Florida '08: Our Huffy Princess!

Here is a photo of Elena getting Clara ready for lunch at the Castle at the Magic Kingdom. She was getting ready to meet Cinderella, Belle, Mary Poppins, Jasmine, and Snow White, but she was fixin' to throw a fit because her mom was fussing with her Snow White outfit. Who can blame her. She was hot and she wanted that dress off. Clara would be happy to strip down in an instant, if she could be free to run barefoot!

Ruthie Steps Up!

Ruthie is a friendly, confident, sweet girl!

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Florida '08: Clara Dances in Water!

Here is a photo of my darling Clara at the Magic Kingdom. She was a real hoot. Her sister was determined to wear a princess outfit the entire week and mainly wanted to be Snow White. One night, I even had to sleep with a crunchy little Princess with her flouncy dress, tiara, and scepter! But my little Clara?! She was happy to wear a princess dress, but not if it was too hot or time to play. She wore the best casual clothes and would rip off her shoes and then dance in little water jets or pools. Little nature rocker girl!

Powerful Shoulder, Kissable Freckle!

Adorable. And athletic. What more could you want from an American Sport Pony! Happy Veterans Day!

Renny's First Vaccinations!

Yesterday morning, bright and early, Dr. Zimmerman and his assistant came to Showgate Stables to give Renny his first vaccinations. Renny was really unimpressed. He did not like the shot in his neck, and he backed his rear end up to the wall to avoid the shot in his rear. He didn't like Dr. Zimmerman getting fresh and feeling for his "berries that are ready for picking" and he didn't like his temperature being taken just because he had an early morning runny nose! He let the vet know about it by raising his head high and firing out uncomfortably in a sideways fashion. But he was adorable and handsome and fat and sweet and I felt badly for him! It is tough growing up and having to put up with intrusions!

Anyway, today was perfection of a day, bright, sunny, warm, the leaves are rustling and golden and falling. It was a miracle of a day. So, I went out to the stable and kissed and hugged my little fella and put him outside with his girlfriends, and then I rode the spectacular Violet who really is a gem, a big glowing red darling girl. Tom said that she was a special mare and I have to agree. I love riding her. She's so sensitive and intelligent and eager to please. She and I are a good team!

And when I put her back outside with her friends, she trotted off and then broke into a canter to catch up to Hailee, Annie, and Easy. She just looked so radiant and red and healthy, and so regal. I am so lucky to share in her heritage and to be her friend! And I am lucky to have the privilege of little Renny's trust! Namaste!

Florida '08: Emma Sliding!

Here is a photo of my wild child, flying down a slide! She's a real little Miss Firecracker and I'm proud to know her!

Busy Baby Legs!

Here's Mr. Man, moving quickly, places to go, got to hustle! Such cute, but powerful legs!
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Florida '08: Waiting for the Magic Kingdom!

My mom and dad hosted my family for a week's trip to Florida. We had an amazing time, celebrating Emma's birthday, swimming, visiting the parks in Orlando, playing with the girls, and being together. Here is a photo of us taken on the second day as we are waiting to board a bus for the Magic Kingdom. We were staying at the Animal Kingdom which is an amazing resort with a nature and animal preserve surrounding the rooms and villas!

Farm Cats!

This lovely little mama cat who adopted the Valentine's had this cute litter of 5 kittens. Two were adopted, but here are the ones which belong to Barbie's girls and who will be the barn cats! Let me tell you! Last night, these little kittens and their mom went stalking mice. And one of these itty bitty little teeny tiny black kittens caught a mouse and tormented it while growling and posing and voguing. That kitten knew how to put on a torture show! Such a good mouser. And it's often very funny to see these little barn lions staring up into the rafters, following the flight of birds that their watering mouths can just taste! Teeny tigers!

Windmills in the Dusk

It is 11pm and Senator Barack Obama has just been declared the next President of the United States of America. He is our President-Elect and will be our 44th President. I heard Jon Stewart say that he has 297 electoral votes and now I am watching Senator McCain give his concession speech. He referred back to the public outrage when President Theodore Roosevelt invited Booker T. Washington to the White House. He hopes that we accept this moment in history, this amazing moment in history. And he is sorry that Senator Obama's grandmother didn't live to see this great day for her beautiful boy.

I am glad that my vote helped turn Wood County Blue. And I am glad that we have President-Elect Obama. But I had an opportunity to vote for two women on the Green Party ticket today and the values of the Green Party are dear to me. So, I think that it'd be nice to celebrate President-Elect Obama by being grateful for democracy, and grateful that I get to vote, get to decide whether I am a loyal Democrat, or a moving thinking roving voter in upcoming elections. I hope that before I pass that I get to enjoy a woman president! At this hyperlink, you can read more about the Green Party!

Now, what last thing do I want to say before retiring for the evening? I want to say that I wish President-Elect Obama well as he addresses what the New York Times calls a failure of the government to protect its citizens. Bless his work in the coming years, bless him as he helps end our wars, strengthens and stabilizes our economy, secures health insurance and care for our dependents. Bless him as he works on global climate instability. Bless him as he helps us channel what President Lincoln in his First inaugural address called "the better angels of our nature."





http://www.gp.org/index.php

I See You, Lady!

Grandma! Get over here and give me a kiss!

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Beautiful Profile!

I am writing this on August 19th, as I sit in my office. Yesterday I didn't go out to the stable in the morning because I had to monitor a prelim. So, I missed my creatures terribly. I went out in the evening and let Hailee and Renny out in the indoor arena. They were both wet because they'd been rained on earlier in the day. Hailee rolled with pleasure in the dirt, and the baby just tore around the arena at top crazy speeds, zooming and almost bumping into walls! He was hilarious. Sometimes he'd fall on his little butt and just jump up, acting like he meant to do that, giving an angry little snort and double-barrel kicking at the air before tearing off again. He was really showing his athleticism. His little chest muscles were just bulging! And then he would run up the sawdust mountain, lay down happily, and roll down, jumping up and just being all golden with sawdust confetti. He's such a handsome, joyful, super little fella!

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Do you love me, Grams?!

f What a blessing. Namaste.

Shady Trees

At some point, every morning Ruthie and Renny go to the trees together without their mamas to hang out, chew on leaves, enjoy the shade, and chat. It's their thing, their little tiny signature routine. And when I see those two cute butts close together and facing the pasture, it practically makes me tear up, it's so cute!