The Lights

I am normally not a night person. Being a rancher most of your work is done during the daytime so I have never been much into staying up late. With the heifers at home it is a different story though. I take until midnight watching the heifers and the hired man is on after that. Well last night was one of those clear, cold nights that every star in the sky was visible. Now this is not one of the best situations to be calving in since it gets so cold but it sure is pretty to see.<br />n<!–more–><br />nI first noted all the stars and constellations when I was out at 9:00 to check on a heifer that was calving and just had to stop and stare in wonder at all the stars. I notice you never get as pretty of sky in the summer when the temperatures are a little warmer to enjoy it. It is always when it is freezing cold that the stars shine so clear, pure and beautiful that, if you take the time to notice it, it just makes you shake your head in wonder.<br />n<br />nI didn't notice the stars so much when I went out at 9:45 to see if a heifer that was calving had managed to have her calf, of course I didn't notice since I was worried about her. She couldn't have it so I got her in and pulled it. Really sweet dispositioned heifer so it wasn't a fight to work with her and I do believe that it was the cutest calf I have ever pulled. I have seen a lot of calves born and normally cute is not a term I would use for one that is just born particularly one I pulled. This guy though was in a class of his own. I can't tell you why he was cute, unless I was just in a particularly mellow mood, but he was.<br />n<br />nAnyway to finish what I wanted to say in the first place then when I went out at 11:00 to check on the new arrival and make sure he was all right, the stars were no longer shining as bright. Still wasn't a cloud in the sky but the Northern Lights were beautifully shining away. Just a general glow all across the northern horizon with 8 spikes of light shining forth like the spikes of a crown piercing the heavens. Let me tell you it was a beautiful sight. I had to stand in the cold for a few minutes just admiring the handiwork of God. Did anybody else see them? If not you missed a sight.<br />n<br />n<b>In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present. Sir Francis Bacon </b>