A Perfect Morning, Part Two: Pasture Treasures

When the weather is nice, I try to clean the front pasture each morning after bringing the horses back in from their grazing time.  A clean pasture helps to cut down the threat of parasites.  And so, with muck buckets in the back of the gator and the dogs following, I drive around the pasture looking for manure - both pig and equine - and there's always plenty to be found!

This morning, however, besides finding manure, I find hundreds of beautiful mushrooms.

Growing in the middle of our pasture is a large, old white pine tree. 

Beneath it were hundreds of big mushrooms of several varieties and colors.  At this time of year there are always some growing in this are, however, this year there was an explosion of mushrooms!

Golden...

Red...

Donut shaped...

Muffin topped...

Coral...

There were too many to even count.

We headed across the pasture to the other side, where Ginger was happily grazing.  I had hoped to be able to trim Ginger's hooves while we were out visiting her.  It's funny - since the passing of her sister, MaryAnn, Ginger has become quite the outgoing pig.  She greets us like her sister used to and love all the attention that is lavished on her... by humans and dogs alike.

I began rubbing her belly, and, happily, she flopped right over on her side. 

 In this position I could alternate between belly rubs and hoof trimming. 

In a few minutes, I was able to cut all of her nails.

One happy pig...

One jealous Chester.

As soon as I finished fussing over Ginger, Chester joined the other dogs who were playing close by.

What a crew!