I was out working in the early morning hours, when I heard yelling and loud calling over in the ranch land across from our property. The cowboys were out gathering their cattle. Yes.....that's right.... we have.....real cowboys... who ride their horses and get their cattle in our area. I have seen them riding their horses and walking their cattle along the road to our house. I would have loved to have gotten a picture, but they were way off in the mesquite covered land....also, I am extremely shy and don't like to approach people.
Look at how disappointed Sophie is with me. She knows that where there are cowboys, there are also cowdogs, handsome cowdogs and nice fat cows to chase. Would it hurt so much to just go and say hi and sniff around a little? She asks, as her nose lifts to the air and her ears perk toward the calls. No, Sophie, you just stay with me.
My brother-in-law sent this wonderful old milk container my way. I just love these old things, don't you?
I think it needs potted flowers to surround the base of it as well. I might put a vine- like potted plant on top so that the vines will drape off of it.
Here is a smaller one I have had for many years. Do any of you remember getting milk delivered in these? I have not done enough research to see how these containers were used for the milk. Do any of you know about them? I would love to hear.
My plants have gotten impatient with me and are blooming and already putting on their bounty in the shed. If you look closely you can see the small bell pepper forming.
The squash are blooming and threatening to take over the shed....so I'm off to the great outdoors to plant. Have any of you started planting yet? What are you most successful with? I would love to hear.
26 comments:
I grew up on a farm and remember working the cattle....my Grandpa made lots of funny noises and it was hard not to laugh...but it worked the cattle would listen to him......or it could have been they were scared of him and moved to get out of his way!!!
I am a fan of the milk cans too.....yours have a great patina!!!!
I am not planting this year and have found after cleaning out my perennial beds that I am having a hard time staying away from the plants.....I may have to do a small container to pacify the urge!!!
Hi Kathleen - I've got most of my garden in. I will have to replant the corn and green beans. Either the moles ate the seeds or the dove & crow did. Not sure. Not even Mr. Plastic Owl in my garden has helped with the fowl. I'm thinking of making a scarecrow this year.
I'm praying for lots of rain. It's been so dry here (we're several inches behind) this spring. We're supposed to get some showers today and tonight so I'm excited. It's hard to get enough water on everything manually. My husband and my dad were going to put some sprinklers in for me, but there has been no time so far...
I'm anxious to see you garden grow.
I like how you put in your profile about making your place come to life and be beautiful (I should've gone back and gotten the exact quote). That's what I'm trying to do at Sand Flat Farm. We started with nothing but a house, some catalpa trees, chinaberry trees (both of which I detest) and one big 200 year old oak. We're doing the rest, and having fun doing it!
I have a milk can, too, that I need to do something with...
That Sophie is just the cutest thing. What an expressive face!
The old milk cans are great! I always look at them in thrift/antique stores... maybe someday I'll get some. I think it would be lovely with some plants around it, sitting on the front porch to welcome guests.
You got a treasure for sure in that milk can - we didn't have those on our farm. I connect that more with Dairy farms.
I would love to watch the cowboys round up cattle. I've only seen that in westerns!! I'm so far behind -
oh my, you have a great start on your plants! i just planted a few seeds a couple of days ago.
the milk container is a beauty, my aunt uses one for her umbrellas just inside her door.
i remember milk coming in glass jars being deleivered on the door step. there was a bit of cream that was floating on top of the milk.
there are not that many good antiques in oregon...i guess they did not make it out here on the trail.
Love to you...
n.
Kathleen,
We have cattle drives around here too. One has to be patient when they are moving them down the highway and you need to inch your way drivingt through them. But the Japanese tourist love it as they drive to Yosemite. The cameras are out!
Kathleen,
It sounds so exciting to live near cowboys. I love the photo of your dog.
Yes, we planted some seed early this morning in our garden. On Friday we want to plant the bean, okra, squash, and other seed when the signs are right. My mama plants by the signs. Good luck with your garden. What a wonderful time of the year working outside in the garden.
Hey, me again - in response to your comment about your 12 acres and our 78 --- About 50-60 of our acres are in hay, and we have a hay-man that's taking care of that. I guess that's our "crop". He's fertilizing, killing weeds, re-plugging Tifton horse-hay, disking up, and we will share in the cost and make a little in the end (but probably not the first year for the Tifton). The other pasture is coastal bermuda. We'll probably go all Tifton after a couple more years. Eventually, we want a few head of cattle, and I want chickens (tony's eyes are rolling back in head)and we plan on building our last house there in a couple of years, too. Lord willing of course.
The rest of the land is what we're working on. I have my garden, a little bigger than last year. Tony is looking at tractors, but we need to have a shed first. One thing calls for another ya know.
I also want a greenhouse to get my plants started in each year. I'm tired of paying high retail prices for seedlings and started plants and I need a place to winter some of them. I hope to eventually have heirloom garden plants that I can have seeds for the next year.
Just takes time (and $$$ - and lots of it!) Good luck with your place, Kathleen. Sounds like we are kindred spirits.
I feel Sohphie's pain. I can hear the cowboys in my head and I want to follow too.
Awe..just one quick juant to visit the other dogs? Couldn't be a sweeter nose!
Milk cans...yes, I do remember them being used to hold the raw milk. I have one in our wood shed, waiting for flowers!:)
No planting yet. We wait until the end of May. If we plant earlier the plants rot. It's still a little cold and wet on some days.
Do you live near Abilene?
Poor Sophie! I like those old milk cans too! Your veggies are doing wonderfully. Mine are growing pretty good too, not quite as good as yours, though.
I've been on a few cattle drives, I always loved them growing up. My garden isn't as far along as yours is and I may have to replant a few things but it's all in the ground. I just have to wait and see now. I love old milk cans too! And churns!
Seeing the old milk can reminded me that I have one up in the attic that was painted, antiqued, wired and made into a lamp - very big in the 70s!
Your old milk cans are wonderful...I see something draping over the sides too. We never had milk deliverd in these but I do remember the milk man bringing glasses bottles of milk, plus butter, eggs and other dairy type goods...gosh those were such simple times...I miss them...hugs, Linda
Sophie is just a doll! I can almost smell your bell peppers - UUUMMMM! Love the milk can and love your idea of a plant flowing down the side. A really interesting post, especially about the cowboys.
Hi~the can you are refering to we call cream cans. I have my grandparents old cans. Back in those days the farmers would seperate the milk on the farm and then put the cream in the cans--and take it into town to the creamery and sell it. The cream was worth much more than milk. Stop in and visit me sometime!
Poor Sophie, no cows or handsome cow dogs for her.
I have quite a few old milk containers I paint up and take to the fair as decorative rake and shovel holders. Here at home they are decorative , just by themselves!
The 800 acre farm across the raod from us also uses horses on their place. They came over here once and roped a cow we couldn't get to come into the corral. So fun watching them
I agree that a vining plant would look very nice on the milk can. Have you seen the sweet potato vines where you live? They are a beautiful dark green/purple, and do not produce sp's but just a folige plant. We can get them here in the nurseries and I have even seen them Wal-mart.
I had always wanted one of those milk cans...and finally a neighbor that was moving gave me two of them..but someone had "sealed" them shut and they were of no use to me...I gave them away...What a treat to see real Cowboys..Sophie looks like she is begging to go see them :o)...Ginny
What a cute puppy dog! She is so right, to go run and play with other dogs is just SO MUCH FUN!
Linda
http://coloradofarmlife.wordpress.com/
Sophie is sooo cute! Love the old milk can-I like anything thats old.
I have a few things planted-but more to go.
I would love a milk churn like that. I noticed 3 at the farm that we pass when walking the dogs. It's been a long time since I saw any. I grew up near a farm and remember them being used there, quite nostalgic!
What great milk cans! They look wonderful the way you have them displayed.
Patricia :o)
PS: Next time the cows and cow boys go by, just snap some pictures when they're not looking...
That is how rat terriers look when we are going somewhere and they want to go too.
Poor Sopie, she does look a little disappointed in that picture. HA! :D
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