Lost. Not a happy word in my opinion. Its kind of lonely and hopeless. Even when used describing something positive like “lost in a good book” or “lost in thought” It still makes me cringe a little. Lost is exactly where I have been in my horsemanship for several years now. I cant explain it exactly. One is tempted to lump it under burn out but it went so much deeper than that and frankly scared the living be-jesus out of me. I questioned even having a horse. For those of you who know me best that’s like saying I’m considering taking a vow of silence. So improbable that you would laugh out loud …no really its ok, I know I yack A LOT….I prefer to think of myself as gregarious on steroids! In any case as I struggled to understand what had shifted and when. I realized that I had been doing the same thing with horses for almost 12 years. The exact same lessons taught, revisited and practiced for 12 years. Oh I dabbled here and there and honestly attended a few clinics that where mind blowing ( Ray Hunt, Charles Dekumfy come to mind) but then I would stall again. Caught up in the daily teaching of clients and new horses. Don’t get me wrong, I learned from each new horse something I did not know. I gained new insight from each clients questions. Even if they where the same as the last client, explaining the nuances for their particular horse was a constant source of information and understanding. I thank all of you from the bottom of my heart for sharing your horsemanship journey with me! I realized only recently that each of my clients had a horse or two they where deeply passionate about which made their journey all the more fun for me and emotionally challenging for them. Getting them in sync with their special critter was the best pay check I could ask for. I didn’t even realize I had nothing that momentous at home with my own critters. I like all my horses past and present, they have all taught me more about me than I have a right to know ,honestly. However passionate, inspirational, motivating, exciting?…..well, no…. until Cuervo, who inspired all those things and more. But there was a catch. The training I knew and trusted did not work the wonders on him it had on previous horses nor could I use it fully due to his physical limitations at the time. If I pushed through with the repetitions I felt he needed he didn’t stay sound, so the chiropractor would come out and put him right and I would hedge on how to convey to him the lessons I wanted us to share. I wasn’t ready to let go of what I knew. Funny , as I was in the same exact position when I went to John Lyons Certification Program 14 years ago. Slowly after making statements like “ I don’t care if I ever ride Cuervo, its enough he makes me smile” and “I have Boo to ride when I have time…” I knew these where not quite honest. So I searched and talked( big surprise) and read and watched and tried really hard to ignite a spark that would get my horsemanship on track. Where did I want to be? What did I want to do?, How did I want to ride? What made it all click? Well, part of the problem was in the “trying“. I have always been a square peg in the round hole kind of person. That means push it hard enough and it will eventually , kinda, fit! The search did open up some wonderful friendships and coined me a new way to approach Cuervo that he prefers over the previous way. But I was forcing it and faking it and flogging myself for it. Why? Why? WHY? Its like that line in a song by Pink, she sings “ why do I do that ?”, then , in a speaking voice, as if to herself ,she asks exasperatedly “why do I do that?” Same thing going on here. I wasn’t sparking, heck not even smoldering and I was trying sooooo hard! Then an opportunity arose, that was ill timed for my current circumstances but I knew I needed to take it, even when I was doubting myself in the first weeks, thinking, Ive gone down this path before. And I have. This time though, something was different. That difference was passion. I truly like every horse that I get to touch, I LOVE my big Boo for the journey we have been on together for 15 years and will continue on for her lifetime. I LOVE my Cuervo who has lit a new way for me to see and continues to wait for me. And my sweet Lacey girl, who through her random trail rides has helped me decide what it is I really want in my partnerships with horses. I like them all, but Ive loved only a few. Love is a funny thing and as most of us have experienced , love is exhilarating, exasperating, energizing. Despite conventional thinking(overrated),friendly advise(much appreciated) and cosmic timing( learn to trust) I am proud to introduce to you Leonidis de Echo my new partner in crime. He is a three year old paso fino gelding whom I was smitten with two years ago at the paso fino show in Asheville. There is a spark now folks, and with proper care and feeding it will be a flame. I would like to thank Lori West and Echo West Farm for reaching out to me with an offer I couldn’t refuse and for including me in some very theraputic saddle time on the gorgeous FETA trails that surround their home. I am more grateful than you can ever imagine.

Grateful....

Here in the south there are always wonderful terms to describe the most mundane things. Take the word "busy" for example, sure we can add words to it like "insanely", "crazy", or "stupid" to really drive home the point. But check this out, Here one would say, "I'm just covered up!" Said with a sad smile and a little shrug of the shoulders and you might even get a hug from the person you are talking to, you will definitely get a sympathetic " well, bless your heart..." and a pat on the hand. That friends, sums up my last few months. Ive simply been covered up! In the grand tradition of a picture is worth a thousand words, Ill let these few do the talking and catch up with words when I can string them together again in a semblance of coherency.

Nikki Collins, RIP

We lost our Nikki today after an illness that seemed to come on slowly around the end of November. After many tests, and treatments for vague symptoms she stopped eating and we had her put to sleep here at home surrounded by her loved ones. She was a wonderful girl. I had never been around actual huskies before meeting Tim and was a bit skeptical at first about their general temperament, but as I quickly learned, the girls are so good. There won't be another like her,and I'm glad to have had the chance to be part of her pack. See you on the other side girlie! PS Nikki, if you are hanging out with a particularly troublesome jack russel, I apologise...you'll get used to her. If need be tell the large black dog to give her a chop. We love you sweet gal!

Alpharetta

Living the life

My suite..

Icy drive

Steak dinner awaits
Country side behind the farm

Atlanta Georgia is only 3.5 hours from my front door. The east coast is cool that way. Take a drive in any direction for a few hours and you will most likely end up in another state. Its not so easy on the west coast to do that. I set off two Fridays ago with Amerika the worlds coolest riding simulator, to give a clinic in a town called Alpharetta. Little known to me, this place was similar to Del Mar, CA and Warrenton Va. if they where spliced together and plunked down with in spitting distance of Atlanta. My long weekend however turned into an impromptu week long stay as winter dumped some very "narsty" weather on us Monday afternoon( my departure date). I spent the rest of the week teaching a few intrepid students who braved icy roads and maybe worst of all, the driveway at Prospect Hill Farm who was kindly hosting me. Not to be deterred by a little "weatha", we donned our warmest winter wear and hiked next door for steaks on the grill one evening. When we finally where able to make it out it was for my farewell dinner at a wonderful Chinese bistro, Yay duck salad!!!! It was my first real view of the amenities in the area and I must admit I was suffering some pretty mean amenities envy. First and most importantly a Dover Saddlery, yep, right there on the main street. Costco(remember the one closest to me is in South Carolina), not just any old Costco either, this one had a fresh gelato stand inside, a liqueur barn and DECAF dunkin donuts coffee, inexplicably NOT available at mine(I bought three bags!)There where many, many cute looking eateries and Starbucks, Whole Foods, Trader Joes.....oh the list goes infinitely on and on......anyhoo, paradise has its downfalls too, TRAFFIC the kind only Atlanta can have, and really icy roads. The main ones even. I heard an ugly rumor that there are only 10 snow plows in the whole state. Driving on the roads 5 days after the storm, I can believe it. We made it home, Amerika and I. The roads in rural NC having been salted and plowed(nanny nanny boo boo). I'll be back to Alpharetta of course, just not until the warmer months when week long stays are a choice and not a necessity.

How Knitting Fights Winter Butt

Whats Winter Butt you ask? Winter Butt is an insidious condition that strikes most women right around January every year. Its brought about by egg nog, snuggling by a fire place with a hot toddy, and Christmas goodie making/sampling. It causes sagging and dimpling of the rump region and for some reason is always a surprise to those afflicted ( moi being the most surprised every year) This year I even noticed it in my fine, furry equines as well. Apparently carrying my derrier is good for all our derrieres! As always when struck by this scourge I set my sights on ridding myself of it. Not living on the swamp road, near an indoor pool or fun yoga studio has made it a bit of a challenge. My hot house tomato tendency has kept me off my horses for a few weeks not to mention all the holiday fun and company. I had to get creative. I considered and discounted the local gym mostly because, well, I hate gyms with their funk,germs and noise. But in my momentary gym musings I did remind myself that we do indeed have our own treadmill.....big, loud, dramatic, sigh. Treadmills seem like such a ridiculous idea to me in my "just be outdoors" haughtiness. But this year I have stooped to use it. (ONLY until spring mind you) Number one, its cold out, number two, well , its cold out and number three, its that or the gym...ewwwwww not. So, I am now "treading" or should I say "tread milling". What eveeeeeeeeer. I only had to over come the severe boredom factor that this entails. TV is out, who does that anyway? Reading, gave me a eye strain with a slight headache( just like I get in a car) and listening to my ipod only got me through three sessions on the old machine. How many times can I listen to Gaga after all. I already knew all the words but now I know all the keys as well. Ay yi yi! I decided to try the one thing I was looking forward to doing in the winter months but that unfortunately, I believe, contributes to Winter Butt as well. Knitting! Its true, Ive ripped out the same scarf Ive been working on....twice...but not only does it keep my hands busy, it keeps my eyes off that irritatingly,red flashing, lap counter. Four miles fairly flys by when you aren't saying to yourself " I know Ive been on here more than 3/4 of a mile...." Plus, think how many scarves will get knitted by next Christmas, it boogles the mind. So long Winter Butt, see ya next year.

Santa, Guns and Fall colors.

Its been almost 13 years since I have experienced a true fall. The kind where leaves change and fall,rain lasts all day, sun shines on frosty fields and wood smoke is the most common smell on the air. Its lovely and Ive missed it. I have been on the road alot the last few months, KY, VA and such. So I have seen some pretty vistas. Ive also missed a plethora of wonderful festivals around these here parts. Oktoberfest came and went with out so much as a swallow of dopple bock for me. There was a pottery festival, many a fall farmers market, several town specific parades and celebrations and at least one organized trail ride that I missed or otherwise couldn't attend. Bummer! I was determined to do at least one though and so I set my sights on "A Southern Christmas" A downtown , Charlotte staple. True I was giving up small town quaint for big city glitz but what the hey right? It was a festival for the holidays and I was not going to miss one more! We found the exit in part due to the line of cars stopping traffic on the highway. "uh oh, this IS a pretty big deal" Tim said as we added to the obstruction, nosing our car onto the shoulder behind about 100 others. Turns out this wasn't the first of the lines we encountered that day. There was the line to buy tickets, the line to get in, the line to get through the entire Christmas village set up inside the expo center, the line to the bathrooms( of course) the line for the wine tasting, luckily we abhor sweet wines the staple here in the great grape growing region of the triad. So our favored wines had no waiting! grin, But we did have to wait to get close enough to signal the down trodden Shiraz seller to fill us up several samples of his finest! He was so happy to see us, poor soul. Oh, then of course there where the lines and traffic snarls caused by every stroller in a hundred mile radius being used to haul loot and the occasional screeching child. Can I just say, that in such tight quarters there should be a stroller lane, where moms and shoppers with a need to stroll their loot around can congregate and chat and otherwise stay out of the flow of real traffic trying to just enjoy the sights elbow to elbow with thousands of our closest friends. After completing what Tim and I assumed was the whole show, we headed for the potty and that's where I found to my surprise that there was two more buildings full of show! OMG....Tim paled a little when I told him about it but we gamely pushed on. Through the hall of fried food, past the lonely salad and pita wrap sellers and into a flea market nightmare. There where taffy vendors( who really eats this stuff?), knife sellers, people hawking shammy's, hose nozzles,essential oils and nonstick cookware. All of them had microphones and flashy booths with demos at high volume and to ad to the painfully slow traffic, free samples. It was quite the thing let me tell you! We emerged from the first of the two buildings ready to cut out on the third but where lured in by some live Christmas trees and Santa figurines. After they had you locked into the flow of traffic it became the same flea market horror as the other. So with one brief stop at the Christmas village, for a holiday like cleanse, we took our leave and headed out to find lunch. Big city, Saturday, good restaurants...right? eh, yeah good CLOSED restaurants only open for dinner or closed at 1pm to reopen at 5pm....it was 2pm.
We managed to find a grill of some sort open near the fresh market (where I was determined to eat if yet one more food joint was closed to us.) It was food at least and rather a pleasantly dim place after the bright, loud show! But the best was on the way home. Tim spots a Gun show sign and with a classic,mischievious grin, wheels on in to peruse firearms. I enjoyed the firearm owners and attendees myself. A den of eclectic fanatics you have never seen. And the odors! Musty world war two era jackets, duffel bags and gun cases, deer pee, motor oil and cigarettes. Shew! as they say here in the south! Not to mention the occasional beer fumes and fried onions smell emitting from my fellow shoppers. Now , I'm not a gun loving sort, but on a purely aesthetic plane, I found I fancied hammer less, 38 revolvers with a laser in the grip, in shiny gun metal, silver! But that's just me.....Tim liked big, black guns with clips. Now everyone who has watched any amount of detective/police/mystery-kill-kill TV knows that clips can jam and do at the most inopportune times! And like the westerns I always have favored, there is something heart stopping about the sun glinting off of a barrel of a gun! That being said, for actual protection should one need it, I think a flame thrower would be most effective, collateral damage be damned. If someone is on fire their focus will likely shift from you to themselves. There where no flame throwers there though, *sigh* only "girl-ey" weapons like mace and tasers....oh and guns of course! So our get into the spirit weekend was eclectic to be sure, but in some ways so appropriate. We hit the wives to do first, and the place where alot of the husbands where second. A very telling and authentic southern fall outing I'd say!

Fall, Firewood and "Punkins"

On my quest to keep the frost from the tips of our snoots and our toes toasty in the coming months. I have been traversing the country side acquiring large amounts of fire wood for our ancient wood stove in the mud room. The oil furnace will be used sparingly as oil is almost 3 bucks a gallon.(gasp) I have located a great source for large quantities of dry hardwood off of ....guess where...my favorite.....CRAIGSLIST! I swear one could rule the world with properly used craigslist listings. I have thus far picked up and stacked three pick up loads of walnut. I have three more loads to go, two being oak. I have no idea how much we need but i think 1/3 of garage full is a good start! At $60 a load, cut and debarked, I think its a steal. Plus I get to take a lovely drive through the fall country side as a fabulous, free perk. Looking at all the pumpkins and mums and scarecrows adorning the various yards put me in the mind to decorate.....yes! to decorate for fall/Halloween/Thanksgiving. I used to back in MD but fell out of the habit in CA. So the search was on for suitable decorative squash. After three roadside stops with bright orange punkins running about 12 bucks a piece, I began to remember why I stopped decorating. Then I past a truck load of gorgeous frosty colored pumpkins being unloaded at a local convenience store. Only slightly squealing to a stop after a questionable "U-y", I climbed out of my pick up into a jovial group of pumpkin wranglers. I picked out a few and tried to pay but the good will was flowing and each of them gifted me a beautiful globe. WOW, I was floored. Those boys will get a pan full of brownies and a loaf of my bread next week when I head out for more wood. Just another reason to love my new home here in upstate NC.

Has it been that long?

grannys pan
apple festivus fun
Me and the 'Mater
a southern twist
Lake Lure

Greetings from Shelby! We really have been enjoying ourselves here. Love the house, love the area and so far, love the weather way better than the coastal swamp. Since July we have gotten fencing up, procured a tractor christened 'Mater, put up hay for the winter, got the last of the tomatoes ripening on the vine and can get most places with out really having to pay attention to the GPS( also known as the bitch in the box) We do actually leave the farm occationally and went up to the apple festival in Hendersonville a few weeks go. It was a real hoot! Can I just say that frozen apple cider is the bomb! Tim experienced clogging....not first had but we saw a very lively troop perform...He said it was like river dance but with seniors! We actually got good sushi up there at a Thai resteraunt on main street. You just never know! We havent really found a place right in our neighborhood to eat yet but I cook at home alot. Ive been using grannys pans. I think they are the secret to good cooking. Is it me or does almost everything from back in the day work better, last longer and seem to out perform modern items? We have had the bike out to and will look forward to viewing the fall leaves on the blue ridge parkway later in the season. We have plans to hike Chimney Rock and pay another visit to Lake Lure. Before we know it christmas will be here that means a tour of the Biltmore house and hopefully lots of company. Life is good!

really, really....

New Digs!

The house has taken shape, now for the great out of doors! Horse fence, barn rehab, mowing.... As you can see the horses are very happy in their temporary quarters. They have blown through the grass but they are content under their pine tree on their mats munching hay. Its really so peaceful and beautiful here. As the sign says: "Shelby, a pleasant place to live!"

We're doing it again.....

What do a narsty stomach flu, an impacted doggie anal gland,one lame horse,a gazillion spider bites and a uhaul have in common? They are all present on moving day at the Collins house hold. I have the flu....AGAIN and am sipping my ancient Chinese remedy of a boiled chicken thigh with a knob of ginger, while filling a box, laying down, running to the bathroom, sipping tea, laying down, filling a box.... You get the picture. After 5 hours of driving we delivered our first load....or is it our second load? Lets just call it the "extra" load that the movers we paid could not get on their truck. Strangely it seemed to be all horsey related items except for the motorcycle( sheepish grin) Amerika does not share a trailer and my round pen needed to be set up in temporary horse corrals for the Monday arrival of the horses. As Tim so succinctly put it" I think I only have one more of these moves in me." I do believe, I concur. While I'm not sure we are getting any better at it, we have gotten wiser and hired some nice guys at the other end to do most of the heavy work. Turns out, Adam and his nephew are neighbors living not to far from the new place. I posted on my favorite resource Craigs list and got over 20 calls in an hour! Needless to say times are tough and it makes me so, so, so grateful for our situation, employment and other wise! Tim's new job starts on the 8Th, therefore the rush- rush. Luckily the "big gun" is available from Fla. Nothing like a Moomsie to help whip things into shape and lend the much needed moral support.

Like last time, there is serous kismet at work here. Not only did the place fall into our lap after one day of rental ad perusal but I went to a horse show with a buddy of mine two weekends ago and drove through Shelby on our way up to Asheville. At the time I thought,"Wow, this is a cute little town, I wish we could live here...Its probably to far from Tim's work." As it turned out that's exactly where we get to live! The new place is 13 glorious, unfenced acres, covered for the most part in black berry bushes and tall grass. The home is at least 65 years old and by far the biggest place I have ever lived. We won't be using the upstairs of the house where there are 4 bedrooms and a bath that is non functioning. All my Christmas decorations and our extra stuff will enjoy that space. Down stairs is two bedrooms one bath and an office for Tim not to mention a huge kitchen and mudroom and laundry room. I'm looking forward to no more musty, dusty carpet as the whole house is wood floors! There is a barn that needs a little work and tons of out buildings. Some that need bull dozing! But Amerika gets to live at home, Tim's car and motorcycle have a garage and there is no, NO dirt road to the place. Its pavement baby! All the way to the front door!

We are having to suffer a return to Hughes net for Internet access. So Internet will be sketchy or at least to slow to be bothered with most of the time. Don't worry if you hear from of us infrequently until the weather breaks....You will all have our new phone numbers when we get them. Wish us luck. Big day tomorrow......

The new me.....

Have I mentioned lately its hot? Oh, and humid? You know, hot and humid like a south east summer should be? Complete with vacationing northerners? And lots of people at Food Lion in bathing suit cover ups who should have gotten dressed before going for groceries? Well, It is and they are and they should have...seriously, they should have. In the defense of all those on vacay, when I vacation I loose my mind too and am prone to decisions like wearing dayglo colors or thinking having my hair braided into corn rows is "IT". ( That last one might have been the margaritas talking.) In any case, its truly time to wear clothes that allow as much convection as possible. This is a struggle for me as I live and have lived and will always live in breeches. Horse breeches,that while cotton, are always black, snug and cover up all skin between belly button and ankle. This, while habit and once comfortable for me is not so much working in the buggy mug here. Not to mention, how "unacceptable and out of the ordinary" my clothing of choice seems to be to the average Hampsteadian.( see previous posting: horse pants blues) So I embarked on the dreaded shopping trip and forced my way through several changing rooms full of shorts, skorts and such. It was heinous as well as unproductive. In some mirrors I actually re-lived the Food Lion vacay cover up horrors that had so recently elicited such a visceral reaction from me. Disheartened,I scuffled off home, determined to ride out summer in the cool confines of my house. But first a quick bite at the local health food hang out. As I munched my curried seitan,and got ready to drown my sorrows in a Honest Tea, apple-jasmine kombucha, I noticed several of my dred locked, tattooed lunch compadres wearing sundresses. For 40 some odd years I have scrupulously avoided dresses unless it was for prom, wedding or my thrice yearly church forays. Then I counted the milliseconds until I could remove it and wear breeches. In fact the word "dress" is almost as hard for me to say as the words"I love you" are for many of the adult, male population. It usually comes out as sort of a stuttery, disdainful , snort. Something like "duh duh duh dress?!!" the last part rising in volume and pitch until it reaches the proper "are you freaking kidding me?" level. For some reason, maybe it was the seitan and mellow vibe of the place. I caught myself thinking "oooooh thats cute!" Shocked, I began a furious argument with me on all the reasons dresses are sooooo not us. "Dresses need cute shoes!" I blurted "Cute shoes are usually uncomfortable!" Me countered with " Look around , there are Birkies , flip flops and clogs...oh and over there some old keds decorated with marker." "Yeah but..." I stuttered "Dresses are for occasions." Me said "Summer is an occasion." "Dresses are so not us!" I whined. "Maybe they should be." reasoned Me. Who continued with " Look how , easy, breezy, cover girl that one over there is." Pouting, I looked. Girl friend had her dreds up in a cute head scarf, no make up, a floor length floral cotton shift and some rainbow flip flops. And all of a sudden it did make sense to me then. I love ease, I love comfort, I NEED cool, I hate outfits that need to be matched. What could be easier than one piece of clothing? I have flip flops for heavens sakes. I had been enlightened. So with this in mind and not ready or willing to face any more neon lit, multi mirrored changing rooms, I went home and ordered three sundresses from my favorite catalog( Athleta.com) I am giddy with my girlishness and I LOVE my new dresses. I even threw one on to buy celery the other day. Its a new me!

Scenes...

The heat has arrived already this year and with it, snakes, baby turtles, fresh tomatoes, and some kick ass roses! Under the water trough only a week ago was a beautiful coral snake, I admired him, then "helped" him to a new location with my buggy whip....I may not have been so gallant had I known how deadly they are, apparently full of a potent neuro toxin...greeeaaaaat! I hope he stays relocated! The pic above is of a corn snake I spied driving. He was pretty and NOT deadly! The roses are wild ones who, thanks to our regular doses of dog poop are splendid this year...We had no idea they where even there last year as not one bloom all season, but as we sling our puppy fertilizer over in that clump of weeds? Well now.... I am envisioning a cottage industry.wink wink. Bloom poo? Rose refuse? Shloses? Roshit? There is catchy name out there somewhere..grin! The deer has been a regular for a few months now and even samples chicken scratch that is exposed when I push the tractor to fresh grazing areas. I never found the pot of gold in my garden shed but thats ok, because with honeysuckle perfuming the air and firefly escorting me home on my walks I feel pretty darned lucky as it is.

Mommys Day

This is for my Moomsie. Its a rose in my garden. Roses aren't my moms favorite flower and yet I have gotten her countless rose bushes over the years, bouquets, silk roses, paper roses, even chocolate roses. Why, if they are not her favorites? Because roses, it is said signify love and I buy in to that. I love my Mommy! Tim and I have this half serious on going argument about who has the best Mommy. It usually starts with a story from our childhood and ends with "That's why I have the best Mommy in the world!" Then the remaining one of us pipes up with our fondest memory and we go on and on , back and forth until a concession is reached. Something like " Yeah, your Mommy is good too!" What is amazing about these "Mom wars" Is the fact that we have so much "ammo"...Poignant, funny,touching, silly,scary,wonderful memories of Mom. Its hard to believe that there is only one actual holiday on the calender set aside for all this remembering. I say if you have the best mommy in the world (and you don't 'cause mine holds that title) there should be little celebrations everyday in her honor. If chocolate reminds you of your Mom then have a piece and enjoy a memory. A big, fat, cinnamon, dulce latte? Java to you , Mom! A fifth of whiskey and a new tattoo? Cheers, Mom! Me, I'll keep trying to win at Mom wars and enjoy the roses. Happy Mothers Day Ma! I couldn't love you any more. xoxoxoxo Doobs

Eggsactly

What is the proper number of chickens for a family of two to have? A family of two egg eaters that is......I'm not sure I know. Math never was my strong point but I felt certain that the formula I had worked out was about perfect last time I ordered peeps =4 of the breed you really want plus 4 more of a breed that looks interesting and lays pretty eggs plus 4 more to fill the minimum order subtract the 6 that will most likely die during the growing up process and you should be left with two of each equaling 6 chickies which means 4 to 6 eggs a day which equals one fritatta and two omelets a week or 4 dozen Christmas cookies or several cakes and lots of egg salad or enough eggs for you to give away a dozen a week or so. As you can see this formula should have been full proof. So here we are almost 10 months later after driving chickens through intolerable heat, housing them in a horse trailer,then a chicken tractor, giving two away that where egg eaters and two more due to my guilt over the crowding and I still have two many chickens. Predation has been a non issue thanks to the every sturdy chicken tractor, the sheer cussedness of these three breeds have kept them healthier than any chickens Ive owned in the past. Don't get me wrong, I wish no harm on the little darlings, its just they are mucking with my formula! So I have decided that 4 more must go. I will do this two at a time just in case somewhere in the dwindling numbers perfection is reached! So the dilemma becomes, multi colored, multi sized eggs or favorite breed. Yesterday it was multi colored eggs until I noticed two of the favorelles plucking tail feathers from my dorkings( my favs!) So today, its favorite breed. The favorelles( interesting with pretty eggs) and the auracanas(fillers) must go. I take the favorelles to a client Sunday and the auracanas get a stay of execution as it where to see if 6 is the magic number. But one egg pecking, feather plucking, misstep and those hens are history baby!

kitty horse

So much has been going on to blog about and I say to myself, "ohh i gotta write that down.." then you know how it goes. We have been enjoying some great weather here lately so I can blame my lack of blogdates on that...that and reading other peoples blogs! grin. On to the recap! The best current event being that Tim was out in CA. visiting his family and packaging my new business venture, Amerika the riding simulator. She was shipped tuesday and should be here Monday, I cant wait for her to arrive! A huge thank you to clan Collins, who with out even a bribe, worked their hineys off to make it all happen. its good to have brothers and nephews!



Leelee, our rotten kitty has had some adventures of late, both involving neighboring kitties. Several weeks ago, one night, I heard a commotion on the porch. I see a grey blur, shooting up the sides of the screens, slamming into the glass door, and generally flying about like a pin ball. "What in THE world?" ( notice the southern emphasis on the word "the" pronounced"thee" not "thu") So out I went to investigate. The first thing I noticed was the God awful smell. Smell emanating from the streams of cat poop decorating the walls, screens , floor and yes, ceiling of our porch. She had suffered a bowel emptying fright that was for sure. I peered out into the darkness and heard some creature scamper into the weeds. Now unbeknownst to kitty head she is perfectly protected on the porch...locked in if you will. From where she sat in the portico I don't think she felt that way. It took her a good 10 minutes to come down, she hissed and spat and growled the whole time we mopped cat poopy off the walls. The next morning however she had undergone a change, she was happy to be petted on. Dare I say she was even a bit clingy. You know, like most grateful pets. Well, I really felt we turned a corner there in our cat/human relations. So flash forward a few weeks and I hear a cat fight out front. I look out to see two, big , strange cats in quite a tussle,then from the bottom of the pile of writhing fur pops leadens head. My neighbors got an earful , as I hit the stairs bellowing all kinds of cuss words in bare feet. The two big cats went left and Lee lee went right. I gave chase to the interlopers in hopes of imprinting on their feline brains that this yard was not a nice place to be. After I had sufficiently dispatched them into the weeds, I turned to locate Leaden. Scanning the yard, I see her, in the middle of the pond! She is paddling like a pro towards the far bank. "Hmmm, a water escape, very clever, young skywalker. Cats avoid water mostly, excellent plan. EXCEPT you too are a cat!". So I called to her,like she would come back. And she did! She swam an about face and headed to the shore by me. I tried to focus on the fact that she was doing quite well and ignore the "Jaws" music that had began to play in my head. Who knows what lurks in the depths of that pond...caymans, snapping turtles, nessy....one can only imagine! I did, oh, I did in those moments before her paws hit dry land. So I offered what any empathetic human would offer when faced with a pathetic, sodden, little body, I scooped her up thinking to comfort. Er, wrong move, she was mad! Mad about the fight, mad about the swim, mad about the soddenness of her little kitty self. She growled and grumbled and spat, and only let me get half way back to the house before it became very perilous for me to persist in the comforting. She continued to grumble as she did the step, paw shake, step, back to her porch and her bed. I tried again a bit later with a towel and received a puncture for my ministrations. But I did leave the towel for her in the sun and she continued her grooming on it at least. Again our relationship changed. She kept her distance all day, looking hooded and cautious. But by morning, the affection was double. You would have thought I was gone a week with the greeting I got. My ankles actually began to chafe from the exuberant twining of cat body. So we have settled into our new routine, that involves my morning tea with lee lee on her porch before i release her to the wilds of our yard. Its nice to have a cat again not the Tasmanian devil I thought we where stuck with for the next 14 or 15 years!