't like it.

And the faces keep on coming .....

and coming ......

I think I've learned that Nicker doesn't care for coffee.

Coffee class concluded.

Hangin' out with Miss

Me and Miss

In October her head was just to my shoulder and now as you can see, her head is even with mine.

Andrew is right, while she likes people and horses well enough and tolerates dogs and cats -- she's my girl!

He's back!

Last summer we had a young male antelope move in for a couple days, then disappear only to reappear in early fall, stay for a week or so and then disappear. 

Last year was very cool.  Today, having him back, seeing him on Murphy and my walk and then with the horses in the afternoon ... was wicked cool.  Today was the closest I've ever been to an antelope.  He is absolutely gorgeous!  And just a young guy.  I think we first saw him last June, when he stayed for a bit and then went on his way to return in September I think. 

The antelopes (last year and this year) have seemed very low key and from what I've been told, very curious.  We first saw him this morning out in the pasture laying on the out of the wind side of the hill .... hanging out, relaxing, napping ... whatever antelope due on their down time.  Murphy and I spotted him later in the day in one of the lower pastures.

Watching me and Murphy from the safety of the hill

I seemed that we were rather of "no consequence" .... we weren't frightening enough to make him run away and we weren't interesting enough to hold his attention.

He is a handsome boy.

And magnificant

and ruler of all he surveys

Then it got interesting .....

The herd caught sight (or scent) of the new kid and sent a welcome contingency over -- I'm sure just to say "hi" and welcome him to the neighborhood.  Individually they can be imposing, advancing in a tightly formed group ... downright overwhelming.  I know.  I've been nose to nose with each of them and all of them together.  I do know that in this case their intent was much more  friendly than they looked.  

It was kind of interesting to watch.  As they crossed the road Shadow dropped off and stayed between Rosie who had remained on the hill opposite the antelope and the welcoming committee.  Mama stayed even with Shadow and on the antelope side of the hill.  Nicker, Miss and Hank advanced towards the antelope.

Hank and Miss took point, while Nicker bravely watches from the safety of "behind Hank and Miss"

I was watching from maybe about 500 feet away. It was interesting to see them work as individuals with the purpose of "for the good of the herd" or maybe they just all had the same curiosity.  Mama is in the lowest left corner, Nicker Miss and Hank are a bit above her on the hill.  Nicker is behind Miss and Hank so it is difficult to clearly see her.

Hank steps out almost at a "prance" as he heads to make introductions with the new kid.

As the antelope starts to move out, Hank (never one to give up) heads up hill to get a closer look.

As Hank advances, the antelope heads for the fence .... Hank never did, at least not this time, get to go nose to nose with the new kid.

.

I'm not sure what Hank would have done, other than say "hey there - hi! welcome to the neighborhood - if you plan on joining us for dinner and since none of us share all that well, you'll need to bring your own bucket or maybe you could use one of the extra ones we have at the barn."

When we have deer come through, Mama is immediately on high alert.  If they are close enough, Miss and Nicker try to play with the them ... they haven't had any luck to date, they keep trying.   So I think if they'd been afraid of the antelope, they would have headed the opposite direction or if they'd felt the least bit threatened I know Mama wouldn't have let Nicker past her nose.   

Poor guy, I'm not sure he knew what to do about the horses.  He didn't seem afraid either, because he really didn't move to leave until Hank got fairly close ... it will be interesting to see how long the antelope stays around this time and if he and Hank get a chance to make friends.

I'll keep you posted.

Easter Biscuit Hunt

It is Easter and that means Biscuit Hunt ....!

Gaia watching for the Easter Bunny

Ears on high alert, she is very focused

Time for the Easter Biscuit Hunt ....

Gaia finds one at the bottom of the stairs, Murphy checks to see if she missed anything

Gaia heads over to the dirt square (don't ask about the dirt square, I have no clue) and scores a biscuit

Murphy follows Gaia's lead and scores a biscuit too

Gaia's nose is working over time ....

What she hasn't realized is that all she has to do is get to the other side of the log and there is a bisuit just about nose level.

Murphy double checks to make sure Gaia didn't miss any biscuits -- sometimes he gets lucky.

On the trail of Easter Biscuits

Found one!

Where there is one there must be more ... better sniff everything!

Back on the biscuit trail

Gaia's got one ... Murphy's got one

Murphy scored big -- biscuit in his mouth and one next to him

Second one gone!

Seem's like Murphy's found the motherlode of Easter biscuits .....

Did we get them all?  --  Are you sure ...??