Chippy and Vi

Violet is loving to everyone, so she sort of has a crush on Chippy too. She likes to rush right up and give her a kiss each morning and she follows her around as much as she follows Hailee. I secretly think she has a thing for dominant bay mares.

A Friendly Shared Graze

Namaste.

Still Dreaming

On my ecologically-minded farm, I would grow cabbage and basil and pole beans and peas. And I would grow nasturtium and columbine and foxglove. And I would have a teeny little patio with herbs and tomatoes everywhere and a writing desk and a tiny hidden stash of Turkish cigarettes. And I would set it up so that the stable was very close to my bedroom, so I could hear the horses snuffling to each other at night and I could give a shout to them in the morning and hear them shout back that they were glad to be getting breakfast!

My Happy Girls

These girls love each other. And I can tell you, Violet has been so much happier and horsier now that she has a herd and her own special girl. And what's funny is that if you take Hailee away and Violet is in her stall, she will stallion roar in injured indignation that she's not out having fun with everyone. She feels very strongly about being included in all activities that involve outdoor fun or her sister, Hailee.

Breaking News! My Fancy Renny

So, some bad things happened over the course of this weekend and I'm feeling bruised and bad. I'm experiencing lots of difficult emotions and I'm not sleeping well. But a little anchor of love during this storm has been my handsome little guy, my Renny. I called Sandy down in Florida, the lady who owns Renny's sire. And I told her I needed to start developing pony networks, so I could keep him forever and just loan or lease him out to families with children. So, she is giving me ideas about how to pursue that goal. And this morning, I went out to the barn and my handsome guy was looking at me with his bright alert eager happy healthy ears and a lady from my old barn, Breezy Acres, was visiting. She had met Renny on his second day of life and so she asked me about him right away and praised how handsome he had become. She said just the right thing. I love my darling boy and he is certainly handsome. I walked him out to the pasture and let him out with his young friends and went and talked to the trainer about my little guy. I told him about my ideas for Renny and he complimented my little guy too -- saying that he really likes Renny. He has a great color, that cherry-popping sorrel red with flashy flaxen mane and tail and that the way he moves and looks makes him think that Renny is a reining horse who shrunk down. That my Renny is unusual and unique and a great mover -- that when he long trots he gets bounce and suspension and can really look fancy. So, he encouraged me and said that when Renny started working with surcingle and learning how to break at the poll and work in the bridle that he should be a really fancy-looking talented cart pony. My little guy is a fancy type. I am blessed to have this little fellow in my family. So, you know how it goes. You can be sad and grieve and feel like a bad and lowly person, but your little talented fancy hilarious and obliging baby pony loves you anyway. My advice to you: get a pony.

Lovely Sisters

I like my Laurel Wreath Farm on Reed Street. But sometimes I think it might be nice to be rich and have my own ecologically-mindful farm of about 75 acres for the girls and their babies to run around and explore. I would breed Violet exclusively to the best stallions in the thoroughbred world and Hailee would make the most beautiful NASPR ponies. And on Sunday, I would hitch Renny up to the cutest little pony cart and drive on out to the top of a hill to read a good book, read champagne, eat blueberries and nap with my little guy eating grass and carrots. Ka-ching! What a dream!

Jackie My Domestic Warrior

Here is Jackass and Arcangelo. Jackie is always busy. He takes such good care of us. He takes naps with me. He lays on the dining room table in the late afternoon sun watching the neighbors. He guards the basement when we have lightning. And he will creep up to the top of the stairs to meow a shout at me, so that I give him a little petting before he goes back down to guard again. He's thoughtful that way -- giving me a little comfort because I might be afraid of the lightning before he goes and guards the basement. I just adore how he cares for us.

Breaking News! Winner Take All!

Miss Things goes 14-0. Namaste.

Ren with his Supermodel Gawky Girlfriend

Renny knows that he is hot stuff because he's got a long-legged girl at his side.

Renny and his Gawky Girlfriend

Here they are, the most adorable little duo at Showgate. Renny who loves his grandma and his girlfriends, Sedona and B, and his Auntie, Violet, and his mama, Hailee, and anyone who will give him a little time. He's just delicious with his flaxen mane and kissing freckle!

Ladies with Herds!

Here we are on the day Karla received her Hamlet and became a herd leader and not just a horsewoman! She and I are posing with the babies in our herds -- the wonderful Hamlet who is 6 months old and the adorable Renny who is 18 months old -- a full year older than his little buddy! You can see the difference as Hamlet clacks his teeth in submission!

Breaking News! Speeding Wishes to Speedy Zenyatta

Look at the expression in this photo. That's the face of a relaxed confident absolutely mellow athlete, blazing away to another win. Of course, this is a photo of Zenyatta, the older mare who has won all 13 of her 13 starts and who ran 12 of those 13 in California where they love, love, love, love her! They think she is all that and a bag of chips and tomorrow she gets to run in the Breeders Cup Classic against the Kentucky Derby winner, the Belmont winner and the best of the best of the best of the European, Asian and U.S. colts. I am hoping she shows them a nice tantalizing view of her big gorgeaus rear as she blazes away with just that expression on her face. Namaste, sweetness. I hope you are having a nice snack and getting ready for sweet dreams, even as I write this news!

Breaking News! Indian Blessing Retires!

My beloved little Indian Blessing is retiring. Her trainer and owners announced on Thursday that she won't be running in the Breeders Cup, though she turned in a blistering run. She was allowed to have one last run for the fun of it before she retires as a broodmare. She's a four year-old daughter to Indian Charlie and Shameful. And this beautiful lovely girl is one of those special ones who is good on turf and dirt -- so you just know she's have diversely talented babies. This girl in her three seasons won two Eclipse awards and $3 million in winnings. She had 16 starts with 10 wins and 5 places, only out of the money once! She was the Champion 2 year-old Eclipse filly in 2007 and then in 2008 was the Champion female sprinter. I remember when she was that young thing when her trainer felt that she wasn't necessarily being a stayer over distances and announced he was going to put her in the sprints. And she responded by blowing the cork off the bottle! What a wonderful beautiful girl! Namaste and blessings to her. I will have happy dreams of this talented girl standing in blue grass and looking happily upon her crazy cute foal!

My Slice of History

Here she is, Jaipur's daugher. Here she is, Nasrullah and Princequillo's pride. Here she is, my little sweet goofy adorable playful loving Violet.