I took a different trail today. This trail offers a unique experience. It’s an eclectic mix of small (thank goodness) pockets of development and farms. The trailhead abuts a golf course, but these trappings of development are soon gone as farms take over the landscape. There’s a sheep farm not too far down the trail. Most days you can hear the sheep bleating and carrying on. Today was no exception. They stared intently at me as I walked by. Their actions must have attracted the notice of their guardian, a brown and white llama. She came darting out of the barn to the edge of the fence, glaring unblinkingly at me. It was quite obvious by her stare that she meant business and nothing, nothing would harm her charges.
A handwritten sign at the edge of the farm says “Lamb For Sale”. Not lambs, but lamb. I’ll admit certain city girl ignorance here. For the longest time growing up, I believed the piggy going to market was going shopping. I’m reminded about that now as I watch the lambs frolic and play amongst the hay bales and water troughs.
Next to the sheep barn is a horse farm that sprawls out over hills and dales. Horses are boarded there apparently. They are always curious whenever I walk by. Sometimes they’re really skittish and gallop off, but this day the horses nearest the trail stared at me, chewing away on their hay. I must be the entertainment for today. In the next field two colts are feeling their oats and sparing and kicking. As I pass them, I provide the necessary distraction to stop the quarreling. The two gaze intently at me and promptly go back to grazing.
Last spring walking this trail I beheld an astonishing sight. I witnessed a foal being born. It was so touching to watch the nervous mare tread carefully so as not to trample her newborn. Exhausted after its ordeal, the foal sat on the ground, consenting most willingly to being cleaned up its mother. Afterwards, it attempted a few wobbly steps before plopping down again, exhausted.
It’s a great day on the trail. The warmish temperatures have melted the ice and it’s easy walking. I am alone as I walk, passing no one. I prefer it that way, having the trail to myself and my thoughts. What freedom it is to totally let one’s guard down! As I finish my walk and head to the trailhead, I spy something gray dash across the path. A farm cat, one of three that I see snuggled in the hay in a small horse barn. What a great day to be a cat and what a great place to call home.
