Unexpected Sunshine, Horse Time & Car Troubles

You may have read about our state in the news. We are getting massive flooding and high water levels. This photo was taken by me last night over the Spokane River in downtown Spokane. 

Our city has gone all out for Christmas this year and last night we took the grandsons downtown for the Christmas village and fireworks. 

It had been an amazingly warm day. Sunny and mid-50’s. That’s the bright side of the “Pineapple Express.”

Things are green here with these warm temps. I still have the volunteer petunias growing in front of the house and vines in front of the barn. 

I had time with Tumbleweed yesterday. We worked from the ground. About half way into it, I realized he was doing okay, but not tuned in as much as he should be. I stopped and thought about the energy I wanted to have, the intention, and the feel I needed. It changed everything, and we ended on a solid note. I’m hoping that will translate to a good ride on him today. I will go out better prepared to connect from the beginning. 

Earlier yesterday we took the grandsons on a train ride with Santa and laid wreaths on the headstones of veterans for Wreaths Across America. 

My dad was laid to rest in this cemetery, so we were able to place one on his headstone, too. 

A couple nights before yesterday we had the most beautiful purple sunset. It cast a blue light around the horses and framed Tweed in its aura. 

Earlier that day, you can see their frisky, muddy selves. 

Tweed and his mare herd heading towards me with determination. 

An update on our barn cat introduction. These photos are of Dangerous Dan’s first day out. He has been out several times since then, and he even escaped the room when my husband, unwittingly, opened the freedom door. 

Dan was born in a barn and, even at the age of 11, has the wild, feral instincts. 

Grady, on the other hand, was born to be a lap cat. He is enjoying his life of comfort and has no such need to fight or escape. 

We don’t have any plans today, except to ride Tweed, acclimate kitties, and fix one of our cars. 

Last week, we drove two hours to see our granddaughter perform in a community theater play. Before we left, our favorite (and oldest) car was making a funny noise. But we didn’t heed its warning. 

Instead, we jumped in and headed down the road. 

All was well until we were going back home with two of our other grandkids in tow. We were taking a different highway to get to their house in Idaho and drop them off, when all of a sudden we heard a loud banging as we were pulling into a small college town along the route. About that time, a couple fire engines passed us with their lights on, and we smelled something burning. My husband figured it was whatever they were rushing to, but the smell continued to follow us…because it was us!

Miraculously, the power cut out exactly as we were passing an open auto store (the only one opened at that time on a Sunday night). We coasted into the parking lot and turned it off. It was also, miraculously, nextdoor to a McDonald’s, which we took full advantage of as we waited. 

An employee at O’Reilly’s came out and helped my husband troubleshoot the problem. It was the idler pulley and serpentine belt. (That was the noise we heard before we left—the idler pulley was failing).

We couldn’t fix it that night, but O’Reilley’s allowed us to leave it there until we could have it repaired or towed home. 

When we realized it couldn’t be fixed, another granddaughter, and her fiancée, volunteered to drive two hours down to pick us up and save the day. 

Their wedding is in a few weeks and it gave us this wonderful opportunity to spend time with them. We loved every minute of it, even though we felt horrible that they had to venture so far, and so late at night, to save us. 

We haven’t had to be bailed out like that since we were kids. It reminded me of my dad having to come out and save my bacon on more than one occasion. 

There is something kind of magical about being helpless, and then being saved, by those you love. 

It was towed back a couple days later.  

And my husband has been working on it here and there ever since. 

A little at a time. 

He has it in the barn today and is putting it back together after taking off and replacing even more parts, pulleys, alternator, etc. he figured since he was doing it, he might as well replace everything.  

My husband is NOT a mechanic or, at least, he wasn’t. If it starts back up today, however, he will have earned that title!

Hodge Podge Post

It has been a long time since I did a non-horsey post, so this one will be a little of everything.

Tumbleweed’s siblings. As many of you will remember, Tumbleweed’s mama, Rosalee was sold to a breeding home near me. She has been bred to their stallion, Gunnaoutshinya. I think she has had three foals since that time. Here are two of them.

Gunna Step N Jac at the Reno Snaffle Bit Futurity. 

And their 2025 filly, same combo. You can see Rosalee behind the little cutey. (You can follow their program at Marcy McBride’s Facebook page, Betsy Hardin is the owner.)

Winter butterflies. I read The Very Hungry Caterpillar with my grandson, and we ordered caterpillars and a butterfly house so that we could watch the whole process.

Since they hatched in winter, we are now the proud owners of pet butterflies. Unfortunately, when I released them into the sunroom, they couldn’t fly. I’m not sure if they are going to make it. 

Horses in snow. Like Aurora, we received our first snow, and the horses all chose to be out in it. They had a couple round bales and I supplemented with alfalfa. These were taken on my way to check in on them one night. Since then, the weather changed to wind, rain, and mud, and they preferred to be in the barn. 

They are a very happy little herd, and they love snow.

Weighted reins. Last July I upgraded to weighted leather reins, and I loved the feel they give me. This fall, Buckaroo Leather had another sale, so I had them make me a pair that was a little longer. (My daughter is going to use the original set since Epona is shorter backed). These reins come already supple, but they do get even softer with use. Once you go weighted, you can never go back!

Cats. We have two sets of cats in two different places, but they are all getting old and Tuffy, in the barn, was all alone. I decided to introduce them and let them live together, but that is easier said than done. 

I first switched their cuddle furs to their different locations so they could each others scents. Then, I put the two who had been together, Dan and Grady, in our cat enclosure in the room. 

After one night, Grady was chill enough that I let him out for a bit. 

Dan, in the cage, would not come out. He was still hissing. 

Grady, however, was able to remain out after the 3rd day. He is in the chair. Tuffy is looking up at me. 

Tuffy, my barn cat, rubbing on my flute music. 

As of last night (and today) Dan still won’t come out. Grady, however, acts like he was born for this room. As I was leaving last night I caught a few photos of him chilling on the cat tree. 

It’s a long story how they came to be separated, but in a nutshell, Dan tried to run Tuffy out of his own barn. Back then, we also had Tuffy’s sister, so he had a companion. 

There was no enclosed barn room. So, I was forced to lock Dan and Grady in our house’s sunroom, (which has an attached outside cat enclosure) so that Dan couldn’t challenge Tuffy and his sister. Did I mention my husband is allergic to cats?

Anywho. 

Now that we have a completely enclosed barn room, I can acclimate them to each other and maybe by spring allow them inside / outside again. (This nutshell story is as clear as mud.)

Long story short, they are going to have to learn get along, and I’m willing to wait it out with dastardly Dan. 

They are fun to have in my barn room. I enjoy them more together. And I hated Tuffy living out there all alone. 

Winter Connections

 

We had a busy Thanksgiving with lots of family time and activities. I was only able to do the daily chores and some petting on the horses. 

After reading Sacred Spaces, I see how even these short interactions, though, make good practice for exploring energy and intention. 

As I walk to the barn, if any of the horses look my way, I speak their name and reward them. I went out at dark one night and heard a nicker and saw the silhouette of what I thought was Beautiful Girl. I walked into the turnout and found her, then petted on her for a while enjoying the moment of “communion.”

I’ve had similar moments of communion with all of them, at different times, but in the same way, and it is very rewarding. They seek out this type of connection.

And, it is a reminder that our fairytale lives with horses don’t have to include riding them, and often doesn’t. 

But if we do progress to riding, it can only help us have better feel by being in constant practice connecting with them and rewarding their interest in being connected.

Winter is a great time to practice and explore just how deeply we can strengthen our bonds. 

I had a very strong bond with my former horse Cowboy, but it was mostly formed when he broke his P3 and had to be confined to a 12x12 stall for six months. My farrier said, “I can fix his foot, but you have to fix this.” He touched Cowboy’s head. He told me Cowboy would go crazy being confined that long unless I could spend a lot of time with him and keep him calm and content.

I did, and it was that six months that connected our hearts deeper than I knew was possible. 

I’d like to recreate that with Tumbleweed, but without the life-threatening injury. And I’d like to deepen it with my non-ridden horses, too. They have a lot to give.

How about you? How are you bonding with your herd this late fall / early winter?

Embracing The Fire & a Winner

“Such are the horses on which gods and heroes ride, ..to bring out the best qualities—their spirit, fire, grace, and bearing.” Xenophon, On Horses, 400BC

Yesterday was blustery because we are expecting a weather change. Winter is coming. 

I decided to only work with Tumbleweed on energy and intention from the ground, but I wanted to see if we could recreate the other day when he went wild, and then practice bringing our energy together at liberty. 

Sure enough, the docile kitten was gone and, in its place, a wild, majestic stallion. (At least, he thinks he is.)

Eventually, he figured I was the only friend he had in the arena, and he came back to me. 

We walked over poles, side-by-side, then spent a little time cooling off at a walk. 

I tried to summon him to me with only my thoughts and body movements, and it did work to get him to come into the round pen once and the onto the bridge with me twice. He mostly cued into the movement of my body walking away from him, then followed.

No great miracles of telepathy were performed, but we did have fun, and I think he is getting the idea that I want him to tune into me on a deeper level. 

And, I am growing in my awareness of him, especially what it means to not only be a ‘docile kitten,’ but also a majestic, strong, and proud soul with fire inside. 

There’s something to be said for embracing that fire. 

****

Book Giveaway Update

I drew names this morning, and the winner of the Sacred Spaces book giveaway is….Aurora who shares with us on her blog Equine Expressions  . Her blog is full of beautiful photography and her personal journey with horses, the newest addition being “Hope.” 

I hope you find this book an inspiring addition to that journey.

Our Fairytale Stories

Tomorrow is the day I will draw names for the book Sacred Spaces, and to enter, just leave a comment on this post or the original one. 

Today, though, I want to talk briefly again about our stories. Since we are bloggers, we are constantly telling them in a day to day style, but the book, Sacred Spaces, asks the reader to create a bigger story about ourselves and our horse, a fairytale version of what our story could be. 

But as I was writing mine, it morphed into a fairytale story of Tumbleweed and Foxy. 

From the moment she became his surrogate mama, and he needed one then, it developed into this huge love story between them that pushed me out. (The photos above were taken 7 years ago today.)

Unlike Cowboy, who was an orphan foal omega who didn’t need the herd, but needed me, Tumbleweed was popular in the herd and loved his Foxy. In fact, they all love Foxy, and she is a horse to study and emulate (a theme in another section of the book.)

So, the question arose in my mind, How do I write this story with a horse who doesn’t seem to need me? 

I don’t know the answer yet, but I got a glimpse of what it might look like this week if I connect with him on that deeper, spiritual level he, and I assume all horses, desire. 

But, the fact is, this story will probably be more about how much I need him, not vice versa. 

I need this journey with Tumbleweed right now. I need a new story. I need everything it will take to fulfill the story. 

Im writing it now, in my head, then I’ll put it down on paper. 

How about you? What is your story with the horse you have today? What is the fairytale you are writing?