odds and ends

We have a wintery wind whipping about the place. There's no turning back now: Winter has arrived, no matter what the calendar says. Cliff and I did some shopping today for the big turkey dinner. I told him beforehand, "I'm not going to get a huge turkey, even though we always freeze the leftovers and use them; a small one will do just fine."
I went into Walmart north of the river and found no turkeys. OK, there were two small Butterball turkeys no bigger than large hens, $1.49 a pound. I didn't want that small a turkey! Except for those, the cooler was bare.
So we stopped by a local Apple Market in that town and found out they had plenty of turkeys at 39 cents per pound! So much for my plan to buy a smaller turkey; I never could pass up a bargain. They had good buys on other items I needed, too. I wish that store was closer to home; I do believe I could learn to like it.
After getting home and putting up groceries, I looked out the north window that faces the pasture and saw Sir Loin coming toward the house at a dead run, without his mother. First I thought she might have preceded him up here, and perhaps he was coming to join her. But soon I saw him laying down, chewing his cud... all alone. Then I cast my eyes far away and saw Bonnie grazing, way out on the point.
This is not normal cattle behavior, people. Cows are herd animals; they tend to panic when they're away from their friends. It puzzled me, but I decided maybe it was the weather change. Animals often act peculiar on days like this.
Half-an-hour later I saw Sir had joined his mother on the point, and I breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever his problem, it seemed to be solved.
A while ago, I heard him bellowing loudly, and looked out to see him coming toward the barn again, running as fast as he could! Bonnie was nowhere in sight. He went to the salt block and licked it, bawling every little while.
I decided it was time to go take a close look at Bonnie; maybe there was something I hadn't been able to see from a distance. Sadie and I headed out, soon to be passed up by Sir Loin, trotting and bawling as he went.
By the time we caught up with him he had joined his mother, who was grazing happily in tall grass the horses turn their noses up at. She was obviously in good health.
So, I still don't know what possessed that silly calf to throw two running fits in succession.
Things that make you go "hmmm".
I notice most of my commenters like green bean casserole, and that's fine. There's just something about the fact that the sauce tastes like cream soup right out of the can, and I don't care for that kind of onions, either. Believe me, there are very few foods at which I turn up my nose! Oh, I can eat the stuff; I'd just rather not.
The turnips are still in the garden, and at least once a week I'll bring some in and cook a few creamed turnips for myself. I was delighted this week to finally make them taste like my mom's: The secret ingredient turned out to be just a little sugar!