Ornaments~

So Shirley from Ride a Good Horse challenged those who read her blog to talk about unique ornaments.

Sounds like fun. 

I have a few very unique ornaments that some may not even consider to be a typical ornament. 

Nine years ago a little girl who used to be my 'upstairs' neighbor came to go for a walk in the woods with Morris and I just before Christmas. She was 9. She handed me a gift she had made. It was a piece of yarn with a bell tied to it. She explained that she had made an ornament to hang on my tree.

Each year, I sort through things and end up holding that little loop of yarn and the tiny bell...I think of all of the hikes in the woods we had together and smile. The memories are fond. 

I have fancy beautiful horse ornaments and shiny glittery ornaments, but this one always gets a special spot where I can walk by and ring it.

That little girl is preparing to go to college next year. She is no longer a little girl. She is tall, poised, and confident in what she wants to do in her life. And she even has time to text me once in a while about her interests.

Of all the beautiful things I have, this one means the most to me.

Nothing like a little bell to ring as I walk by it. Here was a young girl who thought enough to make me a small gift to hang on my tree.

Another ornament that actually doesn't get hung on a tree is the Morris Ornament. I commissioned an artist in 2009 to make me 3 ornaments of Mr. Morris. This guy comes out of the hutch each year and graces a special spot in the living room.

Thanks Shirley for this suggestion!

Smile with your Butt Cheeks

 

Excuse the photo. It was a quick snap.  Siera will get a roaching mid May, until then we go with the wild look.

I thought it would be fun to take Siera for a tiny spin on Sunday afternoon. Just around the yard and on the neighboring meadow and up the lane out back for a bit. I didn't bother with a saddle ~ But I DO wear my helmet. Siera is pretty easy going and since she is gaited, it is a very comfortable ride. Her prominent back bone though will get to you after a bit.

Siera is fairly 'herd' sour. She is sure she will die without her pals. She gets better after a bit and settles in. She will ride so far and then ask to turn around so she can see her buddies. It doesn't help that 15 screams bloody murder for about 10 minutes any time I take her out.

By about the third spring ride, I can usually just ride her up the drive or through the woods without much ado. With another mule though she is just fine.

We rode for about a half hour. Up and down and all around the farm. Finally she stopped offering to turn around and head back towards her pals. 

So I rode one last time out into the neighbor's meadow and tried to weave through the standing burdocks. As we returned home, I asked her to stand quietly and just stand. Standing still is the most important thing I ask my mules to do. She sighed and we stood.

I asked her to walk and we took several steps and when we met the patch of short grass...

Siera did a magnificent sideways 90 degree turn that came out of nowhere. I was amazed and surprised. So I turned her back and we stood again. 

Years ago I was offered some interesting advice regarding equine. I'd purchased Cheyanne from this crazy lady. She told me that Cheyanne would do stupid things and not to get angry over it. 

When a horse pisses you off, smile with your Butt Cheeks. 

That didn't make sense at first until I realized that getting angry when my animal didn't behave properly wouldn't improve my situation or my animal's situation. So when Siera lurched, I decided it was just a brain fart or an attack of killer grass. No sense in getting worked up about it.

I asked Siera for one more go around the field without any attacks from the Killer Grass. She did it, calm as a cucumber. Her mule brain started to function again and she was her old self.

I got to the Killer Grass and slid off her. I let her graze on the grass for a bit, then we walked back home where I let her in with her pals.

That ride must have been extremely difficult. 

She had to get down right away and erase all memory of me from her back.

Poor thing. She got up and walked over to another gate and sulked as if I'd tortured her. Her pal, 15 came up and sniffed her then walked away as it to say. "I have NO idea why I had to scream for you!"

Meanwhile the red heads came up for a grooming and some time in the yard too.

The grass seemed to no longer be a threat. In fact Sunshine decided it was just wonderful to graze on for a bit.

Smile with your Butt Cheeks. 

It always makes me laugh.