About
Hello dear reader, welcome to thinkingcowgirl. This blog is mainly about ten acres of land in North Cornwall, UK which we manage for maximum biodiversity. The cows help us with this project.
You can expect writerly posts about nature and the joys and challenges of life on the land and observations about the wild plants, animals and birds with which we share it.
Other places may make an appearance too…hence the beyond bit.
The cows arrived in July 2012 as heifers. You might say they are the embodiment of a little daydream I had many years ago. Some of this blog also chronicles the journey I’m taking as a first time cow keeper – and the things I find out about it along the way.
I try to follow the seasons with camera and pen.
I was once a roamer of London’s geographic, but I have swapped it for fields and hedgebanks, moor and sea.
Random thoughts will sometimes make an appearance too, as for the first time in many years I find myself with more time to think. A reflective frame of mind can turn a magnifying glass on small moments. Equally, in roller coaster fashion, which I hope won’t make you queasy, vision may become wide and expansive like the sea.
thinkingcowgirl 
I just discovered your blog and I’m loving exploring it. Maybe you’ll like our cows too – http://blog.rowleygallery.co.uk/?p=77. I’m pinning you to our blog roll.
Welcome to thinkingcowgirl I’m so pleased you’re enjoying it – I feel honoured to be pinned to your blogroll. I have done mine now!
I just stumbled upon your blog and think it’s great! Living the dream indeed! 🙂
Why thank you Alpine Mummy! I look forward to finding out how it goes with you up the mountain
Blog Beautiful indeed. Many thanks for posting so many great photos too. Your pics of Spain are very similar to the landscape here in N. California, except the cows are quite different. Loved all your info on Herefords too.
Many thanks welcome to cowgirl. I loved your cow sketches too. That’s the second time someone has pointed out the similarities in the landscape of Spain and California – you lucky people, you get to live in a beautiful place AND you can understand what everyones talking about 🙂
So glad to come for a visit, and learn a little about your journey. I love cows, and have only had the chance to photograph them a few times, and even those opportunities were stolen (since I trespassed and had to be quick). I’ll look forward to following your adventure. Best wishes to you!
And to you Lemony, your images are beautiful. Hmm, the cows have proved a little difficult to photograph – they are still a little skittish and then they are a bit scared by the camera itself! I think they are very sensitive creatures.
Loving your blog !! Now I nee dto have a good old potter around and read
Thanks! I’ll look forward to hearing your allotment news.
Here’s an award for you. The Versatile Blogger Award:
Thank you very much, I feel very very pleased by your bestowment (is that a word?!)
It is now x
Hi Cowgirl, I’ve nominated you for the Liebster Award, you can find the info at:
http://detectingblackpool.wordpress.com/2013/01/11/the-liebster-award/
Congrats on an award well deserved, best wishes, SN. 🙂
Many thanks SN.
Very soon I too will be swapping London, for Kent, though unfortunately without the land or heifers 😦 But still, I look forward to following your adventures and tales!
Oh that’s exciting! Kent was where my grandparents lived, there’s some lovely landscapes there. I have a fondness for the Medway Estuary though haven’t been there for years. Good luck with the move and thanks for the follow.
Thank you, and no problem! 🙂
I look forward to following your adventures, Sarah. 🙂
Hello George. For some reason I only just noticed your comment… Hello! And thanks. 🙂
WOW! You are living my DREAM…. I adore Cornwall. It’s one of my favorite places on this planet. I can’t wait to check out your blog more thoroughly — and I hope the glitch of trying to access my own blog resolves itself! 🙂
Did you come to visit here? Quite a few people (including myself!) start a little love affair when they come for a holiday…and some of them end up living here 🙂
YES! I’ve been there twice now, and Cornwall was my favorite area…. Just adored it. It’s truly my dream to be fabulously wealthy one day, find a little cottage there, and just write. And take pictures. And adopt a gazillion critters. 🙂
Loving your blog! I read the feature on your home in the January issue of Country Living and saw your blog site. Your cows are beautiful! I have a soft spot for Herefords as that is one of the breeds, along with Black Angus, that we had on our farm while I was growing up.
So glad you think the cows are beautiful…I will pass on your compliments 🙂 Though it may go to their heads… Glad you like the blog too. Thanks.
Yes, I have been catching up on your past postings – very enjoyable. Hope the girls don’t get too cocky when hearing the compliments 🙂 It looks and sounds as if they are doing well. Do you plan to get another bull soon? Herald’s story was sad – he certainly was a handsome fellow. I’m glad you had him even if it was for a short while.
Hmm, not sure what we’ll do yet. Where was the farm which you grew up on? Black Angus are lovely too…maybe you can tell me for definite if the bull in the ‘My Year of Cows’ post is actually one!
I live in Indiana (US). There is a lot of farming here, both animal and grains – sadly not nearly as much as when I was growing up. I realize others have said this but you are living my dream – England, countryside, cows :). Ancestors came over from England, Scotland, and Wales and each time I have visited, it has been harder to leave! Hope to get back over soon, it has been too many years away. In “My Year of Cows” – I think you have it right – looks like Aberdeen Angus to me!
I thought your name sounded a bit celtish! Infact I didn’t realise you were from the US, I imagined you from Scotland! The CL article threw me I didn’t know you could get it in the US – perhaps you have to be a dedicated britphile 😉
Oh yes, I am a dedicated Britphile 🙂 It was funny being in Wales and seeing my name (spelled a bit differently) on signs. As a child, I hated my name but now have embraced it totally. I like that you imagined me in Scotland-my 2nd favorite place in the world! I can get all my British magazines including CL @ Barnes and Noble Booksellers – so I can keep up with all things British! How are the girls doing? We have lovely daffodil gardens blooming now – hoping you get beautiful spring weather soon 🙂
Hi Cowgirl, I would like to present you with a Best Moment Award, reserved for people who dare live in the moment!. You can find more details of this distinguished award at:
http://detectingblackpool.wordpress.com/2013/03/17/best-moment-award-thank-you-momentmatters-com/
Congratulations Cowgirl, regards James 🙂
Great, really cool blog! 🙂
‘Contemplation is not the willed stillness of the mystics but a willing surrender to never-returning moments’
…what a quote! It goes directly into my little chest of treasures…
I look forward to lots more of your fine work in the future – I’m your new follower. 🙂
Best regards
Dina
Thanks Dina! Glad you like the quote, it’s one of my favourite books. Looking forward to following your northern story, I’m very in love with those places 🙂
🙂 ♥
Having just looked at your latest pics and having just returned to Casa Carmichael from a mini break in Pembrokeshire I needed to check immediately that Cowgirl wasn’t in residence right next door to me. The likenesses are incredible.
Hello! Indeed you are right, Pembrokeshire is very similar in looks to Cornwall. I hope you enjoyed your break.
Hi Cowgirl- Lady!!!
Your blog is beautiful and full of good thoughts and information!!!!
This is my one: http://www.saltybuds.blogspot.com, enjoy 😉
Was really nice to meet you today between the hay bales.
All the best, Sarah
Was great to meet you too! I’m off to saltybuds now…and thanks 🙂
I absolutely adore the picture with you and the girls!!!!!
I followed you over here after reading your intriguing and thoughtful comment on another blog. I remain intrigued 🙂 I like the ‘thinking’ part in your name – and your posts reveal the depth of those thoughts.
‘Thinking’ seems to be the theme of the above paragraph – I’m not really as ditzy as that may sound 🙂 Any way, I’m following along for a bit.
Hello! Very sorry for not replying sooner, I’ve been away from the blogosphere for a while and not catching up with stuff. Thanks very much for visiting, much appreciated 🙂 The thinking part of the name was a bit of an accident actually!
Hi Sarah, I am trying to find your address…I told you I was going to send you some kefir grains didn’t I? (was it you? Was I dreaming?!!! 😉 ) if so, could you please send me an email with your address in it so that I can send some off to you 🙂
Hi sarah, very much enjoy your blog! I like the hedgerow section and love that book… i`m going to try and track a copy down. It sounds like you`re probably sorted for hedgelayers but if not, i`m always up for hedgework if you`ve got some to do this winter. Best wishes, steve (Tim, jim and laura`s friend.
Hi Sarah! Just checking in -I have missed seeing your posts – I do hope things are going well for you, your husband, and the lovely ladies 🙂
Oh hi Rhonda thanks for checking in. I keep meaning to do another post…however I’ve been taken over by poetry! I thought I would be able to encompass both but it hasn’t turned out that way. Anyway I do plan to update at some point…there are interesting developments! Hope you are well too.
Hi Sarah, I hope your poetry is continuing to bring you creative satisfaction! I trust things are going well. Are any of the lovely ladies a mum yet? I miss your posts but certainly do understand that life has twists and turns that take us in other directions! I am recently retired and trying to find my way around a different kind of lifestyle now – writing is at the top of my list 🙂 Take care!