The new cow track is really taking shape.   I've named it the Super Highway as it looks so much grander than the other cow paths but it won't stay so pristine for long. 

Adrian was right when he commented that the cows won't walk any faster but when there's 400 of them moving from cowshed to paddock, they need to be able to walk more than 2 abreast or they really would be strung out like Brown's cows. 

Just when I've started to get used to the hum of heavy machines in the distance, they will be soon leaving, their work complete.  It's made me appreciate again how lucky I am to live without background noise, except for the occasional passing bike, quad or truck. 

While I was out walking I wondered why I could hear the family goat calling.  He's usually up around the family's home but the sound was coming from near the cowshed.  Sure enough, there he was.  Obviously he's been making a nuisance of himself around the house and has been banished. 

He tried to ignore me, doing his best regal pose.

But he wanted to talk too badly:

Oh my hat

I woke in a sweat thinking I'd forgotten to turn off the electric blanket when I got into bed like I usually do.  But no, it was off, it was just an unusually warm winter morning.  And it turned into a magical day with a light breeze and soft light. Perfect for a walk - with stops to greet the animals.

 the heifers

 the yearlings

The horses took a while to decide to approach me for a rub.

 And that was when my hat blew off.  At first he thought there might be some food in it.

 Then he thought it might be food:

He seems to be thinking about what to do with it next.  In the end he dropped it, the wind caught it and the last I saw of it it was scurrying across the long grass towards the creek.

 Ah well, it was still a lovely day.  Not having to worry about the hat flying away I could lift my head more easily to admire the silvery white toetoe against the silvery grey poplars and that lovely blue sky with just a little puff of a cloud.