Good Friends

Engraving from the painting by Paul Friedrich Meyerheim. (1842-1915)
The Picture Magazine, 1893
George Newnes Ltd.

Ear Washing

Harry Grazing with Scout

Yes, the dog likes to graze with the ox.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!

Finishing Touches

An ox enjoys a work of fine art, and puts a few finishing touches on the artist's painting.
from
Chatterbox
by
 John Erskine Clarke

"Uncle Jack ---- He Only Wanted to Say Hello."

Ballin & Liebler -- Lithographer
"68 to 78 Park Place, N.Y."
Mid-Manhattan Picture Collection

He's Getting So Big

Ox-affection

There becomes a fine line between affection and personal injury.

Peaceful, Quiet, Still

I'm Fal-l-ling. . . .

. . . . to Sleep

Just Minding His Own Business....

....Chewing His Own Cud!

Chewing the Cud

Watch closely; the calf swallows the chewed cud, and then brings up a fresh batch to work on.

Peaches the Pony Nibbles My Ear

Peaches keeps distracting me from getting a video of Scout so I turn the camera on her while she nibbles on my ear. You can hear Scout the calf chewing his cud in the background.

Jealous Pony

I try to take a video of Scout chewing his cud, but Peaches insists that she is much more photogenic.

New York City Peddler Gets Boost from Dogs

In The Rag Trade
by
Arthur Boyd Houghton (1836-1875)
Graphic Illustrated Newspapers, Ltd., 1869
 (Background and forground details digitally removed from the original.)

Electric Cart, Neon Spring

Photo by sld.

Harry Gets Wheels!

Happy Harry, the dog, gets his own cart. He seems pleased; maybe he's happy to have a job like his friend Scout.

Video by sld.

Controlled Burn for Prairie Restoration Project

Non-native species of grass come up earlier in the spring than our native grasses or wildflowers. By burning annually when the non-natives are up about three inches I hope to set them back enough to allow the natives who are about to emerge to compete more vigorously. Burning also helps keep brush from encroaching.

Peaches the Pony Stands for Hoof Trimming

Photo by sld.

 

 

Not every two-year old horse is this calm. Peaches is "For Sale" to an approved home.

Photo by sld.

Weather Alert!

If an ox sticks his tail up in the air, it's a sign the weather will change.

Stepping Right Out

Notice I have moved the "yoke" back over the shoulders. This appears to be a more comfortable setting for light carting; likely it would put too much pressure at the breastbone for heavy pulling though.

Photo by sld.

Ox Hauling Firewood

Spreading Manure

I've eliminated the up-over-the-top yoke altogether and added a push-bar in the front. This is much stronger. The strap over the top does the bulk of the work, the front bar keep it in place.

 

That's shredded-paper bedding mixed with waste hay and manure.

I used non-glossy, mostly white, shredded office paper; it brightens up the barn and absorbs a lot of moisture. Shredded paper works best if mixed with waste hay or straw to give it bulk. By itself it doesn't form a pack suitable for lying on.

We'll find out how quickly it decomposes in the pasture this summer..

Harry Loves Ropes

Remember that red firehose?

Training Ox to the Music of "Hungarian Dance No. 5: Allegro; Vivace"

Video by Amy.

Look Mom, No Halter!

Out Walking.
Ox, oxen, calf, bull, bullock, steer, and training.

Photo by Amy.

 

Praise.
Ox, oxen, calf, bull, bullock, steer, and training.
Photo by Amy.

Travel by Travois

Mrs. Black Horse, Tse-Tsehése-stahase, with dog travois.

Walter S. Campbell Collection, Western History collections, University of Oklahoma Library

 http://libraries.ou.edu.html/

Mrs. Soski with Dog Travois.

1916,  Fort Macleod, Alberta.

Adapted from photo by Oliver, W.J., Calgary, Alberta

http://www.glenbow.org.html/

 Lakota Woman with Dog Travois

Rosebud Reservation

http://www.firstpeople.us.html

Wheels? Who Needs Them?

"With her stoneboat pulled by an ox, this woman set out to visit a neighbour near Kerrobert."
http://www.sasksettlement.com

Going to church.


http://www.sasksettlement.com/

Nothing New Under the Sun

Stanley Berkeley, 1855-1909 Englishman

I thought my up-over-the-neck design somewhat unique until I discovered this old illustration in a 19th Century children's book (I don't know the accuracy but the illustration looks convincing). There are however a few flaws in my design; with the flexible poles on my oxcart the three corners of the two-sided triangle are weak, especially the apex.

In the story, the woodcutter has unknowingly given the King a ride into town. Somewhat befuddled, he is returning the guards salute.

. 

Off Road Adventures

    

The training sleigh now has wheels from a discarded leaf-rake, and a platform of used plywood out of Dad’s collection of scrap lumber. The screws came from the old Cyr Hardware store apartment I tore down in Oklee last summer. The cart (it’s now an oxcart!) also has handles — mostly left over plumbing supplies from one of Dad’s plumbing projects. My plan was that the “yoke” would just sit on the shoulders, but it was too light weight to stay in place. So, as you see in the pictures, I had added his collar and a piece of strap from a broken tie-down to make it work til we got back to the shop.

We found that discarded piece of red fire hose along the way. It just might come in handy someday.

Oh by the way, he seems to have recovered from his lameness. It only took a day-or-two. Are you wondering if his feet were cold in the pictures? I don’t know, but mine sure were!  (3/13/2010)