More Farm Memories

Thanks to JANIE and her Utah Trails blog (see link on the right) for reminding me of the warmer, lazier days...









Every buddy needs to feel safe enough to get a good snooze in. Glad to see it! I keep laughing every time I look at them! Being around sleeping horses is very special indeed, like being in church somewhere, we creep around quietly so as not to disturb... and they wake up with those sleepy faces, as if to say, "Wha-?"



I got caught sneaking a photo. These guys slept about the same time each day, if the sun was out and it was warm enough. Out in farmland there wasn't too much going on day in and day out.






Only once in the year we were here did I see a mountain lion, and I only knew to look for something because the herd came running in from the back forty all a-huff. Looking across the property, about a quarter-mile away, I saw the large straw-colored cat leaping up the hillside like it was nothing. I grabbed my shovel and walked over the rise along the dirt road that separated the 20 acre pasture from the berry fields, followed along the fence by some very curious and dramatic four-leggeds, as though they were my posse. The cat just ended up sitting and watching all of us for a while, then leaped back over the property fence (seven feet, taller in places) and we never saw it again. Funny how the horses all wanted a powwow afterwards, I hopped the gate and we all stood together, anchoring the moment, feeling strong.

We are the Herd!

Cowboy Logic

• People who are tough never have to tell you that they are. It’s the same with people who are honest.

• Never miss a chance to shut up. Well-timed silence has more eloquence than speech.

• A bad-tempered man will never make a good-tempered horse.

• The easiest way to eat crow is when it’s still warm. The colder it gets the harder it is to swallow.

• Don’t interfere with somethin’ that ain’t botherin’ you none.

• If it's broke, fix it.

• A man that don't love a horse there is something the matter with him. If he has no sympathy for the man that does love horses then there is something worse the matter with him.

• The quickest way to double your money is to fold it over and put it back in your pocket.

• When you give a personal lesson in meanness to a person or a critter don’t be surprised if they learn it.

• Generally speakin’, you ain’t learnin’ nothing when you’re the one doin’ the talkin.

• It takes a great deal of physical courage to ride a horse. I get it at about forty cents a flask and take it as required.

• Don’t squat with your spurs on.

• Good judgment comes from experience and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

• There is something about the outside of a horse that is good for the inside of a man.

• If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing to do is stop digging.

• Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.

• When I hear somebody talking about a horse being stupid, I figure it's a sure sign that it has outfoxed them.

• If you get to thinkin’ you’re a person of some considerable influence, try ordering someone else’s dog around.

• Nothing on four legs is quicker than a horse heading back to the barn.

Will The Real Prairie Rose Please Stand Up

Day Five of the Big Snowstorm, and this story seemed timely. Discovered it this week, snowed in and running across various and sundry articles about early horsewomen (unfortunately termed "cowgirls," not unlike their male counterparts; I say this only because I think taking care of cattle is not really the same as being a horseperson, but that's my soapbox).

If any of you (and who hasn't) have heard the Michael Martin Murphey song "Wildfire," you know the poignant, haunting story of a woman who died trying to save her pony from a horrible snowstorm. Nothing prepared me for it to be a true story, and from my bit of research I doubt Mr. Murphey knew it either when he wrote it.

You can read about it HERE, where I found these wonderful images, along with other historical and not-so-objective accounts of other early western women, many of whom were apparently named "Prairie Rose," stirring confusion into an already colorful, ever unwinding feminine story.

Stay warm, lovies! But no promises on keeping the eyes dry.

LET IT SNOW!

Whee!

This is the view from my porch (of course it was taken from inside, hello!) It seems all of Seattle is so BLISSFULLY quiet! The effects the micro-muffler powder has on noise in general compounded with the lack of traffic en masse is underlined by the small town feel of neighbors coming out and talking to each other (and highlighted by the toboggan-hill block-parties on the steepest closed roads).
After days of snow, downtown Seattle is practically closed and some winter storm warnings are in effect. It's been enjoyable just for the crispy crunchiness of it all, and because of condo living, my heater hasn't even been turned on. Socks, slippers, and a wool oversweater keep the ol' metabolism up and immune system healthy! Then I strap on my YakTrax and get to see things like this:




Beautiful bus stop berries! Like Twizzlers for birds... makes beaks happy!












... and on the first day of snow, THIS was happening (now all the buses wear chains, and you can't see any of the road OR sidewalks for all the ice and snow):









But you can't please everybody all the time. I'm snowed in and can't visit my pasture ornaments. I'm just glad they have some old growth trees to hide under and twenty acres to run on to keep warm. Then of course some just want to stay inside and love on Brown Bear. After a couple shots of my favorite whiskey, I think I'll join ye!
(Okay, maybe three shots)

Season's Greetings!! from the four-leggeds

After dreaming of our years in ARIZONA ... I stumbled on a pic of the boys out at my brother's place during our week of vacationing in CALIFORNIA ...


Such a happy time!!

Now there's just this ...















You said it, buddy!!
Springtime, here we come!!!

Just wanted to remember what Arizona was like...

Sigh...

It's a-FISH-al!!

We now have a new member of the family! This is not thee best picture, but the tank at night is queersome, especially with some dark ambient Steve Roach playing in the background. His head is black, and his body kinda shifts from an ultraviolet blue to turquoise. He is still changing, and I hope we did right by his ultra filtered and pH balanced water, complete with a couple Java ferns buried in the fluorite substrate and - something he's not had for over a year, maybe two of his life - a heater!

Welcome to the fam, Betta Buddy! Now do tell us your name.