More horse’n around…

I’m pretty sure that when I stepped in the shower tonight
there might have been  five pounds of sand
at my feet and it’s possible  my skin was instantly three shades lighter
once the soap was applied. 

Horse shows and dust… can’t have one without the other.
Doesn’t matter that an occasional monsoon blows through..
The dust persists.

Team Beemer had another great weekend –
I’ve told you before why this brings tears to my eyes…
the horse no one wanted just a year ago
and the comeback kid, back in the saddle.
There was lots of  BLUE in the western pleasure division today…

Fearless leader Heidi on Beemer…

How adorable is this little half-pint…
For those of you who are horse-knowledgeable –
this is a 16 hand horse!

Come with me….

….my love…
To the sea…
the sea of love…
I want to tell you..
Just how much..
I love you.
Which of you knows this song?
No googling!
Visiting the tiny seaside cottage of a friend
just a hop, skip, jump, and 20 minutes down the turnpike
from This Old House.
To maintain their privacy I’ll not mention where it is..
but I had to share with you this charming.. charmed.. little oasis.
If I win the lottery someday…this is what I’ll seek.

You folks are why I love blogging.

16 T-shirts already sold
just to my fellow bloggers alone!
That’s $320….
the cost to pull  10 dogs from kill shelters and bring them to rescue and ultimately adoption.
You, my blog friends have already chipped in to save 10 dogs from euthanasia…
Just so you KNOW what you’ve done.
Hilary of Crazy as a Loom
has done some rescue work herself
and has also donated a Looper Loom and
beautiful blue rag rug for us to auction off…
Hilary, you rock. Just that.
Vicky, you’re going through your own trials..
and yet, you still give and give of yourself..
you amaze me.
Thank you! 

Lets Save 100 More….

The next Dog Days Adoption Event!!….
isn’t scheduled yet. 
Why?  Because funds are needed for all the expenses
of a weekend-long adoption event..
things like porta potties, tent rental , dog food for the shelter dogs,
Sanitary lotions, food for the volunteers, hay for bedding in the pens,
medical supplies, dumpster for garbage.. rubber gloves, etc. etc. etc…
Volunteers of Dog Days are holding various fundraisers this month
so that another 100 or so dogs and puppies from kill shelters
and also those in municipal pounds can find a home.
My contribution to this effort was having T-shirts made
for those who would like to contribute.
Here’s what you can do if you are interested…
Make a donation of $20. or more to the cause,
and I’ll mail or hand you a t-shirt in the size of your choice.
Supplies are limited, so if you want to “purchase”
a donation shirt… here are the details – 
Women’s white V-neck T-shirt…
limited number of sizes  M, L, XL, XXL
below is the design…
Yup, that’s Frasier..
Next design will be another adopted Dog…maybe yours?
On the back of the Tee will be a quote by Margaret Mead…
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens
can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
 ~Margaret Mead
If you’d like to make a donation and receive a t-shirt, please e-mail me
and we’ll work out the details (payment method, size, shipping address if not local)
You know I’ll keep you posted on the event itself
so you can see exactly what your money went to… the  dogs you helped save.
see Dog Days Adoption Events label on side of blog
if you want to be acquainted with what we’re doing.

The Lieutenant River

The Lieutenant River is a 3.7-mile-long tidal river located in Old Lyme, Connecticut. It joins the Connecticut River in the estuary, just above the point where that river flows into Long Island Sound.The river has a popular public boat launch and is a popular fishing spot.  It’s probably most notable for its continuing popularity among artists and photographers. A number of noted American impressionist artists, including Childe Hassam, painted views of the river while staying at the Florence Griswold House in Old Lyme.

The guy and I took a paddle up the Lieutenant River this morning – perfect overcast weather without the sun bearing down on us, and a gentle wind.  I had my pocket camera with me, as I don’t dare bring the big guns out in the water.  Too bad, though… because the Osprey, blue herons and other shore birds were in abundance and I would have loved to do a decent job with pictures.  We’ve spotted bald eagles here too. 

 

     This particular river is an easy paddle and there are beautiful old  homes along it’s shores… Not to mention some incredible old trees…    

Paddling directly under I-95, which runs up the east coast start to finish….
I bet many of you have traveled it…

We noticed wild – hibiscus?-  along the shore almost everywhere…

This is the back of the Florence Griswold Museum…
The house below has so much charm…
can you see the gazebo shaped room at the left?…
What a perfect place to sit and take it all in…
This guy was very pleased with his blue fish catch.
We knew the bluefish were running, because there were smaller
fish running from them, jumping out of the water right in front of us at times.
Call me pathetic if you will,
but I felt sorry for the damned fish.
Just hush.

She who talks to insects

We got a whopper of a rain storm early in the evening…
Tornado watches in part of the state and more than a few lost power.

This morning the muggy grey sky humidity has returned.
Not even heavy rain dissuades it.

So I’ve been out among the perennials  this morning clipping dead-heads
and discussing politics with the bugs.
‘Round here, they’re the only ones who agree with me…
and the dogs ofcourse… but I feed them
and provide great bacon treats.  

  

I’ve never seen a spider like this one before…
the body as big as my thumbnail.
Looks poisonous to me, do ya think? 
Can you see the little angry alien on his body pattern?
*I googled – it’s a black and yellow garden spider, harmless.


 In any event, he’s not voting this year either.
Do I hear a collective gasp?
Nope, I’m not voting… because I don’t think we have an answer I can stand by
this time around.  No mud slinging here,
I just don’t see a clear answer.
And I’m really tired of the petty childish campaign behavior.
We’re looking foolish, folks.
No wonder our street cred is way down.
If we can’t respect each other, how is the rest of the world supposed to believe it.
Just sayin.

Part of my day job….

…is picking stuff. 
And getting dirty doing it.
A girl could have it worse.
 While we’ve lived on small horse farms for all of our married years..
The Man didn’t get into big time vegetable gardening until a few years ago.
I have to say, I’m grateful.  It’s alot of work,
but the rewards we reap are well worth it.
It’s a great feeling to know where your food’s coming from,
and that it’s not loaded with chemical crap. 

If all you’ve got is a deck off a condominium or apartment,
I recommend you atleast put a few pots out there
and grow just a wee bit of your own produce..
Tomatoes, herbs  and even cukes do well this way!
There are few things more gratifying
then sitting down to a  homegrown salad,  cobbler or jam.

Frasier couldn’t care less.
He’s got more important things on his mind…
Like –  don’t nobody mess with my angrybird

….and  Mamma won’t let me get that bunny!

I feed that baby bunny every day.. carrots, blackberries.
He no longer runs away when I open the door to toss the berries out to him.
Is this a bad thing?
I do love this old house.

Evening light

Glorious sunset in Connecticut last night…
I noticed on FB this morning that I wasn’t the only one
trying to capture it.
Below are a few shots here at this old house…
and then lets travel down to waters edge with a few friends. 

Joey’s capture at Clinton Beach on the shoreline…
Tim’s capture just up the coast in  Narragansett, RI