April, 2002
The unexpected warm weather motivates us to open all the windows in the house and a whole new world of “country music” begins. It has been thirty years since I have experienced Spring, with all its wondrous sights and sounds, so I am acutely aware of things I probably took for granted when I was growing up. Also, having Ed, the city dude, here makes me notice things I’ve never noticed before. There is quadraphonic sound featuring birds, farm machinery and the mooing of many cows.
The morning concert begins precisely at 6:45 a.m. when the banty rooster gives his first LOUD crow - - right under our open window. (We are living with Mother while having our house built.) How does HE know it’s 6:45??? He is like a snooze alarm and continues with this cacophony throughout the morning. My mornings of sleeping in until 7:30 or 8:00 are over for now!
The mockingbird is the most entertaining bird as he loudly and cheerfully imitates every bird’s song imaginable. The crows grating “ca-ca” is quite distinctive and the turtle doves with their soft cooing are soothing to the ears and nerves. The noisy blue jays seem to always be arguing about something! The nuthatches, snow birds, sparrows and bluebirds chirp cheerfully. It is a never ending concert throughout the day with birds from all sides of the house.
Every so often we hear the unmistakable sounds of farm machinery rumbling by. I can often identify which are tractors or four wheelers. The man who rents Mother’s farm, Linden Rhodes, has been busy moving cows around into the various pastures. First, he brings them from his farm, takes them into the barnyard and vaccinates them - that causes one type of mooing. Then he puts the new mothers with their calves (Ed calls them “little cows”) out in the pasture. Instead of having a sheep dog to herd the cows or using the old fashioned method of running after them, Linden uses his four- wheeler to guide the cows and calves into the place he wants them. It is frightful to hear (and see) him back up full speed and zip around to achieve his goal.
There are now about 25 sets of cows and calves in the field right behind Mother’s house. Linden has 25 more cows, which he calls “springers”, ready to give birth at another farm. After he gets the cows into the desired pasture, much mooing begins. Sometimes, it seems to be the mother calling her calf to “get its little self across the field” for lunch. Other times it seems to be conversation among several cows. At times, it seems they are mooing to cows in another field. Then there are those who just moo and moo and moo for no apparent reason.
The toughest time is later in the summer when he separates the cows and calves - that always causes several nights and days of desperate bawling from many distressed mothers and babies - all at the same time. That’s enough to make you feel so sorry for them in spite of being annoyed at all the noise when you’re trying to sleep!
The toughest time is later in the summer when he separates the cows and calves - that always causes several nights and days of desperate bawling from many distressed mothers and babies - all at the same time. That’s enough to make you feel so sorry for them in spite of being annoyed at all the noise when you’re trying to sleep!
Experiencing this forgotten country music is proving to be a great joy for me. I awoke at 3 a.m. and experienced yet another sound sensation of the country - absolute quiet - no cows, cars or birds. We seldom experience silence in this day and age.
This has been a revelation to me. Just think, all those years I thought I didn’t like “country music”!!
This has been a revelation to me. Just think, all those years I thought I didn’t like “country music”!!
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