On my drive home today, this herd of cattle grazing in the high summer grasses caught my eye. Their bodies glistened bronze gold and coal blue in the evening light.
I pulled my car to the side of the road and got out, camera in hand. The only sound around me was the rustling of dry grasses as the animals slowly moved through the field grabbing mouthfuls of grass along the way. Every once in a while, I could hear tails swishing through the air, a useless attempt to chase away clouds of flies.
As I watched these animals which I usually consider smelly, boring and dumb, I realized for the first time that they seemed to have slightly different styles and personalities (don’t tell a cattle farmer I said this and don’t laugh if you have cows yourself).
Dare I say that this one looks kind of handsome with a sweet disposition?
And this one liked to twist and turn, still full of the abundant energy of the young:
But the biggest surprise of it all? Cows eat thistles! I always thought only goats and maybe sheep will chow down on that thorny plant and that cows only like the nice smooth, green grass below. Well, take a look at this:
Oh, and believe it or not, another cow munched on Queen Anne’s Lace, the wildflower I highlighted in my first Summer Lovin’ post!
This is my second post in response to this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge: Summer Lovin’.
Definitely 2326 is handsome.
LikeLike
Glad you agree, Seeker. I’ll pass on the compliment next time I pass by that pasture 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely thistle eating cows 🙂
LikeLike
Lovely images, Annette! Of course, the cattle has lot of different personalities, you demonstrate it so well with your great photo story. 🙂 Poor ones, I’d love to give them some flies protection, like the horses wear.
LikeLike
Having those flies on me would definitely drive me insane…I know they have a thicker skin than I do, but still….
LikeLike
I agree …
LikeLike
Yes, they do have personalities, and beaucoup flies a little spray would alleviate. Nice series. Watching cattle graze and interact with one another is most therapeutic, and often educational. 🙂
LikeLike
Hi John – I visited your cowboy poetry blog, very interesting combination of farm and nature chronicle and poetry writing. You one of them Renaissance Men?
Thanks for being so kind to my naive non-cow owner mind 🙂
LikeLike
Annette, I love cows! These pictures are so cute!
LikeLike
Hi Debbie. I hadn’t realized how many cow lovers there are in this world 🙂 glad you enjoyed the post.
LikeLike
Annette I love cows, actually they are not that stupid and very friendly….We (the Dutch) use them also sometimes with mentally handicapped children to hug and pet. It makes the children really calm and happy.
LikeLike
Hi Monique – yes, I understand this post was written from the naive point of view of a non-cow owner 🙂 That is such interesting information….therapy cows..joining therapy dogs and cats and bunny rabbits.
LikeLike
LOL Annette – I see we share a love of cows 🙂 And OF COURSE they have personalities !!!! Loved your post.
LikeLike
I wouldn’t go as far as calling this a “love of cows,” Tina. Let’s just say I am willing to re-examine my old stereotypes of cows 🙂
LikeLike
Oh, the golden grasses and the gleaming flanks of the cattle! You’ve captured the beauty of the land where I live, even if miles away.
LikeLike
Then you are lucky to live on beautiful pastures yourself….
LikeLike
I’m partial to cows because my grandfather had a small dairy herd. These are handsome specimens for sure. 🙂
LikeLike
My grandfather had a few cows and oxen to pull his hay wagon (before he got himself a modern tractor) but I had very little to do with them.
LikeLike
Ah, cows, what a beautiful post to honor the wonderful presence of cows. I Love them, especially when I am visiting Bavaria in Germany. I literally could hear the whistling of the grass and the bsssss of the flies, that’s a true summer day to me and brings back many memories of my childhood in Germany, when my family would spend summer vacations on a farm.
LikeLike
Vivid sensory memories – so glad that my post evoked these for you.
LikeLike
2326 is a … um … real stud! Sorry my brain is twisted! I love cattle!
LikeLike
You are probably right, no brain twister necessary 🙂
LikeLike
They do indeed look happy cows. All that good fodder.
LikeLike
I would think they are as happy as cows can be…
LikeLike
My inlaws grew up on dairy farms. They will be the first to tell you that all cows have personalities.
LikeLike
I am learning 🙂 Actually, when I watch any type of animal, they all seem to have their little idiosyncracies that make them different from the next one.
LikeLike
Most definitely. I have the most entertaining and personable canary alive. And let’s not even start on the cat. 😉
LikeLike
Just like our cattle! Love them!!!
LikeLike
Do you own any cattle yourself,Cindy?
LikeLike
Annette, your post about these cows’ personalities resonated with me since we’re now in rural Bulgaria where it seems goats, cows, and horses might outnumber the human population. 🙂 We’re going to learn how to milk goats tonight. I’ll have to see if they also feast upon Queen Anne’s Lace or thistle.
LikeLike
Girl, you get around in the world. Are you traveling for business or pleasure? Have fun milking the goats. Maybe they’ll teach you how to make that delicious goat cheese?
LikeLike
Annette, I’d say a mixture of both. We have the idea in our head to start a nonprofit that helps promote tourism to various regions. Re: the goat cheese, I’ll see if I can spirit away a recipe. We’ve tasted some from the goats we’re about to milk tonight and it was fabulous. It could make a great follow-up to our Bulgarian yogurt-making reportage. 🙂
Glad to see you’ve been enjoying the summer, Annette!
LikeLike
That sounds very interesting, would love to hear more as you develop your concept…
LikeLike
Will keep you posted! 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful photos… Great job.
Best wishes, Aquileana 😛
LikeLike