Front Pasture Excitement

 With the exception of this merry band of wanderers, 

most others' eyes were glued to the activity happening in the front pasture yesterday.

Sadly, our diseased stand of locust trees that grew in the lowest part of the pasture, 

were removed yesterday.  I hate to lose trees, however, these trees were already lost - diseased and infested with carpenter ants.

Here's what all of the trunks looked like... carpenter ants running all over with a nest chewed right into the center of each trunk.  

Luckily, no one really needs the shade from these trees... as grazing is done before the sun is high enough in the sky to make shade.  I've known for years that these trees were in peril - merely by the presence of bracket mushrooms growing from each of their bases....

compounded by the dreaded feline fungus on top!

It is this grove of trees that was responsible for smashing our front pasture fence twice this summer.  Every time a storm passes through, one of these trees loses its top branches (or more).  As the years passed, these trees have turned into a liability.  Smashed fences are bad enough.  I would hate to think of one of our animals being injured by a falling tree.

Luckily, yesterday's predicted rain held off long enough for this job to be completed.  And at the time of this writing (yesterday afternoon) I am still hopeful that we receive some rain - it is incredibly dry right now!

Some of the equines preferred a front row seat to watch the work...

Others, myself included, sought refuge in the shade of the donkey house while their fan blew cooler air over us (and kept the flies away... probably the biggest value of fans!)

I sat there trying to watch the progress in the pasture, but at times it was difficult to see anything.  As always happens when I sit in the dry lot... someone invariable ends up in my lap.  Someone, or several someones!

Yesterday, it was Red and Moll cat, Chester and Forrest.

Just sitting there watching the interaction between species is fun, in itself.

I also find it so heartwarming to see them all so comfortable in each other's company - partly due to my presence there with them.  Mom tolerates no shenanigans - just ask them!  Manners are expected.

Luckily, everyone was on their best behavior and we spent a very lovely half hour sitting there all together enjoying some snuzzles.

Red is a good snuzzler.

And it goes without saying... so are Chester and Forrest!

And Moll doesn't care who snuzzles with her - she just enjoys the attention.