Maple Bud Blues

Did you ever play the "Maple Leaf Rag" in high school band? We did. (I was in the percussion section, by the way.) Well, this photo ain't too pretty, but its entitled "Maple Bud Blues".

I am actually in a blue mood right now, because Jade the calf laid down and died this morning after drinking her bottle. A case of calf SIDS, I guess. She had appeared perfectly healthy and rambunctious since her birth four days ago. Her navel area looks free of infection and she had no sign of scours, so we have no idea what happened. Maybe an internal birth defect, like an intestinal blockage of some sort, but I'd have thought there would have been indications of discomfort and lack of interest in drinking her bottle if that were the case. Oh, well......that's the way it goes in the livestock business. I remember this happening to another young calf several years ago........it was in July, during a heat wave, as I recall.



The photo shows a little maple branch I picked up in the yard this morning. Yesterday's strong winds left the lawn littered with sticks, branches, and maple bud clusters. The buds are actually a dark magenta color......really very pretty, but I don't have the right camera to clearly capture their tiny details.