Several pairs of moo eyes fixated on me when I stopped to capture the images of their pretty faces with my camera. The girls wasted no time gathering close and giving me a good once over and it didn’t take long before they started bellowing their hearts to me. The North Country Moo Choir gave me an impromptu pasture performance. I felt bad knowing they were looking for donations and I had nothing to give them. The girls really are out standing in their field and it was a shame I didn’t have the right type of moola on me. They don’t take cash and I was short on hay and grain.

Stage Right

I didn’t get any names but I did get several numbers. I won’t call. I’m afraid my leaving them standing there to chew their cuds left them indifferent to me.

Here’s a real sweety who’s number is a bit ironic.
The first thing I’d slap on her is Heinz 57, my choice of brand.

I didn’t get a number from this one. She was a bit more mature and too plain faced for me.

I promised not to give 345′s number out. OOPS. Now I’m in trouble.
She said her boyfriend was a real bull and I’d end up with two black eyes too if I did.

If you want her number – blow into her ear.

Make-up on and already foaming at the mouth, Number 33 is all set for the next Kiss concert.

Number 338 unfortunately was left slack jawed at the sight of me.

I love what you’ve done to your ear hair.

How can you resist Number 34 with eyelashes by Maybelline.

Just another pretty face that attracts flies.

I should have been more discrete. That horny wisecrack turned her ears red.

All images but the group pic are linked to a larger sized image (1024 x 768) for a certain someone. She was looking for cow faces and I promised to see what I could come up with. If you like – go ahead and use any you like as desktop wallpaper

A true story

Long ago but just up the road we once boarded heifers. The sons of the dairy farmer came by frequently to check on the cows and our babysitter had developed quite a crush on the boys. One day the babysitter had brough a friend along and when the boys arrived both of the girls started swooning while staring out the window at them. The boys were across the road and headed to the pasture calling out ‘Here girls – Here girls’.  Heeding the call both girls bolted out the door and rushed out to meet the men of their dreams. Unfortunately they returned almost as quickly with faces red with embarrassment. The poor girls were udderly mistaken over who was being called.  I felt bad for the girls and had to go out the back door until I could stop laughing. I didn’t want to embarrass them any more than they already were. But now it’s a different story.  Poor (name withheld to protect the innocent),  I’ll never let you live that down.

What are those mystery boxes hanging in the trees?

A mystery box hanging from a tree along the Russel Turnpike. Yep you got that right – A Dirt Turnpike. At least there are no toll booths on it

For a while people were wondering but news reports clued us in that they were survey traps for the Emerald Ash Borer. The USDA is keeping an eye out for these Ash tree killing beetles in the north country. None have been reported in the area yet but like many invasive species it’s only a matter of time before they arrive.

The traps are basically large ‘fly paper’ contraptions.

Getting a closer look you can see most of the victims are flies. Sadly a lone butterfly became stuck on this trap.

I’m glad I stopped to photograph this trap. Opening the photos on the computer let me read the ‘fine print’ that was on the bottom of the trap. Here’s the link the tag provides so you can get more info if interested. USDA site on the Emerald Ash Borer

I’m happy I can’t provide a photo of the beetle myself.
You’ll just have to use the link if you want to see what they look like.

I stopped again in Pierrpont to see the ‘wildlife’.

And another sudden stop for the Turkey Crossing.

There were actually 2 hens with chicks but they didn’t stand still long enough to photograph.

The chicks had grown to a fairly large size and while not quite as cautions as the adults they still didn’t like my hungry look.

When I tried to get closer I was surprised to learn these chicks were able to fly and that ended my roadside distractions of the day.

Many gardeners think of Veronicas as upstanding members of their gardens. Standing erect and proud with their showy flower spikes the garden variety Veronicas are quite different than their creepy low running relatives in the wild.

Common Speedwell is found in dry soils and fields. These were found in a pasture near Richville, NY. and they were growing in the tailings from a mineral dig site.

KeeKee the Pack Animal I didn’t have the heart to tell my prospecting friend that his pack mule is a dog. KeeKee wasn’t saying anything and loves to help, so who was I to butt in. Besides I didn’t want to end up with the packs.

I met some future students of Bovine University on the way to the dig site and let KeeKee and friend go ahead while I stopped to converse with a beefy looking fellow that seemed to take offense at our presence.

All I did was ask him to steer me in the right direction and suddenly I was the center of attention.

Mr tough guy now had some backup and the group started pressing in on me.

So I figured it best to back off a bit before I had to explain just who the predator here was.