Teddy Bear Cactus

These cute little sparkly spines jump right off the cactus and right onto the wandering horses walking by. Most of these little desert horses just live with the spines until they can flick them off with a tail or someone else's tail. My little band doesn't seem to pick them up very often, but on occasion we find a "pear" hanging off a lower leg. Anything besides a human hand will do as removal equipment. Shoes, rocks, ropes, whatever is handy and nearby is used. And they usually come off in one nice piece with nothing left behind.

Bella must have backed right into a "bush" because she came home with several spines coming out of her hock. It was simple to remove them and a day later all was still normal. Bella gets a thorough going over every time she comes in from the desert. I use Swat on any and all marks and scratches so the flies don't continually bother her. As you know, she is ENTITLED. Mochie, the old gelding, and the others watch in wonder at what I'm doing to her. Brushing burrs out of her tail, checking to see her eyes are clean, putting Swat under her belly, cleaning her boobs, picking her hooves. It's all questionable to them. And then there's the bucket of happiness.

Alright. I can't put this off any longer. It's been working it's way steadily, one second at a time, 'til it's right here ready to smack me in the face. I'm turning 60 the day after manana.

WORK IT GIRL

What happened to the buckskin in this filly?
Bella was in the largest paddock yesterday when I arrived to give her the much beloved bucket of happiness. The horses kind of play musical chairs in this small family farm and they get to go into whatever paddock is nearest when they come in from their daily desert freedom. As I took my time entering, turning to latch the gate, and then facing her she was doing her best imitation of a very mean mare. Ears back, shaking her mane from side to side, but not approaching me. I shook my finger down around my waist and she backed up about 4 feet. More tap dances and more finger wagging and I had her a good 8 feet back. Then, happiness was produced for the smartest little girl in the world.
I love her throat-latch.

I got some.
So?
I'm always excited to find some new candy.
Why?
Cause I really like fresh candy.

I grew up with this guy's mother. We rode at the same stable and we went to the same schools forever. McLain has surpassed both of his parents horsemanship which is saying alot. Especially his dad.
This video was just pointed out to me from another buddy who we rode with.

Since I'm so lame (listening to too many boys lately) and I have no "me" time I'll post a recent forwarded email that entertained me for a few minutes.

1. People who don't take care of their own horses will be the first ones to tell you how to care for yours.
2. You should never buy a cheap girth!
3. A handsome horse that's badly behaved will become a lot less attractive in about 15 min.
4. People who think they have nothing more to learn about riding hit the ground the hardest.
5. Children and ponies are natural allies and often have identical dispositions.
6. The richest horse people often look the poorest.
7. The closeness of a horse is one of the sweetest smells in the world.
8. A solitary ride through the bush is more beneficial than six months with the best psychiatrist.
9. The worse a person rides, the more likely they are going to blame it on the horse.
10. The best thing about going to the barn first thing in the morning is that horses don't care how you look.
11. If a dealer insists a horse is worth twice what he's asking he's usually worth half that much.
12. The best way to appreciate how another person rides is to get on their horse.
13. I can recognize another horse person no matter what town, city, state, county or country I visit.
14. You can never have too many hoof picks.
15. It is not wise to argue with something that outweighs you by 1,000 pounds
16. I'd rather have a horse with a perfect mind then a perfect head.
17. Eight hours is too long to be in the saddle!
18. If you think you have left the water on in the barn you have; if you think you have closed the pasture gate you haven't.
19. When someone asks you if you like their horse always say yes :)
20. The happiest people I know own horses, dogs, cats and at least one deranged goat.
21. If you're looking for the perfect horse you will never own one.
22. Owning a horse can either make a marriage or break it.
23. I'd rather lose my lipstick then my curb chain.
24. You shouldn't talk about your first place ribbon to someone that came in second.
25. If someone says that horse has a little buck, it has a BIG buck.
26. If we need rain, schedule a horse show or trail ride.
27. I've never warmed up to someone that didn't want a walk down to the stables to see the horses.
28. A clean stable and a sparkling horse are among life's great pleasures.
29. Even given-away horses can be too expensive. Especially give-away horses.
30. No matter how badly behaved you are, your horse always gives you a second chance.
31. A more expensive horse doesn't make a better one.
32. I can't stand to have an empty stable.
33. Losing a horse can break your heart, but it will have been worth it.

Bella's 3rd Birthday
It's today and I'm not there to spoil her with a big yummy bucket of pellets and carrots. I'll probably get home by Easter day and then I can lavish her with gifts.

Movie Reviews

While I was up in Oregon and Barbie was recuperating we got to rent and watch movies. I'm always way behind in current movies so a trip to the rental store is always like my eyes are bigger than my stomach. So many to see, so little time.

Here is our list and our opinions:

• Death at a Funeral-two thumbs up, comedy
• Secret Life of Words-two big thumbs up, drama
• Michael Clayton-two thumbs up, drama
• Elizabeth The Golden Age-two thumbs up, drama
• Copying Beethoven-two thumbs down, we only watched 20 minutes, couldn't take any more
• Once-two big thumbs up, musical
• Kinky Boots-two thumbs up, comedy/drama
• The Darjeeling Express-two big thumbs up, comedy/drama
• Goya's Ghost-two thumbs down, but we did watch the whole thing, drama
• Evening-two thumbs sideways, disappointing drama with a good cast
• 3:10 to Yuma-thumbs up, drama (Russell Crow appears to be able to really ride)
• Juno (in the theatre)-two thumbs way up, quirky drama

If I was forced with threats of no dessert to pick my favorite movie I would probably say, "The Secret Life of Words." It was so painful, well acted and written. Not a light movie.
We enjoyed the music so much in Once and Juno that we downloaded both soundtracks from iTunes.

See that little fog bank out there? It enveloped us this morning, but is now receding. Kind of like my foggy little brain.
I returned home yesterday from my nursing duties in Oregon. I wish I had another week or two to stay with my sister but my husband was done with being a bachelor and I had my plane ticket in hand. That rotator cuff surgery business is tough and it is a long recovery. Being one armed for weeks on end is no good. I did make sure Barbie could open her own wine bottles and feed the cat before I left. Oh, and you know that barn coat I took along? It certainly came in handy to wrap Barbie in after the surgery. She wore it like a cocoon for days until we were able to unhook and unwrap her little stapled wounds. Luckily she has fluffy Venus to keep her warm with me gone along with my coat. I wish I could have just brought them both back home with me.
By the way, I haven't been in Oregon in the winter/spring in quite some time. It is so beautiful!

Oregon in Late February
I'm up in Oregon tending to my sister Barbie who had rotator cuff surgery on Monday. This is not fun for her, but is an interesting change of pace for me. I'm loving the green, wet, cool, fresh, clean, blooming, quiet, restful, healthy, natural, organic, available, thoughtful lifestyle that surrounds us. I can breathe and think deeply as I walk. And I can walk almost everywhere.

Here's an old picture of Holly and me when we were both teenagers. I posted this before and wrote a little entry about our relationship here.

Busy little Mudranch tagged me to post an old photo and I'm afraid that is the only one I have other than the photo of me on my stick-horse I use as my icon. Sorry to be so repetitive. I actually love that picture and I certainly did love that horse.

Floyd

Cats seem to know things that are only in our minds. This boy acts like he already knows I'm leaving for a few weeks and is becoming more and more clingy. He's the fur-ball who has to get into my suitcase and be sure I have some of him to take along. I could use his whole coat since I'll be up in Oregon. I only have sweatshirts and sweaters down here, OH, but wait, I do have one barn coat. Think I should wash it? Maybe Floyd could give it a good licking.

Ponying Bella In The Desert

It was wonderful and satisfying to lead Bella with her mother. There was no fighting the halter or pulling away. She came along like she had done it many times before. She's such a smart girl. She and her mother both got a little grain and turned out when we got back to the ranch.

Yes, and happy Valentine's Day to you too, Sunrise. You are a couple of days premature.

Always working on new material.

I especially like to ask for backing up both before and after a little lunging session. I have gotten her to back through the in/out gate now and she never tries to rush out. She must be anticipating having to turn around and back out. I don't have tons of confidence in myself as a real horse trainer but so far she is willing to work with what I ask. Someone mentioned bridling a horse and tying their head to the side OVERNIGHT to get them bending properly. Oh my. Makes me want to throw up. Can you spell torture? Bella bends with very slight pressure and I have even got her to come around by just tapping her side. Working poco a poco is much better for both of us. Anyway, she's coming along and I'm crazy about her.

I'm An Earth Rat

so happy New Year.

February's Desktop Picture

These are sequential pictures from this morning. I peaked over my right shoulder as I was reading MiKael's blog this morning and found the possibility of something picture worthy unfolding out there. The first one was the clue that if I was patient for 5 minutes I might get some copper-colored water as the sky brightened. This also reminds me that the sun is definitely marching north.
Yeah for Groundhog Day!

Someone named Jim came out to the barn the other day. I wasn't there. Jim was looking for a horse to buy and came out to see Doris and Frankie. Once Diane got him out by the horses he pointed to Bella and asked about her. Wait a minute. She's mine. Don't even look at her. Diane explained she had sold Bella over a year ago. But he wouldn't let it go at that. Is that Molly's horse? (Uh huh. Who is this Jim anyway?) Well, I want a flashy one like that. (Not in your lifetime, Buddy.)

Being out in the desert overnight with the rest of the herd was exhausting. Even with her loverman, McCoy, outside the gate she needed to catch a couple of winks.



She certainly has a straight nose and heavy muzzle. Must be the Andalusian traits.
This might have been the perfect time to saddle her and do a little starter stuff. Sadly I didn't have the saddle and anyway hated to interrupt her beauty sleep.

7 Things I'd Like To Accomplish in 2008 and/or Boring Things About Me

Tracey at Mustang Diaries tagged me :) :(
A nice thing about this tag is that Tracey got tagged by Mudranch which made me go check out her blog. That was a nice find!

1. I'd really like to take this basic Spanish I've picked up and turn it into full sentences that don't sound like David Sedaris' "Me Talk Pretty One Day."
2. I'd like to keep up the exercise I forced myself to continue through the holidays. I'm sure I haven't lost any weight but doing these last 8 weeks of Pilates has really started me on the road to better strength.
3. I'd like to continue my slow training of Bella and probably get on her back sometime this Spring.
4. I'd like to read more. Books that is. I have my blogs to keep me warm but there are so many books in my pile that are screaming my name.
5. I'd like to travel a little. Last summer I had a great road trip up into Oregon. I passed places I'd like to go back to. And, yes, it has to do with wineries. But North Carolina relatives need visiting, too.
6. I'd like to spend more time in my almost abandoned house in CA.
7. I'd like to keep taking my vitamins. I'll be 60 in a few short months and am so very lucky to continue to be healthy enough to be looking forward to these things above.
   

I just cannot make myself tag 7 people after I did it in the previous post. But all/both of my readers know they are tagged.

THANKS MIKAEL
AT
MiKael's Mania

YOU TOTALLY MAKE MY DAY

I miss very few days of checking up on my Arabian Horse buddy in Washington. She writes the most compelling blogs in serial form so at the end of each one you can't wait until tomorrow to see what happens next.

Here are 10 blogs I read almost each and every day...right after I've checked in at MiKael's blog. Sometimes they post so rarely that it is like finding an Easter Egg when I find a new post, while others keep the conversation going.

Dixie Peach
Mustang Diaries
Dooce
The Geek Inside
Smells Horsey
Bike Riding Donut Guy
Helenjane who I lost for awhile when I got a new computer
Aimlessly Wandering
Equine Mine
A Velvet Cage who gets this from MiKael and me
Ami

Uh oh, that's 11. I couldn't stop. You guys are welcome to pass this on if you want to. I know it Made My Day!