Tonight was my first night on night watch for this calving season. I always take the midnight check. My Farmer offers to let me have the 3 a.m. check. Really!?!? Crawling out of a nice warm bed at 3:00 in the morning, to go ride through the cows, on a 4-wheeler, with the temperature usually being less then 20 degrees, I have a slight problem with. Now the midnight check I can do, because its easier for me to stay up late, which is something my Farmer can't do. Now if I do happen to fall asleep before the clock strikes 12, I do seem to have issues. (like not getting up and going) (whoops). The hardest part for me is leaving the nice warm house and stepping out into the cold dark night. And the 1/2 mile ride over to the cows is a little chilly does not help. (unless I breakdown and drive the pickup over. It's way cozier that way. But more of a pain)
But once I get out into the cows, its all good. The cold night air becomes brisk solitude. It's such an amazing awakening to the soul. I will shut off my 4-wheeler and just sit out in the middle of the cows and just listen. To what? I'm not sure. Its really hard to explain. But its awesome.
Well, I do actually listen for certain things. Believe it or not, you can listen to the cows moo to their babies and tell if one is a new born. Its pretty cool. Some times I will hear an owl in the distance and sometimes the coyotes. Now, they do freak me out a little. When I hear them, my checking the cows becomes a little more......shall we say....hurried. Especially when I catch a glimpse of their glowing eyes with my flashlight. That happened one night, when I was brave, and was walking through the cows. All I can say is, now I ride. Always.
Tonight the stars were not shining. But if they are tomorrow night, it will be a whole new experience. Cuz the bright shining stars adds a whole new element to the night watch. And that, my friends, is Livin' the life, the Farm Life that is......
