Dragoness Eclectic (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
dragoness_e) wrote2008-01-26 09:21 am
dragoness_e) wrote2008-01-26 09:21 am
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Snows of the Mission Hills
Shortly after New Year's, we had a heavy storm here in the Bay area. While the lower valley just got soggy and trees falling down, the heights got snow. Apparently it does that fairly often around here; rain in the valley, but you can look up and see the snow on the highest hills right down to the sharp line where it stops. That happened again this week, and the snow came even lower down on the hills, but, alas, the clouds didn't lift long enough for me to get pictures off work hours. But, back on Jan 6, I went chasing around back of the hills to get pictures of the highest ones with snow on them. I got one; I also got a lot of pictures of cows.
As promised, the high hilltop with snow on it
...we could name it "Weathertop".
Two vultures watching a country house
There's wildlife in them thar hills.
There were also a lot of cows. I've mentioned before that east of Silicon Valley, up in and behind the hills is ranch country. This particular herd of cows caught my eye because they looked rather archaic; not heavy beef cows, they had horns, and interesting spotting and colors. I wonder if someone is breeding old cow breeds up here?
Curious calf
This calf was standing right by the fence, and was fascinated by me stopping my car to take pictures of him.
Curious calf still doesn't know what's going on
Longhorn?
Note the horns and spotting. I wonder if these are Longhorns?
Piebald calf
Again, note the baby horns, and the patterns on the other cows.
More full-grown cows with horns
These are not shorthorns. They also haven't had their horns removed (obviously), which is contrary to standard practice for commercial dairy or beef ranching. So is someone raising Longhorns as a hobby? Are these show cows, perhaps?
Spotted Cow
Note the heavily spotted cow. Also note the rocks in the background. We are high in the hills here. This fenced-in range area was actually on the very top of a hill overlooking the valley.
Back where we came from
After driving round and round the hills, I went all the way around them and came out back above San Jose.
As promised, the high hilltop with snow on it
...we could name it "Weathertop".
Two vultures watching a country house
There's wildlife in them thar hills.
There were also a lot of cows. I've mentioned before that east of Silicon Valley, up in and behind the hills is ranch country. This particular herd of cows caught my eye because they looked rather archaic; not heavy beef cows, they had horns, and interesting spotting and colors. I wonder if someone is breeding old cow breeds up here?
Curious calf
This calf was standing right by the fence, and was fascinated by me stopping my car to take pictures of him.
Curious calf still doesn't know what's going on
Longhorn?
Note the horns and spotting. I wonder if these are Longhorns?
Piebald calf
Again, note the baby horns, and the patterns on the other cows.
More full-grown cows with horns
These are not shorthorns. They also haven't had their horns removed (obviously), which is contrary to standard practice for commercial dairy or beef ranching. So is someone raising Longhorns as a hobby? Are these show cows, perhaps?
Spotted Cow
Note the heavily spotted cow. Also note the rocks in the background. We are high in the hills here. This fenced-in range area was actually on the very top of a hill overlooking the valley.
Back where we came from
After driving round and round the hills, I went all the way around them and came out back above San Jose.