Kitty Bob

There is a feral cat hanging around here; he's probably lived here for a while. I have been trying to get him used to me; I'd like to keep him around to keep the mice under control (rotten little varmints got in my cupboard last night, poop everywhere- @#$#%@$%%!) I call this cat Kitty Bob because he's a bobtail, a Manx. After I rode Beamer today, I was unsaddling at the hitching rail and Foose come a high-balling and yowling with Kitty Bob hot on his tail. Foose hid under the tack shed, Kitty Bob did a sliding stop when I called his name, but didn't go too far away. He watched me from about 20 feet away, then I got him a dish of catfood, and he went and hid. I'm sure it will be devoured by morning. One of the reasons I like this cat is because he is the spittin' image of Foose, only with short hair and a stubby tail.

Kitty Bob

The Foose

Macro Monday

Look what is still growing on my lawn.

Sunday Stills- The letter T

I didn't want to dissapoint any Tess fans, so here she is Telling me That daybreak is not Too early To play with Toys!

This is Ted's dad's Teddy bear, which is about 75 years old, wearing a pair of GWG custom made overalls- a collector's item Times Two.

Those who know me know I love Teddy bears, so here is another from my collection:

He's hanging out in my Toilet paper holder!

This is a Japanese design Teacup, which I will send to the first person who leaves a comment that they would love to have it- I'm downscaling my unnecessary Trinkets.

And last but not least, a Tow Truck that was doing some work near our place.

Happy Dance!

Happy because we had a blast team sorting today! First of all, Beamer behaved himself, which is always a concern when you are riding a stallion in a mixed group. He did a little bit of quiet talking, which earned him work, so he didn't do too much of that. Secondly, the boy's got cow! He had never worked cattle before, and these were corriente roping steers; he caught on really quickly and we even had some fancy moves getting the right steer in the right place. He loved pushing the cattle back into the pen after our runs; those ears just disappeared on his neck , and he was heads down lets go! Between runs, he stood quietly on the sidelines, behaving himself and looking pretty- so much so that we got a booking for breeding next spring. I'm always happy when he gets compliments, and he got plenty today. I think Beamer has found his niche.

And to top it off, and make the day perfect- our team won the jackpot! Woo-hoo! We won a whole $4!

Did I mention that I love this horse????

Beamer and carrots.

I had a request from Mrs Mom to give Beamer a carrot from her. Wellllllll, this is what happened. I cut up a carrot and put it in a bucket for him (I don't hand feed stallions). He heard the bucket rattling; good things come in buckets, right?

He took a sniff, then took a mouthful and spit 'em out! Carrot bits all over the ground! Then he gives me this:

Think maybe he does NOT like carrots? Sorry, Mrs. Mom, I told him you said he has to eat his carrots, but he said no!

Great country and good folks

My friends over at Anchor D Outfitting have put together a promo video that is just great. I have ridden some of these trails and camped at some of these places, and I tell you, their hospitality is second to none. It is a long video, but worth watching. Great place to plan a vacation for next year! They supply pretty much everything. There is a link to them on my sidebar. This is filmed in the Rockies west of Calgary, some of it at their ranch, and most of it along the Great Divide, that is the ride Ted and I took for our honeymoon.

Wordless Wednesday

Lazy afternoon ride

It was such a nice afternoon that I decided to go for a putt on Beamer, so after a few hours of turnout, off we went. We have lovely hayfields to ride in and I love to put him into a trot and just enjoy the ride; I don't have to worry about gopher holes, and the footing is nice and even. We rode about 4 miles altogether, enjoying the fall scenery; snow on the mountaintops but not down here; a herd of weanling cattle that Beamer eyed with interest; the bright red of rosehips in the roadside shrubbery;

and a flock of Canada Geese winging by after our return.

My husband did something special for me today; you can read about why this Cross is special to me here, on my Catholic blog.

Knots, rain, cats 'n things.

A while ago Gttyup posted a link in her blog comments on how to tie a buckaroo style knot with your wildrag; thanks, Karen! I love the diamond shape of it. I wear it lots now that the days are cooler. We've been getting a lot of rain here, so instead of riding I am turning Beamer out- he does a lot more galloping that way than he would if I was riding, as I would be busy worrying about the footing. He sure doesn't though; he rips around that field, showing off and doing sliding stops, snappy rollbacks, and generally strutting his stuff.

Foose got lost yesterday, we finally found him an an abandoned mobile home that had a rotten roof. We think he fell in and couldn't get back out. I finally heard him meowing, and we rescued him.

Ted did a great job installing the wood stove, now we need to go cut firewood! We only have about half a cord so far. Good thing we are close to the forest!

Sunday Stills- Horses

Horses are a huge part of my life; they are my solace when my heart is troubled, my delight when things are right; they are my recreation and my transportation, at times. I love every bit of them:

their soulful eyes, and their fuzzy ears-

They are one of God's most beautiful creations, whether just standing still,

or in motion.

On a chilly November day.....

My wonderful husband is spending today installing a wood stove, and I'm busy baking cookies... but not so busy that I couldn't take some time out for Beamer; my poor neglected boy! I turned him out in a pasture for a couple of hours today, and was he ever happy!

I took this shot as he was galloping full speed towards me- I was wishing I had the camera set on video! Of course, I had to get a good shot for tomorrow's Sunday Stills-stay tuned!After a couple of hours he was ready to come back to the comfort of his blanket and hay pile, a much happier horse. He'll get daily turnout now that the cows are off the pasture.

A heartfelt thankyou

Thank you to all of you for your well wishes. The upside of funerals is getting to see all the family in one place, and I did get to see my daughter, at the cost of not getting to spend Christmas with her this year, due to the cost of travel. Ah, well, at least she got to see more family than she would have at Christmas.

I missed the first weekend of team sorting, so I'll be going on next Saturday. Beamer has been pouting because I haven't had time for him this last week.

I was delighted to find out that this week it's horses for Sunday stills; see you all then!

In the Arms of Jesus

Last night, my mother passed away. She had family with her, and passed peacefully, after being ill most of the year. This picture was taken at Thanksgiving last month, and I am indeed thankful that I got to spend it with her. I was blessed to be at her side for her last hour. She was born on a Friday the 13th, and died one day short of Friday the 13th. Rest in peace, Mom.

Remember and pray for our soldiers.

In Flanders fields the poppies blow

Between the crosses, row on row,

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields.

- John McCrae

Bubby shows Foose how it's done.

Morning chores were entertaining this morning; the cats were in fine form! Bubby was not to be outdone by Foose , and put on a good climbing demo. I had to laugh at Foose taking a swipe at Bubby at the end; jealous, I think!

The girls get to expand their horizon

Ted and I finally got the posts pounded to support the back fence which is made of panels. So I was able to take down the electric fence which I've been using to keep the fillies from pushing on the fence- which means that I was finally able to let them out into the adjoining paddock. Ted cleaned their corral too, so things are finally starting to shape up around here.

This pen hasn't been cleaned for years, that is some seriously good dirt piled up there; want some, Janice?

Didn't take Chickory long to spot the new opening. This is the pen that she was in with Coyote Belle when I weaned Sparkle.

Wasn't long till all three of them were rippin' around...

havin' fun.....

lookin' pretty....

Check out the extended trot on Velvet, another year and a half before I get to ride that lovely gait! Her mama was one of the smoothest horses I've ever ridden. Meanwhile Beamer was ripping around in his pen, wanting to get out there with them and have some fun too. He'll get to have his fun this weekend when I go to my first team sorting with him- that is, if I don't have to work!

A Sunday Rhyme

When there's snow in the hills and a chill in the air

and the fillies are growing their long winter hair-

I like to wear my chinks when I ride

With my faithful dog Tess right by my side.

Virtual ride

OK, I'm going to admit to a little horse-braggin' here. As you come along on the ride, note that I'm loping my horse on a loose rein, in a circle, messing with the camera, dogs running around us, in a big open field- no arena walls- on a horse that hasn't been ridden for a while, and when I sit down and say whoa, he just melts to a stop without me using the reins. (Insert happy sigh!) I LOVE riding broke horses! I have ridden so many colts and half-broke horses in my day that getting to ride Beamer is a treat each and every time I get on him. I. love. this. horse.

Blue Velvet

Just a quick post before I dash off to work; I realised I havent posted any photos of Velvet lately, so here she is in all her fuzzy blue beauty! I was out riding Beamer and rode up to the mare pen, mostly because I wanted to check out his behavior close up to other horses as I plan on starting team sorting this month. He was good, just a little muttering. Velvet came and checked daddy out.

Morning with the Foose and Bubby

When I go out in the early morning to feed the horses, I have a feline supervisor- or two! Foose loves to climb up on the roof of Beamer's shelter, and then up the tree that grows beside it. This morning Bubby decided that he wasn't going to be outdone and he joined Foose on the roof.

Well, it wasn't long before they were both cavorting around in the tree. Beamer is used to them being up there now and ignores them. After chores we went over to see the chickens that live across the yard. Foose doesn't quite know what to make of them; there are over 250 of them.

When they all start moving en masse, he's outa there, fast as his fuzzy li'l legs will take him!

Counting down the days til Nov. 17 when some of those plump chickens will be in my freezer!

Sunday Stills- Hallowe'en

Hallowe'en means Hallowed Evening, or, Holy Evening. It is the night before All Saints Day, and celebrates the lives of saints; those blessed souls who have made it to Heaven. I don't buy into the scary, occult based celebration that this holy evening has become . Since it is about the dead, and evening, first I'll share a moonshot- the full moon, on Hallowe'en, from my back door.

The other day, I took a walk through the Pioneer cemetery, and found some interesting graves, some of which tell their own story.

A husband who died at the age of 42, probably in the 1st World War; his wife who lived to be 98, and their child who died at 8 months. No graves of other children, so this is a sad story.

Loved so much they counted even the days of her life: 80 years, 5 months, 2 days.

Twin brothers; one died at 9 years old, one died at 81 years old. Reunited in the grave.

A husband and wife, at rest beneath a blanket of moss

And this one; the most poignant of all- two souls whose names, once carved in stone, have been erased by time, with nothing left but a blank stone to commemorate their passing, but whose mortal remains caress the roots of a lofty tree , so that even in death we are reminded that there is life. God bless all the souls of those we have lost, and whose memories we hold dear.