Tag: Horses

It’s a farm life

Although by a real farmers standards…
a Hobby Farm.
 That’s OK by me… even Hobby farms are a lot of work.  
Walking around the farm with my camera this weekend..
I took note of a few things.
This is what Basil looks like when you’ve let it flower and go to seed.
The aroma is heavenly, but the remaining crop spent.
We’ve given up the garden for the year, harvesting the last of the peppers
…and tomatoes!  Even a barren waste land of tomato plants will still
produce a few gems if left to their own devices.
Ok, it’s not a gem. But look at the color!

Have the leaves begun to turn in your neck of the woods?
We have the occasional tree beginning to color and shed
The grass is still growing.. amazing consider the hot dustbowl this summer produced.
25 year old Max filled out nicely because of it.
I’m hoping to keep the weight on him through the winter.
The manchild still mows regularly, and still refuses to let me take a decent picture.
This was a hasty retreat as he spied the camera.

The original hens and new hens still  choose to stay separate
except for when I close them in the coop at night.
The old girls, taking a  dust bath before the rains yesterday
under their favorite pine tree, which we have trimmed,
much to their chagrin.
The new girls barely venture out into the coop yard.
Henrietta
Raven and Snow
Andie
I am now fully aware of how the terms
“Hen Pecked”
“Pecking Order”
and..
“Don’t be a Chicken”..
came to be. 
The garden still blooms… 
If you plant nothing else next year,
sow some Zinnia seeds.
They are the flower that just keeps giving and giving…
And don’t be afraid of roses..
there are many hardy varieties out there.

I hope you’re enjoying the weekend
in whatever way brings you happiness.
A lesson I think I’ve finally absorbed..
When someone’s giving you grief in one way or another
and it befuddles you because you know you don’t deserve
or understand  it … instead of letting it gnaw at you and fester..
do yourself a favor and realize ... that 99 percent of that kind of behavior..
has nothing whatsoever to do with you. 
And then let it go.  

Max

My girl has had a great year
as she re-entered the world of horse shows.
She and her instructor’s horse, Beemer,
have done very well together in the Adult Walk-Trot
western pleasure and equitation classes.
Beemer is still “green”, however, and needs more time and training
before he can go to the next level.  Heidi has begun fine tuning his skills..
and K needed to move forward with a well schooled horse.
Our horses at home are not fancy enough to compete..
and buying another  quality show horse outright would be very expensive.
We’re very fortunate that there is a horse available for lease
on the farm K takes her lessons.  His owner is  moving
up in the quarter horse world and is looking for a
fancier horse for the higher level of competition.
Max is perfect for K,
and so a new partnership has begun.

Heidi on Beemer, giving K and Max instruction…



more horse, ofcourse….after a word from no one’s sponsor

Funny, this blog thing.
I understand that some folks stop by this little space of mine
for the pictures… the farm, the animals,
the recipes, the pleasantries.
But life and some of its elements ain’t always grand..
and my blog is a chronicle of life as I experience it.
On occasion I use this space to discuss a troublesome topic.
I like to know what you’re thinking too..
and in the recent case of  a certain politician, I expressed outrage.
I believe I have the right to do so, and not many will
argue that he doesn’t deserve some wrath.
Anonymous was so offended by that post that her first word was
WOW and her last was GOOD BYE.
She  visited for the pictures of the property and roses. 
I can tell you that I never intend to offend,
but I’m not here to make everything “rosey” either.
I like to know I’m being real with you,
and I hope that’s evident here at This Old House 2.
Today K and Beemer were at an open show
not too far from here.. the weather was beautiful..
everyone had a good time and horse & rider were insync.
Lots of pretty horses, colorful ribbons, bows in little girls hair,
even pink braids on ponies…
This boy could have ridden his dog in a class!
What a big teddy bear, too.

Little brother and friend actually came to cheer on big sister.
But don’t tell anyone.  Unless you’re on FB.. because I plastered it there too 🙂

I just love this Clyde… what a well mannered horse.

Grammy came today too!

Heidi is training Beemer to do trail… they came in second, not bad for a greeny!

The bluest eye.



A whisp of Blue on Saturday morning…

  It’s a grey mist kinda day so far… and on my way up the driveway with a gator full of horse and chicken manure I came across an injured bluebird.   Sad to see it… knew there was nothing I could do for the fella… so I picked him up and put him in a nearby bluebird house.

Have I told you lately how much I love this dog?
So does the very macho teenager of the house.

I’ll spend some time today riding Opie…
and clipping those whiskers, apparently…
…While K gets ready for tomorrows horse show, the last of the season with Beemer.
This is not Beemer..
We are now at the point in the road where Beemer will not
be able to take Kristen to the next level in her riding skills..
He will continue his training with his owner.  
The dilemna is finding the right horse and situation, AFFORDABLY…
to get her where she wants to go.
Coop News! 
I finally gave up on trying to find someone in Connecticut who would sell me
four pullet hens.. not chicks, which I can get in 100 places.
I don’t have the coop space to separately raise chicks, keeping them safe from
getting picked on or killed by my adult hens.
Sooo.. I found a woman in NY state that will ship four six month olds to me
as soon as the heat dies down and they can tolerate transit.. Parcel Post!
I’ve got two cochins, an Ameraucana (sp??)  and an Andalusian coming…
This is sort of what the flock will look like,
although chickens vary.. especially the Ameraucanas….
The cochins have feathery feet!

I’ll let you know when they arrive…
Have a great weekend, all  –

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!

Neigh-bors

My girl and I took Coady & Lacey
down the driveway and across the street to
visit with our good neighbor, Margaret.
Our minis have been to nursing homes
and rehabilitation centers with me to visit those
who can’t get out into the world like they used to..
therapy horses, they were.
I haven’t done that work in years
and sometimes I miss it.
 At 89 years young, Margaret still takes care of her own home
and we feel lucky to have her as a neighbor.
She’s always got a positive outlook on life. 
 Just look at her lovely garden. 
While we stood there grazing  horses and talking,
hummingbirds were swarming the feeders and flowers.
I always leave her yard with a feeling of peace.
Some people just have the ability to put you at ease…
to remind you of the simple graces in life.
She’s one of those for sure.

Blazin Saddles

We had another great day at a Color Breed Show
here in Connecticut. 
What a gorgeous horse… can I take him home, please?
I just love the people and horses that turn out at these shows…
Down to earth, and they’re having FUN.
The way it should be.
It was hot as h*ll though.. I give everyone credit for riding out that heat.
Attire requirements were relaxed to give riders relief… no show jackets or heavy blouses
required, or chaps.
K & Beemer
E. and Apache

Beemer is a registered paint who doesn’t have as much “flash” as other paints.
He has too much white to be registered as a quarter horse too.
So at these color breed and paint shows he relies on good conformation
good performance,  and good attitude.

Reviewing the trail pattern with fearless leader Heidi

Apache has great conformation and color.. placing 1st in halter.

K and Beemer did a trail class for the first time…
these pictures make it look like a  flawless run.
NOT! 
 But hey, it’s the effort that counts 🙂

With the very next step on the bridge… Beemer said..
“Um… no I don’t think so” 
K and Beemer were troopers though, and got through the course.  
Loved the work on this tail….
Apache… a very handsome appaloosa

At the end of the day, there were big smiles,  blue skies and blue ribbons to appreciate.
A very good day indeed.