We have a saying in the Denver area: If the air smells like cow_ _ _ _, it’s going to snow. True. That’s because fifty miles north of us is the small town of Greeley that claims the largest beef processing plant in the country. Have you ever smelled a feedlot? When the prevailing winds shift and come from the northeast, those are upslope winds that bring the biggest snowstorms. And the smell of cow manure. So if we smell Greeley that means snow.Today it sure smelled like Greeley, but the flakes were few and far between. And it was preferable to the smell of jet fuel which is what we usually get at work. We’re across the street from a busy regional airport. No wonder I want to come home and smell the flowers. But there aren’t any.
Come to think of it, maybe we weren’t smelling Greeley after all. The National Western Stock Show started this week. All those stockmen brought a lot of cattle to town. In fact, they parade them down the streets of Denver to kick off the show.
About 30 Longhorn cattle from the Searle Ranch in Monument are driven by cowboys on horseback up Wynkoop street towards 17th Ave for the beginning of the National Western Stock Show Parade on January 15, 2008. (Post / Helen H. Richardson)
I’m probably not going to the stock show. I went once about 20 years ago. But I'll salute the spirit of the festivities with my version of a cowgirl outfit from Halloween a few years back.
Yee-Hah!
And it still smells like Greeley outside.
12 comments:
That reminds me, the rodeo show is in town. Hmmmm. I might pick up some smells from north of me where it is, but so far, major snow has gone around us most of the winter. Yee Hah!
I hope it doesn't smell like Greeley for you for too long...
I have indeed smelled a feed lot before. Seeing and smelling one put me off beef for a short time. How soon we forget.
Around here there are huge turkey, chicken or hog farms. UGH... we get whiffs from time to time. A sad yet necessary business.
Those cattle pictures are great. Just makes me want to shout Yahoo, yippie ki o ki ay....
Ooooo... I know the smell. But it never meant snow is coming, cowgirl!
I am SO glad to see you blogging again...I've missed you, but I also know that sometimes we just need a break even from things we care about a great deal. Thanks for visiting, and yes, do check out Blotanical; it's both a wonderful resource and a lot of fun. Hope to find you posting regularly again.
Carol, the smell went away and the snow came the next day. Delayed reaction, I guess!
Lisa, I've heard about hog farms and their attendant smell. I think it may be worse than feedlots. That is a great shot of the cattle, isn't it? This year Baxter Black was the grand marshall.
Hi Jodi, thanks for the welcome back. Yes, we do need time away once in awhile.
Mary, maybe not in your neck of the woods, but it sure does here! Now if it brought birds, that would be great.
No snow here - and for cows the place used to be Fort Worth. They have a Cowgirl Museum up there that's really fun, celebrating all kinds of spunky women. LostRoses you should wear that cool outfit if you ever go!
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
My husband's parents lived east of Greeley, about a mile up the road from a feedlot. OMG, the smell! And the flies!
Great picture of the stock show parade!
See, that's one of the things the blogging world does for us, let's us know unique facts about other places. That's one I sure didn't know.~~Dee
Annie, I bet you could see a cattle drive in Fort Worth, couldn't you? The Cowgirl Museum sounds cool, but they'd probably kick me out in that get-up, especially if I brought my stick horse!
Dreamybee, I have to assume people who live there just don't smell it after awhile, do you think? Thanks for visiting!
Dee, isn't that the truth? I'm always surprised at what goes on in other parts of the country. Who knew? Glad you stopped by.
Love the costume! I thought Kansas City was the only town that ran cows down main street!! We have the whole nine yards at the start of American Royal!
Love the outfit! :)
LOL, I used to love cows when I was little, I remember going to my Aunt's farm to feed them.. Oh the old good days..
Nice Blog, by the way..
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