Farm – Page 2 – tim mcmurdo

The Farrier

Posted on August 2, 2015June 12, 2016 by Tim McMurdo

The horses on the farm are massive Percheron draft horses. I am dwarfed by them and to be honest, I am a little nervous when I am standing right next to them. Not enough to run screaming in terror, but just enough to keep a healthy eye on them and to make sure they know I am there.

Explaining my own nervousness is to give you some understanding of why I am incredibly impressed by the farrier. He is out to the farm on a regular basis, ensuring that the horses are well shod and have healthy feet. He’s really not that much bigger than me, but he rules those massive horses. They obey him without question. Maybe it’s the routine or maybe his own skill with them is part of the reason they do what he wants. Either way, to see him in action is impressive.

To keep the horses still and to support their massive feet, they are led into a frame. The farrier works one hoof at a time and gives the horse plenty of time to rest in between. I enjoyed the entire afternoon of watching him in action. I’ve included some extra photos below so that you can see a little more of the farrier in action. And, as a bonus, you can see his dog AJ…and our farmer, Jim.

Reading in Silence

Posted on July 10, 2015July 11, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

She reads in silence.

Her lips don’t make a sound. However, occasionally they may move as her eyes leap across the page. Scanning. Looking for meaning in the words on the paper.

Understanding slowly creeping in as she reads further. These are after all, instructions. Yes, I said instructions. The lowest form of literature. Tricksters. Words whose only intent is to confuse and misdirect your thoughts under the guise of providing illumination and understanding. Vile words.

No words ever grew up with the dream of becoming instructions. Poetry, yes. Fiction, yes. Instructions, no.

Lilly and Myrtle

Posted on July 5, 2015July 5, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

It’s been a while since we last checked in on Lilly and Myrtle, so I stopped at the farm on Friday and visited them for a few minutes. They are both doing fine.

Myrtle is growing quickly and is now taller than the grass in the pasture. Still, she has plenty of young kid in her. When given the chance, she bolts and runs huge circles through the tall grass, though never too far from Lilly.

Have a great day folks.

There is no telling

Posted on June 17, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

Who knows whose nose grows through the rows?

Not I said the sheep.

Have a wonderful Wednesday folks.

a meeting of the minds

Posted on June 15, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

Sometimes you have to get your heads together and solve your problems. Like, did you eat my share of the oats? You know I wasn’t finished, I was just getting a drink of water.

because

Posted on June 13, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

Sometimes you just feel like seeing a picture of chickens.

milking it, old school

Posted on June 11, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

With Myrtle still nursing, her mom, Lilly has plenty of milk. The farmers milk Lilly twice a day and the house makes butter and cheese. Nothing wrong with old school ways when they turn out delicious!

Have a great day folks.

to be tall

Posted on June 10, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

Myrtle really has only a single dream…to be tall. Certainly to be taller than the grass. Just think what it would be like to look around and see the world that surrounds you. Right now, Myrtle can only see the green stalks of grass, the bugs that live on the grass, and an occasional mouse. If she strains her neck and looks up, she can see the sky with it's clouds and occasional bird.

Myrtle wants more. She wants to be able to see what ever it is that she can hear. Loud noises come from beyond the grass. What could make sounds that loud?

How tall would she need to be? Tall as the tree tops that tease her over the grass? Maybe the trees are just bigger grass? Could there be some other bigger cow looking down at her like she is a mouse in the grass. Myrtle involuntarily looked up at the thought of a giant cow. She didn't want to be stepped on.

To be tall…that is all that Myrtle wants. It's taking forever. She's already three weeks old and still not tall.

Myrtle dreams of being tall. That's all she can do for now.

Dream.

milking Lilly

Posted on June 5, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

For those of you that don't have a farm in your background, I know you have a burning question in your minds. I know because I wondered the same thing. They feel like giant, solid, fuzzy boobs.

That answer your question?

Here is a bonus picture of the new calf, Myrtle. She is a adorable and only three weeks old.

they wouldn’t let Zach play any of their draft horse games

Posted on May 30, 2015 by Tim McMurdo

Zach has always thought he was one of the horses on the farm. He was raised along side them and what they did, he did. If they were gamboling and playing in the pasture behind the barn, then Zach was right there with them. He ate the same hay from the same hay rack as them. He drank from the same water trough.

It is no wonder that Zach was surprised when the horses decided that today, he couldn't play in any of their draft horse games. You would think he was some kind of hog, sheep, or even worse, a goat. Poor Zach. Poor clueless Zach.