• A fascinating true tale: When city girl Shreve Stockton set out to ride her Vespa from San Francisco to New York, she never imagined she’d end up staying in Wyoming, falling in love with a trapper, and working as a ranch hand. Nor could she have forseen meeting Charlie, the orphaned coyote pup who made Stockton’s log cabin his home. In a world where coyotes are hunted as killers, Stockton and Charlie faced challenges—as well as joys—throughout their first year, each of which came with revelations about life, love, and the bond between humans and nature. .• Based on an award-winning blog: The Daily Coyote was inspired by Stockton’s blog of the same name. Wildly popular and hailed by Rosie O’Donnell, Vanity Fair , and the L.A. Times , the site receives over a million hits per month and was the winner of the 2007 Weblog of the Year Award only a month after its inception. .• A moving visual memoir: Stockton documents Charlie’s first year in stunning full-color photography. Each month’s entry is accompanied by rich images of Charlie as he grows from adorable pup to wily adult, alongside Stockton’s tomcat, Eli, and set against the wide-open landscapes of Wyoming. .
An intimate memoir on the work and wonder of ranch life, critiquing the inhumane and environmentally destructive factory farm system and offering sustainable alternatives for ethical omnivores.Although there are nearly 100 million cattle in the United States, these animals are often ignored or dismissed. In Meditations with Cows, Shreve Stockton inspires a more reverential attitude toward these affectionate and intelligent creatures as she shares captivating stories and photos of ranch life. At the center of the narrative is Daisy, the matriarch of the herd. Through the daily ritual of milking, Stockton forges a relationship with Daisy that deepens with each passing season: "When you have a milk cow, you are together every day, no matter the weather, no matter either of your moods. The hind leg of this twelve-hundred-pound animal towers over you as you crouch beside her... both of you aware of the fact that one well-aimed kick could kill you if she wished. Yet you are allowed to rest your cheek and forehead against her warm belly as you milk... her trust in you entwined with your trust in her, you become family." For anyone who loves animals or cares about the environmental impact of their food, Stockton explores conservation and the important role of cattle in local ecosystems, models the humane treatment of animals, and shows how pastured cattle can be our allies in averting climate crisis. Blending together narrative, science, and thoughtful reflection, Meditations with Cows offers a moving portrait of the rhythms of work, life, and hardship on the ranch.
