And the cows came home the very next day.

12:30am I get a text from Small Farm Girl. My cows were in her yard. Why exactly do I have to have cattle with wander lust? The have plenty of food, plenty of water, yet they leave. They follow difficult terrain, Urth encouraging them onward. I just had to have cows with a sense of adventure. They will have to stay in the short pen, and we will have to buy bales until such time as we can afford fencing up top. At least a quick scolding and home ladies works just fine. They went straight home.

Friday evening Stephanie came for a visit. Some remember her as the author of Going Green in Southern Illinios. Her current blog is Heathen in the Woods. She was one of my first readers, and we have cultivated a friendship over the years. I really enjoyed her short visit, as she was just passing through (well out of her way) to meet us. I look forward to her pack coming out and spending more time with my clan. 

On the little walk we took with Stephanie yesterday, we found this odd growth. I found it is called cancer root, squawroot, or bear corn. Apparently bears eat it fresh out of hibernation. However it has no nutritional value and even fried with butter it is nasty tasting. I read that is was used medicinally by natives, but no details were forth coming. It causes tumor looking growths on the oak trees whose roots these parasites live on. They are useless, but pretty cool looking.