Monday 23 February 2015

Tears falling

 I shed tears.
This was the day we sold our bull.  
He's been with us for 7 years, he was 2 when he came.
  Our grand daughter fed him fallen oranges from our tree ~ he loved them and bellowed for more!  
But now he's gone....this is the hard part of being a farmer.


 The day started out with a muted glow
 the mist rose
 leaves sparkled
 sunlight bathed the hills one by one
we herded the cattle
the mist is hanging around reluctant to leave

tear drops of rain are all around me
 an eastern rosella catches my eye
 and I caught hers ~ does she know?

Good bye old fella ~ we miss you.

28 comments:

  1. He was a lovely looking beast - and does have a wistful look.

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    1. Yes, you are right Rosemary, he was lovely , and he had a good life here.

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  2. O dear, I can imagine your sadness about the bull. When a cow was sold on our farm I was always in tears. Your pictures are of an outstanding beauty the sceneries are wonderful and that rosella looks so exotic in our eyes.

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    1. Oh yes indeed, it's always difficult Janneke, as you know.
      I am glad that you enjoy our scenery and wildlife. It's always interesting visiting another part of the world, and so easy with blogs like ours!

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  3. I can' get over what a beautiful place you live in - the scenery is just stunning. I know myself from experience what you are going through it is alway a sad time when a beloved animal has to go. And like you say, the hardest part of being a farmer - they do almost seem like part of the family when you have looked after them for so long. He is a beauty!

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    1. Thank you Elaine, for your understanding, and for your nice words. I hope you have noticed that I have changed my blog layout a little, like your lovely blog.

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  4. That is one handsome bull; he looks so regal and proud. As always your photography is lovely.
    Connie :)

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    1. You're right Connie, he was a handsome fellow and spent a good life here.

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  5. Your landscape is quite magical, again I'm loving your lingering secretive photography......bye bye old buddy.....

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    1. Thank you Catherine, we are trying to get used to his empty paddock.
      On a brighter note, I was interested in your always observant words, lingering and secretive. I certainly do linger a little and often......well OK, a lot!

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  6. That must have been so sad it looks an magnificent animal. Your views are stunning. Sarah x

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    1. Yes it is sad Sarah. He was a good bull, mind you he did like checking out the fences and grew to realise that they were no match for his strength!

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  7. Found your lovely blog via The Shady Baker also a lovely blog.
    As an ex farmer know how hard it is to say goodbye especially to such a grand beastie as he.
    I'm off to to enjoy more of the beautiful photos you post Dee

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    1. Hello Dee, how lovely to meet you! The Shady Baker is indeed a wonderful blog and Jane there takes brilliant photos.
      You certainly would understand this post as you used to be a farmer too. I'm heading to check out your blog now. Jane.

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  8. I grew up on a farm, so I know what you mean. It is hard to see an animal go when it has been with you that long. I love your pictures, they are gorgeous!!

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    1. It's interesting to see how many people in the comments above have farming connections Dawn. Lovely to see you, I've been away from blogging for a while but look forward to paying you a visit on your blog again soon.

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  9. We've a brangus bull here ourselves, only a baby really, and it's amazing to see how much he has grown just in the last few months. I imagine 7 years would be tough!{}
    Just found your blog through a comment at Shady Baker, was looking at your photos thinking, that type of scenery looks familiar, then when I read you were at Dorrigo it all made sense:) We honeymooned at Dorrigo and in fact only live up the road at Grafton. so pleased to find a local blogger:)
    btw just thinking you might enjoy the pics my friend n(also local) took of Dorrigo the other day
    http://piecesofcontentment.blogspot.com.au/2015/02/dorrigo.html

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    1. Hello Erin, how lovely that you have called in! It's a small world isn't it? Fancy you honeymooning here in Dorrigo and living in Grafton, so close by really. Isn't Shady Baker a wonderful blog? Always interesting and such great photos. I just took a quick look at your blog and that of your friend Karen and I look forward to following along. Lovely that Karen has just been here and what fantastic photos.

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  10. Your post is brimming with the beauty of the countryside around you - and fond memories!
    I love Dorrigo and sometimes dream of living there too....

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    1. Hello Karen, it's great that we have met via the labyrinth that is the blogging world! I feel very lucky to live in such a beautiful place and am reminded of that every day when I wake up and open the curtains.

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  11. I've also come here via The Shady Baker (quite a stream of us). What a contrast your green landscape is to her dusty one. Love the photo of the mist hanging in the air.

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    1. Dear Anne, it seems I have a lot to thank Jane at The Shady Baker for! But wait, I just clicked on your name and see you are from East Anglia...so in fact you have come half way round the world to meet someone brought up in Lincolnshire! Again I say, it's a small world!
      Talking about contrasts, Australia is a huge place and it never ceases to amaze me how diverse it really is....droughts and flooding plains as the poem goes. Lovely to meet you Anne.

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  12. Hi Jane,
    I have no experience of farming, so I can't begin to imagine how you juggle the intense caring with the letting go that's so much a part of it all. Your photos are so saturated with life, drenched and dripping with the beauty all around you that I'm guessing the engagement and connection help you keep a sense of perspective. You always manage to capture the vastness of it all as well as the details; we get so used to the human scale of towns and villages that it's easy to lose sight of our place in the big scheme of things. I love your exotic photos best of all - they're a bit like having a wee holiday down under without the expense!

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    1. Dear Janice, what lovely things to say, and so thoughtful....all of them. A sense of perspective is something I struggle with as we all do, I am sure, at times. Things get overwhelming, and I think that my photography is a form of escape, but also it does, as you say, put things into perspective. Thank you!

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  13. Oh Jane, that must be such a hard thing to do. I am glad you have the comfort of knowing he had a good life with you. Thanks for sharing such a lovely glimpse into your world.

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    1. Hello Joanna, my apologies for taking so long to publish your lovely comment, but as you will have seen from my comment on your wonderful snowdrop post, I have been sick for a couple of weeks, so it was lovely to return to these friendly communications.

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  14. Hi Jane, our mutual friend Joanna Paterson's snowdrop post had me hurrying over ... what a glorious chap, he reminds me of one of our Welsh Black bulls we had when I was growing up on a small Scottish island! Along with the others, I agree, you've captured beautifully the essence of your land.

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    1. Hi Jackie, how lovely of you to pop over from Joanna's lovely snow drop post. It's nice to meet you and thank you for your kind comment. How interesting to grow up on a Scottish island.

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