I'm Saved!

I mentioned a few days ago that I was really taken with this horse, Boggy Creek Dancer, but that I was fighting my self, because I knew that buying him wasn't the wise thing to do. Well, I found out this morning that he has found a home. I kind of thought that he wouldn't last long on the listings.

So, good luck Mr. Boggy Creek Dancer, as you set off on your new, and hopefully very happy, life.

Out of My Rear Window 5/23/10

It's a cloudy day, with the feel of rain in the air. The lilac is done, but, there in the back, you can see that the weigela is in full bloom. Other than a couple loads of wash, I'm not going to do much of anything today. I'll water later, if we don't get any rain.

edited to add that, I was thinking this morning about what I had written. And, I realized that, for me, now, weekends are generally like that, slow and easy. Since I retired, I find I do most of my running on the weekdays. Most weekends, the car doesn't even get started. I putter around the house, and take the time to enjoy what I have around me. No more having to rush around like crazy on Saturday and Sunday, trying to get all of the "business" done that I used to have to do. It's a lovely change.

It's Isobelle's Lady's Fault!

Isobelle Golightly's Lady and I went shopping yesterday. She had been telling me about the wonders of the Amish greenhouses in her area for weeks, and I really wanted to see them. After all, I had just about everything planted for the year, so I wouldn't be tempted to buy much. Riiiiiiiight!

I got so enthralled with the greenhouses that I forgot all about taking pictures of them. The plants are beautiful, and the prices are quite inexpensive. I ended up buying a lot of stuff that I just couldn't resist. Here's pictures from when I got home with everything.







I can't remember the names of everything that I bought, but the two big plants are a false sprirea and a honeysuckle (which I had wanted before we left). There are two of the most gorgeous orangey, yellowy begonias tucked away in there, along with a couple of geraniums, and just tons of other stuff.

Now the big problem becomes "Where the heck do I plant all of these things?"

After we finished shopping, we drove to a place that the Lady knew of to have lunch. On the way there, we saw a herd of Highland Cattle. Of course, I had to stop and take pictures. They are the most delightful, hairy beasties.





As always when I do something with Isobelle's Lady, I had a wonderful time. But, next time, we're going someplace where I have no excuse to spend money.

Give it a Rest!

I'm seeing this sight, practically every time I look out of the window. This guy just doesn't give up. It has to be well over a month that he has been puffing and strutting. Notice that the girls, as usual, aren't acting very impressed.

An Award!

Thanks very much to AJ Oaks of A Little Farm With A Big Heart http://wwwaj-oaks.blogspot.com/ , Tina st My World according to ME http://borderlineexpress.blogspot.com/ and a belated thanks, and humble apology for being so late, to Isobelle Golightly of Isobelle Golightly the Beautiful Goat http://isobellegolightlythebeautifulgoat.blogspot.com/ for the same award. I'll do my best to answer the questions.

1. What would your prefect day consist of?

I live quite a few of them, now that I'm retired. I would sleep late, get up and play on the computer for a while, go out and putter in the garden. Then, in the afternoon, it's off to find a nature trail to hike. Theoretically, that would be followed by coming home and fixing a great dinner, but, since I'm a lousy cook, that isn't likely to happen.

2. How would you describe yourself if you were an item of clothing?

A bra. Always there to give support.

3. What hobbies are you currently working on?

I seem to be obsessed with identifying wild flora. Just because I like to know the names of things.

4. Walking in the woods in wellies or bare foot on the beach?

Given my current obsession, definitely walking in the woods in wellies. It's amazing how things change so quickly.

5. Have you ever hugged or sang to a tree?

I might hug a tree, after checking very closely to make sure there was no poison ivy, but I'd be afraid I'd kill the thing if I tried to sing to it.

6. Growing your own veggies or nipping to the supermarket?

I'm not fond of veggies. If I were going to eat any, they would definitely be the supermarket, or better yet, the farm stand, variety.

7. Have you found anyone exciting in your family tree?

Not exactly exciting, but, because my family tends to marry and procreate late, my Grandfather's brother died at Gettysburg. That's not many generations removed for 150 years ago.

8. Slap up meal in a posh restaurant or fish ‘n’ chips from the wrapper?

Definitely fish 'n' chips from the wrapper.

9. Which element do you most resonate with, Earth, Air, Fire or water?

I am drawn to water, so I would say that.

10. Do you believe in fairy’s?

Yup, and also "ghosties and ghoulies and long legged beasties, and things that go bump in the night."

Thank you all, most sincerely, for this award. Since I'm late to the party, most of the folks I would pass it on to have already received it. So, I guess I'll let it stop here.

If Only

I made a decision, when I started volunteering for FLTAP, that I would not be bringing any horses home. I'm getting older, and I'm not as strong as I used to be. Even working in the garden, some days, leaves me knocked down tired. There is so much involved with the care of a horse, even if you board.

The biggest reason that I decided not to get another horse, however, is tied to that getting older thing. I am so afraid that any young Thoroughbred that I got would outlive me, or outlive the time when I am still a thinking person, since senile dementia runs in my family. I just don't want to leave any of my animals in a position of falling onto bad times. I have a friend who will take my cats, but assuming responsibility for a horse, especially one who is likely to be older, is a huge task.

That being said, there are times when my resolve is sorely tested. I'm going through one of those times right now. His name is Boggy Creek Dancer, he is 16.3 and eight years old. Isn't he beautiful?




He's a bit on the rawboned side, but he has been running for years, and is still sound, so you can be pretty sure that he will stay sound. He's big and strong enough to handle my weight. In person, he has incredible presence. But, I'm going to hold to my resolution. Surely someone will snap him up quickly, anyways. I hope!

A Walk in Another Woods

I was headed to the Lake yesterday, to see what had changed since the last time I was there. I took a different road, and was so glad that I did. Because as I was driving down that road, I noticed a kiosk and some cars parked. I was curious, so I stopped. It turned out that it was the Whiting Road Nature Preserve, consisting of 240 acres of land that was purchased by the town to be preserved in its present state.

Naturally, I decided that this was a better destination than the Lake, so I pulled out my camera and started hiking. Thank goodness I had my walking sneakers on. There are lovely paths throughout, which are very easy to walk on.



They're not trying to return the area to a native state, and it is just full of two very invasive plants.

Wild Honeysuckle - though this one was a very vibrant pink.



Wild Roses - The place is loaded with these and, while here at home, I am fighting a constant, and losing, battle against them, I want to make sure to come back and take a walk when they are in bloom. The smell ought to be wonderful. I also want to see them in bloom because there seem to be several different types of these roses, and I think I'll be better able to tell when they come into flower.



And, oh the growing things. There was this plant. It had no flowers, but the leaves were the most attractive things.



In the deeper parts of the woods, there were many kinds of ferns.





And, my goodness, the flowers that I found.

Fleabane



Double Celendine Poppy



Dame's Rockets



Mustard



Herb Robert



Ground Ivy



Woodruff



Wild Strawberry



Toothwort



Star of Bethlehem



Remember, I'm a novice at this identification thing. So, if you find anything you think I have wrong, please let me know and I'll change it.

Of course, there are a couple of mystery plants. This first is just budding. It looks, though you can't see it in the pictures very well, like the flowers will have a pink or red color.




And, there was this lovely bush everywhere. At first, I thought it was just more of the wild honeysuckle, but as I looked closer, I could see that it wasn't. The flowers hang from the underside of the bush, like Solomon's Seal, but the flower shape is different, and the plant is woody.



I spent a couple of hours just meandering along a few of the many pathways. There are more to explore. The pathway is multiple use, but no motorized vehicles are permitted. I met a few other walkers, some runners and a bicyclist. They were all smiling, and quite friendly. I also found shod hoofprints on the wetter parts of the path, so I know that someone is riding there. Biggggg hoofprints, maybe a draft. For sure, I'll be going back as the year progresses, to see what new things I can find.