Most people think that cattle don’t have a sense of humor and if you’ve ever had one try to run you down and stomp you into the ground you would probably tend to agree with them. But I know for a fact that cattle like a good laugh as well as we do and believe it or not, I have photographic proof.
Late yesterday afternoon I was sitting at the computer when I happened to look out the window.
This is what I saw.
I saw cows.
Well, of course I saw cows – but look at these cows. What has made them stop in their tracks with their heads up, ears forward? Something has totally caught their attention. What could it be? What would make a bunch of cattle stop to gaze in wonder like this – totally enthralled to the point that all eyes were glued to the spectacle before them?
Perhaps it’s the first calf of the season, a new baby born in the beginnings of the next big storm?
No… It’s not a baby.
Perhaps there’s a coyote or wolf stalking the herd and the cattle are frozen in fear?
No… It’s not danger.
Perhaps it’s Hubby with a hay bale and they are waiting to see where he will drop it so they can pounce like a flock of vultures on fresh road kill?
No… It’s not vultures on road kill.
This is what they were watching.
It’s Hubby in the pickup, but why would they stop and stare? They’ve seen this pickup hundreds of times.
They stopped to stare because there are things you can’t see from these photos.
Things like a roaring engine and tires spinning, and mud being flung out behind him because this is spring at the ranch and there is mud under that beautiful white snow that (just for a moment) he forgot was there.
The cows saw and heard all that – they had a front row seat and although you can’t see it, they are laughing their heads off! You can’t see that because cows are very good at hiding their laughter but believe me if it wasn’t wet and muddy they would be rolling on the ground unable to control themselves.
(No, not really but it’s fun to imagine!)
What do you suppose is going through their minds?
“Ha! Look at that crazy rancher trying to drive across the pasture.”
“What a nut – my feet are sunk 6″ in the mud and he’s out here with the pickup.”
“What was he thinking?”
“Ha, Ha, Ha! He wasn’t”
“He’s gonna get stuck!!!”
“No way, the snow’s not that deep.”
“Yeh, but it’s the mud underneath that’s gonna get him.”
“Ha, Ha, Ha!”
“No way – he’s got 4-wheel drive.”
“Yeh, just watch, you can really bury a truck deep with 4-wheel drive.”
“Ha, Ha, Ha!”
“He’ll have to get the loader to pull that one out!”
“Give her Hell, Ranch Boy!!!”
“I bet you a ton of alfalfa cake he’s stuck.”
“Ha, Ha, Ha!”
“As soon as he stops, I’ll race you to the truck!”
“I want to hear what he says!”
“I want to see his face!”
“I want to see what’s in that barrel in the back.”
“He’s got a barrel in the back?!!!”
“Yep, I bet it’s full of cake… or maybe even corn.”
“Corn…”
“No way – we haven’t had corn since we snuck into her garden last year and ate it off the stalks!”
“Dang, that was good. I’d sure like some more.”
“And maybe some more of those fancy French green beans too.”
“Green Beans…”
“I bet they keep all that stuff in the barrel.”
“Really???”
“Steady girls, he’s still moving.”
“Give it up, Ranch Boy!”
“Come on Mud!!!”
“Darn, he’s back on the road.”
“No corn???”
“No green beans???”
“No way!”
“I really, really hate 4-wheel drive.”
RanchDaze 