Morning on the farm

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Morning on the farm

December 30, 2019 by Mike Powell

I grew up in the suburbs and have little experience with farm life. So as far as I am concerned the rooster and cows (and dogs) that I saw this past weekend can be considered “wildlife.”

My son is in the Army and is stationed in Colorado Springs, Colorado. While he was deployed to Iraq during most of this year, his German Shepherd, Katie, has been with family members on the East coast. Josh picked up Katie this past weekend and before he began the long drive to Colorado, we had a family get-together at his Granny’s farm in Montpelier, Virginia on Friday evening. I spent the evening with Josh and Granny to avoid having to drive back to Northern Virginia late in the evening.

Early Saturday morning, about 6:00, I think, I was awoken by the loud crowing of King, the bantam rooster. He crowed a dozen or more times and then was silent for about ten minutes before resuming. After spending some quiet moments observing the cows grazing in the hay pasture, I was treated to a real country breakfast, with fresh eggs from Granny’s hens, bacon, and biscuits and gravy.

It was a beautiful day, so I headed outdoors and played with the dogs for a while. The two of them, Katie and Chin, Granny’s dog, made for an interesting contrast in size as they ran around the yard, sometimes chasing a ball, but often content to just explore.

All too quickly the time came to bid farewell and I left behind the relative calm of the farm life and prepared to face a slow drive back home on what I knew would be a crowded interstate highway.

Posted in animals, Birds, Nature, wildlife, Winter | Tagged bantam rooster, Canon 50D, Chin, cow, farm, German Shepherd, Katie, Montpelier VA, Tamron 150-600mm | 12 Comments

12 Responses

on December 30, 2019 at 6:54 am | Reply Dan Antion

I love the picture of that rooster, Mike. The light is perfect.
- on December 30, 2019 at 7:02 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Dan. That shot is my favorite too. In fact, I was considering doing the post with just that image, but decided to flesh out my farm experience with the other shots too.
on December 30, 2019 at 7:51 am | Reply Reed Andariese

Nice Mike! Quite a variety of animal subjects! My favorite is the rooster!!
- on December 30, 2019 at 7:59 am | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Thanks, Reed. The rooster is my favorite too. 🙂
on December 30, 2019 at 11:40 am | Reply Michael Scandling

My favorite is the rooster too, but I must admit I’m a sucker for a German Shepherd carrying a ball. Or pretty much any dog carrying a ball.
on December 30, 2019 at 3:03 pm | Reply Ms. Liz

Love these! Will we be seeing any more of the farm and/or farm buildings?
- on December 30, 2019 at 3:35 pm | Reply Mike Powell
  
  Alas, I did not take photos of the farm itself during the time I was there. I’ll have to do that the next time I am there. 🙂
on December 30, 2019 at 4:02 pm | Reply Steve Gingold

That’s a handsome bantam with some nice color. And, as a dog person, I have to say who doesn’t like a picture of a happy dog and his ball?
on December 30, 2019 at 8:20 pm | Reply Eliza Waters

Sounds like you had a nice visit, Mike. I grew up in an area of dairy farms and enjoy seeing the sights and sounds (and yes, even the smell of manure, ha!) that go with them. It is life at its best!
on December 30, 2019 at 9:13 pm | Reply rhudgins

Thanks for sharing!
on December 31, 2019 at 12:37 am | Reply shoreacres

That rooster is a knockout. He really is extraordinarily handsome, and well photographed, as well!
on January 3, 2020 at 4:56 pm | Reply mitzybricker

Great farm photos. We live on a small farm in Virginia. We raise miniature Herefords. I love photographing life out here. You are invited to check out our farm life blog at: bluerockhorses.com