TIME MANAGEMENT

TIck. Tock. Tick. Tock. Another day comes to an end with so much not done - including #steem time.My brother @craigcryptoking recently pointed out how time seems to fly. It wasn't like that when we were young(er) Was it?! Even my camera is neglected. I take the photos but they pile up and by the time they are downloaded there are so many I don't know which to post. As you can see I have some magnificent subjects for photography!

Mid day on our Karoo homestead is either blistering heat in summer or bliss in winter. It is now winter. My little boy and I can usually be found free ranging with the animals at mid day. Like my dad (gramps) @quailbreeder we both love animals. There is no doubt my son has inherited his mama and his grandfather's love of all creatures great and small.It is really special watching his interaction with them. He gets really excited when he can come away covered in goo, feathers, fur, dribble and even droppings, if he's faster than his mama!

At the moment it is not just our goats, sheep and calves enjoying the weather but the pretty Cape Wagtail. Until the drought hit the fields were waist deep in winter grazing - oats, barley, rye and a dash of lucerne (alfalfa). Now our limited water can only (barely) keep two fields going on severely reduced numbers of livestock. As you can see although it is quite green it is only a few centimetres tall not waist deep! The upside to the drought (and there is ALWAYS an upside) is that we are now able to appreciate the tiny creatures that we inadvertently sustain. There are plenty of tiny wagging Cape Wagtails. They tripple on their tiny legs between the cows hooves with reckless abandon. There must be some understanding between these creatures great and small because none get trampled. Alaska and Bella, my two naughty goatie girls broke into the cow area today. There was a terrible clashing of horns against cow heads, and yet the Wagtails continued totally unperturbed!

The slowly grazing calves must disturb little critters which the waiting Wagtails then feed on. Their diet consists largely of invertrebrates. Although there are probably a couple dozen Wagtails in the cows field the Cape Wagtails are territorial and monogamous. It is currently breeding season and pairs could remain together for a number of years.

While I may not have time for much else; time with my little boy on our beautiful homestead is special. I can neglect many things but childhood is so fleeting I would far rather be out there with him than behind a cooking pot, laptop or pile of laundry. These sweet photos will be entered into the Combination #contest held by @papa-pepper . But for now I'll say goodnight #steemit I've given you enough of my sleeping time....