Violet's Suppleness and Sidepasses

Here is a February 2008 photo of Hailee and Violet as they were getting to know each other.  Hailee, of course, was getting ready to be a mother and little Nitro was growing inside!  Anyway, I am writing this entry on May 10th, 2011, and last night I had a riding lesson with Violet that was so fun.  I've been working hard on trying to give her massages, stretches, accupressure, and lots more lateral work.  And I won't say we are perfect, but I will say this -- Stacey asked us to stand facing a wall and practice sidepassing, and Violet was happy to step sideways without rushing and with great care to cross over herself evenly in front and back in both directions.  I was so proud of her -- so very very proud!!  She is trying to become a supple giving and loving mare!  She is really pulling her weight form Team Tenderness!

Violet's Trail Ride

I'm writing this entry on May 10, 2011, but these photos are from March 3, 2008, a few weeks before Renny's  birth.  I have so much to tell you about Violet, but I am going to try and be relatively brief.  This past weekend, Sara from Evergreen Lake Stables, came and picked up Violet and me and took us to her farm to teach us about trail riding.  It was just amazing.  She has all these trail ride obstacles set up in her barn and Violet was totally happy to go by all of them, she was unconcerned.  She crossed a wooden bridge several times.  She was awesome.

And Violet was awesome on the trails.  She kept her distance from the front horse, was calm about passing other horses, enjoyed being in the front when it was her turn, listened carefully, and we rode on a nice loose rein -- often on the buckle!  I felt so proud of her.  And as we returned to the barn, we would stop and chat and Violet would just calmly lower her head and peacefully look around at the scenery, pastured horses, cows, etc.  She was in no rush to do anything other than enjoy herself.  On the trail, she was happy to go from light to dark, woods to pasture, and change the surface from dirt, to leaves, to pavement, to, MUD and WATER!  She just plopped on through in a relaxed non-hurried fashion.  She truly outdid herself in absolute cool.  I could not have been more proud of my lovely trying mare!!!  She gave me the best Mother's Day present, ever!!!

A Big Wonderful Week!

I'm writing this entry on Tuesday, May 10th, and the past week has been just wonderful.  The past week had my mom's birthday, Hailee's birthday, and Renny's third birthday.  The week also featured Mother's Day, the end of spring semester, a trail ride for Violet, and Renny's first jumping!!!  It has been quite literally, the most amazing and wonderful and cool week!

June 2, 2008

The Prankster on May 18, 2008

Baby.  Beautiful baby.

Renny Playing on May 17, 2008

Here are photos and video of my little Renny, goofing off in the early morning of May 17th.  He was just exactly two weeks old!

Baby So Tired!

Here are some May 12, 2008 photos of my little guy taking a nap.  I remember so very well what it was like to step into his stall and sit in the straw with him and put my hand on his butt and just feel his little life.  I loved him so much, but I had no idea that I would be a team member with him -- that he would be a loving and reliable pony from the very beginning.  Such a smart smart guy, but so tired in this photo.  He was less than two weeks old, so he hadn't even started to shed out on his legs, so we could see his very handsome chrome!

My Darlings

Again, here is a May 9, 2008 photo of my favorite home krewe in their favorite spot right by the bedroom window.  I can remember that I was vividly happy at that moment!

Good Buddies

Here is a fantastic photo of the bright-eyed intelligent Jackass with his boyfriend, Arcangelo.  This photo was taken on May 9th, 2008, within the week of Renny's  birth.  We were in a very happy time in our life!!

Violet and Her Boots

Here's an early March photo of Violet with her heavy goofy bell boots.  She was recovering from her owie.  I am writing this entry on May 2nd, and I am pleased to report that her coronary band owie is not only better, but that some of the proud flesh peeled away and I was able to remove it myself.  She's had a successful heal of that problem!  And I got rid of those wretched boots.  Now she's just wearing boots on her front and they are the very soft gentle kind with velcro.  We are much happier about our whole beautiful thoroughbred situation!

The Krewe after the Storm

A late February photo of my favorite people, relaxing in our bedroom...no irritations, please!  We've just survived a big rainstorm!

Renny and his Two-Legged Aunty

Namaste.

Zelia and Garden

When I see this photo, I think about a few years back around the 4th of July when Zelia and I sat in that corner together and were overshadowed by giant moulin rouge sunflowers.  I love this dog.  She is a true blessing in my life.

Rhinelander Family Vacation, My Sweet Goddaughter!

Namaste!

Winter Storm in the Garden

Here are some mid-March photos of a fleeting winter storm. 

Family Vacation, More Bedtime Stories

Clara and Emma are very close sisters.  They take good care of each other.  Here you see them sharing the story in such a sweet way!

Zelia Stands Guard

Here's a May Day photo of Zelia, relaxing and guarding the chickens.  I had just finished up hoeing and composting the garden and starting up the new hot batch of compost.  And we were about to go into the bedroom, light a candle and just relax and nap and read all day.  It was splendid!

Rhinelander Family Vacation, Bed Time Stories!

My little niece is such a good reader.  She's reading a bedtime story that I purchased for her at the closing Brown Street Bookstore!  Emma and Clara are such lively sweet girls!  

Violet Chilling Out

Here's a photo and video, taken in mid-April, of my beautiful thoroughbred.  She and I are working on getting more supple and more precise in our aids and transitions.  And we are working on lower-level dressage and jumping.  I hope to develop better muscle memory and better skills as a rider, so that she and I can have lots of fun and be a great team.  I'm writing this entry on May 2nd and this weekend, if all goes well, she and I are going on a trail ride at Oak Openings!!

Rhinelander Family Vacation, My Baby Herd!

This summer I taught two courses, for a total of 12 weeks.  At the end of that twelve weeks, I was blessed to go home and spend a few days with my mom and dad, sister, and her three children, Emma, Clara, and Stephen.  I was so thankful that my sister's trip home was at a time I could join them.  On my first day back in Rhinelander, I shopped at Danner Shoes, Brown Street Books, Book World.  And then I kayaked and saw a loon.  I enjoyed time with my wee ones.  We ate brats.  It was wonderful.  And then we went and spent a few days at Kalahari Resort, so that we could enjoy the water parks.  Here is a photo of me and my little ones in our suite at the Kalahari!

Cutie Pie Waiting

Here's a late February photo of my little guy, getting ready to go to work!

The Boys after the Rain Storm

In late February, we had a ridiculously scary rainstorm, so Jackass guarded the basement all night.  Here is a photo of him and his boyfriend, relaxing the next morning, after his tour of duty!

Goofy Arcangelo

Namaste.

Totally Handsome Renny

Mid-April shots of my 2 year-old.  As you view this, he is deep into the summer of his third year!  Such a handsome sweet agreeable sociable boy!!

Zelia and the Squirrel

On May Day, I finished hoeing and composting my garden and wanted to take a picture or two of the lush soil.  So, I called for my dog to have her pose and this is how I found her -- she was staring down a squirrel who was hanging from the sunflower feeder.  Zelia was hoping that squirrel would just fall right into her lap!  In this photo, you can also see Louise, by herself, because her sister, Thelma, is feeling a little spring broody and is sitting on a nest in her coop!

Freshly Hoed and Composted 2011

I'm writing this entry on Monday, May 2nd, and I spent a lovely weekend reading, resting, and working in the garden.  Usually, I hire someone to rototill, but this year, I just worked slowly over the course of a few days to hoe the garden myself.  It felt terrific to turn that soil over and then toss a wheelbarrow-full of compost onto that soil.  I'm a very blessed farmer to have horses and chickens!!

Renny's Growing Up

With each passing day, Renny is getting handsomer.  I'm writing this entry on May 2nd, the day before his birthday.  This past weekend, I rode him in the Saturday lesson and he was such a good solid dependable talented boy.  And he's getting the best of his mother's beautiful and athleticism.  And it was his last weekend as a 2 year-old.  I'm just so proud of him.  And I just think he's wonderful!

A Poem for Violet

Let me tell you about my red horse

Let me tell you about my red horse.

She pins her ears, gesturing bold dominance.
But her eyes are unchanged as always,
soft and loving.
And she leans forward sweetly, muzzle extended
to touch my hands and mug a treat.

Oh, sometimes she will pin her ears and toss her head briskly.
She likes to hear the cross-ties clatter,
as she imititates an irritation she does not feel.
Her eyes glow with pleasure.
She wants company and will not drive love away.

At those moments, I laugh and mock
her angry ears.
Her false bravado, in those pinned ears, always delights me.
Why, she can't even be bothered to pin them
properly tight.

She's like a mardi gras reveler, lifting her mask lightly,
carelessly, as she leans toward
love and conviviality.

Let me tell you about my red horse.

She pins her ears and looks on with love.

Beautiful Zelia after the Storm

This creature is my heart's content.

My Nurses

This photo was taken in early March and now it's mid-April.  I spent this week super sick -- sore throat and ears, a cough, congestion.  I'd wake up nauseaus because of drainage.  And who do you think nursed me?  These two clowns.  I would wake up and they would be circled in the most peaceful ying-yang right in the crook of my belly, legs and arms.  They are the best nurses on earth.

Two of My Favorite Creatures

Namaste.

My Thoroughbred Hunter

This week, the week of April 11th, Violet and I practiced transitioning upwards and downwards to trots and canters and practiced halting.  And practiced turning on a jumping course.  And practiced jumping a 7-fence course with multiple turns, bending lines, ins and outs, and two oxers.  I will say this -- we were good!  Team Tenderness  rocks!

Proud Grama!

Here is a photo taken by Lillian on June 28th of me getting ready to have a private lesson on my beautiful boy.  This past Monday, Renny and I had a terrific lesson.  We did a cone exercise where we had to hit working and sitting trots and then break into a canter and we did it in both directions beautifully.  And then we had lots and lots of fun with jumping.  He was happy and bright and sweet over the warm up cross rail and then he was light and wonderful at a canter, jumping a circle of cross rails, and turning quietly and easily to them each time.  We cantered the two cross rails in that circle twice in both directions relaxed and sweet.  Stacey wanted me to do a half-halt to get him a tweak slower, but I didn't because I was a bit frozen.  But not Renny! Renny just cantered swiftly but in a relaxed controlled happy agreeable fashion over those jumps.  I felt so wonderful after this lesson.  I can't believe that this little tiny baby foal that I was so ecstatic was born is now my dear sweet riding pony!  Namaste!

My Violet Hunter

So, this photo and video are from the very first sunlit warm Sunday in April, after Violet had a training session with Jill Jewett.  Violet has been working her tail off and in this lesson, Jill used the Pessoa training session to help Vi stretch her topline and relax.  By the time Jill was done, Vi was transitioning upwards and downwards with smooth grace, elegance, and athletic softness.  It was a sight to see.  Then she got me to ride Violet with a crazy loose bouncy seat and rubber legs at top speeds.  It was hilarious, hard and fun!!!

Renny's Vacation

Here's a  photo taken on a beautiful sunlit warm Sunday in very early April.  This photo was taken the day after Renny's first problematic ride.  When I put my legs on him or my heels, he would pin his ears and turn his head to bite my toes.  He was really ouchy.  So, he earned a little vacation because we thought he might have taken a kick that morning.  And so, he missed his Monday and Wednesday lesson.  And when I went to the barn on Thursday, I was told that Renny was over his vacation -- that he had energy and was galloping around his pasture by himself, just to blow off steam. And he sure was perky and happy and cute and bossy when I saw him.  So, he will have 9 official days of vacation after one more weekend and then this little guy will go back to training as a hunter pony!

My Columbia Boots, and the Me in the Past

My eleven-year-old Columbia boots finally died this spring.  They could not be duct-taped any longer.  Stacey said she liked my boots and I agree with her.  I love them.  But this year, I will have to buy some new good solid fabulous wonderful winter boots because these were put in the trash and sent to greener pastures.  In other news, I am writing this entry on Friday, April 15th of a gloriously epic stressful week.  I am being shunned by people in my department -- I almost feel like I should wear a scarlet letter on my chest -- and a very famous sociologist who is the director of a conservative think tank questioned my research findings in our book and I was worried I couldn't replicate the findings -- and Renny had experienced a kick or some sort of problem which made him ouchy and crabby and hurty on his Saturday lesson -- and I got sick, good and sick.

But here's what happened.  Renny got slowly better and he's taking a week off.  Yesterday when I went to the barn, everyone told me that he'd  been caught running laps in the pasture by himself -- so he must want his vacation to end and go back to work.  I replicated my findings and the statistics guru in my department gave me the correct language to discuss this matter with the conservative think tank person.  And I'm dealing with the death in my shunning -- trying to find compassion in my heart and a new way of life.  And I'm ragged, but on the upswing of my illness.  So, I don't feel great and I'm tired and hurting, but I can see better on the horizon.  And I'm grateful!